The Pecan Grove Municipal Utility District will hold a public hearing on a proposed tax rate for the tax year 2019 on Tuesday, August 27, 2019 at 5:30 p.m. CDST at the Pecan Grove Baptist Church, 1727 FM 359, Richmond, TX. Your individual taxes may increase or decrease, depending on the change in the taxable value of your property in relation to the change in taxable value on all other property and the
tax rate that is adopted.
Please find below a partial list of projects in various stages of completion now underway in Pecan Grove MUD. This information is being provided so that you can stay up to date on these projects which are discussed at every meeting of the board of directors. To view the status of a particular project, please visit the construction projects page. If you have a question or comment about any topic, please call EDP, the district’s operator, at (281) 238-5000. And as always, if you would like to address the district’s engineer or the board, please join us at the next regular meeting August 27 at the Pecan Grove Baptist Church starting at 5:30 p.m.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
On the District’s website, you can find these useful links and information:
In observance of Independence Day, there will be no trash collection Thursday, July 4th. Trash collection will resume on the next scheduled service day.
Please find below a partial list of projects in various stages of completion now underway in Pecan Grove MUD. This information is being provided so that you can stay up to date on these projects which are discussed at every meeting of the board of directors. To view the status of a particular project, please visit the construction projects page. If you have a question or comment about any topic, please call EDP, the district’s operator, at (281) 238-5000. And as always, if you would like to address the district’s engineer or the board, please join us at the next regular meeting July 30 at the Pecan Grove Baptist Church starting at 5:30 p.m.
PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS
Why is there a Flash Flood Watch tonight through Thursday morning? The US National Weather Service Houston-Galveston Texas issued the watch due to potential high rainfall RATES over the next couple days. We’re not expecting a high TOTAL amount of rainfall, but it’s hard to predict right now what areas will see rates as high as 2-3 inches per hour.
What does this mean for you? It sounds basic, but if it seems like it’s raining hard, it probably is. If you’re driving and get caught in the heavy rainfall, exercise extreme caution. If you’re driving when the rain moves in, get off the road and to a safe, high, place since flash flooding can occur on streets and low areas.
Right now our rivers are high but well within their banks. Unless the situation changes dramatically, we are not expecting any river impacts at this time. If rain falls at 3 inches per hour, isolated areas may see drainage systems overwhelmed and see some flash flooding.
Did you know that you can subscribe for automatic alerts like this straight from the National Weather Service from our FBC Alert system? When you register for alerts you can select what types of weather alerts you’d like, from lightning strike warnings to hurricane warnings! You can even choose quiet times so we don’t alert you at 2:00 AM unless it’s a really serious threat.
In observance of Memorial Day, there will be no trash collection Monday, May 27th. Trash collection will resume on the next scheduled service day.
Good morning, Pecan Grove. We are continuing to pump the water out of our system from the rains two days ago. The system is fully operational and working as designed to drain the channels and basins. The current weather forecast indicates that the region is expected to receive significant rain over the next three days. While we do not know where the heaviest rainfall will occur, we are preparing the District accordingly.
Once the trash service has come to your house, please remove your trash cans from the curb. In the event of heavy rains and street ponding, this will prevent the trash cans from blocking street inlets and keep the water from entering the storm sewer system.
Please continue to monitor information coming from Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management and www.pecangrovemud.com.
Good morning, Pecan Grove. Overnight the rains started to let up and stop so the inlets and storm sewers were able to catch up with any water ponding on the streets and drain them into the channels and basins. Right now those systems are holding the water and we continue to pump the water out of the system. All water is contained within the channels and basins and we do not have any reports of remaining flooding.
The system is fully operational and working as designed to drain the channels and basins. The longer the rain can stay away, the better it will be for the drainage system.
The rest of the week still has potential for more rain and perhaps heavy storms. Please continue to monitor information coming from Fort Bend County Office of Emergency Management and www.pecangrovemud.com.
