Michele Giroir

The Board accepted the Fiscal Year 2025 Annual Comprehensive Financial Report and approved its filing with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. Key actions included the adoption of the Authority's Investment Policy, ratification of 2026 rates for Replacement Water Supply Agreements, and authorization to execute an interlocal agreement for the TXShare Purchasing Program. The Board also approved the disposal of surplus personal property, authorized a contract amendment for the Concrete Assessment and Service Life Extension project, and passed the Possum Kingdom Airport Rules and Regulations. Furthermore, the Board authorized an interlocal agreement for a boating capacity study at Possum Kingdom Lake, ratified new Retirement Committee appointments, and approved additional funding for expert services related to the Lake Whitney Reallocation Project.

The Brazos River Authority's Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Operating Plan details financial projections and operational strategies for the upcoming year and beyond. Key focus areas include comprehensive expense assumptions, proposed Operating & Maintenance expenses across various categories, and water supply revenue generation with defined system and agricultural rates. The plan also incorporates a Multi-Year Capital Improvement Plan and a Five-Year Financial Forecast spanning FY2026 to FY2030, which outlines anticipated revenues, expenses, capital investments, debt funding, and reserve management. The intended outcome is to ensure the authority's fiscal stability, fund essential infrastructure projects, and efficiently manage water resources through established rate structures and prudent financial planning.

The Board of Directors met to receive a progress report on the Allens Creek Reservoir project. Key discussion topics included the status of project permitting, the development of alternatives analysis for reservoir configuration, and foundational field investigations covering cultural resources, wetland delineation, and protected species habitat. The board reviewed strategies to optimize the project timeline and budget through advanced data collection methods, such as utilizing specialized technology for Houston toad surveys and aligning future geotechnical studies with design alternatives.

The Board of Directors discussed and authorized the General Manager/CEO to execute Amendment Number 3 to the Professional Services Agreement with Gannett Fleming TranSystems Inc. for Phase III of the Concrete Assessment and Service Life Extension project, increasing the total contract amount by $460,000 for repairs including the Bay 31 Buttress and Corbel. The project supports the Strategic Plan Goal to ensure the safe operation and maintenance of water supplies and infrastructure.

The committee discussed and approved a resolution to retain ownership of several tracts of land at Possum Kingdom Lake in Young County, Texas, to preserve and protect natural resources. Additionally, the committee deliberated on a proposal to declare other real property owned by the Brazos River Authority as surplus and convey it to the City of Graham for public purposes, specifically for parks and wildlife use, while also discussing the maintenance costs and long-term implications associated with such land transfers.