TDH: 8/8/11

WTP4 whom the bell tolls … (Photo by John Anderson)

In case you were still wanting for Water Treatment Plant No. 4, fear not: Like the drip from the kitchen sink torturing many an insomniac, WTP4 keeps trickling out, this week with a special called City Council meeting at the plant site itself.

On the heels of council’s recent 5-2 decision to suspend issuance of notices to proceed with new construction at the plant (while allowing ongoing work) until an estimate of construction stoppage could be prepared, council is holding a special called meeting this Wednesday at the plant site, 6800 Ranch Road 620 North. (No word yet on whether the quorum convenes in a trailer, half-built reservoir tank, or the bottom of a 100-foot shaft.)

There’s only one item on the agenda: a briefing delivering a “construction update” at the plant site, no doubt scheduled to help inform council on how to proceed with regard to the plant. (Being a briefing, no public comment is scheduled.)

Rudy Garza, the assistant city manager over Austin Water, promised council the estimate of stoppage costs on or around Aug. 18, so the effect Wednesday’s field trip may have is questionable, aside from conveying the breadth of work underway.

… On an unrelated note, it’s good to be back! Following last week’s blogging hiatus, the Hustle hereby resumes his regular blogging schedule.

HEY! Sign up for the Hustle's weekly e-mail newsletter, recapping news, politics and more every Friday. Don't worry, we'll never spam or sell your address. Visit here, enter your info, and click 'City Hall Hustle.'

Got something you wanna show the Hustle? Email it to wells [at] austinchronicle.com, tweet it @CityHallHustle, drop by the Hustle's Facebook or Tumblr page, or leave a comment in the section below.