NEW BOSTON, Texas -- The newly formed Wright Patman Regional Water Supply Agency held its first board of directors' meeting Tuesday and chose Wake Village Mayor Mike Huddleston as its president.
Amid questions about cost and public accountability, the meeting came a month after the agency was re-created. The group also adopted by-laws and agreed on temporary administrative offices. The 11 board members also elected New Boston Mayor Johnny Branson as vice-president and Clarksville Mayor Ann Rushing as secretary/treasurer.
"I think this agency will be one of the most exciting agencies in this area as well as in the country," Huddleston said in his opening remarks after being elected. "It is a way for all of us, as citizens, to work together and look for what is best for the citizens of each city."
Huddleston went on to say that the agency's creation has nothing to do with the controversial Marvin Nichols Reservoir plan.
"Marvin Nichols has nothing to do with the agency," he said. "If Marvin Nichols gets built, it won't be done by this agency. This agency will be all about having our cities come together and work together to get water at affordable rates."
Huddleston said the board will need to form standing committees to attend the Sulphur River Basin Authority and Region D North East Texas Regional Water Planning Group meetings, since decisions made by both agencies will affect WPRWSA.
Huddleston suggested to the board that member cities consider appointing their council members to the committees.
After some discussion, a resident attending the meeting asked if certain projects cost $60 million to $80 million, would the taxpayers of the cities involved be responsible for paying the bill since the cities operate on tax money.
Huddleston said the citizens would have a voice through their city councils.
Maud resident and NETRWPG Region D member George Frost said he felt like he and other citizens have the right to know more about the agency's plans, noting that he hadn't seen a copy of the agency's by-laws until Tuesday's meeting.
Huddleston asked Frost about his efforts to keep people informed about the NETRWPG activities.
Branson answered Frost by saying the agency's board members would supply any information asked of them.
Other residents accused some board members of trying to hide behind the gag order imposed by 96th State District Judge Jim White. Some of these members are city officials in seven of the 11 WPRWSA member cities, which are currently involved in a lawsuit with Texarkana, Texas, and Texarkana Water Utilities. In the lawsuit, the cities claim TWU has overcharged them for water since 1981.
David Tuckfield, an Austin-based attorney representing the agency, said there's been some confusion about what the gag order applies to. Tuckfield said from now on, board members and other WPRWSA officials could discuss items pertaining to the agency but not to the lawsuit, which is still pending.
"From here on out, if it deals only with the agency and not with the lawsuit, it can be discussed," he said.
Huddleston assured the residents of the agency's openness.
"There will be no secrecy here," he said. "We will do everything above the table and nothing big will be done without getting the citizens input."
Tuckfield went through the agency's by-laws by generally explaining that these governing laws grant each member city the right to participate (or not participate) in proposed water projects. He went on to say that the by-laws allow each member city to appoint its own individual director who will serve a set term.
Tuckfield further explained that the agency's by-laws allow for three of its directors to request that a board meeting be called to address whatever issues need to be discussed. Six board members present at a meeting would make up a quorum.
After some discussion, the board unanimously approved adopting the by-laws.
The board further agreed to set up temporary administrative offices at Wake Village City Hall. Huddleston said the agency may later set up a permanent office in New Boston, a central location.
In other business, the board also agreed to hire the Austin-based law firm of Vinson & Elkins (to which Tuckfield belongs), to conduct all the agency's future legal services.
Huddleston said the firm will also aid the agency in identifying water rights as well as draw up project participation contracts among the agency's member cities.
The agency's 11 board members, which represent each of its current cities, include Huddleston, Rushing, Branson, Beverly Phares for Redwater, Nash City Administrator Elizabeth Lea, Maud City Council Member David Gipson, DeKalb Mayor Paul Meadows, Atlanta City Manager Mike Ahrens, Annona Mayor George English, Avery Mayor Bill Trimm and Hooks Mayor-elect Mike Batt.
The agency's next meeting is tentatively scheduled for 1:30 p.m. June 28 at the Annona Regional Center.