For Hearthstone residents, some of the most important neighborhood work happens quietly underground, behind fences at utility facilities or around a board table at Hearthstone Country Club.

At its Aug. 10 meeting, the Spencer Road Public Utility District, which provides water, wastewater and other public services to Hearthstone, advanced several projects that residents may begin seeing more visibly in the months ahead. The list includes a more than $548,000 sanitary sewer repair project in Hearthstone and Hearthstone Green, continued work on water and wastewater facilities, progress toward grant funding for Bob Allen Park and renewal of the district’s Harris County Precinct 5 Constable patrol agreement.

The meeting also brought a change in leadership, with longtime Director Ahrens’ resignation formally accepted and Hearthstone-area resident Bill Barwick III appointed to fill the vacancy.

Here is what Hearthstone residents should know from the latest Spencer Road PUD meeting.

More Than $548,000 in Hearthstone Sewer Repairs Moves Ahead

One of the biggest neighborhood-specific developments came through the district engineer’s report.

The Spencer Road PUD Board approved contracts totaling $548,260.44 with Champion Cleaning Specialists for a sanitary sewer repair project serving Hearthstone Section 4 and Hearthstone Green Sections 2 and 4.

The project continues work discussed at the previous PUD meeting and is part of the district’s broader sanitary sewer rehabilitation efforts.

The district’s operator also reported progress on three individual sewer issues carried over from the prior month. On Royal Birkdale, Water, Environmental & Technical Services, or WET, was working with the customer to address a generator that was partially blocking access for manhole-related work. On Trophy Club, coordination was underway over a manhole located beneath concrete and a structural support column. Additionally, a point repair on Trophy Club had been completed.

For residents, these projects may not be as visible as street resurfacing or a new park amenity, but sanitary sewer rehabilitation is part of the less-visible infrastructure work that helps keep the neighborhood functioning as underground systems age.

Water Plant and Wastewater Upgrades Continue

Spencer Road PUD also continues to invest in the systems responsible for supplying water and handling wastewater throughout Hearthstone.

The Board approved two payments to CFG Industries — $48,699 and $60,338.50 — for the ongoing recoating project at Water Plants No. 1 and No. 2.

Engineering work is also moving forward on the Water Plant No. 2 Motor Control Center and Building and electrical upgrades at the district’s wastewater treatment plant. Plans for the Water Plant No. 2 work had been approved and bid documents were being prepared, while design work continued on the wastewater treatment plant improvements.

The district has revised an application seeking authorization to use $1.8 million in remaining surplus construction funds for those two projects. The amount was reduced because portions of the available surplus had been earmarked for an arbitrage rebate. The Board formally ratified and approved the revised application, which was being prepared for submission to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

Meanwhile, a new generator for Lift Station No. 1 was expected to be delivered in September 2026. Fence panels for the lift station fencing project were also being manufactured and were expected after the generator arrives.

Together, the projects are aimed at maintaining and modernizing parts of the utility system Hearthstone residents rely on every day.

How Much Water Is Hearthstone Using?

Spencer Road PUD’s July operating figures provide a snapshot of water use across the district.

The district reported approximately 17.59 million gallons of water operation for July, serving 1,548 connections. Average monthly residential use was 9,330 gallons, while water accountability was reported at 94%.

Water-related revenue for the period totaled $187,666.55.

On the wastewater side, the district treated approximately 8.16 million gallons during July, with wastewater reuse accounting for 14% of the monthly total.

The district’s operator reported that both the water and wastewater plants were operating well. Laboratory results had also been received for the wastewater treatment plant permit renewal application, which was expected to be ready for Board consideration at the next meeting.

Bob Allen Park Grant Application Moves Forward

Another item carrying forward from the July Spencer Road PUD meeting involves Bob Allen Park.

The Board formally ratified the public hearing held July 13 concerning possible grant funding for the park. The action was necessary because the grant-related hearing had not been specifically listed on the July agenda.

The district is moving ahead with The Goodman Corporation on an application for funding through the Texas Parks and Wildlife Local Parks Urban Outdoor Recreation program.

