In the unincorporated areas of Houston and eight surrounding counties, developers create "water districts" in order to raise money to develop theirsubdivisions. The typical procedure is as follows: A developer(s) will build a few houses. The owners of these homes will then create a Municipal Utility District, MUD, operated under the direction of an elected board. That board will float bonds that are sold to raise money to develop the subdivision.

Acting under the financing and guidelines of the MUD, a civil engineer will develop and administer a master plan for the development project. The implementation of the plan is further subject to guidelines of the Texas Natural Resources Conservation Commission. Included in the plan and guidelines are procedures for constructing underground utilities diverting storm and wastewater.

This is where C. E. Barker, Ltd comes in. It is an underground construction company. The president of the company, Connard Barker, served for two years on the Board of the Houston Contractors Association. Connard came to his position on the board with an in-depth understanding of the politics and mechanics of directing a large construction project. contd...