The Middle Trinity Groundwater Conservation District evaluated salaries and reviewed the 2021 audit during its regular meeting Thursday, June 2.
Following a closed session, the full board unanimously approved to give General Manager Patrick Wagner a salary increase following his first months in office.
Office Manager Crystal Eberhart gave a vote of confidence, saying that Wagner has done a “great job” since starting in January.
The board also unanimously approved 3.5% cost of living increases for the staff and a $1,000 merit increase for Debbie Montgomery.
Jeremy Shell from Boucher, Morgan and Young was on hand to present the audit for the year ending 2021 and stated that the district was in a good financial standing in a report with an unqualified opinion from BMY.
The audit showed that the district had $4.2 million in assets and a fund balance of $3.7 million. There were $1 million in expenditures with The Ditch outdoor learning classroom being the largest for the year.
Education and Public Relations Coordinator Stephanie Keith said they were three weeks out from pouring concrete for the building in the environmental learning area planned for the lot next to the MTGCD office on Wolfe Nursery Road in Stephenville. affects the environment with native plants, a creek, learning displays and more. Keith said they are aiming for a December completion but that could be subject to change.
Keith also said they have added extra tiers to the 4-H Water Ambassador program with four now available, from freshmen to seniors, offering the students a chance to learn about water conservation and management and share that information with their local community.
The quarterly drought report revealed that the MTGCD area was ‘abnormally dry’ under the Crop Moisture Index and in a ‘severe drought’ under the Palmer Drought Severity Index. Wagner reported that drought conditions were predicted to persist but that information will be kept updated at middletrinitygcd.org. Wagner said in his report that they are working on the website to be more transparent and accessible.
Field Tech Johnny Wells reported levels were mostly down with 33 monitored wells below previous readings in levels taken from
Erath County during May.
The board approved 16 well permits in a hearing before the regular meeting.
MTGCD is a groundwater conservation district managing groundwater usage in the counties of Erath, Comanche, Bouquet and Coryell.
All wells are permitted and databased through the district, which offers many resources to its counties including free water quality tests and capping.
For more information, visit middletrinitygcd.org or call (254) 965-6705.