YFZ is No Show at City Hall
 
The Eldorado Success
 
The Eldorado City Council was prepared Monday night to receive further information from YFZ Ranch officials regarding their request that the city assist them with treating the ranch's wastewater, but no one from the ranch appeared. City Administrator Randy Mankin advised council members that he had met with Paul Allred from the YFZ following the council's July 19 meeting and had conveyed a list of requirements the city would need before it would move forward with the YFZ request. Mankin said Allred didn't seem happy with the list and suggested to him that some of the items "weren't the city's prerogative"

Mankin said he asked Allred for a written request from the YFZ outlining exactly what the ranch was requesting of the city. He also asked Allred to provide assurances concerning the quantity and quality of wastewater that ranch officials propose to haul to the city's wastewater plant, also the length of time the service would be needed. Other requirements included a monetary deposit or other assurances to guarantee payment as well as a bond to protect the city in case wastewater from the ranch is contaminated with pesticides, herbicides or other substances that might harm the city's sewer plant.

Inspectors with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) have been closely monitoring developments at the YFZ Ranch, Mankin said. He explained that he was keeping TCEQ officials apprised of discussions with the YFZ.

In a related matter, The Success has learned that a representative of the YFZ Ranch contacted the City of Sonora to ask about hauling wastewater to Sonora's wastewater treatment plant. Officials there reportedly advised that recent growth in Sonora prohibited the city from accepting the 150,000 gallons of wastewater per month that ranch officials proposed to haul. The Success also contacted the City of Menard and the City of Mertzon but neither of those towns has been approached by the YFZ.

Likewise, TCEQ investigators are unaware of any plans to haul wastewater from the YFZ to another facility. The ranch remains under an enforcement order from the TCEQ after the agency uncovered 29 environmental violations on the property. Included in that order is a shut down order requiring that the ranch stop disposing of wastewater until proper arrangements can be made.
 
MyEldorado.net
Originally published August 12, 2004
 
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