Conroe City Council backed a regional groundwater proposal that could nearly double the amount of groundwater available for pumping in Montgomery County, and during the same July 9 meeting, council delayed a $300,000 holiday lighting agreement.
The details
Council voted 3-2 to approve a resolution supporting the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District’s proposed desired future conditions, with council members David Hairel and Shana Arthur voting against the measure.
Desired future conditions are long-term goals used to guide groundwater planning. The proposed conditions would increase Montgomery County’s modeled available groundwater from 97,000 acre-feet to approximately 199,000 acre-feet annually while keeping the existing standard to retain a median 70% available drawdown remaining through 2080.
The resolution does not change groundwater pumping limits on its own. Instead, it signals Conroe’s support as Groundwater Management Area 14 considers adopting the proposed conditions, according to documents.
LSGCD Executive Director Sarah Kouba said updated modeling provided more information about the county’s groundwater supply.
“We actually got an improved model through the Texas Water Development Board during this cycle,” Kouba said.
Before the final vote, Hairel proposed delaying action to allow additional public input and hold a council workshop.
“We’re responsible to the citizens of Conroe, and they deserve a public hearing,” Hairel said. “We deserve, as council members, a workshop.”
The proposal to delay the resolution failed before council approved the original measure.
Also of note
Council also postponed a proposed $300,000 agreement renewal with Southern Lighting for the Candy Cane Park Drive-Thru Christmas Celebration. The motion to defer passed with no opposing votes.
Several council members requested more information about whether hotel occupancy tax revenue was the appropriate funding source and what the event costs the city beyond the lighting agreement, including expenses associated with staff, buses and drivers.
City staff said departments tracked those costs and could bring the information back to council.
According to documents, the proposed renewal would include several upgrades at no additional cost, including:
- Another light tunnel and additional decorative displays
- Perimeter lighting around the Activity Center, C.K. Ray Recreation Center and Parks Administration buildings
- Reconfigured display areas with new themes
The drive-through event is tentatively scheduled to operate Dec. 4-24. More than 13,000 vehicles visited the event last year, along with approximately 2,500 shuttle riders.
