Citizens react to City’s silence on water treatment plant controversy

Barbara Smith, 67; Pedro Perez, 58; Tim Bramlett, 58

By HEATHER CATHLEEN COX
Staff Writer
reporter@sbnewspaper.com

While City of San Benito officials maintain silence concerning the status of the now-inoperable Water Treatment Plant No. 2, which is reportedly in need of membrane filters that could cost north of $100,000 to replace, citizens have begun to raise voices of concern.

Proposed in 2002, Plant No. 2 is a $17 million portion of a $32 million project that then-City Manager Victor Treviño projected would be in working condition until at least 2025. Despite said projection and officials’ statements that Water Treatment Plant No. 1 could no longer service the water consumption needs of a growing community like San Benito, the older facility never stopped producing water for the city, and Plant No. 1 also produced as much as half of the water utilized by San Benitians during some months.

On June 11—after Plant No. 2 had ceased producing any water—officials voted to recruit legal representation from the Houston-based law firm, Arnold & Itkin LLP. This firm began looking into matters of the plant’s disrepair, and on Tuesday, July 15, at a meeting of the City Commission, representatives of the law firm met in executive session with city officials, commissioners and City Attorney Ricardo Morado to present their findings.

Of the findings, for which many have been waiting in anticipation, City Manager Manuel Lara said, “We were advised that any questions concerning water plant issues should be directed (to) the city attorney.”

Regarding the findings presented at Tuesday’s meeting, Morado said, “I’m not at liberty to discuss what was discussed.” When asked, specifically, why City leaders and legal counsel declined comment on such a pressing matter as the integrity of its water source, Morado said: “Because the law allows it.”

Now that residents are completely reliant upon Plant No. 1’s water treatment capabilities, some have expressed concerns. With a plethora of unaddressed questions—by both citizens and the San Benito News—and with no official word on how soon any might be addressed, this reporter sought public input on City leaders’ lack of response to the issue.

One resident, Barbara Smith, expressed, “In the 70s, I was the Director of Finance for the City of San Benito. I also worked for the City of Rio Hondo in the 80s. Working there led me to the conclusion that City government is not in favor of the public. They are in favor of the commissioners and the mayor…not a good thing.”

Smith, 67, also asked the following of her city’s leaders: “Where did all the money ($17 million) go…if the new water plant isn’t working?”

Smith has begun questioning the purity of the water in San Benito. “We get periodic reports that the water is safe. Are the reports we’re getting actually accurate?”

On the topic of water purity, San Benito resident Pedro Perez said, “I don’t even drink it.”

City officials, however, have long contended that the water is safe to drink in San Benito.

Perez, 58, who is originally from Chicago, added, “The local government here (in San Benito) doesn’t care what happens to its people. … It’s not fair not to tell the people (what is going on). Everybody works and pays their taxes. People need water to exist.”

“Millions of dollars were spent (to replace) the dinosaur plant,” Perez said. “Water costs have been going up. And we can’t get a straight answer from anybody?” a concerned Perez questioned.

Tim Bramlett, 58, also spoke on the rising costs of water for residents of San Benito. Though he resides outside of the city limits, Bramlett said, “My daughter pays $115 for water every month (because the City) paid ($17 million) for a plant they don’t need. … Somebody must’ve got a lot of money under the table.”