We're out at the ranch for a few days. Feel free to use this space as an open forum to comment on anything under the blazing hot sun you want to.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Open thread, open discussion
We're out at the ranch for a few days. Feel free to use this space as an open forum to comment on anything under the blazing hot sun you want to.
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48 comments:
Rick Perry was asked on Fox (of course) why he is more popular outside of Texas than in Texas.
He answered:
"A prophet is often not liked within his own village."
That is the type of psycho megalomaniac Perry is.
Why is our precious water being used in fracking for oil and, now, by LCRA to benefit a coal plant?
If the U.S. would withdraw ethanol and oil subsidies and withdraw our troops from Germany, Korea, Iraq, Afghanistan, and 130+ other countries around the world, the money saved would probably be enough to build a nationwide solar power grid. With solar power we would not waste enormous amounts of water for fracking and coal production. We wouldn't even NEED fracking and coal production, which pollute our groundwater and air. Fracking, with its powerful blasts of water to fracture rocks, also destabilizes private water wells and underlying geologic structures.
Texas Monthly magazine has named its Best and Worst Legislators for the year. Our Rep, Jason Isaac, wasn't on either list, but our Senator, Jeff Wentworth, made the 10 Worst list.
Also on the 10 Worst list is Sen. Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay). He authored SB 332, which defines groundwater as a "vested" right.
In his home town of Nazareth, people doubted Jesus. Isn't this the carpenter's son? Jesus said to them, "Only in his home town and in his own house is a prophet without honor."
Like Matthew said, "And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith."
(Matthew 13:55,57-58)
Perry is a prophet in his own mind.
If Perry is nominated by the Rethuglicans, they are plain nuts.
Each frack blast is like a mini-earthquake.
Anonymous said of Rick Perry:
"Like Matthew said, 'And he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith'."
Like the appocalypse believers, it will be a cold day in Hell before Perry performs any miracles.
And anyone who believed this stuff is a fruitcake.
Perry tweeted his junk to WMI.
Nothing is more wasteful of water than vineyards, swimming pools or St. Augustine Lawns. Fracking uses how much water, Barbara?
I think it is funny that the Democrats are pushing for Weiner to resign from the House when they didn't want Clinton to leave the White House for something similar. Weiner didn't even get a BJ like Bubba did. It is so unfair!
Texas Monthly Magazine made the 10 worst magazines list. Overpriced, Boring and Vacant! Journalism ain't what it used to be.
Man if I had Ochoa's job I get the hell out of the office more often too!
To Anonymous, June 16, 12:35 PM:
Fracking uses so much water that producers from the Eagle Ford shale deposits (South Texas) are having to truck in more.
The Texas Railroad Commission "allows an [oil] company to use as much groundwater as needed to complete a well. In northwest Webb County, that amounts to nearly 7.56 million gallons of water to frack one well." (Austin Am-Statesman, June
14, 2011)
To read about fracking, go to www.wikipedia.org and search for "Hydraulic fracturing."
These articles at www.statesman.com discuss Texas fracking:
"Fracking poses environmental and public health challenges for Texas"- June 14, 2011
"South Texas enjoys major boom from oil fracking" -June 12, 2011.
P.S. - I don't have a vineyard, swimming pool, or St. Augustine lawn. My Bermuda grass is brown, and I don't water it. I'm letting the native Little Bluestem take over.
On a 93-47 vote, the TX House today voted to pass SB 4, the Congressional redistricting bill.
The bill divides Hays County into 3 Congressional districts. (ALL of Hays County is in one district at present.)
Our TX House rep, Jason Isaac, voted in favor of the redistricting plan.
The bill will surely be signed by Gov. Perry when he gets back from New Orleans, but several suits have been brought to throw out the plan, and the redistricting will be decided in court.
Cheap is small and not too steep
But best of all cheap is cheap
Circumstance has forced my hand
To be a cut price person in a low budget land
Times are hard but we'll all survive
I just got to learn to economize
(chorus)
I'm on a low budget
I'm on a low budget
I'm not cheap, you understand
I'm just a cut price person in a low budget land
Excuse my shoes they don't quite fit
They're a special offer and they hurt me a bit
Even my trousers are giving me pain
They were reduced in a sale so I shouldn't complain
They squeeze me so tight so I can't take no more
They're size 28 but I take 34
(chorus)
I'm shopping at Woolworth and low discount stores
I'm dropping my standards so that I can buy more
Quality costs, but quality wastes,
So I'm giving up all of my expensive tastes.
