When the 1966 Articles of Incorporation were submitted, the name was called Wylie Northeast Water Supply Corporation.
Wylie Northeast has occupied two buildings since the beginning—the IOOF Hall and the present building at 745 Parker Road, both in Wylie.
The first water tower built was the one still in use in St. Paul. It was built by the 1970s. In the beginning it served both the northeastern edge of Wylie and St. Paul. The tank and second tower, completed in 2005 and 2007, are on the property where Wylie Northeast offices are today. These are capable of providing water to the district today except for the extra boost made available by the St. Paul water tower.
The first Annual Meeting was called to order by President Ed Wichern in the IOOF Hall, in St. Paul’s ETJ and across the street from Jesse Martin’s home, on January 16, 1967.[1] Opening remarks by the President included a brief survey of the development, construction and eight-month operation of the system. The Operations Report showed the total gallons used during the operating period by the 129 members as 5,385,000. Reelected to the board were L.L. Creel; H.J. Corder; Jesse Martin, Secretary; Paul Wilson and Ed Wichern. Those whose terms had not expired were W. W. Drain and Maitland Martin.[2] The IOOF Hall where the meeting was held was located on the Northwest corner of Paul Wilson Road before it turns north. The building no longer exists.
Wylie Northeast left the IOOF Hall for space in a new building. The purpose of the first recorded meeting was for the election of the directors and to amend the By-laws of the Corporation. This was on May 16, 1981. Directors were Darryl Gumm who was also the mayor of St. Paul at the time; H. J. Corder; J. E., “Jesse” Martin; Howard Finley and Jacob McCarley, Jr. Mr. Gumm was elected Chairman and Mr. Martin was elected Secretary.
[1] Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) is the area outside a city’s corporate limits but within the ultimate planning area.
[2] Taken from Articles of Incorporation and one recording of the Minutes maintained in the office.
Wylie Northeast and the community of St. Paul, which formerly was in Wylie’s ETJ, have a close working relationship beginning in those early years. They proved this bond when Wylie Northeast leased to St. Paul a portion of their land on October 1, 1975, where the Wylie Northeast Office, tank and tower are today. The construction on the building didn’t begin for two more years. St. Paul and Wylie Northeast shared this space until St. Paul vacated the premises for their current location on Butscher’s Block in St. Paul in the 1990s. That building had been the previously disbanded volunteer fire department.[1]
At that time Wylie Northeast retained ownership of the blue building currently occupied by Wylie Northeast.
St. Paul, Texas, negotiated a ”99 year lease for $1.00 per year was obtained from Wylie Northeast on their land for the original Town Hall. The building was built with volunteer labor and materials, and revenue sharing funds and grant from the government. Glen Pockrus handled the pouring of the slab, Jesse Martin, the roof and brick, painting was done by Glen & Jim Corrion, windows and doors were procured by Howard Finley, locks by Art Wise and sheetrock by Barnie Barnes.”
“The Cost of the building was $13,000.00 in Government funds including furniture. The rest was out of pocket from residents of St. Paul. “
“How the Town Got Its Name,” https://www.stpaultexas.us/History/OurTownHistory.pdf
Today, Wylie Northeast Special Utility District supplies water to 1,484 residential customers and 115 commercial customers averaging 11,000 gallons per customer household each month. It has grown substantially since its beginnings in the 1960s.
In December 2015, Wylie Northeast was recognized by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality as a Superior Water System. In the water industry, this is the highest accolade that you can achieve.
Wylie Northeast Special Utility District conducts daily business and board meetings, held the second Tuesday of every month at 5:30 p.m., in the District offices at 745 Parker Road Loop, Wylie, Texas. The General Manager is Chester Adams and the Business Manager is Amanda Horst.
[1] Interviews: Bruce Dunn, Secretary/Administrator of St. Paul; John Scanlan, descendant of a pioneer family; Chester Adams, GM Wylie NE; Amanda Horst, Business Manager, Wylie NE; “How the Town Got Its Name,” https://www.stpaultexas.us/History/OurTownHistory.pdf
Authored by Brenda Kellow
Update edits by Amanda Horst
