Weatherford board recommends city council consider joining Parker County Public Utility Agency

The Weatherford Municipal Utility Board voted Aug. 27 to recommend that the City Council consider joining the Parker County Public Utility Agency and authorize an initial funding agreement.

Quad Utilities representative Rick Schafer told the board that Weatherford’s commitment under the draft funding agreement would be $50,000 per year and that "Weatherford is estimated to have a 25% voting share on the weighted, voting items." Schafer said the PUA would include 16 voting members and one nonvoting member and that weighted votes would be used for major actions such as issuing bonds or approving contracts above $500,000.

Board discussion acknowledged potential benefits including regional cooperation, shared infrastructure costs and stronger competitiveness for federal and state grants. At the same time several members warned about development that could occur outside Weatherford’s corporate limits if the PUA supplies wholesale water without local guardrails. One committee member cautioned, "I think this is probably I mean, water's the future," and urged careful protections for Weatherford's fiscal and service interests.

The board’s motion to concur with staff recommendations — forwarding a resolution and the proposed initial funding agreement to the City Council for final vote — passed and will be placed on the council’s agenda for consideration. The funding agreement includes three termination triggers: failure to form the PUA by Aug. 1, 2027 (refunding the first-year contribution), the PUA achieving 125% of operating expense coverage for two consecutive fiscal years, or automatic termination on Sept. 30, 2040.