Caviar and champagne are definite no's,
I'm acquiring a taste for brown ale and cod roes
Low budget sure keeps me on my toes
I count every penny and I watch where it goes
We're all on our uppers we're all going skint
I used to smoke cigars but now I suck polo mints
(chorus)
Art takes time, time is money
Money's scarce and that ain't funny
A middle class is a thing of the past
We're in a low budget film where nothing can last
Money's rare there's none to be found
So don't think I'm tight if I don't buy a round
(chorus)
I look like a tramp, but don't write me off,
I'll have you all know, I was once a toff
At least my hair is all mine, my teeth are my own,
But everything else is on permanent loan.
I'm on a low budget
I'll have you all know
We're on a low budget
We're all cut price people in a low budget land.
Whoever put that Kinkies song in here is a hippie pinko commie and should be waterboarded by Dick Cheney while he slaps some buckshot on the blogger's face.
Blanco Power, Dude!
Hydraulic fracturing, also known as “fracking” or hydrofracking, is a drilling process in which natural gas and oil are extracted from deep underground by injecting large amounts of water and toxic chemicals through a wellbore to break up the rock, shale rock or coal beds, thereby enabling the natural gas and oil to escape. The extremely low natural permeability of shale has prompted companies to create these fractures in the shale formations in order to form a pathway along the fractures for the gas to flow and escape.
There are hundreds of chemicals used in fracking, many of which are known carcinogens, including benzene. These toxic chemicals are being introduced into the environment, both underground and above ground, and as a result are causing well water poisoning, land devaluation, i.e., a severe drop in the value of land affected by the fracking process.
Some property owners have reported that their well water is contaminated and is no longer safe for drinking, bathing, or washing clothes. In some cases the water can be set aflame.
In addition, people have reported trouble breathing due to hazardous chemicals that have been released into the air. These serious health concerns associated with fracking or hydrofracking have adverse effects on people (especially children and pregnant women), drinking water, air and property values.
If you have any interest in installing solar panels, you might want to read about "concentrated solar power (CSP) systems." Siemens Co. is buying into a NC company which makes such panels. The trough-shaped panels magnify sunlight and produce 40% more energy than traditional solar panels.
Google "concentrated solar power."
The HTGCD Board Meeting was held last night (6/16) to discuss 3 permits for continued pumping by 3 different water supply companies. The usual Wimberley "water hippie" suspects were on hand to obstruct and jamb up the process by claiming to be harmed in some obscure way by all three permits. They made it obvious again that they have no idea what they are doing and have no legal standing to protest the permits.
There is talk of a suit being considered against the protestors for maliciously obstructing the legal proceedings of the HTGCD permit process. They have continued to obstruct and falsely to being harmed in every permit requested by legitimate water supply companies. Injunctive relief may be just around the corner to allow the HTGCD to conduct their lawful business of managing groundwater as ordered by the Texas Legislature.
Redneck Anonymous says:
The usual Wimberley "water hippie" suspects were on hand to obstruct and jamb up the process by claiming to be harmed in some obscure way by all three permits."
As opposed to the water pigs who rubber stamp anything for anyone under the premise of some outdated and out of touch "free markets" idiocy right in the middle of a devastating drought?
or
"There is talk of a suit being considered against the protestors for maliciously obstructing the legal proceedings of the HTGCD permit process."
This type of totally stupid and meaningless "lawsuit" scare tactic is so numbskull on its merits that only the water pig friends of the Anonymous writer and the writer himself would ever believe such a thing could happen.
Who are they going to sue? Are they going to grab some person at the meeting who objects to the mindless and brain dead rubber stamping of the Board's water pigs and sue them? For what? Democracy in action?
You people who support the right wing HTGCD board members are even more idiotic than previously believed.
About the June 16, 2011 HTGCD meeting:
One must wonder what the real motivation is of some of these "protesters": Narcissism? Schadenfreude? Gluttony? Envy? Discrimination?
There were some real winners. The witches of Wimberley invited attendees to join them in chanting down at the creek to bring rain. Witches must be cheap because most dropped out when they realized they would have to share in the cost of the protest they wanted to provoke with the applicant.
