Election sites set
Mar. 17—The Cleburne City Council, during their Tuesday meeting, approved voting locations for upcoming city and Cleburne ISD elections. Council approved three locations for election day on May 6 and two locations for early voting.
Early voting hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 24 to May 2 excluding weekends.
Residents may vote at Cleburne City Hall, 10 N. Robinson St., or the Cleburne Conference Center, 1501 W. Henderson St.
Election Day, May 6, voting hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Voters in districts 1 and 3 will vote at Cooke Elementary, 902 Phillips St.
District 2 voters will vote at Gerard Elementary, 1212 S. Hyde Park Blvd.
District 4 voters will vote at the Booker T. Washington Community and Recreation Center, 100 Mansfield Road.
The Cleburne City Council Single Member District 2 and 3 seats are up for election this year. Both seats will have new council members after May 6. Former SMD 2 Councilman Chris Boedeker stepped down last year after he won the race for Johnson County judge. SMD 3 Councilman Mike Mann decided not to seek reelection.
Candidates Blake Jones and Michael Hammond filed to compete in the SMD 2 race while candidates James Stuer and Joseph Mims will compete in the SMD 3 race.
In the CISD School Board elections, Jason Tennison sits unopposed in the Place 2 race. The Place 1 race, on the other hand, boasts three candidates: Kathy Dinh Davis, Joe Trevino Jr. and John Long.
Water work
Council approved a $6,250,000 contract with Blackrock Construction for construction of the West Loop Reuse Pipeline, which will substantially increase the city's water supply.
"This is a big day in Cleburne," Cain said of the project. "This will increase our water capacity by 20 percent with the ability to bump it up to 80 percent. More importantly, it helps to control our own destiny so we're not having to depend on anyone else for water."
Right now, between Lake Pat Cleburne, Lake Aquilla and several ground wells, Cleburne is able to provide 10 million gallons of water per day.
"Once the reuse line is completed it will pump an addition 2 million gallons per day back into Lake Pat bringing our capacity to 12 million gallons per day," Cain said. "Right now, that 2 million gallons flows down Nolan River to Lake Whitney, but soon we'll be able to recapture it for Cleburne."
Concurrently, expansion of Cleburne's wastewater treatment plant is underway, a project that will increase the plant's capacity by 40 percent, Hutt said.
"The construction of that plant is about 55 percent complete and, upon completion, will be able to supply 2 million gallons per day of reuse water," Hutt said.
Included in the wastewater plant expansion project, Hutt said, is a 2 million gallon per day pump station that is expandable up to 8.5 million gallon per day as city growth demands more water supply.
Work on the 4.35 mile reuse line should complete in about 270 days, Hutt said, which is also around the time of the scheduled completion date on the wastewater plant expansion.
Water and sewer revenue bonds, issued through the Texas Water Development Board in 2019, will fund the reuse line project.
Council also approved $696,000 for engineering and construction costs associated with a water connection project, a partnership between Cleburne and Johnson County Special Utility District.
Childress Engineers will handle engineering services on that project at a cost not to exceed $146,000. Construction costs are estimated at $550,000.
Cain characterized the connection project as a go-to resource in cases of emergencies.
"A long time ago we looked at a take point where the JCSUD line os in close proximity to one of our water lines," Cain said. "This connection will give us the ability to buy water wholesale from JCSUD to supplement what we're doing water wise.
"It's not a huge water source, but it's another source. Something we could use in emergencies such as peaking times of highest demand."
Cleburne and county growth necessitate such moves now to ensure ample water supply in the years ahead, Cain said.
"What the community needs to understand is that the two largest providers of water in Johnson County are Cleburne and JCSUD," Cain said. "As the county continues to grow we're going to be looking at a more regional approach because a lot of our smaller communities are not going to be able to keep up with demand and don't have other alternatives.
"So, over the next 50 years, Texas is shifting to more of a regional water providing system. You have a Tarrant region. I think we're going to see a Johnson County region of sorts eventually."
Council approved $539,428.64 for golf maintenance equipment, which includes mowers, turf utility vehicles and other equipment. The city will lease the equipment for a four year term at 5.24 percent interest. Because of maintenance and other issues, it is more cost effective to lease rather than buy the equipment, city officials said.
Well done
Council members commended Finance Director Rhonda Daugherty and her staff on a recent award.
The Government Treasurer's Organization of Texas on Jan. 27 awarded a certificate of distinction for the city's investment policy.
The award recognizes the city's commitment to maintain a comprehensive written investment policy that meets Texas Public Funds Investment Act requirements.
Cain praised Daugherty and her staff on the long hours and voluminous work their duties entail.
Weathers agreed.
"We're going to have to find more wall space for our finance department to hold all these awards they keep winning," Weathers said.
