Town to participate in new wastewater plant
By LAURA CHILDRESS

To protect its investment in recently annexed property along Hwy. 380, the Little Elm Town Council voted Tuesday to reserve capacity in a new wastewater treatment plant being planned along Doe Creek by the Upper Trinity Regional Water District.

Little Elm Public Works Director Doug Peach noted that while Mustang Special Utility District, which holds the right to provide water and sewer service in the area, has adequate water resources for future development, it doesn't have sufficient wastewater treatment capacity. UTRWD, with whom Mustang contracts for wastewater treatment capacity, however, is planning the initial phase of a wastewater treatment plant along Doe Creek.

"To ensure that future developments in the area we recently annexed have wastewater capacity, we feel its necessary to reserve at least some capacity in the new plant," Peach said.

If the capacity isn't reserved, Peach explained that developments in the recently annexed area along Hwy.

380 would find themselves without wastewater service until the expansion of the UTRWD plant, possibly resulting in a three- to five- year delay in development.

Peach noted that staff was recommending the reservation of 25,000 gallons in capacity, at a cost of $250,000. The cost will be passed onto future developments in the area recently annexed.

In other business, the council: * Approved, following a public hearing, new landscaping and tree conservation regulations. The new regulations include a point system, which varies with the size of property and encourages water conservation and development enhancements.

* Approved, following a public hearing, an exemption on "freeport goods," personal property shipped into and out of Texas within 175 days. Economic development consultant Pam Mundo explained that the measure is an important step in encouraging development, specifically warehouses, along Hwy. 380.

* Congratulated Cottonwood Creek Marina on being named Marina of the Year for the second time by the Marina Association of Texas. Marinas may receive the honor only once every three years.

* Approved the consent agenda, consisting of the minutes of the Nov. 6 precouncil meeting, public hearing and regular council meeting.

* Authorized the fire department to submit an application for a 2007 FEMA Fire Prevention Grant.

LEFD is seeking an $81,487 grant for a fire safety education trailer.

* Approved the appointment of the town's planning and zoning commission, along with Ray Reyes and Brett Cochrane, as the impact fee advisory committee.

* Adopted an ordinance allowing employees who previously participated in the Texas Municipal Retirement System but withdrawn their savings to buy back into the system.