Members of the tin foil hat crowd were also there to protest. Another meeting is scheduled in less than a week to determine whether the remaining protesters have standing to request a contested case hearing for the Radiance, Goldenwood West, or La Ventana permit applications. Radiance and Goldenwood West are Water Supply Corporations owned by the member residents. La Ventana Water Company, LP is an investor owned utility (IOU) controlled by a New York hedge fund operation.
Former director Andrew Backus protested the Radiance application by letter. Rather odd protest given the extremely low water usage of Radiance compared to all other communities in the district. Wonder what Backus' (and McMeans') real reason was for protesting?
Jim McMeans protested all permit applications despite residing 15-21 miles from all of the wells at issue. The wells were all operating long before McMeans ever moved to the area and before the district was formed. Attendees of the pre-hearing conference will have the opportunity to listen to McMeans which was no doubt his reason for protesting.
Anyone who applies for permits to drain more water from our natural systems should be denied.
Look around you, numbskull, we are in a very bad drought.
Are you water pigs even on this planet?
Mr. Greenjeans, Captain Kangaroo and Big Bird Skipton have found easy scapegoats in McMeans, Baker and the tin hat crowd. Typical of the ignorant and unschooled. The 3 stooges have no idea what they are doing. But they do make perfectly good stooges.
Name calling does no good.
But Mr. Greenjeans, Captain Kangaroo and Big Bird Skipton is pretty damn accurate.
Woe to the WVWA with the newest addition to their Board, herself an acknowledged wearer of a "tin hat" and carrier of a "magic basket". What next for that Board? While there are some really good people there, this newest needs some serious investigation...check youtube videos.
Folks, Gull Reef regrets the water shortage.
Wild night out there!
Water in the sea, water from the sky, no water in the Club,
but while the pump gets repaired, let's live!
If the water can't flow, the wine can!
Champagne party in the lobby!
Champagne si', agua no
Let it rain, let it blow
To hell with the H2O
Champagne si', agua no
The Gull Reef Club's not too ship shape
Time for a party time for a break
Tonight all our troubles will soon disappear
Cause champagne is cheaper than water down here
Champagne si', agua no
Champagne si', agua no
A toast to the French who gave us these bubbles
A toast to your host who stands in this rubble
Running this hotel is no piece of cake
So cut me some slack people give me a break
Champagne si', agua no
Champagne si',agua no
A toast to Columbus, Arawaks and Caribs
To pirates and patriots, rascals and thieves,
the limbo, the cha cha and what we love most
A free champagne party put on by our host
Champagne si', agua no
Champagne si', agua no
Barbara Hopson is another one of those leftie intellectuals like Peter Stern, Rocky, Sam Brannon, and Jack Hollon who writes for this blog.
The Republican Party is the US party and anyone who questions our free markets, strong military, gun rights beliefs is unAmerican.
Where is the thought police when we really need them. We have our own Sanctuary Brain City right here in Hays County.
Northern Hays County, especially Dripping Springs, is counting on LCRA water from the Colorado River for much of its future water. I would suggest a backup plan.
Both Midland and Odessa use the Colorado River for their municipal water. Less than O.2" of rain has fallen there since September. Their 3 reservoirs are only 27%, 3.6%, and 1.2% full right now. Those cities have implemented reduced lawn watering schedules, but they now will follow up with fines for offenders. They also are considering a ban on home car washing and on a reduction for water for swimming pools. Use of drought-tolerant grasses (instead of lush St. Augustine) is being encouraged.(see www.texastribune.org, June 17)
My point is that Texas' exceptional drought is affecting the water supply of Colorado River cities upstream from us, too. It is possible that at some point LCRA will not even HAVE the water it has pledged to northern Hays County from Lake Travis. The Colorado River may become as dry in places as the Rio Grande has become.
(BTW, I think some people think of
plentiful snow melt in the state of Colorado when they hear the name "Colorado River." But the Colorado River which we have here in Texas has nothing to do with the state -- our Colorado River begins in Dawson County, not far from Midland.)
The city of Llano is extremely worried because the Llano River is its sole water supply, and the Llano is at only a trickle.
The Llano River is a tributary of the Colorado River. The Llano meets the Colorado at Lake LBJ, near Kingsland.
Anonymous of June 16, 12:39 PM
said:
"I think it is funny that the Democrats are pushing for Weiner to resign from the House when they didn't want Clinton to leave the White House for something similar."
