Colleyville develops 20-year infrastructure plan

Discussion over the future of Colleyville’s water and waste water infrastructure leans toward increased rates.

The City Council reviewed the new water and water master plan that outlines how the city can develop its infrastructure over the next 20 years at a recent pre-council meeting. In order to fund $55 in projects contractors proposed a gradual increase in rates that council members will need to make a decision on.

Proposed changes to the water rate include the removal of the current policy that provides residences with a standard 2,000 gallons of water. Instead, the contractor recommended charging a volumetric rate initially. Changes also include different rates for residential and commercial customers and meter sized based billing. There would also be a gradual increase in rates to skew closer to the average of neighboring cities. These changes would be implemented over four years.

“As a city we've been negligent in the past when we absorb rates under our fix rates,” Mayor David Kelly said. “We've not ever built in periodically a fixed cost coverage.”

Kelly and the city council said they would like more time and info before making a decision.

“These modifications are recommended to allow the city’s water and sewer revenues to more fully recover fixed expenses,” the master plan summary reads.

The master plan covers the city’s water system of 200 miles of pipeline, two pump stations and ground storage tanks and three elevated storage tanks. Colleyville’s wastewater system features 838,997 linear feet of sanitary sewers, 3,023 manholes and two lift stations.

The last time the city conducted a water system study was conducted in 2002.

“You did not know what you had,” Jeff Sober, with contractor Garver, told the council. “This gives you a road map of growth, gives you that road map so your staff is empowered to make those decisions, as well as making sure that you’re investing appropriately.”

The plan also includes 44 proposed projects to update and improve the systems.

This story was originally published December 29, 2014 at 10:15 AM with the headline "Colleyville develops 20-year infrastructure plan."