City sets tentative date for public water plant meeting

The Olney City Council tentatively set a special- called meeting and town hall for July 10 at 6 p.m. to discuss the fate of the stalled water treatment plant.

Mayor Rue Rogers noted at the June 24 Council meeting that City Administrator Simon Dwyer had presented the City with five options for starting construction after bids for the plant came in over the $13.5 million the City had budgeted for the project. Mr. Dwyer told the Council that the price tag for the plant, which will replace the existing 102-year-old facility, has soared from a low bid of $15 million to $18 million to $20 million because of inflation.

“I don’t know what the best route is but every day we wait we are decreasing the City’s buying power,” Mayor Rogers told the Council last week. Mayor Rogers said he met with local banks in the intervening weeks “to see about $3 million in additional funding.”

“At the end of the day, we need more [money],” he said. The City issued $13.5 million in revenue bonds in April 2022, which are being paid for by a $35 per meter water surcharge.

He suggested calling the July 10 meeting to see if the community can help determine the best path forward.

“I want to move on it. I have a sense of urgency about it,” he said. “Has it been a straight shot and easy? No. But we need to stay the course.”

Mr. Dwyer said he would ask the investment bankers who helped sell the bonds to attend, as well as the City’s advisors from Texas CLASS Local Government Investment Pool.

Councilmember Thea Sullivan said Olney citizens she has spoken with about the water treatment plant “don’t mind paying the $35 a month but they want to see progress.”