What is really funny is that the family values Republicans don't ask their own to resign because they pretend they go to some Christian retreat to "Jesus" the sex addiction and compulsive philandering out of their hypocritical souls.
Sen. David Vitter, the whore lover from LA is still serving. I bet he didn't say one damn thing about Weiner. He let all the family values hypocrites from his Republican Party to pretend he wasn't an issue.
Oh, and let's not forget the Republican bathroom and underage Congressional Page sex addicts.
One thing is clear about the family values party: Most of the Dem sex addicts are hetero while more of the Reps are gay.
In the end it doesn't matter - except for the family values hypocrisy. They are sex addicts and need help. Not simply pastoral counseling, but real therapy.
Greenjeans, Capt K and Big Bird are probably consulting their Farmers Almanacs to decide what's best for the managing the aquifer.
Global warming anyone?
Booyah!
Thursday night, the protestors were attacking any permit that was applied for. It is important for the readers to know that none of the 3 permits were new ones, just renewals of existing pumping. The public should also know that the WSPs are required by law to provide water to customers within their CCN, permit or no permit. One of the permit applicants (Radiance) in particular has such low historical usage (144 gal./ day / household), that it prompted Board Member Joan Jernigan to crudely ask if those people even bathed. Even with that remarkably low usage, the protestors balked at granting the permit renewal and asked for a contested case. Some people were offended by Jernigan's insulting remark.
You see it is not about the water it is about power and legitimizing their leftist "I was here first" agendas. Some of the more notable protestors are simply in it for the publicity and the feel good part of saving the planet. They will continue to impede and block the HTGCD's legal mandate as long as they are not stopped. Maybe it will take a law suit or an injunction; it is possible since this is not Wisconsin.
One hidden Anonymous says:
"Some of the more notable protestors are simply in it for the publicity and the feel good part of saving the planet"
This is right wing nonsense. And even if it were true on the part of one or two, the key word is "some".
Unless this Anonymous and others who make this claim about "protestors" actually states their real names, they are just falsifiers of interpretation and exagerators of ignorance.
Anyone can say this stuff if they stay hidden in the coffins of their Anonymous crips. Which makes this innuendo crap meaningless.
If you won't give your name, you are liars and water pigs.
Baker's Dozen said...
As opposed to the water pigs who rubber stamp anything for anyone under the premise of some outdated and out of touch "free markets" idiocy right in the middle of a devastating drought?
Do you just make this stuff up or is it in the manual that came with the hat and broom? All of the permits were for individual water systems that supply water to three subdivisions.
Are you labeling the water utilities or residents of these subdivisions "water pigs" because the water utility was required to seek a renewal of an nearly expired operating permit? Are you labeling the HTGCD board members "water pigs" because the official duties of HTGCD board members requires them to consider permit renewal applications submitted to the board? Two of the utilities requested no increase. The utility that did request an increase was starting from "life support" levels. Neither the requested increase nor the total amount permitted was a material amount of water. Who are you labeling a water pig and why?
This type of totally stupid and meaningless "lawsuit" scare tactic is so numbskull on its merits that only the water pig friends of the Anonymous writer and the writer himself would ever believe such a thing could happen.
"water pig"? where does that come from? How about we just get rid of this idea of requiring permits to get rid of dealing with folks like yourself. Again, these applications under consideration are all for residential/domestic use in long existing residential subdivisions.
Sanctioning vexatious litigants is not some outlandish scheme. Take one example such as James McMeans. He has no standing and he knows it - yet he wants to cut off water to all the residents in these subdivisions with the false claim that he is directly affected and that he somehow suffers a harm not in common with the members of the general public. In reality, he can't point to any harm being done to anyone much less to him specifically and he isn't directly affected regardless of whether the board denies or approves of the renewals. No doubt his unscrupulous antics will be responsible for shaping some of the forthcoming rule changes.
@ Baker's Dozen who said:
Who are they going to sue? Are they going to grab some person at the meeting who objects to the mindless and brain dead rubber stamping of the Board's water pigs and sue them? For what? Democracy in action?
You've confused Democracy with something else. The sheer malicious actions of yourself and others to harm residents of Radiance is a perfect example.
Residents of Radiance should be made aware of the actions of Andrew Backus, Linda Kaye Rogers, Larry Calvert, Jim McMeans and others who adamantly protested renewal of the Radiance operating permit.
