Bay Harbor

On Tuesday February 2nd, 2010 John Halsey and Bill Hand met with Eric Wilson and Karen Mahoney to discuss the status of the Bay Harbor Sewer Project. Bill explained that our septic tank situation was getting worse and that a lot of people are having problems flushing toilets and in some cases that raw sewage is running into people’s yards. Eric seems to think that the City will get enough funds in the second round of CDBG funding to complete the sewer projects on the West End and other areas. The original funding that we thought was there is no longer available for a number of reasons. We again reviewed the master plan for Bay Harbor which was completed in 2006. Eric plans to move forward with the acquisition (purchase) of land for a lift station. There are no plans to move the original location of the lift station because that would delay the project and add additional costs. We explained that the BHIA would not be involved with individual property owners during this acquisition process. We did agree to provide whatever contact information that we had available as an HOA.

The bottom line is that the best case scenario would be that we may see construction start during the 1st or 2nd quarter of 2011. As most of you know, this is just another date of many that we have seen over the past six or seven years. We are trying to stay as positive as we can but we will know that our sewer project has arrived when we see heavy equipment in Bay Harbor digging holes in the ground. I do feel that we have a good working relationship with Eric. On a final note, Eric did say that if a property owner wanted to install one of the expensive “Aerobic” sewage treatment systems that even though the sewer project was completed, those property owners would not have to connect to the city system for “five to seven years”. I know that some folks are waiting to build because they are waiting for sewers and this may give some of those folks an option if they would like to take it.

November, 2009 – from Bill Hand

The Bay Harbor sewer project is now a City of Galveston “Phase Two Project” which means it has been moved to the back burner again. I have expressed to several of our neighbors that I will believe we are getting sewers when “I see heavy equipment moving dirt”. Until then, we will continue to “squeak” in hopes we will get some “oil” on this sewer project.

August 15, 2008 – from John Halsey

As of June, there were three outstanding issues related to the sewer project that needed to be resolved– right of way along the streets, location of the lift station, and keeping the funds allocated to Bay Harbor sewers in the budget. It appears the “right of way” issue has been resolved. We are still trying to resolve the lift station location issue. It appears that the funding for Bay Harbor sewers in the 2008 Budget is safe for the time being, but, if we can’t resolve the lift station location issue, all bets are off.

At our annual meeting in June, councilwoman, Karen Mahoney, announced that the city had received a legal opinion indicating that they already had all of the “right of way” needed to install sewer lines under each street in Bay Harbor. The packets that we announced would be sent to some property owners to get additional right of way will not be sent out.

Based on the sewer grid layout as currently designed, there is a very limited area where a lift station can be placed. The city has started to negotiate with the property owners in that area. BHIA has been trying to help this dialogue. If no agreement can be reached with any of these property owners, then the city will be faced with one of two difficult choices. They could elect to invoke imminent domain on one of these properties or they could look for an alternative location for the lift station triggering a costly redesign of the grid layout.

With the change in the make up of the city council, there has been concern that the new members might redirect the $6 million dollars in the 2008 budget that is currently stipulated for Bay Harbor sewers to some other project. Several votes have occurred in the last month that indicate the council is willing to honor its long term commitment to eliminate the use septic systems on the island. The money appears safe for the time being.

As long as we can resolve the issue of the lift station, it appears that the project will be able to go forward. All other issues have been resolved. If the lift station issue can not be resolved, all bets are off.