Court Discusses Sewage Facility
On April 5, Steve Dennis urged the Glasscock County Commissioners’ Court to immediately apply for a Colonia Grant to pay for installation of a sewage system in Garden City before the deadline for this year’s applications. Colonia grants are available to towns within 100 miles of the Mexican border, and were used to fund Garden City’s water system. According to Dennis, Colonia grants use federal funds which come through the Department of Housing and Urban Development and are managed by a state agency. Dennis is the engineer of the firm that installed the water system in Garden City.
Dennis said a sewage system could be done with a minimum of four phases costing $500,000 each. He said a system would need 20 acres of land (located somewhere south of Garden City), and that the system would require a one-half time person to operate it. He said there is little problem with odor from modern sewage treatment plants.
The court, however, had reservations about applying for money to construct a sewer system without sufficient public hearings and input from the residents of both Garden City and the county.
Commissioner Jimmy Strube was especially reluctant to agree to a grant application, saying many of his constituents were negative about the water system in Garden City. He recalled problems with that system, which was originally to have been operated separately from the county, but ultimately is owned and operated by the county. He said the town of Garden City could incorporate, and then install a sewer system. Strube said he would want complete information and a questionnaire sent out to all county residents and taxpayers before any public hearing in the matter.
The court decided not to apply for a Colonia sewage grant at this time, but left open the option to apply for one next year.
In other action on April 4, the court agreed to hire David Decker to remove and level tree stumps and to prune and shape trees around the courthouse.