At least two new members are expected to join a now-controversial board charged with managing the city’s groundwater resources.
The five-member Corpus Christi Aquifer Storage and Recovery Conservation District board has come under intense scrutiny in recent months as high-stakes decisions have unfolded amid worsening drought.
That’s partially attributed to the board’s decision in the fall to add two city-owned groundwater well fields located in Nueces County into its jurisdiction.
There has also been disagreement about the composition of the board itself — a separate entity from the city, but at the time fully seated by city employees.
Three board members’ terms have expired since the board voted to absorb the city’s well field sites into the CCASRCD’s boundaries and subsequently issue drilling and production permits.
On Jan. 27, it’s expected that the Corpus Christi City Council will choose three appointments to the board, at least two of whom are slated to be non-city employees, according to preliminary agenda documents.
Although the board is separate from the city, the City Council makes appointments.
Some rural residents have voiced opposition to the board being composed solely of city employees, suggesting that it serves as a conflict of interest and amounts to the city of Corpus Christi regulating itself.
Officials have countered that the CCASRCD board operates independently of the city and is capable of fulfilling the same duties as a groundwater conservation district.
Responding to public criticism of the board’s makeup in the fall, the council voted to appoint at least two non-city employees after the expiration of terms of some sitting members.
The CCASRCD board may soon make additional decisions about groundwater management.
The City Council is expected to consider pursuing a third well field, located in Nueces County.
City Manager Peter Zanoni has said that it would be recommended that the owner of the property where the third well field is proposed petition for inclusion in the CCASRCD’s boundaries.
Preliminary findings indicate that the proposed well field could produce between 12 million gallons of water per day and 24 million gallons of water per day, he said.
If the council moves forward with the proposal – and if the well field were included in the CCASRCD – the board would have final sign-off on whether the city could pump the volume of water ultimately requested.
The applicants
There are one dozen applicants seeking to serve on the CCASRCD board, records show — the majority listing engineering as their occupation.
The positions that will be filled are seats that had until their expiration been held by Ryan Skrobarczyk, city of Corpus Christi director of intergovernmental relations; Jeffrey Edmonds, city of Corpus Christi director of engineering services; and Nick Winkelmann, interim chief operating officer of Corpus Christi Water.
Edmonds is seeking reappointment to the board, while Skrobarczyk and Winkelmann are not.
CCASRCD board members continuing their unexpired terms on the board are Bill Mahaffey, city of Corpus Christi director of gas operations, and Dan McGinn, city of Corpus Christi interim assistant city manager.
Board members serve in four-year terms, according to city documentation.
Eleven of the applicants reside in Corpus Christi, while one does not.
In a message to the Caller-Times, City Secretary Rebecca Huerta wrote that residency is not a requirement to serve on the CCASRCD under the statute that had created the district.
Here is a breakdown of the applicants and their occupations, as self-reported on applications.
Patricia G. Anderson
Brad Bartilson
Jeffrey H. Edmonds
Brandon W. Garis
Jason R. Hale
David D. Harvey
Gabriel Hinojosa
Kyle Hooper
John D. McMullan
John Michael
Justin M. Tyson
John Weber
This article originally appeared on Corpus Christi Caller Times: Here’s why it matters that new members will join a groundwater board
Reporting by Kirsten Crow, Corpus Christi Caller Times / Corpus Christi Caller Times
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