Best Trash will not empty other company’s containers, please do not use Waste Management’s 96-gallon bins. If you want to get rid of them Best Trash will pick up the empty Waste Management containers on Monday February 12,2024. You can also take them to the Waste Management collection center in Conroe. As far as Waste Management is concerned the containers are yours to keep.

Your MUD board
Susan McFarland, President
David Parkhill, Vice President
Gary Montgomery, Treasurer
Rex Cambern, Secretary
John Crystal, Assistant Secretary

Please be aware that changes are coming to your garbage and recycling services. The Montgomery County MUD 18 contract with Waste Management of Texas expires on December 31, 2023. Because Waste Management is changing to semi-automated pick-ups, which would mandate using wheeled bins like the 96-gallon recycling containers, the MUD board felt the new contract would not benefit Bentwater residents. Therefore, we accepted a new contract with Best Trash to provide all of Bentwater’s residential solid waste services, including collection of household garbage, bulk waste, yard waste, and recycling.

With Christmas and New Years falling on Mondays this year, Waste Management’s final pick up will be on Thursday December 28,2023 for trash and recycling. Best Trash’s first pick up will be on Thursday January 4, 2024 for trash and bulk items only. To better serve our residents, Best Trash will pick up garbage and bulk items on Mondays and Thursdays, and recycling will be picked up on Mondays.

Best Trash will provide each household with two 65-gallon containers, one for garbage and one for recycling. Yard waste can be placed in the garbage container or bagged and placed next to it. The same guidelines for garbage and recycling that applied to Waste Management will apply to Best Trash as to what is acceptable for pick up.
Once it is available, we will provide the schedule for delivery of the new containers to each home. There is no charge for these new containers. Since we are approaching the holidays, if you plan on being out of town, please arrange with a neighbor to move the new containers away from the curb. As of this time, we have not heard from Waste Management when they plan to collect the 96-gallon recycling containers. The existing garbage container is yours to keep.

Your MUD Board:
Susan McFarland, President
Lou Tichacek, Vice President
Gary Montgomery, Treasurer
Rex Cambern, Secretary
John Crystal, Assistant Secretary

IMPORTANT NOTICE FROM MONTGOMERY COUNTY MUD 18

As we indicated in a previous announcement, Bentwater is switching to a new garbage service.
The new provider, Best Trash, will deliver our new bins Monday, December 11 through Thursday, December 14, 2023. Each home will receive a 65-gallon black wheeled container with a red lid for trash, and a 65-gallon green wheeled container for recycling. Monday and Thursday will be our garbage and bulk item pick up days. Monday will be our recycling pickup day. Best Trash will begin its service on Thursday, January 4, 2024. Please have trash and recyclables out to the curb by 7:00 a.m.
There will no garbage pickup on Monday, January 1, 2024.

December 28, 2023 will be Waste Management’s last pickup day for garbage and recycling. Please leave your old recycling bin at the curbside as Waste Management will have a contractor begin picking them up and should be finished by Saturday, December 30, 2023. For those of you who will be out of town or forget to put out your recycling bin, Waste Management will make a final sweep of the neighborhood on January 6, 2024 to retrieve any stragglers.

If you want, you can keep your existing wheeled garbage bin. For those who do not want to keep it, Best Trash will pick it up with the recycling as long as your bin is well marked to be taken away.

Please talk to your friends and neighbors about this important change, especially those who plan on being out of town for the holidays or those who are here only weekends or occasionally. We all need to work together to make this a successful transition.

Your MUD Board:
Susan McFarland, President
Lou Tichacek, Vice President
Gary Montgomery, Treasurer
Rex Cambern, Secretary
John Crystal, Assistant Secretary

MUD 18 Newsletter
October – December 2023

2023 Tax Rate

The new tax for 2023 will be $0.232 per $100 of valuation. This is a $0.028 ( 10.8 % ) drop from the previous year. On average, the home valuation in the district increased about $60,882, and the Board wants to maintain the revenue as close as possible to last year. Last year the average tax bill was $1,454, while this year it will be $1,439. Please note that this is an average, meaning some bills will be higher and some bills will be lower. Everything will be based on your property’s assessed value and if you had a successful protest outcome. It is the intention of the Board to collect only what is needed to meet our debt obligations and our planned capital expenditures in the five-year plan to maintain the plants and equipment.

Suggested Watering Guidelines for Your Property

Proper watering is critical to your lawn’s health and vigor. Deep and infrequent watering is the best practice. This means wetting the soil to a depth of 3-5 inches per irrigation. This equates to 1-1.25 inches of water per week, split over several days. Your run times should be adjusted based on how dry your yard is. Winter watering should have run times 50% less than your summer run schedule.

Watering is most beneficial to your grass when done in the morning (3 a.m. to 8 a.m.) rather than afternoon or evening. Avoid overnight watering. Early morning watering allows the leaf blades to dry and reduces the risk of disease. Do not water every day or two. Frequent, short watering encourages shallow roots, unhealthy grass plants, and turf susceptible to drought and disease.

Let the turf determine watering frequency. Since heat, humidity and rainfall vary, it’s best to water at the first signs of stress, not on a predetermined schedule. As a note, St. Augustine turf has poor drought tolerance and requires more irrigation than other grasses to survive during our long hot summers.

The soil around new shrubs needs to be kept moist but not soggy. Water them 3-4 times per week for no more than 5 minutes each time. Keep the ground around new trees moist initially by using a soaker hose or drip line, but gradually back off after 2 weeks.

Tips to Prevent a Leaking Water Heater Disaster

Fortunately, most water heater problems can be avoided with proper maintenance. If you follow these steps once or twice a year your water heater should last a long time, work efficiently, and avoid a leaking disaster.

1. Check Temperature & Pressure-Relief Valve

Test the temperature and pressure-relief valve (T&P valve) once a year to make sure it’s working properly. Use caution: The water in the tank is hot and can cause scalding burns. When you pull up or push down on the valve handle, hot water should come out of the overflow pipe. If it does not, it may need replacing. You can do this yourself but a better option is to call a professional plumber.

2. Drain Water

Periodically, about every 12-16 months, drain a bucket of water from the drain faucet at the bottom of the water tank to remove sediment. The sediment can corrode the unit and reduce heating efficiency.

3. Check Water Lines

Check all of the water lines, fittings and valves connected to your water heater. Look for signs of leaking water. Using a flashlight, check under the tank for small leaks that could be caused by rust or corrosion.

4. Use a Drain Pan

Use a specially designed drain pan (also called a drip pan) under the water heater. They come in all sizes and are circular or square. You can find a decent drain pan for $15-30 at your local hardware or building supply store. Make sure it has a drain at the bottom, and periodically check to make sure it is not clogged.

5. Check the Sacrificial Anode

Water is known for causing rust, corrosion and general harm to metals. So, have you ever wondered what prevents water from damaging the metal of your water heater tank? This protection is often provided by a sacrificial anode rod installed in your unit.

REMINDER

For any water, sewer or other issues concerning MUD 18, please contact our operator Hays Utilities North at 936-588-1166. Hays personnel are usually in Bentwater during the day to respond to emergencies. Also refer to our web site https://www.mcmud18.com to look for answers to other questions.

Your MUD Board:
Susan McFarland, President
Lou Tichacek, Vice President
Gary Montgomery, Treasurer
Rex Cambern, Secretary
John Crystal, Assistant Secretary