By Marty Kufus
Wilson County News

SAN ANTONIO — The river authority’s board of directors last week approved an interlocal agreement with La Vernia for the operation of the sewer plant there, part of the authority’s expanded "downstream service" in its four-county district.

The San Antonio River Authority’s staff "will provide process monitoring, light maintenance, sampling, equipment calibration, and operations services for the [La Vernia] facility," Stephen Mergele, waste-water systems’ manager in the authority’s utilities division, said March 20.

La Vernia will pay up to $35,000 a year for SARA’s service. The initial term will end June 30, 2003, and is renewable.

"Under the agreement," Mergele told the board, La Vernia "is responsible for the cost of utilities, chemicals, lubricants, ground maintenance, painting, sludge disposal, equipment repair, and all off-site facilities."

He acknowledged recent, negative publicity about the plan (in a Wilson County News report) but added La Vernia’s city secretary told him all but one of the councilmen are in favor of it.

There also had been questions about insurance coverage of SARA employees working at La Vernia’s facility, Mergele said. The river authority’s coverage would apply.

The La Vernia city council likely will return to the proposed interlocal agreement at its next meeting, he added.

The river authority’s board amended SARA’s budget, shifting $8,750 to a "waste-water maintenance fund" for salaries, supplies, use of vehicles and equipment, and "support fees" anticipated in the first three months in La Vernia.

As the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission becomes stricter on waste-water treatment, smaller municipal governments are challenged to stay current on environmental rules and standards, Mergele explained later.

The river authority’s district comprises Bexar, Wilson, Karnes, and Goliad counties.

Chairman H.B. Ruckman III, of Karnes County, presided at the monthly meeting.

Attending were board Secretary JC Turner and members Al Kollodziej Jr., of Wilson; Louis Rowe, Thomas Weaver, Roberto Rodriguez, Sally Buchanan, Nancy Steves, and Jim Johnson of Bexar; and, Leo Gleinser and Adair Sutherland of Goliad County.

Suzanne Scott, SARA’s manager of community and intergovernmental relations, handed out rough drafts of county-specific newsletters and fact sheets with "talking points" for an upcoming public-information campaign.

She asked the directors to mark up the documents and return them to her as soon as possible.

River-authority officials are considering bringing back a "operations and maintenance" (O and M) tax. SARA levied it from 1961 through 1980, but since has levied zero cents per $100 property valuation.

SARA is poised to take the lead in a "regional flood and drainage management initiative," officials have said (Feb. 27 Wilson County News). As currently envisioned, the multi-governmental program would beef up flood-control and drainage from Bexar County south through Goliad County.

SARA officials also want to expand other services, such as pollution control and waste-water treatment.

But, the river authority needs additional money in order to do these things, according to past discussions.

Levying the O and M tax at its full, authorized rate — 2 cents per $100 — would generate an estimated $10.8 million a year in the four counties.

General Manager Greg Rothe last week told the directors they face a "tight time frame" to get information out to their constituents in the next few months.

This would include directors’ meetings with elected officials and business leaders in their respective counties, according to discussion.