Due to the Brazos River level, as of this morning, our operator, EDP, has closed the sluice gate at the South Storm Water Pump Station and confirmed operations of the pumps. EDP is also running the lead pump at the Pecan Lakes Pump Station. The current forecast keeps us at these operational levels, but EDP is monitoring conditions as we expect local rain fall throughout the next few days. We will do another update tomorrow morning.
The graph below shows the river is expected to crest well below our levee height.
The Brazos River at the Richmond Gauge is currently at a depth (or stage) of 39.9 ft. After this past weekend’s rain, the National Weather Service’s Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service forecasts the Brazos River rising to a depth of 47.4 ft at Richmond by Friday May 10, 2019. In addition, the National Weather Service forecasts a 40%-60% chance of rain every day next week, with a “slight” chance of severe thunderstorms predicted by the NWS Storm Prediction Center.
Based on the forecast flood stage of 47.4 ft, the following impacts are anticipated:
29.8’ – Water is over bottom of South Pump Station flap gates.38.6’ – Water is over bottom of Pecan Lakes flap gates. 40.0’ – EDP close South Pump Station Sluice Gates43.6’ – Pecan Lakes Pump Station – Lead Pump On45.6’ – Pecan Lakes Pump Station – All Pumps On
Based on the approved PGMUD EAP, the following actions are warranted at this time:
With predicted flood stage over 40.0 ft, we are in Readiness Level 4 (“Routine Operations”). The Operator should perform the following:Check gates for debris and seepageCheck channel slope conditionsCheck interior lakes for elevation changesCheck fuel level in Generator Once actual flood stage exceeds 40.0 ft, PGMUD will enter Readiness Level 3 (“Precautionary Operations”). Per the EAP this Readiness Level will add the following tasks to the Level 4 list: Set up Staffing Plan for OperationsCheck Emergency CommunicationsNotify Board daily of current & forecast conditionsNotify Board daily of equipment/supplies available and equipment/supplies needed
We will continue to monitor the situation and should the conditions change we will update you accordingly.
Thank you to our voters who came out to Saturday’s bond and maintenance tax authorization election. We appreciate those of you who took the time to educate yourselves on the issues and vote.
Fort Bend County has reported the results to us, but they are unofficial until the Board canvassing the returns May 10. However, we have received word from the County, that even if the outstanding mail in ballots are returned before today’s 5 pm deadline, the results will not change.
Our proposition to vote bonds to improve our water sanitary sewer, drainage and levee facilities passed by a 64% margin – 246 for and 137 against.
Our proposition to be authorized to increase the maintenance tax to 75 cents passed by a slim margin – 196 yes to 190 no votes. There are 4 mail in ballots that still could arrive before the deadline, but even if those ballots are returned to Fort Bend County before the deadline, the favorable outcome will not change.
(NOTE: THERE ARE NO PLANS BY THE BOARD TO INCREASE THE MAINTENANCE TAX FROM 25 CENTS TO THE VOTED MAX OF 75 CENTS… this is just a voter authorization for the future.)
The Board plans to proceed as soon as possible with a bond application to the TCEQ to construct additional drainage improvements. We hope to sell bonds before the year end. Thank you again and we look forward to seeing some of you at our monthly meeting.
Notice of Bond Election, Operation and Maintenance Tax Election
Aviso de Elección de Bonos, Elecciones de Impuestos de Operación y Mantenimiento
Order Calling Bond Election, Operation and Maintenance Tax Election
Orden Para Convocar Elección de Bonos, Elecciones de Impuestos de Operación y Mantenimiento
The Pecan Grove Municipal Utility District 26 (PGMUD) Board of Directors and the District’s consultants would like to thank all of our neighbors who took the time to attend our recent open house to learn more about the District and the upcoming bond proposal that will be on the May 4th ballot. Our Board members enjoyed speaking with you about the future of the District and we really appreciated your participation. Many great questions were asked, and we hope they were all answered.
For our attendees and those who were unable to attend, please find in this article the welcome video and a .pdf of the financial information provided at the open house.
View the Open House Digital Handout
Folleto Digital de Puertas Abiertas
Again, thank you to everyone that attended the open house events. If you have any questions or comments please reach out to us using the “Contact” page on the website.
