Bastrop, Tx–Bastrop City Council Member Julie Hart and Bastrop Economic Development Corp. board president Gary Guiterrez may have reached a compromise on funding for a deep water development well in Bob Bryant Park. The deal still must win approval of the BEDC board and the city council as well as endorsement by city voters, perhaps in May city elections.
The BEDC board meets Oct. 19 and will take up the issue then, said BEDC President/CEO Joe Newman this week.
Hart and Guiterrez clashed in public on Sept. 22 during discussion of BEDC’s proposed budget for 2009-10, which required council approval by Oct. 1. Hart called for delaying construction of new roads in the BEDC industrial park in order to fund the new water well at an estimated cost of $675,000. BEDC funding of water development will require voter approval which cannot take place before the May 2010 city elections.
Guiterrez said expanding the BEDC industrial park is a top priority of his board but suggested that given the right conditions the agency could pay for both the expansion and a water project. The BEDC budget, including the road extension work as proposed, passed on a 3-2 council vote. Hart and Council Member Kay Garcia McAnally dissented.
Subsequently Hart and Guiterrez met and talked about ways to compromise, both have said since then. In broad terms the compromise calls for a city referendum in May allowing BEDC to fund the Bryant Park deep well, avoiding a broader measure which would permit BEDC funds to go into water development projects indefinitely.
At a public town hall meeting with citizens Oct. 8, Hart said she has discussed that approach with Guiterrez. In an interview Monday, Guiterrez said he would campaign for voter approval for such a deal, assuming it is endorsed by his board and the city council. He vowed to oppose a broader measure.
From the beginning of the debate, BEDC officials have argued the agency can afford both the deep well and industrial park road and utility extensions. Initially BEDC set aside more than $2 million in cash or debt for the road extension. Now the board believes it can complete the road work for $1 million or less because of grant opportunities and declining construction costs.