State Sen. Jimmy Hickey has declined to endorse a proposed water deal that would have a private developer upgrade intake infrastructure at Millwood Lake, construct a pipeline at private expense and sell up to 110 million gallons per day to Texarkana, according to reporting by the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette.
What was proposed
The plan, advanced by Heartland Water Partners and discussed with Texarkana officials, called for:
- an upgrade to the lake’s intake infrastructure;
- a new pipeline built by the private group at its own cost; and
- the sale of up to 110 million gallons of water per day to Texarkana.
Texarkana officials told the Democrat-Gazette they believe the city will not need that volume of water even as late as 2050.
Lawmakers and local reaction
Proponents of the deal sought support from state lawmakers, including Sen. Hickey. The senator, however, “wants nothing to do with it,” the Democrat-Gazette reported, signaling opposition from a key regional lawmaker who represents parts of the area affected by the proposal.
The proposal would have shifted the immediate capital cost of intake improvements and pipeline construction to Heartland Water Partners while committing future water supply from Millwood Lake to a municipal buyer. The arrangement raised questions among local leaders and the senator about the projected need for such a large supply and about long-term control of a public water source.
Next steps noted
The Democrat-Gazette account said proponents made efforts to win Hickey’s backing before the senator publicly rejected the plan.
The reporting cited local officials and the private group's proposal as the basis for the numbers and the description of the deal.
