Conroe, Willis ISD Settle $2.5M Water Dispute

**Conroe, Willis ISD Settle Years-Long Utility Dispute for $2.5 Million**

Conroe, TX – After years of contentious legal wrangling, the City of Conroe and the Willis Independent School District have officially reached a settlement in their long-standing dispute over water and wastewater services. The agreement, which effectively wraps up a lawsuit originally filed in 2018, sees Willis ISD paying the City of Conroe $2.5 million in exchange for the necessary utility service rights.

The core of the conflict centered on a 285-acre tract of land situated west of Interstate 45, within Conroe’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ). An ETJ is an area outside a city’s corporate limits where it still exercises certain regulatory powers, particularly concerning future growth and utility services. Willis ISD had annexed this property to facilitate the construction of new educational facilities, including their high school and Lynn Lucas Middle School. The district intended to provide its own water and sewer services for these facilities.

However, the City of Conroe maintained that Willis ISD was encroaching on its designated service area and required a Certificate of Convenience and Necessity (CCN) to operate its own utility services. A CCN is a state-issued authorization required for utility providers to operate in a specific geographical area, ensuring orderly and efficient service delivery. Willis ISD did not possess this certificate for the disputed parcel at the time, sparking the legal proceedings that began in earnest in 2018, though the disagreement first surfaced as early as 2017.

Under the terms of the new settlement, Conroe will grant Willis ISD the crucial CCN for the 285-acre parcel. This means Willis ISD will now have the legal authority to provide water and wastewater services to its facilities within that tract.

For existing customers in the area outside of the ISD’s new service capabilities, Conroe will continue to serve their water and wastewater needs, ensuring no disruption to established utility access. This dual service model aims to provide a clear path forward for both entities while safeguarding current residents.

City of Conroe officials expressed satisfaction with the resolution. “This settlement represents a fair and equitable outcome that protects the integrity of our existing service areas and long-term planning efforts,” stated Conroe Mayor Pro Tem Harry Hardman. “It allows both the city and the school district to move past this litigation and focus on their primary missions of serving our community.”

Willis ISD leadership also welcomed the conclusion of the protracted legal battle. “We are pleased to have this matter behind us,” said Willis ISD Superintendent Dr. Tim Harkrider. “Securing the Certificate of Convenience and Necessity ensures the long-term stability and control of utility services for our schools on this vital tract of land. While the settlement involves a significant payment, it provides a definitive resolution and allows us to focus our resources on educating our students rather than on ongoing legal expenses.”

The $2.5 million payment from Willis ISD will be absorbed into Conroe’s general fund, offsetting legal costs incurred during the five-year dispute and potentially contributing to future infrastructure projects. For Willis ISD, securing the CCN is critical for the operational independence of its school campuses and allows for direct management of crucial services, potentially leading to long-term operational efficiencies.

This resolution brings to an end a complex and often costly legal dispute that had been a point of contention between two major local governmental bodies for half a decade. Both sides expressed optimism that the agreement will foster improved collaboration moving forward, allowing them to better address the rapid growth and development occurring throughout the Conroe-Willis region.