Water Need A Hold Up for New LG Apartment Complex

The La Grange Springs Apartment Complex needs a spring, or some source of water.

The apartment developers recently found out that their water supplier won’t be able to supply enough water. They came to the City Council meeting Monday night to ask for a tap.

The City agreed a year ago to provide sewer services to the 72-unit apartment complex, which is to be located at the northeast corner of US 77 and FM 2145 north of St. Mark’s Medical Center. The property lies just outside the city limits but inside the City’s extra-territorial jurisdiction (ETJ). The property also lies within Fayette Water Supply Corporation’s (FWSC) service area. John Menges of Olympia Construction, the company building the apartments, told the Council Monday night that FWSC initially said it could supply water to the apartment units. Later, after the developers bought the land and started making plans, Menges said FWSC wrote back and said they got the calculations wrong and wouldn’t be able to supply the water..

In an interview last week, FWSC General Manager Jim Rebecek said the volume of water needed by the apartments would require major upgrades to the FWSC system. He said FWSC offered to upgrade the system if the developers paid for the cost. La Grange Springs turned down that offer, Rebecek said.

At last Monday’s City Council meeting, Raborn presented Council with a preliminary cost estimate of $538,484 to extend water services to the apartments. He estimated revenue from water sales to the apartments would amount to about $4,500 a month. The only other option for La Grange Springs would be to drill a well. Raborn said the water well would have to conform with state rules for a public water supply, which may prove too costly.

“I guess now we need to figure out how we’re going to get into it financially,” said Councilman Pat Janca.

Council voted unanimously Monday night to begin negotiations with La Grange Springs for water services.

“When you want to meet, boss?” Menges asked Raborn after the vote.

“Bring your checkbook,” said Councilman Ken Taylor.

In an interview on Tuesday, Raborn said the developers would likely have to share a significant portion of the cost before the City would agree to extend water services.