BELOW IS AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY OF SOME OF THE MANY RECENT ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE

TEAM AT HARRIS COUNTY WCID #110

It is important to note that the only real obligations of Harris County WCID #110 and its board is to guarantee clean water and functional sewer.  This is the primary purpose and most MUD districts halt further actions when those two already challenging tasks are met.  Many districts plan poorly and must be reactive in raising taxes drastically to compensate for this poor planning.  Others have trouble keeping the water and sewer systems functional to the point that regulators are forced to step in.  There are communities surrounding HC WCID #110 who are in this very state – with TCEQ being forced to step in and provide relief as the water is dirty and barely potable or the sewer plants cannot keep up with demand.  Not Harris County WCID #110.  If you are reading this, it is likely you already know some of the benefit living in HC WCID #110 brings. The District prioritizes water and sewer but goes far beyond those responsibilities.  Here is a synopsis of what they do well and why it is believed they excel in taking care of the residents of our district.

Fiduciary Responsibility:

•  Consistently Lowered Property Tax Rates | Just as the heading states, the board has consistently lowered the property tax rates for all stakeholders at every opportunity. The board of directors, in conjunction with the District’s consultant RW Baird, has consistently kept the tax rate at an extremely competitive level relative to most every other district.  Beyond the progressive low tax rate ($0.32 per $100 in valuation for 2024), the District offers a 20% EXEMPTION for residential homesteads (highest allowed by law) and an amazing $100,000 exemption for those over 65 and/or disabled.  This rate alone ranks in the lowest 20% quartile for the county and there are only a handful of competing districts that offer such liberal exemptions to residents.   Please refer to graphic below for historical rate table as well as a comparison, in recent years, to average of other MUD’s (as handled by Bob Leard Interests – a tax collection firm).  There is most certainly no other MUD district within Harris County which can boast the high level of amenities at such a low tax rate.

• Financing | The District has saved a minimum of $4,000,000 in stakeholder monies (our funds!) by strategically planning improvement and repair projects such that bonds were not required.  By paying for the improvements and repairs using operating funds, no debt was required and therefore no interest or bond issuance costs were required.  This $4,000,000 in savings has done a lot within our communities and is still paying dividends.

• SPA Agreement | During 2004, to avoid the City of Houston annexing our community, as the City had done in portions of Kingwood, the board negotiated a Strategic Partnership Agreement (“SPA”) with the City of Houston. This agreement protects the area within our district from City of Houston takeover.  This agreement has been renewed recently and protects our region from annexation at least through April 8, 2043.  Beyond the adverse impacts of such a takeover of our resources (water, sewer, security, trash, et al) by the City, there were serious financial implications that benefit us to this day.  The board of HC WCID #110 negotiated that our district receives a portion – ½ of 1% – of all sales tax revenue generated from businesses within the district.  This was profound at the time and very forward-thinking.  Per the audited financial statements, the District and its residents received sales tax revenues of $1,615,699 as of the close of the 2023 fiscal year.  That is $1.6MM in just one year that has been applied to offsetting costs of running the district and also utilized to improve areas such as the parks and amenities.  While the value may change annually, the fact is that this is money that provides further enhancements to our district while keeping the tax rate lower; and the revenue arrangement is guaranteed through 2043.

• FEMA Funds/Grant Applications | The District has innovative and aggressive in seeking FEMA funds as well as grants for hazard mitigation so as to offset a portion of the cost of future projects and infrastructure upgrades.  To keep taxes low while providing a value-added service of collecting storm debris, the district staff and consultants have become proficient in applying successfully for grants to cover partial cost reimbursement for this expense.  The district will be pursuing allocated FEMA grant funds for hazard mitigation actions and efforts, ranging from construction of additional storm water detention ponds to upgrading and adding new components to our critical infrastructure and District buildings. The amount of grant funding is dependent on the total cost of a specific project.  This keeps taxes and operating expenses at a minimum for residents.  Further, the district is working to partner with FEMA in certifying a disaster mitigation plan such that FEMA will provide partial funding for acquisitions and improvements within the region.  The team at Harris County WCID #110 is adept at finding creative methods in keeping the expenses low while ensuring the highest level of service such that property taxes and monthly operating invoices to residents are inherently low.

