Conroe creates Public Works Department, appoints director

Norman McGuire was appointed director of the Conroe Public Works Department after City Council created the department during a meeting in June.

Functions of the new department were previously managed by the city’s engineering department. McGuire said the new department was needed because of the mounting responsibility of providing services to a rapidly growing population.

“The city is growing at such a rapid pace, and with all the development and infrastructure needs in the community, it is a lot for one department head to oversee,” McGuire said.

The department is managing several major projects for the city, including construction of the $8 million Windsor Lakes lift station, which is used to pump wastewater from a lower elevation to a higher elevation. The project broke ground last month and will be completed by summer 2018.

“That is a major system improvement that will serve all of our residents south of the San Jacinto River,” he said.

McGuire said the estimated $55 million wastewater treatment plant could break ground in early 2018. Additionally, design for a new $8 million water production plant , well and pipelines to upgrade services for residents living near the FM 1488 corridor could complete design by the end of 2017.