February 20, 2003

Gulf Coast Water Authority 

The Gulf Coast Water Authority Board of Directors approved an agreement with Malcolm Pirnie for engineer construction services of the Thomas Mackey Water Treatment Plant parallel pipeline from the ground storage tanks to the distribution pump station.

"Remember we weren't too happy with them on the engineering of the plant, so they made it up to us on this project and gave us a lot of extra free engineering so we're very pleased," explained President Bill Latimer.  "This is an almost $900,000 project that we got the engineering done for $16,000, so that's a pretty good deal."

The GCWA board awarded a contract to  Red River Specialties Incorporated for the purchase and delivery of aquatic herbicide and surfactant.  

"This is a big reduction in cost," stated Latimer.  "It's a 26 percent savings," added General Manager Robert Istre.

All other agenda items were approved and all directors were present.

In his report, Istre told the directors that there has not been an injury in fourteen months.  

"I don't know if we've ever done that before," said Latimer.  "We owe it to our staff and employees, that's for sure."

Istre also informed the directors of a major development in river water rights.  "The issue is environmental organizations are requesting water permits for the environment," he explained.  "If they (TCEQ) were to give permits for environmental use, it would consume most of the available river water left in Texas and take it away from municipal, industrial and future use, mining, irrigation and so on."  

Istre reported that an amendment to the Chocolate Bayou Water Company water permit was proposed by the TECQ to add a second diversion point north of GCWA tanks and give a junior right to everybody in between.  

"Chocolate Bayou has contested the junior status…and has asked for an additional 60 days to extend their response to the draft amendment so they can do more study," said Istre.