Here’s a portion of the Mayor’s blog: “You see, it will not only be the cost of rehab or replacement but the cost to maintain the existing plant in the interim (several million), as well as the cost to maintain it on a go-forward basis (roughly 3 million annually, lest future generations of Bellairians find themselves in the same position that we do now).

These costs would be on top of our current debt of 92 million, plus the impending cost to renovate our new Public Works facility, as well as the 70 million in bonds that we approved in November 2024 to address our flooding issue as well as to improve our wastewater collection system, as stated above, which will not go away, by the way, in any event.

So we are clear, within the next three years, the debt of the City of Bellaire could stand at an amount that approaches 300 million, and with that, there would likely be no new streets built or repaired, no new library, no new parks, no new soccer or ball fields, green-space, etc. (all of which would be in play with a dismantled WWTP and the associated benefits), but what you will have is a much heftier bill from the City.” 

* * * * *

Sadly, I agree with the Mayor’s assessment regarding Bellaire’s future debt. The current debt is high, $90 million or more, and the $9.5 million paid annually in debt service will only increase if more bonds are sold.     

My concern is that the problems with the WWTP are only a symptom of a much larger problem with Bellaire’s debt and financial management. If Bellaire cannot afford to operate and maintain a Wastewater Treatment Plant, a facility we’ve have for 80 years or more (it was in operation when I moved to Bellaire in 1956), what else may the City have to give up or outsource in order to reduce the bonded debt?   

What are City Council’s priorities?

• Is it parks or maintenance of city facilities and equipment?
• One vendor’s quote per project, or multiple quotes from multiple vendors or consultants?
• Widening a Houston ditch or installing larger stormwater sewer lines and making certain City sewer lines are cleared (much of our flooding occurs when the storm sewers cannot accommodate rising water in the streets).
• Ignore ordinance violations on construction sites, or advise contractors to maintain a safe site and enclose construction areas with silt fencing?   

If the City’s finances are so stretched, why not cut back on non-essential expenditures? Cross-train and eliminate some positions or reduce them to half-time? Raise the property tax rate? Pay fewer consultants?    

Why did City Council recently approve a $3 million dollar contract to Ardurra for Cypress Ditch, a project in Houston that is not fully funded? Grant applications have not been approved and HCFCD has not provided the other $70 million needed.

Were Bellaire residents aware that the $30 million and $40 million dollar bond propositions on the ballot in November, 2024, approved by City Council as funds for drainage, were actually intended for demolition of the Wastewater Treatment Plant and a Cypress Ditch proposal?

Why did City Council approve $7 million in debt for the purchase of a building in Houston for the relocation of Bellaire Public Works, knowing that renovations may cost another $7 million or more? Best guess, there were never any plans to rebuild an elevated Public Works building in the original location.

Bellaire is committed to borrow as much as $14 to $15 million to move Public Works to the Glenmont property, in essence abandoning the PW area on Edith St, By my figures, to save the cost of rehabbing or rebuilding the old WWTP, the City plans to spend $30 million in bonds, $5 million of the Ruffino Hills land swap, plus that $15 million for the Glenmont property and improvements. It seems that moving WWTP service to the City of Houston may end up costing $50 million or more.  Hopefully the City will have a $15 million investment in the Glenmont property. What about the Water Department building, adjacent to the WWTP? Is it no longer in use?

Bellaire Utility Rates FY2024      City of Houston Rates
CoH Calculator

Ruffino Hills Land Swap? Dry Detention Ponds? 

How will the $30 million dollar bond issue, approved by Bellaire voters in November 2024 for drainage improvements, actually be used?

Click to Enlarge

Based on a presentation to at a City Council Workshop in July  2024, $30 million would cover

• demolition of the Bellaire WWTP
• rebuild one lift station and add a new lift station
• replace or rehab collection lines
• pay impact fees to City of Houston

Why is Bellaire involved in a possible Land Swap in connection with the WWTP? Apparently to acquire an extra $5 million dollars to pay to Houston. Back in 2023 Bellaire voters approved the sale of Bellaire’s half of Ruffino Hills, after West University sold their half to Houston in 2022 for $10.5 million.

Then, based on a 2023 Memorandum from Ardurra included in that July presentation, Bellaire could swap the Ruffino Hills land for COH property across Beechnut from the Public Works land, including the old Houston Police Department land. Per Asst City Manager Jones, after the swap there will be a balance in Bellaire’s favor, about $5 million or so. That cash will go to COH as a portion of the ‘impact fees’ for connection to the Houston WWTP. That $5 million is not listed on the Wastewater Projects spreadsheet above.

Dry detention ponds would be built on the old Public Works site and the Houston property across Beechnut. However no plans or cost estimates have been provided. Which would seem to predict more costs ahead for detention. I encourage you to at least scan the memorandum.

Only one company, HDR Engineers, has inspected the WWTP, and only that company was asked to propose costs. HDR had clearly stated that signs of deferred maintenance were clear when they first inspected the facility.

Click for HDR Updated Costs

In an earlier presentation an HDR representative stated the company’s estimates may vary by -35% to +66% of the cost. Now those same engineers have greatly increased their estimates for cost to rehab or rebuild, which makes the move to COH an attractive cost saving choice.

Why not have another engineering company inspect the site? LAN, Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, oversaw construction of recent WWTPs in Conroe and Galveston. They have a Houston office, too.

Please send your comments to Mayor and members of City Council via our City Clerk, Tracy Dutton, at tdutton@bellairetx.gov
Hers is my  letter of May 12, 2025,  to the Mayor and members of Bellaire City Council

Why Was City Council So Willing To Abandon the Bellaire WWTP?

More Costs? Renovate The New Public Works Relocation And Plans For Evergreen Park

Some Iterations Of Bellaire’s Drainage Plans And WWTP Choices

$3 Million To Ardurra In The February 17, 2024 Council Agenda

What did Bellaire residents think they were voting for in November, 2024? To view the actual ballot language for those bond proposals check out pages 4 and 5 of the sample ballot for Bellaire.