Conroe water users score major legal victory over San Jacinto River Authority

woodlandsonline.com

CONROE, TX -- City of Conroe Mayor Jody Czajkoski is pleased to report the victory on behalf of the water users of Conroe in the suit against the San Jacinto River Authority. Mayor Czajkoski said, “This is a monumental victory for the water users of this City, we are happy to say that we have $4.8 million dollars coming back to help and your Mayor and Council will continue to fight for our customers.”

On San Jacinto Day, April 21, 2022, the water users of the City of Conroe achieved victory in the case against the San Jacinto River Authority (SJRA). The City of Conroe has been fighting this battle on behalf of its water users against the SJRA and their exorbitant water fees since July 2016. The SJRA originally filed suit against the City of Conroe in March 2020 in the trial courts of Montgomery County, Texas. In June 2020, the trial court dismissed the suit filed against the City of Conroe with prejudice. The SJRA appealed this dismissal to the Beaumont Court of Appeals. On April 21, 2022, the Beaumont Court of Appeals affirmed the trial court’s decision of dismissal of the suit with prejudice. The SJRA may appeal the Beaumont Court of Appeals decision to the Texas Supreme Court.

“I’m very proud of our legal team and pleased that the State of Texas has made a just decision on this issue. In this ongoing legal matter, we will continue to fight for the citizens to have reasonable water rates in the City of Conroe,” said Mayor Pro Tem Raymond McDonald.

There is no mistaking, that this is a historic victory for the water users of the City of Conroe. Conroe Assistant City Administrator/CFO, Steve Williams said, “The money could go straight back to improving and maintaining the water and sewer systems and relieving the rate pressure for our customers.” The City of Conroe will continue its quest to give the water users of this city relief from the SJRA’s excessive water fees.