Author: PGMUD

Highlights of Pecan Grove MUD Meeting – September 24, 2024

The regular monthly meeting of the Pecan Grove Municipal Utility District was held at the Pecan Grove Administration Building at 5:30 p.m. on September 24, 2024. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct 29, 2024, in the PGMUD Community/Administration building at 3:30 p.m.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office
Monthly Contract Report for September 2024

PGVFD Report – September 2024

Parks Report

The fence at the back of Windmill Park has been removed.

Replacement of the fence around the playground at Pecan Grove Park is complete.

An alligator was removed from Pecan Lakes amenity lake.

Operator’s Report – Si Environmental, LLC

August 2024 testing showed that the drinking water and wastewater systems met the state and federal compliance standards for disinfection and there were no permit excursions for the month.

The SWTP check valve inventory, the booster pump replacement at Water Plant #1, the bottom belt replacement and the SO21 regulator at the WWTP and the levee sluice gate replacement are all complete.

The replacement of the solenoid valve manifold and mixer pump and the bulk bleach tank repair at the SWTP are in process.  Also, in process are replacement of the 3” mainline valve and bypass plus the low registering meter at Austin Elementary.

Replacement of the 7 SWTP heaters that and the surge protection device at Lift Station #1are in process.

The SO2 regulator at the WWTP has been replaced.

The fire hydrant survey showed that repairs and painting will need to be done along with replacing missing blue dots and the cost falls within the amount budgeted for 2025. This work is in process.

The program to replace high usage residence meters in the district has replaced 1,650 meters since January 2023 with 14 this month.

The operator asked to replace 3 automation valves for the membrane filtration system along with renewing the air compressor agreement at the SWTP.

The operator also requested replacement of the basket strainer and the upgrade the generator receptacles at Lift Stations #2, #6 and #8.

Please remember to call Si Enviro first if you have an outside water leak.

Click here to view Projects Under Construction and Design.

Highlights of Pecan Grove MUD Meeting – August 27, 2024

The regular monthly meeting of the Pecan Grove Municipal Utility District was held at the Pecan Grove Administration Building at 12:00 p.m. on August 27, 2024. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. in the PGMUD Community/Administration building. As of August 31, 2024, there are 4,546 email subscribers to PGMUD notifications.

Fort Bend County Sheriff’s Office
Monthly Contract Report for August 2024

PGVFD Report – August 2024

Parks Report

  • A vehicle was left unattended in Pecan Grove Park for 7 days in August and was towed after the contract deputy ran the plates.
  • Installation of the new workout equipment along the walking trail in Pecan Grove Park is complete.
  • Replacement of the fence around the playground at Pecan Grove Park was authorized.

Operator’s Report – Si Environmental, LLC

July 2024 testing showed that the drinking water and wastewater systems met state and federal compliance standards with no permit excursions for the month. Various maintenance projects and equipment replacements are in progress, including updates at the Surface Water Treatment Plant and the replacement of outdated valves and equipment.

The fabrication of generator cables for the portable generators is complete. The installation of new sidewalk at Pitts and Morton league is complete.

The replacement of the solenoid valve manifold and mixer pump at the SWTP are in process. The replacement of the levee sluice gate valve stem is in process. Likewise, is the replacement of the SWTP Bulk Bleach and Water plant #1 check valves for pumps #3 and #4.  Also, in process are: replacement of the 3” mainline valve and bypass plus the low registering meter at Austin Elementary; buying a backup p&p belt for the WWTP;

The inspection for district lines containing lead and or copper (pre-1989) mandated by the EPA  has been completed.

Si Environmental requested authorization to replace:  7 SWTP heaters that have failed due to age; a SO2 regulator at the WWTP; and the surge protection device at Lift Station #1.

The fire hydrant survey showed that repairs and painting will need to be done along with replacing missing blue dots and the cost falls within the amount budgeted for 2025.

Water rates were increased only for high usage customers (over 10,000 gallons per month) for 2025. The base rate for 10,000 gallons or less remained the same.

The program to replace high usage residence meters in the district has replaced 1,636 meters since January 2023 with 8 this month.

The operator is soliciting bids for providing IT support for the systems at the SWTP.

The district’s radios have being upgraded and returned.

Please remember to call Si Enviro first if you have an outside water leak.

Click here to view Projects Under Construction and Design.

Ensuring Our Community’s Safety: Understanding the Proposed Fire Fee Increase

Pecan Grove Fire Department Residents,

As your Fire Chief, I want to bring to your attention an important matter that directly impacts on the safety and well-being of our community. We have recently submitted a request to increase the fire fee by $3.98 per month, bringing the total to $27.56 per month. This adjustment is necessary to support our proposed budget of $3.3 million for 2025.

To provide some context, the typical budget for a fire department serving an area and population like ours, Aliana, and Cinco Ranch, is approximately $4.5 million. This would translate into a monthly fire fee of $38.00 per month. Our proposed budget, while more conservative, is essential to maintaining the critical services we provide to our communities.

One of the key reasons for this increase is the need to sustain the minimum staffing of three firefighters per fire engine—a standard we implemented in mid-2024. Having three firefighters on each engine is crucial for effective firefighting, rescue operations, CPR, and all other emergency incidents that we respond to. While the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) recommends a staffing level of four firefighters per engine, our current level of three is the minimum required to ensure both the safety of our firefighters and the effectiveness of our emergency response.

Maintaining this staffing level is also essential for preserving our ISO 2 fire rating. This rating plays a significant role in keeping homeowner insurance rates lower. For example, if our ISO rating were to drop to a 5, the annual insurance premium for a $300,000 home would increase to approximately $3,156. However, by maintaining our ISO 2 rating, that same policy would cost around $2,645—a savings of over $500. For a $500,000 home, the savings would be even greater, around $800 per year.

Another factor contributing to the need for this fee increase is the growing reliance on part-time paid firefighters. While we are actively working to increase our volunteer membership, it is not sufficient to meet the demands of our expanding and aging neighborhood. The need for dependable, trained personnel is more critical than ever, and part-time staffing helps fill this gap.

Additionally, Fort Bend County is eliminating financial support to all fire departments within the county. This significant loss in revenue unfortunately must be passed on to our residents to ensure that we can continue to provide the level of service you deserve and expect.

We understand that any increase in fees is a concern, but we believe this is a necessary step to ensure the safety of our community. The increase will allow us to continue providing the high-quality emergency services that protect our residents, homes, and businesses.

Thank you for your understanding and continued support of the Pecan Grove Fire Department. Together, we can maintain the safety and well-being of our wonderful community.

Sincerely,

Chief Jerod Vontz
Pecan Grove Volunteer Fire Department