A few knuckleheads desperate for attention in their miserable lives tried to shut off water to entire Driftwood subdivisions. The subdivisions and many of the families in them have been here longer than most of the protesters and prior to the creation of the HTGCD. These aren't acts of "democracy" but rather cowardly terroristic acts by the "anti-growth" crowd - all living many miles away in Wimberley.
Most of the protesters were members of McMeans' "CARD" group and/or David Baker's WVWA. WVWA is heavily funded by county taxpayers - like the people in these subdivisions who are forced to pay higher taxes by virtue of living in the subdivisions that are required by local government. Maybe taxpayers should question the county commissioners as to why their tax dollars are being used to fund organizations seeking to harm them.
The attacks are extremely cowardly and malicious in that they were designed to harm the unsuspecting families that live in these subdivisions. Perhaps residents in these subdivisions should consider protecting their families from these domestic terrorists by opting for a residential well while they can.
The attacks should be made known and the attackers identified to the residents of these subdivisions. A one-page insert with the monthly utility water bill would be a cost effective way of putting all the residents on notice.
What pitiful, pitiful people these Wimberley "contested case requesters" are in the unprovoked and meritless efforts to harm all the families in these Driftwood subdivisions. The narcissistic conduct of the protesters might gain them just the opposite of the kind of attention they were seeking.
Homophobic Texas Governor Rick Perry's Houston hate soiree is sponsored by the American Family Association (AFA).
The AFA’s Director of Policy Analysis - Bryan Fischer – said on the AFA radio station:
“Homosexuality gave us Adolph Hitler, and homosexuals in the military gave us Brown Shirts, the Nazi war machine and six million dead Jews.”
More recently, in comments about a South African newspaper columnist found guilty of hate speech for a 2008 column, Fischer said,
“This sorry incident tells us two things: homosexualism will kill free speech, and homosexualists are bigots.”
It’s no surprise that Perry would associate himself so closely with an anti-gay group like AFA.
In a decade as governor, he has waged a fight to keep “homosexual conduct” listed as a criminal offense in the state penal code – a law he has said is “appropriate.”
The U.S. Supreme Court struck down Texas’ anti-sodomy law in 2003 in Lawrence v. Texas. In 2005, while signing a bill to amend the state constitution to specifically prohibit gays and lesbians from marrying.
Rob Parsley, a homophobic celebrity Pentecostal faith healer, joined Perry and lauded the governor for “protecting the children of Texas from the gay agenda.”
Most rapid anti-homosexual actions are a sign the political perpetrators are closet homosexuals, as they try to hide behind their own self-hate by persecuting others like him or her.
The Republican Party is deep with closeted gay (mostly) men, who unfortunately are afraid to come out for fear of losing their family status and for being seen as hypocrites.
Peace, brothers and sisters. Free love to all of the water fairies and the water pigs. Water is the liquid of life and must be respected by all.
Love is more sustaining than water and its human overconsumption.
Peace and love to all the aluminum hats who try to take away the rights of the water pigs and to all the gay righties who fight for the right to take water from others.
The central Texas apocalypse is no water for 5 years straight at 100 degree heat.
Let's eminent domain all private swimming pools. Drinking a little chlorine never hurt anyone, except those without love in their hearts.
President Obama was born in Hawaii, or as the Tea Party calls it, Kenya.
Rick Perry was asked by a reporter what he thought about the Tea Baggers?
Perry responded:
" It's just a whole lot of fun. I especially like it when they get me drunk and they drag lemons across my face while they waterboard me with tequila."
Among other stupid and absurd statements, Baker's Dozen said..."If you won't give your name, you are liars and water pigs."
If that is true, then you are a liar and a porker! Oh excuse me ... maybe your real name is indeed Baker's Dozen. Gee I'm sorry.
The reactionaries within the pitiful little group of protestors are unaware of what is in store for them. They can't even distinguish between groundwater, surface water or rainwater. I actually believe they think that denying permits is going to save water and end the drought. Of course it won't and can't due to State law and common sense. These selfish troublemakers will lose after causing harm to their neighbors to the north in Driftwood. They will whine about being treated unfairly and prepare for their next absurdity.
