CCST offers water assistance

On December 21, Carolyn Crawford of the Community Council of South Central Texas (CCSCT) presented their water assistance program to the Bandera City Council for consideration.

CCSCT is offering funding through their low income household water assistance program. Crawford explained their water program is funded by the federal appropriations fund of 2021 and ARP funds of 2021 for emergency water and waste assistance.

Their funding has already come through to the state and they are ready to start the program in February once signed agreements with water vendors, in this case the City of Bandera, are pledged.

Crawford said there were three priorities under the program.

“Priority One: we will assist disconnect customers with restoration of water and water services with eligibility, based on customer’s actual bills,” she said.

“Priority Two: assist customers who are in imminent danger of disconnection, also based on customer’s actual bills,” she continued.

“Priority Three: one time assistance only, where we pay a full or partial payment to include water and wastewater portions only. Dollar amount based on sliding scale and household poverty level,” she concluded.

As proposed, CCSCT would partner with the City of Bandera via a signed contract, then the city of Bandera would provide access to CCSCT of the customer’s bills and notices who request assistance from the program.

If the city enters into an agreement, they would include notices of the CCSCT water assistance program in the customer’s next monthly bills.

Under the proposed contract, CCSCT agrees to pay the customer’s bills to the city in 45 days.

“We receive our money from the state, but that comes in a little slow.” said Crawford.

The City Council acknowledged the water program presentation from CCSCT and all agreed that they would like to see the agreement, after which, they will vote on entering into an agreement. The City Administrator will then present the agreement to the council at a later date.