ANNETTA —
City officials from the Town of Annetta and the City of Hudson Oaks and others gathered Tuesday morning near the site of two new water wells by Stuard Elementary to mark the Town of Annetta’s recent $1 million upgrade to the Deer Creek Water System with a celebratory groundbreaking.
“It’s an honor to be here,” Annetta Mayor Bruce Pinckard said. “It has taken countless hours spent by countless individuals to get to this point. This is a historic moment for this community.”
The first phase of the water system improvements has cost about $619,000. It includes wells in two different aquifers, a 300,000 gallon storage tank and a new wellhouse.
The second phase will add a 75,000 gallon storage tank at the northern end of the system, near Old Annetta Road, to increase storage and provide pressure at the bottom of the system.
The extensive improvements — financed through municipal bonds — are expected to increase the system’s capacity by about 50 percent.
Pinckard took a moment to reflect on Annetta’s past challenges and improvements, pointing out that the town’s attractive setting and good schools led to rapid growth that outpaced infrastructure.
When the Deer Creek Water System was sold to another city, he said, it threatened the town itself.
“We realized that our ability to control our very existence as a town was slipping through our fingers as services were now being provided by another municipality in which we as a town and you as customers and citizens had no voice at all,” he said.
After Annetta eventually purchased the Deer Creek System, Pinckard said, the town made changes that targeted improving services for existing customers, rather than trying to add more.
Policy was approved, for example, that holds future developers responsible for improving the water system’s quality, design and capacity, he said, to head off the irrigation bans and low water pressure caused by “unbridled development.”
City officials also established key relationships with the City of Hudson Oaks, the water system’s operator, and with Harkins Engineering, a firm that tests, models and plans for the system.
The changes have made a big difference, Pinckard told the small crowd.
“Two short years ago the customers of this system were denied any outdoor watering from the onset of the irrigation season, which begins in May,” he said. “This year, the second in an extreme extended drought of historical proportions, we only began restrictions in July.”
Annetta’s current system, which serves more than 700 customers in Annetta and Annetta South, has been restricted to once a week outdoor watering since the beginning of July.
Local News
Related Photos
-
Annetta councilmen, from left, Farrar Patterson, Bruce Moore, Benny Evans, Larry Wood and Mayor Bruce Pinckard symbolically break ground for new water system improvements. JUDY SHERIDAN/DEMOCRAT PHOTO
The Democrat welcomes comments. Inappropriate language or comments outside our standards will be removed. No guest or anonymous comments allowed.
Annetta gets water upgrade
- Local News
-
-
Local Guild sends quilts to West nursing home residents
The Quilter’s Guild of Parker County has a long history of providing quilts to local organizations and individuals through it’s Comfort Quilt Program.
-
WCS student reads in nation’s capitol marking 224th inaugural anniversary of President George Washington
Madison Avery Flynn, daughter of Sean and Ashley Flynn, of Weatherford, and a first grader at Weatherford Christian School, participated in a historic event in the nation’s capitol on May 8th honoring President George Washington.
-
Local artists’ works on display
The Weatherford Art Association announced the Artist of the Month for April at their Monday meeting.
-
MILITARY NEWS: Pvt. Thompson completes basic infantry training
Army National Guard Pvt. Ian A. Thompson has graduated from basic infantry training at Fort Benning, Columbus, Ga.
-
Substance abuse rally Monday at Texas Opry Theater
The next IFC Wellness Coalition “Substance Abuse Awareness Rally” is Monday evening at the Texas Opry Theater.
-
Sheriff's investigators probe shooting
Parker County sheriff’s investigators are looking into a shooting incident that led to a female being injured.
-
CRIME STOPPERS: Alleged check forger sought
On April 20 at approximately 6 p.m. an unidentified white male forged a stolen check at Super Save grocery store located at 102 College Park Ave. in Weatherford.
-
PK Lake drowning death believed to be accidental
GAINES BEND – An Azle man died Tuesday evening at Possum Kingdom Lake in what authorities are describing as an apparent accidental drowning.
-
County OKs software contract; approves medical plans
Parker County Commissioners on Monday awarded a contract for new software for the sheriff’s office and approved two health care options for county employees.
-
TOTS Summer Theater Camp sign ups
Theatre Off The Square in Weatherford is launching its first Theatre Summer Kids Camp in conjunction with “Charlotte’s Web” (July 12-21).
- More Local News Headlines
-
Probe Begins After Conn. Commuter Trains Crash
NTSB Begins Investigation Into Conn. Train Crash
Lotto Fever Sweeps the Country
Conn. Commuter Trains Collide; 60 Go to Hospital
Coffee Run Leads to Hatchet Hitchhiker Arrest
Fmr. IRS Head Insists No Politics in Targeting
CDC: Fecal Bacteria Common in Swimming Pools
$1 Million in Jewels Stolen at Cannes Film Fest
NM Mom Chases Down Child Abductor
Raw: Crash Sends Car Into Fla. Pool
Raw: Obama Sits Down With Elementary Kids
Raw: Bear Falls From Tampa Tree
Ousted IRS Chief: Errors Not Caused by Politics
Terror Suspect Due in Court in Idaho Friday
Raw: Driver Ejected From Truck, Over Bridge
Could Tobacco Be the Next Biofuel?
Wash. State Releases Draft Rules for Legal Pot
Dying Man's Blinks Lead to Murder Conviction
Officials: Texas Tornado Likely Had 200 Mph Wind
Brothers Arrested in NOLA Parade Shooting