Resumen de la Casa Abierta de Información Para los Residentes del Pecan Grove MUD
As many Pecan Grove residents are aware, the district has called for an election on May 4th, 2019, to obtain authorization for bonds and to raise the cap on the maintenance and operations tax rate.
The May 4, 2019 election will include two propositions that registered voters of the district will be asked to vote on, Proposition A and Proposition B.
The Board of Directors will be hosting a Resident Awareness Open House on Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club. We will be on the second (2nd) floor, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; residents are encouraged to come at their convenience any time during that window to speak with resident directors and the district consultants and review the exhibits, regardless of whether they are registered to vote. There will be exhibits outlining the engineering plans for the district, drainage solutions, bond and financial details, and more. In addition to your 5 resident board members, district consultants will be on hand to answer your questions.
As this process has proceeded, many residents have asked a number of financial questions via the website. For those who may not be able to attend the open house, we have summarized the most frequently asked questions into this news post.
As residents, the Board of Directors do not want to increase water rates or taxes beyond that which is necessary, and only then to service the needs of the district. As you can see via the answers above, the lowest impact on residents is funding through the sales of bonds.
Again, we encourage everyone to come out to the Open House on April 16th, 2019, and ask questions of the resident directors and their consultants. If you can’t make it, be sure to share this information with your neighbors through social media!
This weekend is the 2019 Emergency Preparation Supplies Sales Tax Holiday in the State of Texas. You can purchase certain emergency preparation supplies tax free beginning at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, and ending at midnight on Monday, April 29. There is no limit on the number of qualifying items you can purchase, and you do not need to issue an exemption certificate to claim the exemption. Please visit the Texas Comptroller’s Website for more information, including a list of qualifying and excluded supplies. Hurricane Season is just around the corner. Don’t wait until the next storm is in the Gulf before preparing yourself and your family.
All residents should have gotten a notice with their most recent water bill about the open house scheduled for Tuesday, April 16, 2019 at the Pecan Grove Plantation Country Club.
We will be on the second (2nd) floor, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.; residents are encouraged to come at their convenience any time during that window to speak with resident directors and the district consultants and review the exhibits.
If you have any further questions regarding the open house event or the upcoming election, please use the contact form on the website for “election information”.
We look forward to seeing you!
Pecan Grove MUD – Resident Awareness Open House Invitation (PDF)
In the coming weeks, the District will begin gathering detailed survey information of existing District infrastructure. During this information gathering, you may see representatives obtaining this information utilized GPS technology to survey the location of existing manholes, fire hydrants, valves and other District infrastructure. Please contact EDP should you have any additional questions:
email: customerservice@edpwater.com
phone: (832) 467-1599
website: https://www.edpwater.com/contact
Here is important information about a new program the State is administering to help with reimbursement for Hurricane Harvey related repairs. Please contact the GLO office directly if you need help, or Congressman Olson’s office for assistance.
Do you have out-of-pocket expenses from home repairs from Hurricane Harvey? If so, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) just announced they have a program that may help you cover the cost!
The GLO will start accepting applications THIS THURSDAY for the new Homeowner Reimbursement Program. With this program, eligible homeowners can apply to receive up to $50,000 to cover out-of-pocket expenses from Harvey repairs. Folks in Fort Bend and Brazoria Counties who have completed their repairs prior to the application launch date (Thursday, February 28, 2019) are encouraged to apply. Residents of Harris County and the City of Houston are not eligible, but both the city and county will have a similar program for homeowners. Please visit the GLO’s website for more information and to apply. Funds are limited, so folks are encouraged to apply as soon as the application goes live, on Thursday, February 28, 2019. The website has a list of the documents you will need to include with your application. You can also email cdr@recovery.texas.gov or call 1-844-475-5000 if you have any questions about the program. Also, please contact my office at 281-494-2690 if you have any Harvey recovery related questions. My staff is happy to help however they can.
I’m honored to represent you in Congress. For more information or to sign up for my E-newsletter, please visit my website, www.olson.house.gov.
