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    • Nov 15, 2023
    • 8 min read

Wastewater Treatment Plant

Updated: Nov 18, 2023


Summary: Willow Park has now accepted the bid of a second building contractor for the new, reduced, WasteWater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and is proposing an additional $4M in debt for the WWTP construction -- after hiring, firing and suing the first WWTP construction contractor; reducing the WWPT design from a 1 million gallon capacity plant to a 750K gallon capacity plant; already assuming a $14M debt; increasing residential and commercial wastewater fees; approving the final location and plat for the new WWPT; in addition to several years struggling to find the correct location.

Latest Update: republished Tuesday, 15 November, 2023; Saturday, 18 April, 2023

Added 14 November Council Meeting Review, The Community News, 15 November 2023

Select #Tags for additional articles: #WastewaterTreatmentPlant


 

Wastewater Treatment Plant Update

Index: Note, Current Update, History, including Willow Park Civics Journal, Willow Park Civics Research


Note: The Willow Park Wastewater Treatment Project consists of four projects: the new plant (WWTP), the effluent lines to the Squaw Creek Club, an extension of wastewater lines under I20, and wastewater lines along Bankhead South. All are covered at Willow Park Civics > City > City Services > Wastewater


Current Update:

Willow Park has now accepted the bid of a second building contractor for the new, reduced, WasteWater Treatment Plant (WWTP) and is proposing an additional $4M in debt, after...

  • hiring, firing, and suing the first WWTP construction contractor,

  • reducing the WWTP design from a 1 million gallon capacity plant to a 750K gallon capacity plant,

  • already assuming a original $14M debt,

  • increasing residential and commercial wastewater fees,

  • approving the final location and plat for the new WWTP,

  • in addition to several years struggling to find the correct location.

During the 14 September 2023 Council Meeting, the City accepted a bid from Gracon Construction, Inc. for $13,6K, plus additional options, for a total of $14.5M, and started the process of acquiring an additional $4M debt, in addition to the $14,2KM already assumed debt, in order to complete the new WWTP. This debt will be paid with ad valorem taxes (property taxes), and the City's Wastewater Fund, which are the wastewater fees on residential and commercial City utility.


History

Willow Park is required by law to maintain wasterwater services based on its wastewater service population and service connections. "Willow Park’s wastewater system services a population of 1,941 with 482 connections. Willow Park has exceeded 80 percent of the city’s wastewater treatment plant capacity. That threshold triggers a state requirement to initiate engineering and financial planning for expansion of the system." [14 November 2023 Council Meeting]

Willow Park had its first look at the new Wastewater Treatment plant, during the 18 April 2023 Planning and Zoning Commission Meeting. (Agenda Item 4. Final Plat for Lot 1, Block 1, Willow Park Water Reclamation Area, being 8.610 acres, Wesley Franklin Survey, Abstract No. 468, in the City of Willow Park, Parker County, Texas.)


Willow Park is required by law to maintain wasterwater services based on its wastewater service population and service connections. "Willow Park’s wastewater system services a population of 1,941 with 482 connections. Willow Park has exceeded 80 percent of the city’s wastewater treatment plant capacity. That threshold triggers a state requirement to initiate engineering and financial planning for expansion of the system." [source VBX]


After almost a decade of painful attempts to find a location for the new Willow Park Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP), in August 2021 the City of Willow Park announced "that as of Thursday, August 19, the land exchange deal with Willow Park Baptist Church has officially been completed.The land exchange will allow the city to construct a new, larger wastewater treatment plant just a few hundred yards from the current site. We would like to thank the Willow Park Baptist Church leadership and the city leadership for working together on this solution that allows the city to secure our long-term future wastewater needs." [source Willow Park]


The new location "just a few hundred yards from the current site" is at 300 Crown Pointe Blvd Willow Park, TX 76087 and will be a "new plant and office building for the city water treatment plant... [with a] square footage: 3,436" Source TDLR The public street J. D. Towles Drive will extend northeast across the WWTP lot. Construction time is expected to be 365 days, which results in an anticipated completion date in mid-July 2024. [source 21Feb23P&Z]


"The City of Willow Park (City) is proposing to use $14,130,000 in financing from the CWSRF Program [Clean Water State Revolving Fund (CWSRF)] for the Wastewater Treatment Improvement Project to construct a new 0.95 million-gallons-per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant, including associated collection and discharge pipelines, that is capable of meeting growth projections and discharge limits for an impaired stream segment. On April 22, 2021, the TWDB committed $14,130,000 for the proposed project. The TWDB [Texas Water Development Board] and the City closed the financing on June 23, 2021". [source Public Notice, posted in The Community News, 03 February 2023, posted Willow Park Civics]


The City could save approximately $2,500,000 over the life of the loan by using the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. [source TWN]


This $14.31M in debt will be paid for by an impact fee on residential and commercial user bills, "The total estimated cost of the project is $14.31 million. The estimated monthly bill for a typical resident is currently $50.90. A user rate increase of $3.00/ month [5.9%] will be required to finance this project." [12 April 2022 Council Meeting Agenda Item 1]


Journal

Full and detailed journal at Willow Park Civics > City > City Services > Wastewater


• During the 14 September 2023 Council Meeting, the City accepted the bit from from Gracon Construction, Inc. of $13,606,655.00 for the diminished 750K gallon capacity WPTP and posting of notice of intention to issue certificates of obligation in an amount not to exceed $4,000,000 in addition to the $14,130,000 already assumed debt.

