SRBA to keep Jarvis during director search

MOUNT PLEASANT, Texas— During their regular meeting Monday, the Sulphur River Basin Authority’s Board of Directors approved keeping John Jarvis as consultant until they hire an executive director.

Chairman Chris Spencer said they had advertised the position in print media throughout the basin and he, along with Board Members Bret McCoy and Katie Stedman, will begin interviewing applicants this week.

“That process is going smoothly and we’ve got very good resumes,” Spencer said. “Some are in the twilight of their career and some are at the beginning of their career. We have some with a legal background, some have PhDs, some are chemists. Hopefully, Lord willing, we will find a candidate in that group.”

The agreement with Jarvis began in 2014 and was amended in 2017 to a month-to-month contract.

The original contract paid him $144,000 annually and the amendment changed his rate to $4,000 monthly.

The hiring of an executive director and developing a strategic plan are required by House Bill 2180, passed during the last session of the Texas Legislature. The bill addressed several issues within the authority, which were identified by the Texas Sunset Commission. They include transparency, board training and development of a strategic plan.

Spencer also gave a report on the Sept. 21 meeting with representatives from the Joint Commission for Project Development, which was held in the city manager’s office at Dallas City Hall. JCPD is comprised of five water districts in Dallas seeking additional water for their growing population and is SRBA’s primary funding source. For the past several years, they have paid for studies relating to reallocation of Wright Patman Lake and the possibility of raising the lake level to provide additional water.

Spencer said JCPD’s board approved the 2018-19 funding agreement.

“At least for the immediate future, the finances of SRBA are fortified and we can continue moving forward with the search for an executive director, start the completion of the strategic plan and devise strategies for future funding,” he said.

HB 2180 also addressed SRBA’s funding source and directed them to seek other income streams. SRBA was created in 1985 by the Texas Legislature to protect and conserve resources within the basin, but was not given a source of income.

The JCPD funding agreement has long been a point of contention, as it states that if any new water sources are developed within the basin, they will receive 20 percent of that water at no cost.

In other business, the board also heard a presentation on strategic planning services from Hunter Hilburn with KSA Engineers. The company sent a proposal in May and this is the first strategic planning presentation the board has heard.

“Our goal as facilitators for the strategic planning process is to make sure everyone has their voices heard and to find the best solution for everyone involved,” he said. “As you guys know, you’re never going to get every stakeholder to agree to the same path. It’s almost an impossibility. But what we can do as facilitators is make sure everyone’s interests are represented and have the best interest of the region at heart as we move forward.”

The board sought Requests for Proposals for strategic planning services in September. However, KSA sent its proposal in May.

The board did not take action on the strategic plan, as other candidates will also be considered and Katie Stedman was unable to attend Monday’s meeting.

Members also discussed a response letter to be sent to Riverbend Water Resources District. In August, Riverbend held a special meeting to discuss the July 20 email Spencer accidentally sent to SRBA Board Member Kelly Mitchell, who left the Riverbend Board in February. Mitchell had suggested changes to the funding agreement with JCPD and in the reply, which Spencer intended for his attorney, he stated his opinion that SRBA should continue the funding agreement for another year and “placate” Mitchell. Spencer also wrote that if he had to choose between Riverbend and Northeast Texas Municipal Water District as administrators for SRBA instead of hiring an executive director, that NETWMD would be the “clear winner.”

Riverbend sent a letter to SRBA following the August special meeting. It requested that SRBA delay approval of the funding agreement for 60 to 90 days, work with local stakeholders on development of the strategic plan and go through the request for qualifications process for an executive director. It also asked how the river authority will address a perceived conflict of interest between SRBA and NETMWD, as they both use the same lawyer, Tim Brown, for legal services.

SRBA approved the funding agreement during the September meeting with a 4-3 vote.

Riverbend is comprised of 16 entities, primarily in Bowie and Miller counties and includes Tearkana, Texas.

NETWMD’s mission is to protect water quality in the Cypress basin and to provide a sufficient supply of water to Northeast Tesxas. NETWMD is the administrative agency for the Region D water planning group, which includes 19 counties, including Bowie and Cass counties. Larger cities in Region D include Longview, Greenville and Texarkana.

Spencer and McCoy have both drafted letters in response to the Riverbend letter and the item was tabled until the next meeting, which is scheduled for 1 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 27. It will be held at the Mount Pleasant Civic Center, Mount Pleasant, Texas.