Infrastructure failures are making headlines across the nation as we’ve recently seen in places like Odessa and Jackson, Mississippi. As Texas 2036 notes, the catastrophic water system failure in Jackson was the result of a confluence of liabilities, including a deteriorating water system, extreme weather, and chronic underfunding. A 2015 study estimates it would take roughly $45 billion to upgrade and fix the State’s drinking water system over the next 20 years.
Amarillo is facing its own infrastructure challenges. In an effort to be proactive, the Amarillo City Council appointed a citizen-led committee, the Partnership for Development Progress, to assess the City’s infrastructure needs and shortfalls, and to develop solutions to tackle those challenges.
We recently discussed the committee’s work with Chairman Lloyd Brown. In the video below, Brown talks about the committee’s mission, what they found, and the solutions they are proposing. Brown does an amazing job of explaining the entire process and why it’s critical that we address these needs.
Brown added there were 31 members and 27 were active throughout the course of the committee. The PDP recommendation was signed by 85.2 percent of its 27 active members. The City Council voted to move forward with the committee’s recommendation last week.
We all know that Amarillo is a great place to live and raise our families. It’s also a great place to do business and has been on a roll when it comes to attracting new businesses to town. However, if we’re going to continue that trend we must invest in our City, especially in our infrastructure. We’re grateful to people who took the time to serve on this committee and are hopeful City leadership, and residents, will get behind the plan to ensure that the basic needs of our City are being met. You can read the committee’s entire report here.