Water Users Coalition

Giving Water Districts a Stronger Voice! Actively advancing ideas and concerns of our members.

April 20, 2020 NHCRWA Special Monthly Meeting

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North Harris County Regional Water Authority will be holding a special monthly meeting Monday, April 20, 2020, at 4:00 p.m. This meeting will be held solely via tele-conference. There will not be a physical meeting location, so please utilize the dial-in information provided in the agenda. 

NHCRWA stated the following:  
Based on guidance provided by the Governor of the State of Texas, the NHCRWA has decided to utilize a provision of the Texas Open Meetings Act that allows the Board to hold a meeting via tele-conference in the event of an emergency. The NHCRWA Board remains committed to encouraging public attendance at its meetings. In order to facilitate public participation, the agenda includes a public dial-in number for your use. This meeting will be held solely via tele-conference. There will not be a physical meeting location, so please utilize the dial-in information provided on the agenda. 

Thank you for your continued patience and cooperation as we attempt to navigate through this time

To view the agenda click:  NHCRWA Special Monthly Meeting 04-20-20

NHCRWA Rate Increase

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Please read the two letters below sent to the North Harris County Regional Water Authority, and consider writing to them as well.

Good day to Everyone,

I hope you are all well. As we all deal with the COVID-19 pandemic that is effecting all of us; it is safe to say that this event has caused tremendous economic hardship on many people in addition to several other related problems. Many organizations have been forced to reassess and adjust their plans with the current reality.  

We recognize that the North Harris County Regional Water Authority is an organization on an important necessary mandated mission to provide surface water to our communities. We support and believe in that mission. We also know that our constituents are feeling the economic hardship. Delinquencies are on the increase and will only get worse as this pandemic continues.

Please consider calling a special meeting next week for delaying the April 1, 2020 rate increase until a later date. We understand that this may possibly require a larger increase over the next two years. Most Mud operators have already changed their billing software to add in the April 1st increase, and will need time before the bills are scheduled to go out in early May to remove the increase.

Should this increase move forward we are very concerned that all of the water community will take an avoidable public relations hit. The perception of the water community not caring and/or being insensitive to the situation will be remembered for years to come. The Houston Chronicle would love to give the MUD’s a black eye. I can see the front page news now. Can you see it?

Thank you for your time and consideration. If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to ask.

Best regards,

Jerry Homan
General Manager, HCFWSD61

Below is a letter from Ron Chapman.

April 15, 2020

Directors
North Harris County Regional Water Authority
3648 Cypress Creek Pkwy., #110

Greetings,
Many members of the Water Users Coalition have expressed a concern over the April 1, 2020 North Harris County Regional Water Authority’s (NHCRWA) rate increase. Members have indicated that they would like for this rate increase to be postponed until a later date due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Please consider the following:

  • Economic hardship on our constituents
  • Public perception and relations
  • Texas Public Utilities Commission (temporary suspension of termination of service for nonpayment)
  • Media coverage
  • Water district cooperation
  • Governing entities reaction such as TCEQ, County, State, Federal.

While we understand and support the NHCRWA’s task of supplying surface water to our customers, this circumstance is requiring everyone to adjust and make difficult decisions. MUD’s are dealing with higher than normal delinquent balances that will increase the longer this pandemic continues. People are out of work and businesses are closing for no fault of their own.

We recognize that this may require a higher increase at a later date, however, this would be preferable to an increase now!

The Water Users Coalition Advisory Council strongly recommends that you reconsider the April 1, 2020 increase.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Regards,

Ron Chapman
Chairman, Water Users Coalition (WUC)