The Hot Springs Board of Directors on Tuesday will consider whether to accept a joint resolution that the Garland County Quorum Court adopted on July 13 as a compromise to the city's water connection policy.
The board will meet at 7 p.m. in City Hall, 133 Convention Blvd.
A July 13 letter from County Judge Rick Davis to Assistant City Manager Lance Spicer requested the county resolution be placed on the city board's July 14 agenda for consideration, but it was not scheduled to be heard until the first meeting in August.
Davis said in his letter that the quorum court "offers this resolution as a compromise solution to the differences related to the Hot Springs water connection policy."
"I think we all are hopefully ready to put this issue behind us and move forward together for the best interests of our community and growth and development," he also said.
City Attorney Brian Albright said the resolution was drafted in the form of a joint resolution of the city board and the quorum court, and among other things seeks to change the water connection and extension policy for the city's water system.
The county resolution states that, effective July 1, the city would administer its water connection and extension policy in such a way as to provide equal access among all present and future customers (residential, business, and retail) within its corporate limits and the geographical area within 1 mile of its corporate limits. The city would also set no restrictions on housing development within 2.5 miles of its corporate limits and during this time, no change in policy would be expected beyond the 2.5-mile demarcation line.
The resolution also states that effective Jan. 1, 2017, the city would provide water within its corporate limits and geographical area within 2.5 miles of the corporate limits. The city would also set no restrictions on housing development within the existing service area and within 5 miles of the city limits.
Effective Jan 1, 2019, or the date a new water treatment plant becomes operational, the city would provide water within all accepted improvement districts with its state-recognized service area.
The resolution also says the city would continue to seek and secure an additional raw water supply from the most economically feasible sources, the quorum court supports the city's continued efforts to acquire a new water supply, city and county leadership will work together to prosecute offenses of water theft within the unincorporated areas of the county and enforce equitable systemwide conservation measures when they affect areas outside the city's jurisdictional authority.
A joint resolution regarding the city's water system has been drafted by the city but states basically the city will provide equal access to water within its boundaries and the geographical area within 1 mile of the corporate limits. That resolution has been tabled by the board until a signed document is received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granting the city a future source of water.
Local on 08/03/2015