Very respectfully,
Pete Olson
In an effort to clarify some of the tax and water rate details in anticipation of the upcoming bond authorization election, the PGMUD Board has coordinated with EVO to update our comparison dashboard. You can find the link to the Area Tax and Water Rates page under the “Water and Tax Info” drop-down menu, or you can view it directly here. The updated comparison shows Pecan Grove taxes and water rate for its residents compared to what neighboring and similar-sized district’s residents pay.
For more questions about the current rates and the goals of the upcoming bond authorization election, please contact us via the Contact page on the website, utilizing the “Bond Elections Questions” contact type.
As many residents may be aware, Pecan Grove MUD (the District) and its infrastructure for water delivery and wastewater removal is reaching the end of its lifespan. This aging infrastructure will require improvements and rehabilitation to continue to serve the needs of the District.
To accomplish this goal, the Pecan Grove MUD Board of Directors has worked with their consultants to put together a capital improvement plan that attempts to anticipate all the projects needed to rehabilitate the district facilities, and make provisions for any unforeseen complications along the capital improvement plan.
As the District has not sought bond authorization in over 10 years and all previously authorized bonds have been sold, utilized, and are in the process of repayment, the Board has decided to move forward with a new bond authorization election to help fund these capital improvements. Additionally, the District has historically operated with a minimal maintenance and operations (M&O) rate compared to neighbors and similarly-sized districts. This rate is currently capped out, and may not be able to sustain the ongoing needs of the District moving forward. Pecan Grove MUD would like the flexibility to raise the M&O rate instead of solely increasing monthly water usage rates to cover operation and maintenance costs; thus, they have included the request for authorization to do so on the ballot.
The District’s engineer, Odyssey, with the assistance of the District’s legal team and financial advisor, has prepared a Bond Authorization Election Report with the financial details and historical data that helped the Board reach this decision. It is hosted on the website for your review and download.
Please note: this election would be to authorize the sale of bonds and authorize the ability to raise the M&O rate. It is the intention and goal of the Board to only sell bonds to or raise M&O when needed to accomplish the capital improvement plan, and try to be as efficient and conservative with any possible increases to resident taxes as possible.
Just like a classic car that needs repairs to run and maintain value, the district will need to make these improvements and rehabilitation regardless of the result of the election process. By taking the bond authorization and M&O rate route, the Board is trying to prevent an impact to the low water rates Pecan Grove residents benefit from by the District owning and operating its own facilities and water plant.
Over the course of the next few weeks, Pecan Grove MUD will be posting additional information regarding the district needs and its goals for the infrastructure rehabilitation, utilizing a number of digital and physical avenues to reach residents and keep them up to date and fully informed. There will also be portions of the engineer’s report that we will highlight and detail. Further, the District plans on hosting at least one open house event in April, prior to early voting, to make sure resident questions are heard and answered prior to the election.
If you have any questions regarding the election announcement or the capital improvement plan, please do not hesitate to contact Pecan Grove MUD via the website contact form.
This information should be shared! Let your neighbors know what is happening with Pecan Grove MUD by sharing this post to social media! Link the article to Facebook, Twitter, and Nextdoor!
The Board’s January meeting is Tuesday, January 29, 2019:
New Permanent Meeting Location:
Pecan Grove Baptist Church
1727 FM 359 Road, Richmond, Texas 77406
As you may have noticed, Harvest Green has started clearing operations related to the development of their property. Pecan Grove MUD is aware of their activities and confirmed that the activities have been confined to their property and has not impacted property owned by Pecan Grove MUD nor impacted the operations and effectiveness of the levee that protects the District. In the coming months, you may see additional trees removed as well as dirt moving operations in the Harvest Green development. PGMUD is actively working with the owner and developer of Harvest Green to ensure that the levee remains operational and secure and continues to provide the protection to Pecan Grove residents. Further, the District is working with Harvest Green to provide additional fill material to improve the function and protection of the levee.
Should you have any questions please contact the District by following the instructions listed at https://www.pecangrovemud.com/contact or call the customer service office at 281-238-5000.
Sincerely,
Pecan Grove Municipal Utility District Board of Directors