Cedric Carpenter

The meeting agenda focused on the GRP Review Committee schedule for appointments and elections for 2026, including deadlines for participant notices, nomination resolutions, and ballot returns, with new members seated by January 25, 2027. A significant portion of the discussion covered Surface Water Allocation Requests, detailing minimum, maximum, and daily average requests from various entities like the City of Conroe and MUDs, and presenting overall allocation summaries. Action items included recommending the approval of the October 20, 2025, Minutes, and recommending amended Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget and GRP Rate Order to the SJRA Board of Directors. A detailed recap of the GRP Bond Defeasance and Refunding efforts since the October 2025 meeting was provided, noting that due to legal constraints (a Federal Class Action lawsuit), the full refunding was paused, but a defeasance utilizing $18.69 million was being pursued, potentially resulting in an estimated $0.03 rate reduction. Financial discussions involved proposing two options for the FY2026 GRP Budget Amendment #2 and two options for proposed FY2026 GRP Rates, detailing adjustments to revenues, interest expense, bond principal, and fund transfers based on the defeasance.

The regular meeting included a Work Session covering updates from the General Manager and the Director of Communications and Public Affairs on various projects and community engagement. The Consent Agenda involved approving numerous items, including financials, investment reports, and adopting resolutions for an Invocation Policy, a Real Property Sales Around Lake Conroe Policy, an amendment to the Pension Plan, and an amended Procurement Policy, which increased the General Manager's spending authority from $75,000 to $150,000. Regular Agenda items focused on significant actions within the Highlands and Woodlands Divisions, such as approving a deduction of $389,500 for Change Order No. 1 related to the Siphon 39 and Levee Improvements Project, and amending the Fiscal Year 2026 Budget for the Woodlands Division. The Board also authorized change orders for generator projects and construction/professional services for wastewater treatment improvements. Following an Executive Session, the Board adopted a resolution authorizing the redemption and defeasance of certain outstanding GRP bonds using settlement funds from the City of Conroe, reducing the GRP rate by $0.03.

The meeting agenda covered several substantive items. The work session included updates from the General Manager and Director of Communications, presentations on the Annual Historically Underutilized Business (HUB) Report, the Entergy Powerline Replacement Project, and Lake Conroe Gate Operations. The consent agenda involved the approval of unaudited financials for November 2025, authorization for an amendment to a water supply contract for the Highlands Division, and execution of Work Orders for Lake Conroe Dam Relief Wells Annual Maintenance and Raw Water Enterprise Rate Model Support Services. The regular agenda addressed the acceptance of the Audited Financial Statements for the fiscal year ended August 31, 2025, consideration of an amended Fiscal Year 2026 Operating Budget and Rate Order for the GRP Division (including details on bond defeasance using City of Conroe settlement funds), and execution of two Change Orders (No. 2 and No. 3) for the Siphon 39 and Levee Improvements Project in the Highlands Division. The Board also reserved time for an executive session to discuss attorney consultation regarding litigation (including Hurricane Harvey matters) and personnel matters.

The meeting commenced with ceremonial items, including an invocation and the presentation of an Anniversary Award to the San Jacinto River Authority for 45 years of membership with The Woodlands Area Chamber of Commerce. During public comments, discussion occurred regarding the temporary lowering of Lake Conroe and community messaging about wake boating. The Work Session included updates from the General Manager and the Director of Communications, as well as a presentation on Lake Conroe Beach Park activities. The Consent Agenda authorized several actions, including the renewal of the Microsoft Enterprise Agreement and various purchases for the GRP Division, such as replacement servers, cellular signal enhancements, equipment for the Surface Water Treatment Facility, coagulants, a maintenance service plan for turbo blowers, and rate model updates for GRP and Woodlands Divisions, alongside dam modification and engineering inspection work orders. In the Regular Agenda, the Board accepted Option 3 for the Redemption and Defeasance of Certain Outstanding GRP Bonds, which involved refunding bonds and transferring funds to the Repair and Replacement Fund, projecting significant total savings. Amendments were also authorized for Water and Wastewater Maintenance Services contracts for the Woodlands and GRP Divisions. Further approvals included an amendment for the San Jacinto River and Tributaries Sediment Removal and Sand Trap Development Project preliminary design, and purchases for the Lake Houston Pump Station Pump and Motor Replacement Project (Early Procurement Packages 1 and 2). Finally, the Board ratified an emergency declaration for repairs to pumps and motors at the South Canal Transfer Pump Station. The Board convened in an executive session to discuss legal matters pertaining to litigation (including Hurricane Harvey and disputes involving the City of Magnolia) and personnel matters regarding the General Manager's duties.

The meeting included a work session with updates from the General Manager and the Director of Communications and Public Affairs. The consent agenda covered a wide array of items, including approval of minutes and unaudited financials, adoption of resolutions regarding invocation policy, real property sales around Lake Conroe, amendments to the pension plan and procurement policy. Further discussion involved authorizing the General Manager to execute work orders and contracts for land acquisition support, purchase of a boom truck, pump assemblies, culvert improvements, and lift station improvements. The regular agenda addressed resolutions for bond redemption, change orders for construction projects, and budget amendments for the Woodlands and Lake Conroe Divisions, as well as contracts for wastewater treatment facility improvements and security enhancements.