The Levelland City Council held their second and final reading regarding Ordinance 1077 Storage of Agricultural Commodities, during Monday’s regular meeting.
Public comment was held to begin the meeting with Curtis McGill from Penny Newman in attendance to offer a public statement.
McGill began his comment time informing the public that Penny Newman has been operating within Levelland since 2015 and during the bulk of that time the operational functions of their business and industry have not been a concern or issue.
“Due to the recent Red Flower Beetle issues faced in the Levelland area in the Summer and Fall of 2023, our business and industry have been under additional scrutiny,” said McGill. “Our hope in this statement is to identify facts that have not been mentioned in public meetings or in media coverage. The presence of the Red Flower Beetle are not foreign to Texas and South Plains to the extent Texas A&M has performed extensive research regarding this insect in this region.”
Continuing with his statement, in an effort to provide additional insight and balance to news coverage he listed the following items that have not been clearly stated.
“The almond hulls shipped to Levelland for use in animal feed were not infested. The inventory we ship from was inspected by the entomologist from the county of Fresno Ag Department and found free of Red Flower Beetle’s,” said McGill. “The presence of the Red Flower Beetle came months after the almond hulls were delivered to Levelland.”
McGill added that Red Flour Beetles were found in two other facilities handling cotton seed not just in almond hulls at Penny Newman.
“One facility in Levelland had been storing cotton seed for nearly 24 months without rotating their inventory,” added McGill. “This provides a suitable atmosphere for the Red Flower Beetle. At the time of the influx, this same facility was heavily shipping their stored cotton seed out. This could have likely caused the turbulence in the Red Flour Beetles nesting and started the influx of the beetles in city.”
McGill explained that when the city requested abatement, the company chose to treat the piles with pesticide due to the large quantity which was a little over 4,800 tons of products stored. Additionally, Penny Newman did not want to add to the disbursement of the insects by opening the piles.
Due to the minimal impact of the pesticides, the company resorted to asking their customers to allow Penny Newman to ship the product early.
“Due to the customers not wanting the product early, Penny Newman discounted the product to encourage early delivery,” said McGill. “In an effort to help cover the loss incurred to complete this rapid shipment, the Hockley County Emergency group offered to share 50% of the cost.”
It was added that throughout the past year Penny Newman has continued routine pest control and vegetation management.
“Shipment of all hulls are being fumigated at origin prior to departure as an additional preventive measure as temperatures warm,” said McGill. “Penny Newman Grain is committed to supporting the South Plains farmer with a second option to market their cotton seed. In the past eight years we have been able to offer farmers a better value for approximately 600,000 tons of cotton seed.”
McGill ended his comment by stating, “Our hope is the city council, residents and others affected by Red Flower Beetle would consider the items listed above and do their part to reduce the presence of the Red Flower Beetle and other insects. Our goal is to operate our facility as a good neighbor to both surrounding businesses and to the residents of the City of Levelland.”
Two additional public comments where held with citizens residing in the Kauffman Addition calling for more help as temperatures begin to warm. Concerns have continued to grow as the days grow warmer which may entice the beetle to resurface in large numbers.
Moving forward in the meeting, City Manager provided an update regarding the Red Flour Beetle Infestation.
Fisher explained that the city received a report Friday from the Texas Department of Agriculture regarding the traps placed around the Kauffman Addition.
Fisher reported that the numbers from the traps have been sitting at zero.
“I have asked the department to look at the traps again because of the comments from our residents stating they are moving,” explained Fisher. “We know that this is happening in Levelland, but we need the assistance of TDA because no matter what we do, we cannot get in front of it.”
Fisher added that the city is talking with Republic to form a plan and clean areas throughout the Kauffman Addition. Fisher added that plans to spray within a week or two are in place as long as the wind speeds cooperate with city crews.
The second reading of Ordinance 1077 Storage of Agricultural Commodities was held by City Attorney Made Wade following the update from Fisher.
Discussion was also held in regard to the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority (CRMWA) water supply pipeline repaire project.
Fisher explained that the city was notified in March 2023 by the CRWMA that there was a major leak in the water supply line that serves the City of Levelland and City of Brownfield.
Fisher added that the CRMWA initially intended to service the line last summer, but city staff encouraged them to wait until the Winter of 2023-2024. They notified the city this past week of their intentions to repair the line the week of March 4.
They estimate the line to be out of service for four to seven days.
Fisher explained that the city has the ability to store approximately 4 million gallons of water. Additionally, the city can store roughly 2.3 million gallons and well can produce another 1.6 million gallons. Wells will be utlized as needed.
The city has requested community members to refrain from outdoor water, washing cars, parking lots and driveways from March 4 through March 11.
If plans go well, the project should be completed by March 6. It will take roughly 38 hours to refill the line, but the city will issue a notice once the line is back in service.