The Bridge City City Council adopted its tax rate for next year Tuesday night, but that is not why the City Hall was packed with concerned citizens. Well over 50 people came to discuss the brown water and other contaminates in the water of Bridge City.
Bill Hoyer, who is with the company that produced the new water filtration system being installed in Bridge City, spoke first. Next Bob Bowcock who works with activist Erin Brockovich addressed numerous citizens’ questions about the quality of the water in Bridge City.
Brockovich and Bowcock respond to up to 5,000 emails per day from concerned citizens around the nation. He stated Bridge City first got on their radar screen about four years ago with the consumers’ complaints about the brown color caused by iron and manganese in the water. Bowcock told those attending, “You’re not the only place in Texas that this is a problem.”
Bowcock indicated it is still too early to know the answers to all the questions, but the first step to finding the answers is open communication. Bowcock observed that the commitment is there from the City of Bridge City and the open dialogue between it and the citizens has been very successful. “Once this is wrapped up then your communication has to continue and you have to continue to learn,” Bowcock emphasized.
He has pledged to assist Bridge City in fixing the problems causing the iron and manganese discoloration and the level of trihalomethanes (THM) contaminates in the water. Bowcock predicted it might be another 90 days before the new water filtration system is online, and may be six months before the clarity and quality of the water in Bridge City is improved significantly.
City Manager Jerry Jones expressed his appreciate for the help Bowcock is supplying to improve the water in Bridge City. Jones likes the direction they are going to fix the problem. Jones mentioned he is going to Austin Wednesday to speak with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to speed up the process in getting the permits required for the new water filtration system.
The City Council approved the tax rate for next year. The 52 cents per 100 dollars value represents a slight increase from the current tax rate.
At the beginning of the City Council meeting proclamations were approved honoring first responders and the 1966 Bridge City Cardinals football team which won the state championship. National Night Out in the City of Bridge City will be sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce to honor first responders on Tuesday, October 4, at the Bridge City Park Pavilion. Homecoming for Bridge City High School will be Friday, October 7, during which time the champion Cardinals’ players, coaches, managers, trainers, administrators, and cheerleaders of 1966 will be honored.
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