What we reported: Magnolia City Council members unanimously voted last spring to implement adjusted water and sewer rates, revise the rate structure—excluding residential accounts—and add an institutional category, which applies to tax-exempt, nonprofit or government entities. Council members met in executive session Nov. 13 regarding the threat of of litigation by Magnolia ISD and churches—entities which fall into the institutional category—over the revised water rate structure as the new institutional category charges higher rates than the commercial category with which institutions were previously grouped.

The latest: Council members again met in executive session Dec. 11 regarding threat of litigation but took no action. Dave Welch, president of the Texas Pastor Council, a group representing churches in Magnolia, said the group submitted a letter Dec. 12 to City Council, giving officials 60 days to correct the discriminatory rates, or legal remedy will be pursued. Welch said Dec. 18 in an email the TPC, in conjunction with First Liberty Institute, is seeking legislative action as well by drafting legislation and working to find sponsors in the Texas Legislature.