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LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM MAYOR: No More Kicking the The Can
Mineral Wells City Council chose not to put the water burden on your kids and grandkids
Mayor Regan Johnson
Dear Editor,
The City of Mineral Wells and its water district have been working on a solution for water for our region for decades. A project, Turkey Peak Reservoir, was ultimately decided on in the 2000s because it captured new water and had limited environmental impact. Many alternatives were considered. The others were either unworkable or more expensive.
Those who came before us applied for and received a federal permit to build this reservoir.
The city council of Mineral Wells last year voted to fund the Turkey Peak project without further delay. This required us to raise water rates for local and wholesale customers. We are also addressing a water treatment plant that is past its life expectancy, and other needs related to water supply and infrastructure upgrades.
Obviously, this has generated a lot of controversy and pain in the pocketbook. But the cost of doing nothing is this: Either run out of water, or pay much more later for the same improvements.After all, it already took a decade for the federal government to approve the strategy we have. These are not risks we were willing to take.
We have had local organizations step up to help citizens in need, and the council is exploring all feasible ways to relieve the burden on customers. This includes major opportunities such as help from the Texas Water Development Board, which could provide significant assistance as it has in the past for Turkey Peak Reservoir during the planning and land acquisition stages.
Often local governments are criticized for failing to plan. Those who came before us did some planning, but it’s up to us to finish the work. Despite such a huge task before us, it’s wrong to kick the can down the road to your kids and grandkids.
Regan Wallace Johnson
Mineral Wells Mayor
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We must buckle down and take on this water project. Yes it is costly. Yes, I wish it would have been done 40 or even 20 years ago but it just did not make it to the top of our city council’s priority list at that time. None of this council were there back then. They are dealing now with these tough decisions. I admire their tenacity. I admire their honesty.
It is sad, but where is the money that was put toward this project. The lake that you all want to build is going to be in the same damn shape as the one now, with the piss poor water intake coming into it.
Mayor Johnson speaks,truth. The choice is do nothing and have no water, or do the hard thing and prepare for our water needs now and in the future. There are no other choices.