March 23, 2022: Press Release – Joshua, TX
The JCSUD Board of Directors met on Tuesday, March 15, 2022, at 4:30 PM.
Josh Berryhill, P.E., with eHT, presented the JCSUD Regional Wastewater Master Plan (WWMP). The purpose of the plan is to provide JCSUD with an understanding of the current wastewater system, the anticipated growth, and the required improvements to serve the anticipated growth. The Board of Directors accepted the JCSUD Wastewater Master Plan. The Wastewater Master Plan will help direct future decisions regarding improvements to the current wastewater system.
The Board of Directors adopted a JCSUD Fire Flow Policy in areas located within the boundary of the JCSUD CCN and overlapped by various municipalities, city limits, or extraterritorial jurisdictions. There are different criteria for different situations. A new development/subdivision, whose pressure plane is supplied by surface water, whose total land use is larger than 5.0 acres of land, will require a 1,000 GPM fire flow. A new development/subdivision whose pressure plane is supplied by groundwater, whose total land use is larger than 5.0 acres of land, will require a 250 GPM fire flow. Should a municipality require a higher fire flow than specified above, JCSUD will require the higher fire flow requirement within a municipality's jurisdiction at the time of application to the District. The infrastructure needed to supply the higher fire flows will be at the expense of the development/subdivision. The higher fire flows are usually related to large warehouses, schools, and multi-family complexes.
The Board of Directors approved an increase in Water and Wastewater System Development Fees for the standard 5/8 x 3/4 Meter. Over the last several months, JCSUD has seen infrastructure needs increase significantly due to the amount of growth throughout the District. The System Development Fees for water will increase from $2800 to $4060, and wastewater will increase from $3000 to $4,350.
The Board of Directors approved a long-term financial strategy to engage Kimley-Horn through the On-Call Engineering Service Agreement Task Order process to complete the 2022 Water and Wastewater Impact Fees Study. JCSUD is evaluating the feasibility of adopting Water and Wastewater Impact Fees. The Impact Fee study will be developed alongside the Water Master Plan to align the CIP needs. Impact fees are a one-time charge or assessment imposed by an entity against new development to generate revenue for funding the cost of capital improvements (waterlines, sewer lines, etc.) related to the new development. Impact Fees would replace System Development Fees currently imposed on new development. Impact Fees will assess the infrastructure needed to accommodate growth through new development and calculate an appropriate fee to ensure growth is paying for growth.
NewGen Strategies & Solutions is working with JCSUD to develop a 30-year financial forecasting model that will allow JCSUD to understand the financial and rate impact of decisions today and into the future. Specifically, the model will incorporate the JCSUD's planned capital investment, the anticipated method of funding planned investment, and the project cash- flows needed to support that funding. The analysis will include a projection of debt service requirements and the rates needed to support those commitments and maintain JCSUD's other key financial metrics. The ultimate output of the model should be sufficient to support a formal business plan for the District that aligns with the Board's overall strategic goals and objectives.
Pete Kampfer, General Manager, reported that JCSUD is committed to creating a positive environment for all of our employees to thrive. The Human Resources Department is very aggressive in hiring for several positions throughout the District. More to come as we retain a new Human Resource Manager this month.