Leaders tight-lipped on inoperable plant

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

(File photo) The City of San Benito Water Treatment Plant No. 2 currently remains inoperable while the older facility that for decades prior serviced the community is fully operational. In the meantime, the City’s Water Treatment Plant No. 1 (shown left), which was once considered antiquated, is servicing the community at full capacity.

(File photo)
The City of San Benito Water Treatment Plant No. 2 currently remains inoperable while the older facility that for decades prior serviced the community is fully operational. In the meantime, the City’s Water Treatment Plant No. 1 (shown left), which was once considered antiquated, is servicing the community at full capacity.

City of San Benito officials remain tightlipped regarding the current state of Water Plant No. 2, a $17 million facility that leaders have long-touted as a game-changer in municipal water treatment.

Despite being hailed as a state-of-the-art facility, the now-inoperable plant has not served the community without assistance of the older plant once considered antiquated.

Although officials have recently stated the problem with Plant No. 2 is a need of new membrane filters, sources close to the matter have reported that there may be a problem with the membrane itself. When asked if whether there were issues with the membrane, City Manager Manuel Lara stated, “I have no idea where that information came from.”

Even if the problem lies with the filters, which at a reported $212 apiece would cost the City north of $100,000 to replace, these membrane filters are manufactured in Australia, and instillation of the filters is not included in the cost.

Water Plant No. 2 was part of a $32 million project which also included the construction of a water storage tank and a new wastewater treatment plant. Such a large cost also meant a gradual incremental increase in San Benitians’ utility rates.

Last week, Lara confirmed that San Benito is fully relying on Plant No. 1, which was never taken out of commission. To some residents of San Benito, this news has come as a shock.

On June 11, elected officials voted to recruit legal representation from the Houston-based Arnold & Itkin LLP law firm. According to Lara, City Attorney Rick Morado has been handling communications with the Houston firm.

With regard to Arnold & Itkin’s findings, thus far into the investigation, Morado declined comment.

At a special meeting to be held on Tuesday, July 15, counsel from Arnold & Itkin will meet with city officials to discuss their findings. “The attorneys will be here next Tuesday with a presentation, likely to be held in executive session,” said Lara. “We’re going to wait for Tuesday and see what guidance they give in moving forward.”

In May of 2007, with reference to a City of San Benito groundbreaking ceremony for Water Plant No. 2, then City Manager Victor Treviño said, “With the old plant treating less than 4 million gallons of water each day and being over 80 years old, this new facility is critical. It will provide water for current and future needs until about 2025…I am sure it will last after that.”

Permanent link to this article: https://www.sbnewspaper.com/2014/07/11/leaders-tight-lipped-on-inoperable-plant/

7 comments

Skip to comment form

    • WeThePeople on July 17, 2014 at 11:10 pm
    • Reply

    According to my source, solar panels were to provide approximately 10% of the plant’s electricity while in fact they don’t generate enough to light a 60 watt bulb.
    History of what was supposed to happen …

    http://server.cocef.org/aproyectos/ExComSanBenito2002_08ing.htm

    http://www.epa.gov/region09//border/success/nuevo-laredo/sanbenito-water.html

    https://www.severntrentservices.com/enews/vol26/Innovative-Water-Treatment-Plant-Features-Microfiltration-Solar-Power-and-Gas-Chlorination.aspx

    • Juan on July 14, 2014 at 10:55 pm
    • Reply

    You see people by having idiots elected,by their friends they fall pray to smooth talkers like Cruz,who flaunt their titles,making we taxpayers foot the bill.
    And their getting ready to do the same thing with this boardwalk con,watchale.

    • Rob on July 14, 2014 at 3:10 pm
    • Reply

    We the people & Mr. & Mrs. Taxpayer: Thank you!!! Cruz- LA NALGA, made lots of $$$$$ off of San Benito. water bills are now ridiculous (our neighboring town Harlingen residents ONLY pay $40-65 per month), and he’s STIILL on our payroll??????? RIDICULOUS!!! Same JOE D. GROUP!! Let’s vote those people OUT!!

    • Mr. and Mrs. Taxpayer on July 14, 2014 at 1:23 pm
    • Reply

    per the public records on the city web transparency portal, guess who is back on the city payroll…….

    http://www.cityofsanbenito.com/DocumentCenter/View/623

    VENDOR CHECK DATE CHECK NUMBER CHECK STATUS CHECK AMOUNT
    CRUZ‐HOGAN CONSULTANT, INC. 02/14/2014 017762 P $4,000.00

    • WeThePeople on July 14, 2014 at 11:34 am
    • Reply

    According to my source of information and some public records …
    1) the City did not need a new water plant … the citizens were convinced by the City Administration at the time that we needed one immediately or the sky was going to fall.
    2) one of the major proponents of the new plant was the ‘City Engineer’ at the time…he just also happened to be the one that build the new plant.
    3) the ‘City Engineer’ / new plant engineer also inspected his own work. Is that legal??

    • Juan on July 12, 2014 at 8:24 am
    • Reply

    Some heads should roll over this,and it must go way back.
    Can’t even furnish the taxpayers water service,nor drivable streets in town and these people want to build a boardwalk on the Resaca,with upscale eateries.Yeah,just what we need another museum,in a buddy’s funeral home,or a 100 year old hotel.You people are a joke,all trying only to fatten your own bank accounts,at the expense of the other tax payers.

    • Searaven on July 12, 2014 at 6:46 am
    • Reply

    The Mayor at that time is now the City attorney, and the person responsible is in charge of the study to find defects……..its a no-brainer……..cover-up big time.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.