Mont Belvieu public works plans ahead for city’s growth
During his nine years working for the city, two as the public works director, Bill Thompson has seen the population of Mont Belvieu, Texas, nearly triple. It is expected to triple again in the next 10 years.
An eastern suburb of Houston, the public works department with a crew of approximately 35 focuses on day-to-day upkeep for the city as well as planning for its future expansion.
There are four primary groups within the public works department. The plant focuses on the water wells and wastewater plants. There is a construction department whose responsibility is sewer line, sidewalk and other public works repair projects. The fleet department maintains heavy equipment and performs repairs on everything from weed eaters to fire trucks. The solid waste pickup section handles residential, commercial and construction trash pickup for the city.
One of the most important jobs of the public works department is dealing with and repairing water line breaks. In the hot summer months, temperatures around 110 degrees cause the clay-like soil to contract, causing water lines to break. Another frequent problem the department encounters is repairing sewer clogs, particularly within buildings featuring older infrastructure.
When storms come in, the department has to check the streets to ensure all drains are open and prevent debris from clogging them. Another subset of calls involve assistance with leveling pavement and broken sidewalks in need of repair.
In the event of a natural disaster, such as a hurricane or large storm, the public works department also acts as first responders. Many times, public works employees are sent in ahead of the police or fire department in order to clear debris with a bulldozer and help other first responders get through.
Hurricanes are unique because the city can go decades without having to deal with one and then be faced with a crisis. Recently, Hurricane Beryl left over a million pounds of trees, debris and fencing in its path that needed to be removed. Afterward, the department was recognized for quick work assisting utilities in getting power returned and helping to physically and mentally prepare affected residents for a return to normalcy.
Drought conditions must be monitored, particularly in the summer heat, to ensure everyone in the city will have access to enough water. The city has experienced a great deal of new construction, with most homes having sprinkler systems; and since several community splash pads and wave pools have been added to the landscape, the department has to keep an eye on water usage daily during possible drought conditions. If usage increases too much to keep up with the available amount of water, it is in charge of issuing limits on water usage.
When it comes to water quality, Mont Belvieu is responsible for reporting to a state regulatory entity, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality. This practice helps city officials ensure they are maintaining good water quality because it requires taking samples and sending them to labs to be tested.
Animals can also fall under the public works department purview. Large snakes tend to provoke the most calls. There are also calls to respond to alligators in retention ponds.
This summer, the public works department was called in to assist in a unique alligator removal operation. An alligator was discovered in a drainage ditch near one a major road. However, due to the alligator’s size – 11 feet 6 inches – the parks and wildlife department was unable to handle it alone.
“We thought outside the box and got the grapple truck we normally use for branches,” Thompson explained. The alligator was scooped up and delivered safely to a location determined by the parks and wildlife department.
According to Thompson, the most difficult part of running the public works department is growth management.
“We have to stay ahead of what is coming while also balancing the budget,” he described.
He is notified by a regulatory commission when the wastewater treatment plant has reached 75% capacity so plans can begin to be made for expansion. Mont Belvieu has already been told that it is at that trigger point. “We knew we needed to move forward with expansion,” he said. An expanded wastewater treatment plan is set to be ready within the next two years.
Thompson explained that the extra time is needed because planning out a wastewater treatment plan takes approximately five years. Eighteen months to two years are spent designing it, time is then needed to find funding, and then construction takes two to three years.
The city’s new wastewater treatment plant will handle approximately three million gallons a day compared to the current rate of approximately 1.5 million gallons a day. This level of growth means the city also needs a larger water well: While looking at the daily usage numbers as well as the number of new connections, they realized it was time to start the process of expansion. The new water well is set to be ready in the next two years and will double daily production from three million to six million gallons.
The department has worked closely with the community and city administration to create a master plan and stay ahead of growth. At the hub of this plan is a new city hall building that was recently completed. The public works department is in the planning stages for another water tower and future road expansions.
What truly sets Mont Belvieu Public Works Department apart, however, is its commitment to customer service.
“We pride ourselves in customer service,” Thompson stressed. “As a municipality we don’t have competition, so the only thing we can do for them is focus on the highest quality service we can give them. We take pride in finding any solution we can for them.”
Natural disasters, such as hurricanes, are a hit or miss in Mont Belvieu. However, this year the city experienced a great deal of damage from Hurricane Beryl, which resulted in over a million pounds of trees, debris and fencing down that needed to be removed. In these instances, the public works department acts as first responders to clean up the area for utilities and homeowners. (Photo provided by the Mont Belvieu, Texas, Public Works Department) One of the more unique experiences of the public works department recently was when they were called in to assist with the removal of an almost 12-foot alligator from a drainage ditch near a busy road. Given the size of the animal, the parks and wildlife department were unable to handle it on their own. The department had to get creative and brought in their grapple truck to pick up the alligator and contain it safely for the parks and wildlife department. (Photo provided by the Mont Belvieu, Texas, Public Works Department) 
Waterline repair is one of the most important and common repairs that is completed in Mont Belvieu. When temperatures reach around 100 degrees or higher, it causes the clay-like soil to contract, which causes water line breakage. Other frequent jobs include the prevention of flooding by removing debris from street drains and repairing sewer line clogs. (Photo provided by the Mont Belvieu, Texas, Public Works Department)
