GEORGETOWN — The end may be in sight for Granger’s water woes.
Williamson County commissioners this week agreed to provide the city with an additional $253,000 to complete its troubled water-line connection, but the measure received some pushback from Precinct 2 and 3 commissioners Cynthia Long and Valerie Covey.
Long noted commissioners had already disbursed substantial aid payments to all small towns in Williamson County, yet Granger has repeatedly returned for more money.
“We’re up to almost $2.4 million on this project. It’s my understanding that there’s still $1 million that hasn’t been drawn on,” Long said.
Granger has hit several snags on the project during the last few months, including challenges faced by running the water line under some railroad tracks. That in turn delayed the opening of a new school and meant the athletic stadium had no water until recently when some was trucked in for games.
Commissioner Russ Boles, whose Precinct 4 includes Granger, said the city of about 1,200 faces a grim situation if full water service isn’t restored.
He noted only two 8-inch water lines, one of which has since collapsed, served the city on the east side of Texas 95.
“There’s not enough water for fire flow… (This is) a health and safety issue,” Boles said.
If the remaining water line stops functioning before repairs and connections can be completed, more than half of Granger’s population, or about 700 residents, will be without water.
Covey said project invoices had not been turned in.
“Has our auditor’s office had a chance to really do an accounting of the project? If there’s still a million (dollars) that hasn’t been invoiced, but yet there’s a need for ($253,000) more, I just want to make sure that everything’s properly accounted for,” she said.
Granger Mayor Bruce Waggoner and a major contractor for the project, Scott Murrah, an engineer and president of 5M, appeared before the court to discuss the city’s request for more money.
Murrah addressed Covey’s concern.
“According to my accounting, I have $170,000 left over from the other funds,” he said.
Murrah said he was holding part of the mentioned allocations to cover the wastewater lines, which will require a new lift station, but he agreed to reach out to County Auditor Julie Kiley to go over invoices.
Murrah outlined for commissioners how previous bores proved unsuccessful, how the $250,000 will be used to pay for the next dig and how the upcoming bore will be different.
“We’re moving the bore as far north as we can…and the (geotechnical) engineer has also recommended that we lower the pipe (depth) to 20 feet below ground. Now all of that has increased the cost of this bore,” Murrah said.
On top of that, the geotechnical engineer also suggested using a 30-inch pipe instead of a 24-inch pipe. At the end of the 30-inch pipe is a flap.
“Someone can go into the pipe and push these flaps out to guide the end of the pipe where it needs to go. All of that comes with additional cost, and that’s why we’re asking for some help to cover these extra bore expenses,” Murrah said. While the commissioners needed to approve the funding source, the money comes from the interest generated by the COVID-era American Rescue Plan Act.
Commissioners approved the disbursement, with Long and Covey dissenting.
Waggoner said Granger is appreciative of the commissioners’ support.
“We look forward to completing it as soon as possible. Scheduling requests are underway as we speak,” Waggoner said.
Commissioners meet 9:30 a.m. Tuesdays at 710 S. Main St. Sessions can also be viewed online at wilcotx.gov/331/ Commissioners- Court.
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There’s not enough water for fire flow … (This is) a health and safety issue.”
— Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ
