It is likely that the last thing you think of on a regular basis is, “Where is the George West City Sewer Plant and what do I need to know about it?” Now that you are thinking about it, this article will transparently provide citizens of George West the history, capacity, and future plans for the City of George West Wastewater and Sewer Plant. Throughout the 106 years since George West founded his town, the generosity of George West and his heirs in providing for the basic necessities of life at no or very low cost has been noted and appreciated by the residents of this city. The City’s Plant is located on property that has been leased from the George West family heirs for over 100 years. The current lease was amended in 2005, and requires the City to pay rent of only $1 per year. But that lease will end in a few months.
History:
- George West founded the George West Sewer Company with a donation of the sewer system and a plot of land: 25,000 feet of underground piping, flush tanks, manholes, lamp holes, disposal plant, and 0.66 acres. Easements for pipes going in and out of the Plant would expire in 50 years (in 1966).
- The heirs of George West sold the George West Water and Light Company and the George West Sewer Company to Walter Lamm. This contract included the Sewer Plant, and the easements needed for water and wastewater pipelines.
- Walter Lamm sold the Waterworks and the George West Sewer Company to the City of George West. He sold the light system to Central Power and Light Company.
- The heirs of George West leased additional land to the City, and extended the lease for the Sewer Plant through 1989.
- The heirs of George West leased additional land to the City, and extended the lease for the Sewer Plant through 2023. The 1973 lease was amended in 1995, and requires the City to remove all facilities and restore the land to its original condition as nearly as possible upon expiration of the lease.
- The heirs of George West granted an easement to the George West Sewer Plant for 2.148 acres for an emergency holding pond and equipment that that are used in conjunction with the Sewer Plant. This easement will only expire if the City stops using the property as a sewage emergency holding pond. If that happens, the City must remove all facilities and equipment.
- The heirs of George West sold a tract of land, including the property that the City was leasing for the Sewer Plant, to E. Mark Katzfey, Trustee of the E. Mark Katzfey GST Trust. The George West Sewer Plant is located on the southeast side of the intersection of U. S. Highway 59 and the Union Pacific Railroad. The City continues to own the original 0.66 acre site of the original Plant, and the 2.148 acre permanent emergency holding pond easement.
- On May 1, 2023, the current lease (1973 lease, as amended in 1995) will expire.
- Instead of entering another lease, the City of George West will seek to purchase the land needed to operate the sewer system from E. Mark Katzfey, Trustee of the E. Mark Katzfey GST Trust. To secure the continued operation of the George West Sewer Plant, the City needs to purchase (1) 2.740 acres for the Sewage Plant; (2) 0.380 acres of permanent easements for pipelines and access; and (3) 30.780 acres of permanent easement for a buffer zone that is required by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). If negotiations fail, the City will seek to acquire the land by using its power of eminent domain.
Capacity:
The George West Sewer Plant has a capacity of 0.534 million gallons per day (MGD) and is currently being used at .02 MGD, or below 50 percent of capacity. Given this, the current system will serve the city of George West for the foreseeable future.
Future Plans:
In an effort to be transparent, the City Council of the City of George West have provided this article as public information, as in the near future the Council will be negotiating with E. Mark Katzfey, Trustee of the E. Mark Katzfey GST Trust on the cost of purchasing the property rights described above. The land has been appraised and the City Council has carefully considered the cost and uncertainty of continuing to lease the property. The City will enter into negotiations in 2023 with Mr. Katzfey. This acquisition is critical to the current residents of the City and to all future growth. The City has enlisted a law firm that specializes in similar types of acquisitions and eminent domain. The City Council of George West is negotiating in good faith for the good of the City of George West and its residents.
