Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District board of directors voted for a decreased penalty for GAP Drilling Well service after MTGCD staff noted how much the driller has been working to rectify issues reported in the May meeting.
MTGCD is the governing body which oversees the permitting and management of groundwater in the counties of Erath, Comanche, Bosque and Coryell, working to ensure proper conservation of resources under Chapter 36 of the Texas Water Code.
During the April meeting, MTGCD General Manager Patrick Wagner informed the directors of reports of GAP Drilling Services violating several of the district rules by not seeking permits on a number of wells prior to drilling and drilling 10 water wells in close proximity on a single property in violation of the spacing requirements. Wagner also reported finding an open hole on one of the properties he was checking out. Following a Show Cause hearing in the May meeting, the board voted to add an order to the June meeting declaring Gap owner Montana Mize had violated regulations by drilling water wells without prior authorization, failing to register beforehand as well as failing to follow wellspacing requirements and failing to submit state well reports to the district after well completion on numerous wells. At that time, the recommended order cited penalties of $19,500.
MTGCD manager Patrick Wagner reported that Mize had plugged the open hole in Comanche and had been working to get proper district and state registrations on wells that weren’t properly documented. He reported Mize had been “energized” to get jobs done and had been delayed on a couple of items due to waiting on landowner response and Wagner’s schedule. He added that Mize had been proactive, calling to make sure of any questions before new projects. “I’m trying to take care of all of it,” said Mize who was asked by directors how many of the undocumented wells were now registered.
Mize estimated that 90-95% of his issues were rectified but pledged to continue until it was all done. Wagner offered that this was about trying to keep all drillers to the same standard, not just calling out GAP.
Following an executive session, the directors ordered a decreased fine of $7,500 to be paid within 30 days. The directors also unanimously (minus the absent Rodney Stephens and Jerry Hinshaw) approved the purchase of a $47,475.50 short bed crew cab Silverado from Bayer as an additional vehicle to help with duties in the district. The directors also moved money from overbudgeted items like office equipment, city water fees for the Ditch water discover center and printing to aid in the purchase of the vehicle.
In the drought report, it was announced that there wasn’t a predicted drought in MTGCD’s four counties. The field tech report revealed that 26 wells in Erath were higher than the last reporting and only one was down.
It was also announced in the education report that MTGCD will be hosting a 4-H Water Ambassador meeting June 18 with representative from all over the state.