Wimberley is getting quite a reputation for harboring several covens and false religions. Several members of the group follow the teachings of Masaru Emoto " Doctor of Alternative Medicine" and father of water cluster quackery. He believes if you talk nice to water, you can improve or purify it. See this article about this huckster's nonsense.
They expect to end the drought by holding hands in a circle and chanting some form of gibberish they call a prayer led by some elder of Waitaha quackery. Google the word, "Waitaha" to see where they are coming from. The mystical things these people believe in accounts for a lot of their weird behavior.
This so-called groundwater conservation district, the HTGCD, is a misnomer from the word go. It has 1 GM, 1 secretary and 3 development motivated yahoos that wouldn't know exceptional drought from a dry well. They got NO STAFF, NO MONEY to operate with and NO WAY to enforce severe drought stage pumping restrictions from permitted pumpers in a 300+ SQUARE MILE AREA.
Ask em yourself! WHO IS CHECKING THE METERS AND WATER WASTERS IN THE MIDDLE OF A DROUGHT?
If NECESSARY CONSERVATION of western Hays County groundwater wasn't at stake for all residents who depend on the Trinity Aquifer, the HTGCD would be a complete joke.
As it is, BIG BIRD, MR. GREENJEANS AND CAPT KANGAROO make a pretty funny looking trio of water bandits. They are doing a great job of making FAILURE the new norm for groundwater districts.
Those suing the district for failure to protect the aquifer have no other recourse. I say GOOD ON THEM.
Like David Van Os says, FIGHT 'EM TILL HELL FREEZES OVER, THEN FIGHT 'EM ON THE ICE.
As a matter of fact I am an agnostic and if you believe that prayer or a chant is going to end the drought you are an uneducated dreamer. If the group does believe that, it explains a lot about the IQ of the protestors. I know one thing for damn sure that protesting the permits is not going to save a single drop of water or end the drought 1 second faster. So, what is your point?
I thought you people would have died off and gone extinct by now. Maybe you guys should get together with Rick Perry for prayer breakfast or something. Hummmmm
Good news! Mr. Bunny is going to perform another rain dance on the square. As I recall, the last time he did, it rained and rained. Go, Mr. Bunny, go!
The individuals asking for contested cases regarding the 3 permits will have to prove they are in some way especially and uniquely harmed to have even a chance of proving "standing".
Rule 5.5F of the HTGCD says,
"The following individuals may request a contested case hearing: A person who (a) has a personal justiciable interest related to a legal right, duty, privilege, power, or economic interest that is within the District’s regulatory authority that is not merely an interest common to members of the public; and (b) will be directly affected by the Board’s action on the application."
None of the requestors/protestors will qualify under the rule. Living 20 miles away from the permit areas will not cut it. The popular lament of claiming harm to surface waters such as Cypress Creek or Jacob's Well will not qualify since it is not a personal interest and being surface water, they are NOT within the District’s regulatory authority. Whining about the doom of groundwater is "an interest common to members of the public", therefore immaterial for this purpose.
I could go on about the ways they will not prevail but the District will quickly dispatch these frivilous mean spirited challenges.
These same individuals protested and tried to deny the permit to WSP and failed. These protests are retaliatory and malicious attempts to obstruct the legal process of re-permitting these 3 Water Supply Companies. They are selfish and have no empathy for their neighbors, the customers of these companies. The saving grace is that the District will grant a permit to the 3 WSCs either way the pre-hearing goes. The only thing the protestors will receive is a bill for legal services.
@ Baker's Dozen June 19, 2011 10:31 AM said...
Prevaling Litigant is the real coward here as he hides behind unaccountable comments and accusations with nothing but personal attacks and innuendo.
Yeah, there is a real showing of openness and accountability from someone decrying anonymity of others while using a screen name like "Baker's Dozen" to do so.
As long as the water pigs hide in the shadows like the cowards they are, they are liars until we see otherwise.
Who is hiding? You have accused the HTGCD board members of being water pigs. You have accused the operators of these water systems to be water pigs. You have by implication accused all the homeowners in these subdivisions of being water pigs. Not sure how you can claim that the board members, operators, or residents of these subdivisions are "water pigs" or are somehow "cowards", "lying", or hiding. The only one lurking in the shadows is yourself.
Not to worry. If you are a protester, you will no doubt get to learn about "standing". The district's rules have somewhat combined the concepts of "standing" and "subject matter jurisdiction". Nonetheless, no doubt you will find out that you have no standing or that the HTGCD has no jurisdiction in any event to listen to you whine about nonexistent harms that you haven't suffered.
Expressing your opinion at HTGCD meetings is certainly okay but otherwise is legally irrelevant when it comes to having personal standing to contest these permits. Increasing the volume does not give your complaints any more credence. Go chant with the other witches
Conservation Minute Man said...
This so-called groundwater conservation district, the HTGCD, is a misnomer from the word go. It has 1 GM, 1 secretary and 3 development motivated yahoos that wouldn't know exceptional drought from a dry well. They got NO STAFF, NO MONEY to operate with and NO WAY to enforce severe drought stage pumping restrictions from permitted pumpers in a 300+ SQUARE MILE AREA.
Ask em yourself! WHO IS CHECKING THE METERS AND WATER WASTERS IN THE MIDDLE OF A DROUGHT? "
Such incredible ignorance. First of all, only wells for which operating permits are required have meters. This is a very small fraction of the total number of wells within the HTGCD. They must submit quarterly reports and submit to inspection. There hasn't been a sign of wholesale waste as you have implied - except perhaps from the line loss at the AquaTex Systems.
If you have a complaint about a specific well owner/user file your complaint with the district.
If NECESSARY CONSERVATION of western Hays County groundwater wasn't at stake for all residents who depend on the Trinity Aquifer, the HTGCD would be a complete joke.
Water is flowing through the ground whether it is harvested or not. Feel free to stop your consumption of water at any time.
As it is, BIG BIRD, MR. GREENJEANS AND CAPT KANGAROO make a pretty funny looking trio of water bandits. They are doing a great job of making FAILURE the new norm for groundwater districts.
I see only success. An extremely unscrupulous board member is now gone. He can no longer rip off the citizens for his personal benefit and the benefit of his employer, WVWA. He can no longer vote on permits that he claims his WVWA organization is directly affected by. He can no longer surreptitiously send papers to various state agencies under the pretext of being authorized by the HTGCD. The HTGCD's bank account will no longer be susceptible to being drained by him or his affiliates. Constituents in areas such as GMA 10 will not be discriminated against now that Baker is gone. The tin hat crowd will have been exposed for having zero bite for all their bark. The HTGCD has successfully rebuffed all attempts to create a "super district" whose supporters wanted to use to prohibit all residential wells (except their own) and to impose a taxing regime. The "super district" was killed.
I'd call those successes - and they were accomplished despite every attempt by Baker and his affiliates.
Those suing the district for failure to protect the aquifer have no other recourse. I say GOOD ON THEM.
Sure they do. They can take their complaints up with the school board, John Edwards, or anyone else where their complaint is just as meaningless. The protesters do not have any standing to complain - hence their alleged and self-serving "concerns" are irrelevant.
Like David Van Os says, FIGHT 'EM TILL HELL FREEZES OVER, THEN FIGHT 'EM ON THE ICE.
Takes water to make ice. If they have water in Hell, then what are you doing here complaining about the lack of water? If you want to be where the water is, sounds like you need to go to Hell.
The HTGCD Contested Case application Pre-Hearings last night (6/23) for the 3 Water Supply Companies was interesting in that none of the hippie protestors from Wimberley saw fit to show up at the Drippin' City Hall. Even the protestor-in-chief, Jim McMeans was absent as well as his usual band of Looney Tune followers.
After all of their complaining and rudeness last week they chickened out when it became apparent that they would incur legal expenses if granted 'standing'. They were not willing to put their money where their mouths were. I feel they were just being obstructionists as I said at the time. They will be challenged if they attempt to repeat that silly "demonstration" again. It may be that the wheels are falling off of the movement in Wimberley. One can only hope.
To his credit Andrew Backus did show up and see it through to the point of being awarded 'standing' in the contested case against Radiance WSC's permit application. His case if one exist at all is very weak; he knows it and he may not see it through. He has 60 days to think about it. Bill Davis from Driftwood was also granted 'standing' in the "Interim La Ventana" permit request but that was over a technicality and will likely be settled without a hearing.
I forgot to mention that the Goldenwood West WSC 3 year permit was approved since Jim McMeans; the only one protesting it did not show up after objecting strongly to all 3 yr. permits last week. The legal costs likely scared him off. What a waste of time he and some of his band of complainers have caused.
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