Charles “Al” Hammaker
June 8, 2022 – Charles “Al” Hammaker is now serving a two-year term on to the Galveston County Water Control & Improvement District No. 12 (GCWCID 12) Board of Directors. His role will be to evaluate and assist in administration and operation of the district’s water supply.
“I received a request from the president of the board to replace a director who had resigned from the board,” Hammaker said. “The president felt the board needed a representative from Clear Lake Shores, and he wanted that to be me.”
A 1986 graduate of the Law Center, Hammaker began his legal career with the midsized firm Hutcheson & Grundy. Merging with Gardere Wynne Sewell LLP, Hammaker rose to partner and remained in position until 2004 before joining a small boutique law firm specializing in securities law that has since been taken over by the national firm Bressler, Amery & Ross, P.C. where he focuses primarily on securities arbitration through the Federal Industry Regulatory Authority as well as various litigation.
Selected to serve as one of five board members to provide direction and guidance in wastewater resolution, water conservation and legal responsibilities, Hammaker’s term officially began on February 14, 2022, and he hit the ground running, addressing district challenges with unique approaches and ways of resolution and prevention.
“The normal consumer only really sees the water and sewage bill … but it is a lot more involved than that,” Hammaker said. “You have to supply potable water to everyone on a 24/7 basis.
“We provide drinkable water, proper sewage and also handle drainage within our boundaries, even overseeing the fire department in Kemah, handling their contracts for purchase of fire vehicles and monitoring response time.”
GCWCID 12 also issues bonds secured by tax revenue, incurs debt, levies taxes, obtains easements and exercises eminent domain when necessary, and Hammaker works through the board to prepare the district for disasters, currently working to provide generators that will survive freezes, proper water connections and necessary water management for industrial buildings and apartment complexes.
“Our district covers 1,200 acres of land and includes all or portions of the cities of Kemah and Clear Lake Shores and a lot of unincorporated areas,” Hammaker said. “In short, we supply and store water for domestic, commercial and industrial uses and oversee the operation of the sanitary system.”
Serving until May 2024, Hammaker’s diverse responsibilities encompass updating and maintaining monitoring devices, evaluating the financial liabilities and operating expenses for the ventures and actions of GCWCID 12, and presenting a responsive water board that is open and accountable to the public.
“It is a pretty involved board, and I was surprised at the level of responsibility and amount of operating expenses when I came on,” Hammaker said. “You would think 1,200 acres is not that many acres, but it is a lot of responsibility to provide a constant supply of water.”
