Denton · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Denton public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Denton Municipal Electric Infrastructure Scrap and Capital Improvements
Denton Municipal Electric is planning to secure a multi-million dollar contract for refurbished transformers and disposal services to maintain local power reliability. This agreement ensures the utility has ongoing access to essential equipment amid supply chain demands.
Clear Creek Interceptor Engineering Expansion
The city authorized eminent domain to acquire necessary land easements to build a $90 million wastewater interceptor project to support growing northern development.
Utility Locating and Marking Services Contract ($10.5M)
The city is renewing its contract with USIC Locating Services for $10.5 million over five years to mark underground water, sewer, electric, and fiber lines before any digging occurs. This service is crucial for preventing dangerous and costly utility strikes during construction.
Baker Offsite Sewer Project Change Order
Black Rock Construction's contract for the Baker Offsite Sewer Project on Masch Branch Road is getting a change order.
Landfill Disposal Fee Agreements and Tonnage Contracts
The city is entering into a solid waste disposal contract with Frontier Texas Ventures for guaranteed tonnage at the landfill in exchange for a discount disposal fee.
Preliminary Utility Budgets and Proposed Rate Adjustments for FY 2026-27
The city reviewed preliminary utility budgets for solid waste, water, wastewater, drainage, and electricity, proposing 3% rate hikes for water and electric and 9% for wastewater to keep up with growth and maintain fund balances.
Texas Water Development Board Grant Application for AMI Project
Denton Water Utilities is replacing approximately 46,000 water meters with smart meters over a two-year period, backed by a 10-year, $26 million contract with Badger Meter, Inc.
Clear Creek Water Reclamation Plant Design
The city is investing $45.5 million in engineering a new wastewater treatment plant to handle rapid growth north of Loop 288.
Commercial Electric Utility Billing and Back-Billing Policy
Public comments raised concerns about high utility deposit requirements and transparency under municipal credit rules. Staff clarified that federal red-flag identity checks apply to new accounts, while internal credit grades govern existing customer deposit adjustments.
Cityworks Asset Management Licenses for Water Utilities
Denton is moving forward with a $26 million, two-year project to replace standard water meters with advanced cellular smart meters. This upgrade will give customers real-time usage data, alert them to leaks, and eliminate the need for manual meter reading.
Water and Wastewater Real-Time Analytics System
The city is investing $6.49 million in a monitoring and analytics platform from Xylem Vue to track water flow and sewer issues in real time. This helps staff catch sewer overflows and pipe bottlenecks before they become major problems.
Denton Energy Center Turbocharger Maintenance Contract
The Public Utilities Board reviewed an accelerated maintenance schedule for the Denton Energy Center's 24 turbochargers to prevent catastrophic engine failures. The board recommended a $9.52 million five-year contract with Accelleron US Inc., funded partly through winter storm settlement cash and partly through 10-year bonds.
Cross Connection Control and Backflow Ordinance Updates
The city is updating its backflow prevention ordinance to align with state rules and modern industry practices, requiring backflow assemblies on new commercial and multi-family developments while banning un-testable atmospheric vacuum breakers.
Robson West Lift Station Engineering Services
The board approved a $2.5 million engineering contract for the Robson West Lift Station after asking questions about how engineering firms are selected from the city's pre-qualified roster.