Designed for Long-Term Success
What began as planning and paperwork grew into one of the largest infrastructure efforts in the region. Michael Thornhill, Assistant Secretary and Precinct 4 Director, describes the scale of moving water across Greater Houston and the complexity behind it.
Transcript
Transcript edited for clarity and readability.
When the West was created in 2001, Joe B. Allen, one of the founding partners of our law firm, was able to ensure there were opt-out provisions in the legislation so that those who did not want to be within the boundaries of the West could be removed early on. Those who stayed in wanted to be in.
He also put in place a really effective appointment process in the legislation that enabled the users of water in the West—either the MUDs or the cities—to vote for West directors based on their water usage. It’s a weighted vote.
Joe B. Allen also recognized the benefit of building eligibility requirements into the legislation that required West directors to have direct and relevant experience. Directors are required either to have served on a MUD board for at least four years or, in the case of the precinct that includes the City of Katy, to have served on the Katy City Council for at least four years.
