Gatesville City Council (Texas) approved providing water to a proposed RV park to be located near the city ballpark and the Gatesville Civic Center.
According to a report, property owner Lynn Massingill, who owns around 500 acres in the area, initially approached city officials in February with plans to construct what he described as an upscale RV park in the city.
While he was told sewer service would not be available for the property (making a septic system necessary), Massingill asked the city to make water available to his property to build the RV park.
After both sides had presented their positions in favor or against the RV park, the Gatesville City Council was initially deadlocked with three council members in support and three against the proposal.
Mayor Gary Chumley cast the deciding vote to allow the city to supply water to the facility, which will be outside the city limits, by a 6-inch water line.
Other council members who voted for the request of the property for water in the city included Claude Williams, Greg Casey, and Billy Sinyard. Council members voting against it were Meredith Rainer, John Westbrook, and Barbara Burrow.
City staff suggested that the council approve the request, citing four reasons: first, the city isn’t obligated to provide services beyond the Gatesville city limits. Therefore, there is no legal right to provide services outside the city.
Second, the property is in an area serviced by a 100,000-gallon storage tank that only meets the minimum requirements for pressure at each connection and concerns the potential impact an RV park might have on the water service provided to existing customers in the area.
Third, the city is limited in the amount of water available to it, and providing water outside the city could reduce the amount of water available for future growth inside the city; and fourth, “city staff has analyzed the request and identified additional impacts.”
This story originally appeared on Gatesville Messenger.