Citizens deserve answers to all these questions before we buy a pig in a poke from the LCRA
Note: A question: Hays County Commissioners Court continues to play hide n' seek with information about its intentions in purchasing the Hwy 290/West Travis County Regional Water System from the LCRA. Shouldn't the court also be the target of a public information lawsuit from taxpaying citizens?
Click on map to enlarge
Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Ms. Hopson at hopsonbarbara@yahoo.com, to County Judge Bert Cobb at bert.cobb@co.hays.tx.us, 512.393.2205, or click on the "comments" at the bottom of the storyBy Barbara Hopson
Guest Commentary
The headline in an article in Thursday's June 30 Austin American-Statesman reads: "LCRA broke law in failing to divulge enough on utilities sale, county says."
The main point of the article (link) is that West Lake Hills claims it was denied information by LCRA – information that it needed before bidding on the LCRA wastewater treatment plant which serves that city.
Hays County citizens, too, are concerned and mystified as to the paltry information we have been given by our county commissioners about ongoing negotiations to buy LCRA facilities. We understand that commissioners court might be secretive concerning dollar amounts involved in their bidding process. But we haven't a clue as to:
1. Which LCRA properties Hays County will end up owning
2. Which Hays County taxpayers will be responsible for paying off the enormous revenue bonds used to buy the LCRA properties
3. How much more the current LCRA ratepayers can expect to pay for water when LCRA is no longer subsidizing the huge losses generated by the properties
4. Whether LCRA will grant a block amount of surface water to the Coalition as a whole or will dole out amounts to each entity member of the Coalition
5. What the priority list is as to which entities are served first in times of drought
6. Whether members of the Coalition will own/be responsible for LCRA properties outside their boundaries
7. Whether Hays County citizens in the path of LCRA pipelines will be compelled to tie on to them
8. How much planned and needed additions/renovations to the current properties will cost
There are many other unanswered questions as well. Citizens deserve answers to all these questions before we buy a pig in a poke from the LCRA. County commissioners should hold public informational meetings in their precincts.
3 comments:
Clearly, before the LCRA water asset purchase goes any further, Hays County Commissioners should hire an independent accounting consulting firm with expertise in water utility asset sales - with required full disclosure about past transactions which the firm was involved with, references from past purchase clients, and the background of the Firm's principals, including past industry affiliations.
If they have already done such a due diligence, then why is Travis County questioning the data and threatening a lawsuit?
HC Commissioners need to respond to Barbara's article for simple credibility at this point.
Good questions. If others would like to add to this list, please do. I'm trying to get some others answered as well.
Nice work, Barbara... Thanks for all you do.
It is very likely that Hays County Commissioners already know the information that Travis County seeks. I can't believe that Hays is so stupid as to be bidding on something that they have not been let in on. This smacks of inside dealing of the highest level.
The LCRA wants/needs to unload this money bleeding turkey and Hays seems most likely to go for it (God only knows why). Now, along comes Travis to upset the deal and delay the proceedings since they want to know what is so good about the deal that Hays is eagerly on board.
It is in all likelihood only a good deal for the LCRA. The LCRA must be orgasmic that there are now two Counties are entering into a feeding frenzy over purchasing their money-losing properties.
Post a Comment