City joins regional water agency

Aledo City Council voted Oct. 1 to join a new countywide agency meant to plan and pay for future water supplies. Later the same night, after about 90 minutes in closed session, the council approved a settlement in a lawsuit that Aledo and Fort Worth brought against the City of Willow Park, Beall-Dean Ranch, and Parker County.

Aledo will pay $20,000 a year from its utility enterprise fund to be a part of the countywide utility agency.

Fourteen entities are named as initial members: Aledo, Annetta, Brock, Cool, Cresson, Hudson Oaks, Millsap, Parker County, Peaster, Springtown, Weatherford, Willow Park, the Upper Trinity Groundwater Conservation District and the Walnut Creek Special Utility District. The agency comes into existence only after all of them adopt the resolution. The deadline is May 31.

City Manager Candice Edmondson said membership gives Aledo a seat on the agency’s board. It does not commit the city to building anything or buying water through the agency. 

“Any future project participation would require a separate council decision,” Edmondson said.

Annual dues are based on population. They range from $5,000 for members with fewer than 1,000 residents to $50,000 for those with more than 20,000. Parker County pays a fixed $100,000 a year and the Upper Trinity district pays $25,000.

The council must appoint a director to the agency board, and may name an alternate, by its Nov. 19 meeting.

Lawsuit settlement

After discussion in executive session, council approved a settlement in the lawsuit, “City of Aledo and City of Fort Worth v. City of Willow Park, Beall-Dean Ranch and Parker County.” 

It has been reported by other entities that there is an agreement between all entities involved that the details of the settlement will not be made public until all have approved it.

The lawsuit was part of a rise in legal costs this year. Outside legal spending reached $193,748, compared with $135,000 in the budget. Councilmember Todd Covington asked what drove the increase. Chief Financial Officer Doug Martella said the lawsuit litigation alone accounted for close to $135,000.