Mineral Wells Area News

PALO PINTO, Texas (May 1, 2025) — The Palo Pinto County Commissioners Court unanimously approved an interlocal agreement with the Palo Pinto County Municipal Water District No. 1 on the first day of May in front of a room packed full with residents from across the county.

The agreement addresses the rebuilding of Ward Mountain Road, a crucial component for the completion of the Turkey Peak Reservoir project.

The agreement resolves a long-standing issue regarding the rerouting of traffic after a portion of FM 4 will be submerged by the new reservoir.

Under the agreement, the county will take responsibility for maintaining Ward Mountain Road after the Water District completes upgrades, which will serve as the main route around the new reservoir when FM 4 is condemned.

Palo Pinto County Judge Shane Long reiterated to the crowd that despite a verbal agreement with TxDot officials for years regarding the project, ultimately a signed agreement failed to happen, but it was not for a lack of try by local officials.

“Commissioner Fryer has been on this for 18 years, trying to get TxDOT on board to do what we all, I think, would agree TxDOT should do,” Judge Long said.

“Our concern is if we just don’t do anything, we don’t have the authority to order the water district to do anything or TxDOT to do anything,” Long explained.

“If TxDOT decides to relinquish the right-of-way to the Water District for the impoundment and we haven’t tried to improve Ward Mountain Road, then we could be in a situation where we just get Ward Mountain Road just left undone, unfixed,” he added.

Beth Watson, Mineral Wells City Council representative for Ward 3 and mayor pro tem, spoke in support of the agreement.

“Without water from Lake Palo Pinto and Hilltop Water Treatment Plant, no one could even come to work at this courthouse. We are all in this together,” Watson said.

“I encourage you to proudly stand up and not just say, oh, I had to vote for that. Say, I voted for that and I’m proud of it because water is life,” she added.

Jeff Hinkson, a lifelong resident of Palo Pinto County, also voiced his support.

“Being from this part of North Texas, drought is never too far from my mind or most people’s mind, and we’ve seen it over and over and over,” Hinkson said.

“Unfortunately, or fortunately, depending on how you look at it, this county is changing. This county is quickly adding population,” he noted.

Scott Royal, who serves on the board for the Sturdivant/Progress water cooperative, added his support.

“Our system is, on a smaller scale, I think it’s been years of underinvestment, and now we’re the generation left to make this tough, painful choice,” Royal said.

“I’m listening to people affected by it in a personal way, and I very much identify and empathize,” he continued. “But the overall picture is we desperately need this resource. It is very expensive, and it will be painful to pay for, but now is the time to do it.”

“I encourage you to vote for it,” Royal concluded.

Nathan Buschow, a lifelong resident and also a member of the Sturdivant/ Progress water board, emphasized the growing water needs in the county.

“2014 and 2015 came to my mind today. And then in May of 2015, the lake filled up and the thoughts went away. We were safe again,” Buschow said.

“This county has struggled with droughts in the past, and with the growth, it’s only gonna get worse. A small drought is gonna have a lot more massive impact than a bad drought,” he warned. “Our forefathers took on a lot of debt in this county a long time ago to make sure that we have what we have today. And it’s our time to do the same for the future,” Buschow added.

The agreement however wasn’t without opposition. Several residents expressed concerns about the customers ability to pay high water bills and the county’s ability to maintain the road in the future.

Shane Roach stated, “My issue is this. Down the road, when the maintenance is going to be required, then it’s going to become our problem. It’s going to become the county’s,” Roach said.

“I do not think it’s adequate… even though they’re going to do it to AASHTO standards and all that,” he added.

Johanna Miller, who lives on Lake Palo Pinto, questioned the urgency of the decision.

“Why the rush? Why are we rushing this thing?” Miller asked. “I know you’re being pressured and I really want you to think this through because you’re the ones having to take it,” she continued.

“I’m asking you to have some courage and really consider this because this isn’t looking good,” Miller added.

Judge Long addressed concerns about the timing.

“I appreciate the comments from y’all about, can we take time to look at it? But we’ve been looking at it for months,” Long said.

“It’s not new, we didn’t just wake up last week when the Water District approved it and decided to take a look at it and see what’s in there,” he explained.

“We’ve been going through it. I’ve spent, Ms. Maegan, how many hours have we spent, reading through it, looking over it, and pitching it back and forth,” addressing County Attorney Maegan Kostiha.

“It’s gone multiple times to the Water District, back to the Water District, to the county, back to the Water District, back to the county,” Long added of the arduous process.

Andrew Watts, also expressed concerns about the county’s ability to maintain the road.

“After the 10 years, like Mr. Roach says, I have a real concern. I don’t think the county is going to be able to maintain this portion of the road,” Watts said.

“It’s going to be pretty much a gap for the state highway, which is going to be a state highway, in essence.”
“I just don’t see where the county’s going to have the facilities and the manpower to take care of that stretch of the road,” he added while also questioning the $15-20 million cost for the road repair.

Howard Huffman, General Manager of the Water District addressed the cost concerns.

“The lower portion was already built into our $200 million construction loan with the water development board,” Huffman said.

“The remaining three and a half miles on top… we had always understood TxDOT was going to be our partner on this. They have changed their mind,” he added.

According to Huffman, completing Ward Mountain Road would take until at least “early summer of 2027.”
This would be “the earliest that FM4 will be shut down,” he said.

Judge Long praised the crowd on the civility of the discussions in the courtroom which were conducted very well-mannered, considering the controversial topic.

However there was one moment near end of the meeting, when a mildly contentious exchange occurred after Shane Roach questioned why the county couldn’t just delay their decision.

“Everybody’s kicking it down the road,” Roach said.

Commissioner Fryer responded, “That’s why it’s on us now.”

Roach countered, “I know, and why can’t y’all kick the can down the road like everybody else does?”

Commissioner Pollock shouted from the bench, “Because we like water,” just before Mineral Wells Councilwoman Watson added from the crowd, “Because it will cost $500 million.”

Judge Long quickly tempered the crowd and turned to commissioners regarding the resolution.

The court then approved the resolution stating that “Palo Pinto County supports the construction of Turkey Peak Reservoir.”

The resolution which was read aloud by Judge Long says “any plan developed to facilitate traffic must be a comprehensive plan that addresses traffic flow, safety, and long-term maintenance.”

It specified that “the abandoned section shall remain open to the public until completion of the upgrade of Ward Mountain Road.”

The county will be responsible for maintaining the road “to AASHOTO Roadway Design Manual Rule Collector with a design speed of 40 miles per hour standard.”

Despite a 10 year maintenance agreement by the Water District in the interlocal agreement, some residents still worry the eventual maintenance costs could fall on taxpayers.

The Turkey Peak Reservoir project represents a significant investment in the region’s water infrastructure.
When completed, it will increase water storage capacity by 83% for the district’s nearly 35,000 customers in Palo Pinto and western Parker County.

Despite having a smaller geographic footprint than Lake Palo Pinto, the new reservoir will be significantly deeper, making it less susceptible to evaporation during drought conditions.

The project addresses long-standing concerns about water security in a region that has faced severe drought challenges in recent years.

County officials viewed the agreements as a necessary step toward securing the area’s water future, even as some residents worry about the long-term road maintenance costs.

Both the interlocal agreement and the resolution passed with unanimous 5-0 votes, marking a significant milestone for a project that has been in development for more than two decades.

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