Tyler offers 10-year water contract to city
BY CHARLOTTE SMITH Editor

Whitehouse City Council held a special meeting Tuesday, with Mayor Jake Jacobson and council member Danny Hogden reporting on renewed water negotiations with Tyler and presenting the council with a new contract offer.

Although the details of the 10-year contract were not discussed at the meeting, the monthly demand rate is more than $50,000 before any water is drawn. That equates to $6 million over 10 years, roughly the same price tag as the last 25- year proposal.

Another special meeting has been set for 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 7 to give council members a chance to look at the contract before taking action. A copy was also given to Dan Jackson of economist.com, who has served as the city's water consultant for many years.

Tyler has been reluctant in the past to consider shorterterm contracts with its wholesale water customers. The last contract offer, before Tyler and Whitehouse ended their water relationship in November, was for 25 years. That offer is still on the table.

Although Whitehouse has been self-sustaining since November thanks to its water well production, some members of council have expressed concern that the city could experience a shortfall in the summer.

Whitehouse is in the process of developing two more wells, which are expected to come online in late summer. The city is also involved in pursuing a long-term deal with Like Striker for raw water.