Government
BY EMILY LINCKE
Humble residents see water, sewer rates increases In Humble, water and sewer rates will jump by about 20% each for the average residential customer after Humble City Council approved new rates May 22. What’s changed The standard resident in Humble will be paying $57.25 per month for a water and sewer bill
City awarded $1M in federal funds for public safety The city of Humble has been awarded $1 million in federal funding, which will be used for equipment for the Humble Police Department and Humble Fire Rescue. The overview In early May, the U.S. Department of Agri- culture awarded the city “earmarked federal funding” for public safety initiatives, City Manager Jason Stuebe said during the May 8 Humble City Council meeting. The city had applied for the funding several years ago. The purchases will also require $140,000 in city funds to complete, Stuebe said. “We’re getting a million [and] $140,000 worth of stuff for $140,000, so it’s a pretty good deal,” Stuebe said. Sorting out details According to a May 12 email from Stuebe, grant-funded purchases will include: • Mobile radios for both entities • A firearm casing processing system, a more advanced DNA collection system and systems for the Drone First Responder program for the police department • Heart monitors and defibrillators, an updated station alerting system and an air conditioned trailer for fireground rehabili- tation for the fire department The projects slated for the grant funding are subject to change, Stuebe said.
been required to use 30%, he said. Humble’s water is supplied, in part, through groundwater pumped from five local wells, but also through surface water, which is purchased from Houston, according to the city’s website. “We will be, in effect, doubling how much we have to purchase from the city of Houston,” Stuebe said. Humble’s last water and sewer rate adjustment was in August, according to July meeting documents. Stay tuned Another water and sewer rate adjustment may be implemented in January, after city officials have six to seven months of data to look at, Stuebe said. “We worked with our consultants ... trying to break this up to make it as easily swallowable as possible,” Stuebe said.
with under 3,000 gallons for each, Humble City Manager Jason Stuebe said May 22. Humble’s new water rates went into effect beginning June 1, according to May 22 meeting documents. Why now? The decision to up the city’s water and sewer rates comes in the wake of Houston debuting new water rates April 1, Stuebe said. Beginning July 1, Humble will be required to use 60% surface water whereas the city had previously
City of Humble water, sewer rates (effective June 1)
Resident water rate Senior water rate Resident sewer rate
Senior sewer rate
$38.52
$40
$57.25 is the amount an average Humble resident would pay per month for a water and sewer bill under 3,000 gallons for each.
$18.73
$20
$15
$10
$6.75
$6.75
$5
$3.47 $3.47
$3.16 $2.54
$1.86 $1.86
$0
1K gallons over 10K gallons
0-3K gallons
1K gallons over 3K gallons
Consumer use
SOURCE: CITY OF HUMBLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
Zientek named new Humble Police chief
“I look forward to continue working with an amazing team of men and women to take us even further creating a safe community to live, work and visit,” Zientek said via email May 9. Career history Theis, who worked at HPD for 42 years, served as assistant chief of police beginning in 2017 prior to becoming chief. “My career with Humble Police Department has been an extremely fulfilling career,” Theis said. “I really have felt honored to have worked with the department, and the members of the Humble [Police] Department are second to none.”
Zientek’s career highlights
• 1991-2005: Worked for Montgomery County Constable Precinct 5 and Harris County Constable Precinct 4 • 2006: Criminal investigator with the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office • 2015-2022: Part-time FBI task force officer before moving to Montgomery County Precinct 3 Constable’s Office • June 2022: Joined Humble Police Department • May 8, 2025: Promoted from HPD’s assistant chief to chief
Humble City Council unanimously approved Assistant Chief Dan Zientek as the city’s new police chief during the May 8 council meeting, with council member Andy Curry absent. What’s happening? Beginning June 3, Zientek replaced retiring Chief Ken Theis, who has led the department since October 2020.
SOURCE: CITY OF HUMBLE/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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