• Refunding/Refinancing of Bonds | The board consistently seeks allowable ways to save the stakeholders, the taxpayers (us!) and the district expense. One such way allowed by TCEQ, MSRB and several other regulatory agencies allow for “refunding” of bonds.  This is allowed when a rate can be bought down.  Very similar to a refinance on a home mortgage during a time in declining interest rates, a MUD bond can be refinanced if a lower rate exists.  The purpose is typically to take advantage of lower interest rates, reduce debt payments, or extend the repayment period.  The board of HC WCID #110 has voted time and again to refinance bonds, therefore saving taxpayers millions in extra interest payments.  This shows financial resiliency and a fiduciary interest in doing what is best for the residents of the district.

• Financial Transparency | Ever browsed over to wcid110.com? If not, make a visit, but plan on being there for a long while.   It is unheard of that a utility district, anywhere in the great state of Texas, would have such a robust website that they dedicate such resources to.  Little known fact is that this was one of the first websites of its kind as when it was created, almost no utility district in Texas maintained a website!  The site includes everything – and I mean EVERYTHING – one could want to know about the district.  Meeting minutes spanning back years, audited financial statement audits, contact information, local HOA information, current events, trash updates, on and on and on!  It is rare that a question cannot be answered by clicking the “search” button and inquiring about the topic via this website.  The board is NOT shy about promoting financial transparency.  The district also runs two very active Facebook pages where community members are welcome to ask questions and interact with the board and staff.    The Potpourri newsletter is mailed out to all residents on a monthly basis and great time is invested in disseminating accurate information through this publication.  Further, the board, along with staff, are available at reasonable hours to answer any questions or concerns a stakeholder might have.  This is less common within the municipal utility district industry then one might think.  Most districts ask you to complete a “contact us” query on the website and the district attorney may or may not reply to your question.  With WCID #110, the board members make their contact info public, are accessible and expect the same of the staff.  They don’t shy away from transparency or answering tough questions.  There are no shadows when it comes to HC WCID #110.

Prudently Protecting Development Within the District:

•  Responsible Development | With development in the area inevitable, the board has continuously pushed to allow only the proper types of commercial enterprises into the district. Has it ever dawned that we have only not one apartment within the district boundaries?  That is no small feat, especially given the last decade of development, and we have the board of HC WCID #110 to partially thank.   They have no control over private development other than water and sewer rights.  However, when a HUD housing project or a large motel chain wishes to build a gargantuan facility and be annexed into the district, the board does have the authority to say “no thanks” or ask for further studies.  The resulting developments within the district have been mostly tasteful and of the highest quality.  Some may remember that before the Target shopping was constructed, a “fly by night” apartment contractor attempted to build a large apartment complex where the Target now stands.  The board ceased construction and forced the developer to participate in the customary approval process; thereby encouraging this rather nefarious idea to die.  The rest is history and today, we are able to enjoy Target, Jason’s Deli, Best Buy and many other retail establishments, most of these collecting sales tax to fund operations within the boundaries of the district.

• Centerpoint Fight | With increased development has come significant issues with keeping the lights lit in our homes and businesses. Up until about six years ago, the area might experience one or two outages a year.  Lately, that outage regularity can occur within a week or two.  Outages are all-too-common and while it costs the district stakeholders time and money, it is further creating frustration.   Harris County WCID #110, in an effort to advocate for the residents, began petitioning the transmission provider, Centerpoint Utilities, for better line/ROW maintenance and increased preventative maintenance.  For about three years, the District, mostly under the direction of Jerry Strickland (HC WCID #110 board member) has hounded Centerpoint to “do better”.  Most recently, Mr. Strickland was a speaker before the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and pled with this regulatory agency to force better infrastructure maintenance from Centerpoint such that the regular disruptions to our lives within the region cease.

Value-Added Benefits and Services:

•  Parks and Recreation Facilities and Events | With no increase to the property tax amount nor the water rates, the District has created an amazing park system as well as excellent recreation facilities for the community to enjoy.  The District continues to expand upon the park system – recently acquiring another 14.50 acres of land along Cypress Oaks with the intent of expanding the lakes system – and is now up over ~90 acres of park and recreational space.  Those lakes?  Stocked nearly every year with some rather fine fish so that our anglers have an amazing local experience.  Great events such as National Night Out, Easter egg hunting, fun runs, fishing tournaments, educational demonstrations, BINGO, movie nights and many others are hosted by the District and residents are invited to attend at little or no charge.  The District continues to upgrade the facilities (new tennis courts, new dock and a new playground in 2024 alone).  None of these items have a direct increase on the property tax rate nor are passed along via fees to residents. 
  

