Harris-Galveston Subsidence District Board of Directors met Oct. 12

Harris-Galveston Subsidence District Board of Directors met Oct. 12.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD PRESENT: Rosa Alvarez, Emily Anderson, Susan Baird, Sarah Benavides, Augustus Campbell, Chris Canonico, Pete Cite, Steve Gillett, Don Johnson, Ken Keller, Jason Long, Craig Lovell, Shannon Lucas, Katherine Mears, Lindy Murff, Alan Petrov, Melinda Salazar, Kyle Sears, Shaun Theriot-Smith

MEMBERS OF THE BOARD ABSENT: None.

PRESIDING: Alan Petrov, Chairman

1 . CALL TO ORDER OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING AND THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE. Chairman Petrov called the regular meeting of the Board of Directors to order at 10:05 a.m. and noted the presence of a quorum. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

2. ACCEPT COMMENTS FROM MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC. Ms. Mellissa Rowell, President of the North Harris County Regional Water Authority Board of Directors, addressed the Board. Mr. Turco read into the record an email which he received from Mr. Dan Krueger, requesting his comments be included in the proceedings. Mr. Krueger's comments are in full in the record of this meeting.

3. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR BOARD MEETING OF SEPTEMBER 13, 2023. Mr. Cite moved that the minutes of the regular meeting of September 13, 2023, be approved; it was seconded by Ms. Mears. Mr. Sears and Ms. Lucas abstained. Chairman Petrov put the question and, after the vote, announced the motion carried. None opposed.

4. HEARING EXAMINERS REPORT. Ms. Helen Stewart Truscott presented the Hearing Examiner's Report for September 2023 and prior. Mr. Cite moved to accept the Hearing Examiner's recommendations; it was seconded by Ms. Mears. Chairman Petrov called for abstentions. Mr. Murff abstained from Murff Family Partnership, L.L.C. Ms. Lucas abstained from Harris County MUD 558 and Harris County MUD 171. Ms. Salazar abstained from Harris County MUD 171. Chairman Petrov put the question and, after the vote, announced the motion carried. None opposed.

5. EMERGENCY PERMITS. The Board considered the General Manager's action in granting emergency permits to Best Box Storage, Alex Miller, South Coast Ready Mix, L.L.C., and Tiger Industries, L.L.C.

6. RESOLUTION AMENDING DISTRICT RULE 8 RELATED TO METER REQUIREMENTS. Ms. Baird moved to approve the resolution amending the Rules; it was seconded by Mr. Murff. Chairman Petrov put the question and, after the vote, announced the motion carried. None opposed. (This resolution is in full in the official records of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District being Resolution No. 2023-1103.)

7. RECEIVE BRIEFING FROM STAFF ON THE STATUS OF THE JOINT REGULATORY PLAN. Ashley Greuter, Director of Research and Water Conservation, briefed the Board on the status of the Joint Regulatory Plan Review. Mr. Theriot-Smith is now present.

8. GENERAL MANAGER'S REPORT. Mr. Turco submitted the General Manager's Report. (The General Manager's Report is in full in the official records of the Harris-Galveston Subsidence District as part of the Board's Agenda Packet for this meeting.)

9. LEGAL & LEGISLATIVE MATTERS. Mr. Ellis updated the Board on recent litigation on groundwater ISSUES and legislative matters.

10. CONSIDER AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A COUNTEROFFER FOR CASE N0. 2023- 37853, HGSD v. BENITEZ (WELL 12972). Ms. Miriam Benitez spoke to the Board on behalf of her mother Ms. Ida Benitez, regarding the counteroffer case. Ms. Veronica Osegueda interpreted for Ms. Miriam Benitez as necessary.

11 .CONSIDER AND POSSIBLE ACTION ON A COMPROMISE & SETTLEMENT COUNTER OFFER FOR RENE'S WATER SYSTEM (WELL 5161).

EXECUTIVE SESSION. On Item 10. The Board went into executive session at 10:47 a.m. The Board of Directors returned from executive session at I '1:26 a.m. Mr. Campbell moved to offer a compromise and settlement to Ida Benitez as follows: Total settlement amount of $8,708.00, with one-half ($4,353.50) due over the next 18 months ($3,500.00 due immediately and the $853.50 balance due within the next eighteen months) with the remainder forgiven on the fifth anniversary of the agreement execution if the permittee has not committed any additional violations. The motion was seconded by Mr. Gillett. Chairman Petrov put the question, and after the vote, announced the motion carried, with eleven voting in favor, five voting against (Ms. Lucas, Mr. Sears, Mr. Cite, Ms. Baird, and Ms. Mears), one abstention (Mr. Johnson) and two directors not present.

Mr. Sears moved to authorize the general manager to settle the matter with Rene's Water Well System (Well 516al ), by agreeing to accept the settlement amount of $64,000 and to negotiate a payout between twelve and twenty-four months. The motion was seconded by Mr. Cite. The motion was then amended by Mr. Sears, pursuant to the compromise and settlement agreement amount of $63,180.00, plus 3,840 series B groundwater credits, and the general manager will negotiate a payout between twelve and twenty-four months. Mr. C6te seconded the amended motion. Chairman Petrov put the question and, after the vote, announced the motion carried. None opposed

THERE BEING NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO COME BEFORE THE BOARD, THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED AT 11 :32 A.M.

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