The Houston City Council approved steps Monday to ensure an adequate water supply during dry weather that has enveloped the region.
Members authorizing hiring Layne, a well specialist, to drop the south well pump about 100 feet deeper to ensure a better water flow. City Administrator Larry Sutton said the city will pay $20,851 for the week. Water Superintendent Darrell Vandivort attended the meeting.
Sutton last week announced a voluntary water-conservation measure, asking residents who live in odd-number addressed homes to water on odd-numbered days — and the same for even number days and addresses. Sutton said a decrease in consumption has been recorded since the announcement.
The city also will work toward securing funding for a third well. Among the locations under consideration is the industrial park on North Industrial Park and the Houston Memorial Airport. Each could be added easily into a loop serving those regions, Sutton said.
In other matters, members:
—Declined not to close Emmett Kelly Park from 10 p.m. – 6 a.m. after problems with vandalism in the area. Despite surveillance cameras, problems persist. It has resulted in some solved cases, including one where a cap owner covered the lens only to show his name written on the inside.
Some of the measures expected to be implemented include locking restrooms after hours.
—Heard that a notice to begin construction on a Spruce Street stretch of the Village Walking trail and two welcome signs on each end of the city limits will be granted soon.