• Security and Safety | The District, realizing we are not a desirable community if we are not safe, is committed to hiring competent deputies from Harris County Constable Precinct 4. This started with the commitment of hiring Tom Pike to patrol the communities long ago.  As the district area grew, so did the number of officers contracted by HC WCID #110.   Recognizing the commercial areas needed further manpower and also that the HOA’s were not funded such that they could cover enough contracts, HC WCID #110 stepped in and funded an increasing number of contracts.  Today, in 2024, the District contracts for nine deputies and constant coverage for the area within the District boundaries.  This contract, set by the county, costs $946,000/annually.  Further, the District funded a $1.4MM building for the HC Constable Precinct 4 to utilize along Holzwarth many years ago.  This building is owned by the District and leased to the Constable for $1.  The maintenance and utilities are paid out of HC WCID #110 funds.  Safety and security are not cheap.  Yet, the board and consultants believe that increased law enforcement presence within our community is tantamount.

• The District recently complemented the Constable contract and building with a deep network of Flock cameras.  These cameras are license plate readers and help the Constable track stolen vehicles and those vehicles associated with crimes as they might pass into/through our neighborhoods.  These cameras have proven to be very effective thus far.  Neither the Flock cameras nor the Constable contract and office building have resulted in increased property taxes or inflated water bills.  The tax rate is still $0.32/$100 of assessed value and the water and sewer rates remain ultra-competitive.  

• Special Electronic Recycling and Paper Shredding Events | The district hosts special paper shreddding and electronic recycling days often.  This is a huge benefit in that it both helps community members who would have trouble recycling these items otherwise while benefiting the environment.  These events are always free to residents of the district.

• Waste Removal and Recycling | Ask your neighbors from communities outside of HC WCID #110 about their waste removal service. Most will tell you that this is left up to the HOA or is billed privately.  Recycling with a safeguard to ensure the recyclable items actually make it to the right facility?  Most likely not.  HC WCID #110 takes on the responsibility of handling our wastes of all types.  The board has a contract with Best Trash and this partnership is very beneficial to the residents of the district.  It allows household waste, tree debris and lawn clippings and even most electronic items to be disposed of via two collection times per week.  Always desiring to provide the best result for residents, when the topic of recycling came up many years ago, the board jumped at the opportunity to provide for this ecofriendly service – even providing the bins at no extra cost.  If you examine the monthly water and sewer invoice sent by MOC, you will not find ANY charge for this extra service!  Yes, your water/sewer billings also cover the cost of responsibly removing your household waste.  As if that was not enough, the district has committed to helping us residents clean up and remove debris after nearly every major storm – going back to Hurricane Alicia in the 80’s!  Hurricane Harvey waste removal in less than a month?  Check!  Hurricane Beryl debris piles moved within a few weeks (and long before Harris County would be able to get to it)?  Check!  All for no extra cost billed to residents of the district?  Checkmate! 
  

• Storm Preparedness, Storm Remediation of Parks and the Spirit of District Residents | After each storm, the board of directors and consultants have done an amazing job of providing for residents. They have opened their doors and facilities to be used as cooling centers, they have offered their employees to help with cleanup efforts, and they have even provided supplies and guidance after the most significant storms.  Further, after each storm, many Houston districts lose water pressure on both the clean water supply and the sewer removal side.  This is often due to lack of water pressure.  This should never be the case within HC WCID #110.   This is because the district and consultants have a concise disaster plan that extends well beyond the storm.  The district owns and maintains a fleet of large generators that will power the facilities and infrastructure.  Further, the operator, MOC, is contractually committed to keeping manpower on-site 24/7 after a storm and only relieving this obligation after all power within the district plants have been restored and facilities are certified to be operating at optimal levels.  There is no other district I am aware of that has such a robust and almost failproof plan in place.The parks and recreation facilities have taken a lot of abuse from the past storms that have decimated our community.  Yet, the board and staff are “all hands on deck” immediately after the storm passes; in some cases remaining on-site during the storm so as to be able to respond and protect our assets.  Regardless of the amount of damage, the park is usually opened within a week or two of the storm (the lakes were closed for only two weeks after Hurricane Harvey flooded the entire area) due to the dedication of this team.  Keeping the facilities functional, clean and well cared for is a priority of HC WCID #110 and this precedent only amplifies after a major storm.

• Communication | Again, an area where HC WCID #110 excels.  While no trophies are handed out by TCEQ for district communication excellence there should be some acknowledgment of just how good our district communicates.  Look to neighboring districts such as Klein PUD, HC MUD #104 or about any other, and you are hard-pressed to find so much as a website.  HC WCID #110 publishes two Facebook pages, is active on many other social media platforms, pushes out notifications from the website, has a very robust website with current information and is extremely proactive in communicating activities, warnings, events and status.  If you are not familiar with the district or its active web and social media presence, you can start the search by perusing over to wcid110.com   Read the rest of this page, first, though!
  