As part of the process, the district was also being registered in the federal System for Award Management, or SAM, with additional information expected as the application progresses.

For Hearthstone residents who use Bob Allen Park, the application represents an effort to pursue outside funding that could support future park improvements rather than relying exclusively on local district resources.

Constable Patrol Agreement Renewed

Spencer Road PUD also approved another year of its supplemental law enforcement agreement with the Harris County Precinct 5 Constable’s Office.

The contract covers four deputies at 70% working time and will run from Oct. 1, 2026, through Sept. 30, 2027.

The renewal includes an annual cost increase of $30,680, an expense that had been discussed at the previous month’s meeting.

Board members indicated that they were pleased with the constable presence and considered the service important to the community. The district’s July incident report was also reviewed, with officials noting there was nothing unusual requiring additional discussion.

For Hearthstone homeowners, the agreement is one of the more direct examples of how MUD spending can extend beyond water and wastewater infrastructure into services residents encounter throughout the neighborhood.

Past-Due Utility Accounts and the Ezee Fiber Claim

Officials also discussed the district’s outstanding claim involving Ezee Fiber. According to the meeting minutes, the company had not responded to demand letters sent by the district’s legal counsel. One final demand letter was planned before litigation would be considered.

Spencer Road PUD Board Gets a New Member

The August meeting also marked a transition on the Spencer Road PUD Board.

The Board formally accepted the resignation of Director Ahrens, effective Aug. 1. Ahrens stepped down in order to serve on the board of a newly created water authority, according to the meeting record.

His departure left the Board presidency vacant.

District officials had previously discussed reaching out to residents interested in filling the seat. During the public comment portion of the August meeting, Bill Barwick III, a district resident and land development engineer, expressed interest in serving and discussed his professional background, including experience working with districts such as Spencer Road PUD.

Board members later discussed the appointment in executive session before unanimously appointing Barwick to the Board.

The district planned to formally ratify the appointment at its September meeting, complete the required paperwork and hold an election of officers.

New Cybersecurity and AI Training Requirements Addressed

The Board also acknowledged new cybersecurity requirements affecting district officials and employees.

District counsel explained that new legislation requires cybersecurity training for elected officials and employees and expands training requirements for certain local government bodies and employees who use district-owned computers for at least 25% of their work.

New Artificial Intelligence awareness training requirements were also discussed.

Although the Spencer Road PUD Board does not currently meet the criteria requiring the AI awareness training described during the meeting, directors were advised to acknowledge the requirements based on guidance from the Texas Department of Information Resources and for auditing purposes. All Board members present signed the district’s Cybersecurity Governing Board Acknowledgement Form.

What Happens Next for Hearthstone

Several of the projects discussed in August will continue unfolding over the coming months.

Residents can watch for the start or continuation of sewer rehabilitation in Hearthstone Section 4 and Hearthstone Green Sections 2 and 4, delivery of the Lift Station No. 1 generator, additional work on the district’s water and wastewater facilities and future developments involving the Bob Allen Park grant application.

The September Spencer Road PUD meeting was also expected to include formal action related to Barwick’s appointment and the election of Board officers.

Taken together, the August meeting shows how much of a neighborhood’s day-to-day infrastructure is managed outside the spotlight. For Hearthstone residents, the work ranges from pipes beneath neighborhood streets and equipment at water plants to park funding, security patrols and decisions about how local tax and utility dollars are managed.

My Neighborhood News will continue following Spencer Road PUD meetings and sharing the developments that matter to Hearthstone residents.

Source note: This article is based on the official Spencer Road Public Utility District minutes provided for the Aug. 10, 2026 meeting. A web search did not surface a separately accessible copy of those minutes on the district’s website, so the meeting details above are grounded in the posted official record..

By Tiffany Krenek, My Neighborhood News 

Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.

Local business spotlight

Grow your business
where trust already lives.

Let’s introduce your business to the neighbors nearby.

Spotlight My Business →

Have a local favorite? Recommend a business