Brownsboro Sleepy Hollow wastewater project nearing completion

The city of Brownsboro's Sleepy Hollow Addition wastewater project is about two months away from completion according to Wayne Weeks of Velvin and Weeks Consulting Engineering firm in Athens.

Weeks reported to the Brownsboro city council last Thursday during their regularly scheduled meeting the project's contractor Cummings Construction, of Sulphur Springs is ahead of schedule on the final stage of the project which includes laying the sewer lines and tying into each house.

Brownsboro sewer and water superintendent J.D. Jones will be conducting a house-to-house survey throughout Sleepy Hollow in the upcoming days to ascertain who wishes to be tied into the new system.

"It is our intent to tie into the sewerline anyone who wants to be tied in, not just the low income," Brownsboro Mayor Ronny Harris said. "We've just got to find out who wants to be included."

A letter from Mayor Harris to all Sleepy Hollow Ad- dition residents and homeowners states:

...After much study and discussion the City Council has determined that the wastewater (sewer) should be installed to each household in the Addition without installation costs to the homeowners. The wastewater (sewer) line will be tied to the existing line exiting from each house. The City will be waiving the sewer tap fee and line installation to each house. Also included will be the elimination and destruction of septic systems now being utilized in the Addition.

It is our perception that in the not so distant future, the State (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) will require that all septic systems should be eliminated.

During this construction period, it is our wish that you agree to be a participant in our wastewater elimination system. If you do choose to participate at this time, there will be no cost for your installation.

After construction is completed (approximately late April) those that decide not to participate will be charged a sewer tap fee and a licensed plumber will be required to install the proper piping from the sewer tap to the home.

A rate sheet was attached to the letter indicating sewer rates based on water usage currently in effect for the City of Brownsboro.

Sleepy Hollow residents are asked to return the request to the City of Brownsboro by March 2.

In other business, Brownsboro Police Chief Ron Shields asked the City Council to approve his request to increase the city's municipal judge Susan Carver's salary from $250 per month to $450 per month beginning as of Feb. 1, in order to keep up with the high volume of traffic citations issued in the city.

"Everything is still running fairly smooth, but we have created a monster in enforcing the speed limit," Shields said.

Shields reported his department issues 200 to 250 traffic citations per month. Judge Carver currently holds court twice monthly on Tuesday nights. Shields said the salary increase will cover Carver working an additional three hours per week, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 7:30am - 9:00am to field telephone calls and questions from those issued citations who are unable to make night court, or who may wish to plead out and pay their fine.

The speed limit on State Highway 31 in the Brownsboro city limits is 45 miles-per-hour west of the BISD school zone, then drops to 40 mph in downtown, then raises to 45 again, to just east of FM 314. Shields said the average speeding violation is 16.3 miles per hour over the speed limit. Shields said the City is currently granting a 10 mile-per-hour variance.

"If they're going faster than that it certainly constitutes a traffic violation," Mayor Harris said.

Other action included:

*The approval of a request to "undedicate" Sunset Street, off FM 607, just south of Highway 31, and to remove the street from the city's records and return back to property owner Eddy Bragg.

*The approval to amend the water and sewer budget by transferring $16,000 from the reserve account to the new equipment line item for the purchase of a 1994 model jet machine. Water and sewer superintendent J.D. Jones reported the city's current machine is about 30 years old and has become unusable. The city has had to resort to calling Roto Rooter to blow out clogs spending about $950 to $1200 on each call. The old machine would be traded in for about $500.

The Brownsboro city council meets the second Thursday of the month, at 5:00 p.m., in the Brownsboro Community Center.