Woodsboro residents will receive another notice next week warning that the municipal water supply contains too much arsenic under state guidelines.

The council’s plan, that was adopted in 2005 to alleviate the problem has been riddled with delays and lack of funds.

Mayor Pro Tem Larry Jochetz, who presided over the meeting Tuesday night in the absence of Mayor George Hernandez, said the next stage of going out for bids on the filtering system should begin in January.

“We need to keep the heat on the Texas Water Development Board,” said Fred Farias, public works supervisor.

Currently an environment impact study is near completion.

Well water discolored, smells badly

Three years prior to adopting a plan to clean up the town’s water supply, a new $300,000 water well was drilled. The well does not contain high amounts of arsenic, but other chemicals, including iron, manganese and hydrogen sulfite, cause the water to be discolored and have a putrid odor.

In addition to its unsavory smell, the water is highly corrosive from the chemicals, according to a statement by the mayor three years ago. So, the well has never been placed on line.

The amount of arsenic is expected to be reduced by mixing water from the wells and the chemicals in the new well are expected to be removed by the filtering process.

Before the filtering system can be installed, a $120,000 water storage tank capable of holding 200,000 gallons was required to be installed first. The water tank was delivered rusted and dented during the summer of 2008, and was subsequently rejected twice by Hernandez and Farias, causing further delays.

Negotiations between LNV Engineering and Columbian Tech Tank, the manufacturer, resulted in the tank being galvanized a second time and dents being removed.

LNV was also the same firm charged with overseeing the water well drilling project that has never been used.

Dodson Park

Council member Minerva Cisneros asked that the council reconsider leaving the lights on at Dodson Park during the baseball and softball off season. The town has spent approximately $2,000 in electric bills to have the power on, with little or no usage.

“I don’t mind people using it,” Cisneros said. “But I’d like them to use it during the day. That’s a lot of money to be paying.”

“Usage died because of football,” Jochetz said. “Then the rain started. Little kids will start select ball in a few weeks.”

Council member Debra Bolcik said at the time the council voted to leave the lights on, several girls playing select ball were using the field.

“Three girls received scholarships in softball and I think $500 a month to let these kids use it any time is a small price to pay. That field is used more than any other thing we have.”

The council voted to keep the power on this year but turn it off in August 2010 when Little League season ends.

Other business

The council agreed to sell four properties at the recommendation of Alice Garcia with the Linebarger and Groggan law firm. Three of the properties were sold for $400 and one for $200. The abandoned properties are on Celia, Ashby and Guadalupe streets.

Rosemary Vega was also appointed to fill a seat on the substandard building committee vacated by Leslie Garza, who resigned.

Resident Carl Arnold, questioned why the ordinance was never published.

Attorney Arnold Kubicek said a public hearing notice was published and that was all that is required.

A copy of the ordinance is available at city hall for the public to review.

The council also voted Susan Parker as its representative on the Appraisal District board. The town has 57 votes on the board.