• The City's wastewater fee was increased in October 2023, passed by the Council in the 12 September 2023 Council Meeting.

• Discussed the wastewater fee fund "This fund is the most vulnerable of all funds in the Budget. With approximately half of the water accounts, and the imposition of a new wastewater treatment plant debt, this fund will struggle until additional accounts can be realized."

• Had a presentation from NewGen Strategies and Solutions on increasing fees for the water and waste water funds, which was approved in a subsequent council meeting.

• Reduce the WasteWater Treatment plant design from a 1 million gallon capacity plant to a 750K gallon capacity plant and authorize City staff to re-advertise to seek competitive proposals."

• In July 2023 the Council cancelled the bid from MH Civil Constructors, considered a law suit against them; the law suit was subsequently approved.

• In the 25 April 2023 Council Meeting the city approved the final plat for the new WWPT

• In June 2023, the City, accepted a bid for the WasteWater Treatment from MH Civil Constructors

• In the 03 February 2023 The Community News the city posted a public notice "The City of Willow Park (City) is proposing to use $14,130,000 in financing from the CWSRF Program for the Wastewater Treatment Improvement Project to construct a new 0.95 million-gallons-per day (MGD) wastewater treatment plant, including associated collection and discharge pipelines..."

• During the 14 June 2022 Council Meeting, the City Council had "a presentation that would provide wastewater services to areas within the city limits that do not currently have those services. Derek as prepared a presentation, which is attached [in .pdf], that goes in to detail about the challenges of this project on both the north and south sides of Willow Park."

• 12 April 2022 Council Meeting, Agenda Item 1, A public hearing is being held on February 22, 2021 at 7:00 PM at 516 Ranch House Road to discuss the City of Willow Park's proposed project to build a new wastewater treatment plant and pipeline North of IH-20 near Crowne Point Boulevard. One of the purposes of this hearing is to discuss the potential environmental impacts of the project and alternatives to it. The total estimated cost of the project is $14.31 million. The estimated monthly bill for a typical resident is currently $50.90. A user rate increase of $3.00/ month [5.9%] will be required to finance this project.

• Willow Park Civics Blog >Public Hearing on increase in utility bill, Wastewater Treatment Plant, 22 January 2022 (12 April 2022 Council Meeting)


Willow Park Civics Research


source TDLR

• Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation

Project Name: Wastewater Treatment Improvements

Project Number: TABS2023004206

Facility Name: Wastewater Treatment Plant

Location Address: 300 Crown Pointe Blvd Willow Park, TX 76087

Location County: Parker

Start Date: 3/1/2023

Completion Date: 3/1/2024

Estimated Cost: $14,130,000

Type of Work: New Construction

Type of Funds: This project involves public funds, public land, or is a Federally funded roadway project.

Scope of Work: New plant and office building for the city water treatment plant.

Square Footage: 3,436 ft 2


source VBX

Feature Photo: The existing wastewater treatment plant is exceeding 80% of capacity. Willow Park is borrowing $14 million to build a new one.


Willow Park (Parker County) — The city of Willow Park is in the process of securing a $14,130,000 loan from the Texas Water Development Board for the planning, design, land acquisition and construction of a new wastewater treatment plant, and associated piping for transmission and discharge lines.


The TWDB on April 22 approved a resolution that would provide the financing from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund. Willow Park’s wastewater system services a population of 1,941 with 482 connections.


Willow Park has exceeded 80 percent of the city’s wastewater treatment plant capacity. That threshold triggers a state requirement to initiate engineering and financial planning for expansion of the system. A second issue that must be addressed is the wastewater treatment plant’s discharge into an impaired stream segment; this limits options for expansion of the existing facility.


The city is proposing to construct a new wastewater treatment plant. The project will include construction of anew 1 million-gallons per day facility on a 56-acre site. The scope of work includes installation of associated transmission and discharge lines.


Willow Park is scheduled to close on the loan by July 1. The engineering feasibility report is not expected to be finished until June 3, 2022, and the design phase is to be completed by Sept. 12, 2022, according to the project schedule.


Construction would being by Jan. 12, 2023 and reach completion Jan. 12, 2024.


According to the budget summary, the estimated share of cost for construction is $10,280,000. The land acquisition is estimated at $1.4 million and the remainder of costs are attributed to engineering, special services, fiscal services and the contingency account.


Source TWN

• Texas Water Development Board approves $14,130,000 to the City of Willow Park (Parker County) for a wastewater treatment plant project, Texas Water Newsroom, 22 April 202, The Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) today approved by resolution financial assistance in the amount of a $14,130,000 loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund to the City of Willow Park (Parker County). The City will use the assistance to finance planning, acquisition, design, and construction costs associated with a wastewater treatment plant project.


The City could save approximately $2,500,000 over the life of the loan by using the Clean Water State Revolving Fund.


With the assistance approved today, the City will construct a new 1-million-gallon-per-day wastewater treatment plant and install associated transition and discharge lines.


The TWDB is the state agency charged with collecting and disseminating water-related data, assisting with regional water and flood planning, and preparing the state water and flood plans. The TWDB administers cost-effective financial assistance programs for the construction of water supply, wastewater treatment, flood control, and agricultural water conservation projects.






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