Alex Garcia on how the Authority Was Created
Creating the West Harris County Regional Water Authority required more than passing legislation. Alex Garcia explains how the Authority was established, the opt-out period for water districts, and the governance structure that allows local districts to appoint the Authority’s Board of Directors.
Transcript
Transcript edited for clarity and readability.
The Legislature, of course, created the Water Authority. Getting it created was challenging.
We had to get sponsors in the House and in the Senate—Representative Callegari in the House and Senator Lindsey in the Senate.
In 2001, Governor Perry signed the legislation.
Then there was a six-month opt-out period so water districts had until the end of 2001 to opt out of the Authority if they chose to do so.
Anyone who opted out of the West Authority had to figure out how to achieve their own conversion requirements or face the disincentive fees.
There was a saying back then from an old telephone company commercial: “Reach out and touch someone.” The legislation was created so that the water districts could reach out and touch the Water Authority.
What that means is the boards of the water districts elect or appoint the board members of the Water Authority. That was a special part of the legislation that was passed.
Watch more from The People Behind the Progress Video Series:
https://www.whcrwa.com/people-behind-the-progress/