• Beautification | The board and much of the staff of HC WCID #110 are residents of the community within district boundaries. They want the same thing all of us do – a beautiful and inviting place to call home.  The management team of the district take great pride in the aesthetic beauty of HC WCID #110.  This is why instead of chain-link fencing around the water plant(s), there is a painted wall with landscaping.  This is why the water tower is refurbished regularly (partially refurbished in 2023).  This is why holiday decorations are procured and installed during major holidays.  It is the reason that the clubhouse and facilities are regularly remodeled and kept to such a high standard of care.  You would be hard pressed to find a district with the level of upkeep found within WCID #110.   This is all a bonus considering tax rates are kept remarkably low relative to nearly every other district in Harris County.  The board has also voted for façade improvements to all buildings, a rock wall around the pool grounds along with outdoor showers, the water slides (installed circa 2009) and the new gym buildout.  The gym has the most modern equipment, and all equipment is kept in operational state.  The tennis courts are in new condition with no “faults” (well, with exception of this tennis player!) and there is a long list of additional improvements that are coming soon.
  

• Flood Protection | The district has always been proactive in working to prevent flooding.   After all, the board and a portion of the staff live in the communities within the district.  After Harvey, the efforts to prevent flooding and control water retention and runoff became one of the significant priorities for action by the district.  The district has been in high gear in recent years, with Vanessa Sommer (WCID #110 board member) spending a great number of hours working with Harris County Flood Control and county engineers to find further ways to reduce the watershed levels during heavy rain.  Even more monumental in the flood control battle, HC WCID #110 introduced a legislative bill in 2022 that received final approval and was signed into law.  This legislative bill gives WCID #110 the authority to inspect all 41 commercially-owned detention basins and ponds within the boundaries of the district to ensure they are being maintained as designed in an effort to reduce flooding.  Both Ms. Sommer and Brian Mills (district manager) traveled to Austin to support this bill and testified before legislative committees in the process of getting the bills signed into law.  This is profound as detention ponds – such as the one just west of the Target complex – were well overgrown and would not hold, dissipate and control water properly during a heavy rain event such as Hurricane Harvey.  The district continues the fight to control flooding to this very day and is working diligently behind the scenes to find ways to avoid the level of destruction Hurricane Harvey brought to our communities.  

• Align The District with Professional and Proficient Consultants | One could walk the world over and not find a better group of professionals to consult and guide the board while providing for the needs of stakeholders within the District.  Unlike many other local MUDs, when EDP, a competent leader in water and sewer operations, was purchased, the board did not hesitate to immediately begin the interview process for a new operator.  They spent countless hours researching, interviewing and scrutinizing the available options.  Ultimately, MOC was chosen and this group has already proven themselves as pioneers in their industry.  They accelerated the installation of Badger electronic meters by 4x (procuring and installing the entire district in a matter of months when EDP had professed it would take more than a year).  The electronic meters not only lower the cost and environmental impact of the district, but they assist the residents with finding leaks, analyzing water usage and other value-added items.  During a storm, such as Beryl, when the area loses power on a global scale, MOC has agreed, by contract, to put personnel in place 24/7 to run generators and monitor the water and sewer systems to as to protect against breakdown or damage due to the protracted power outage.  During Hurricane Beryl, MOC personnel lived out of their trucks for right at eight days so that the residents of HC WCID #110 could focus on cleanup and other issues and not stress about the water and sewer working properly.  The financial statement auditor, McCall Gibson, is known as the premier auditor in the CPA/accounting industry.   John Davis, P.E., who leads Langford Engineering, is sought after by most in Houston given his incredibly active history serving the water/sewer industry.  Davis, and Langford Engineering, have been the engineer of record for HC WCID #110 almost since inception.  The attorney, led by Maria Parker and Josh Kahn, provide incredible insight and leadership from the legal perspective and have been proactive in finding avenues for positive growth.  The bookkeeper, Myrtle Cruz, Inc. is the foremost authority on water district accounting and has been in the game for about as long as HC WCID #110 has been a district (formed in 1968).  These consultants, and others not mentioned, work seamlessly together to assist the board and ensure a positive outcome for all in the district boundaries.

 

The core duty of Harris County WCID #110 is to ensure clean water and reliable sewer services.  While many MUD districts stop at these two basics, HC WCID #110  goes well beyond.  With careful planning and a proactive approach, HC WCID #110 has kept taxes stable, ensured resilient infrastructure, and delivered exceptional amenities to residents.