(Seguin) — The cities of Seguin and Schertz are coming together to celebrate a major milestone for their joint water project. The Schertz-Seguin Local Government Corporation was created 25 years ago. A special reception honoring the corporation, and the water that it brought to both communities, will be held on Friday in Seguin.
Jack Hamlett was Seguin’s city manager when the corporation was formed, and he was instrumental to its development. Hamlett would go on to serve as city manager in some other Texas cities, but he has since retired and returned to Seguin. He is now the chairman of the water corporation board that he helped to start a quarter of a century ago. Hamlett says the SSLGC blazed the trail and created a model for other communities to follow when it comes to developing new sources of drinking water.
“We were one of the first to do something like this. I think, as somebody said, there was no template for us to follow. These two cities joined together and fortunately the (city) councils from those two cities had the foresight to get this going. We were able to bring them together and create this corporation,” said Hamlett.
There has been massive growth and expansion in the Schertz and Seguin areas. It would be hard to overstate the SSLGC’s contributions towards that growth. Hamlett says it really was a groundbreaking idea, and it led to the creation of a resource that will serve those communities, and many others for years to come. He says the water project shows just how important these kinds of collaborative efforts can be for municipalities across the state.
“I think this was the first time the two cities had ever really done anything together. We’ve both been in, kind of, different parts of the county. A lot of things have happened since then, and the cities continue to cooperate. But it was a significant milestone for those two city councils to not only see the need for the water for themselves, but to see the benefit of these two cities coming together and making this project happen,” said Hamlett.
It took just a couple of years for the corporation to get the infrastructure built that would allow the water to start flowing from its wells in Gonzales County. Since that time, the corporation has continued to grow its presence over the Carrizo-Wilcox Aquifer.
SSLGC General Manager Andrew McBride says it’s important to recognize this 25-year milestone for the corporation, but he says they also want people to know that they also are keeping an eye on the future water needs of this region.
“Our goal is – yes, not just the day-to-day operations. We’ve got to have water there on a consistent basis. But we really are planning out, you know, five to 10 to 15-to-25-year projections out, and really – as associated with the state — we are looking at a 50-year water plan,” said McBride.
The community is invited to celebrate the success and longevity of the SSLGC’s water project. Hamlett says a special reception will be held on Friday at the SSLGC office in downtown Seguin.
“On December 1, Friday afternoon from 3:00 to 5:00, we’re going to have a reception at the corporation offices. It’s just to recognize that we are reaching a milestone. (It is) 25 years since this corporation was created. It has not only been successful but has also continued to grow and provide the water resource for our two communities,” said Hamlett.
Again, that public reception will run from 3 to 5 p.m. at the SSLGC office, located at the northwest corner of Mountain and Austin streets across from the Aumont Building.
The SSLGC is a local government corporation that is jointly owned by the cities of Seguin and Schertz. It not only provides water to those communities, but it also sells water to many other water providers in the area.