The People of Hays County spoke in the last election against "business as usual," and I'm suspicious of the efforts to push all this stuff through 2 days before Thanksgiving. This agenda does not reflect the will of The People, and it's obvious we'll have to show up strong to assert our will
Editor's Update, 8 p.m. – We are informed that the Swimberley park project scored second from last in the county's parks and open space advisory board's review; and the shooting range project (not mentioned in this report) landed at the bottom of 12 projects, with a score of 50.1. We're also picking up that an agreement between members of the current and newly elected court members to put off approval of all pending parks projects until the new court is seated is unraveling over a push to approve the $1.7 million Jacobs Well project and possibly the highest scoring (84.6) Harrison Ranch Park, $1.7 million, City of Dripping Springs. Pct. 3 Commissioner Will Conley is said to be gaining traction as the court's lead deal maker (and spender). The two projects, along with the proposed $5 million Nicholson Ranch acquisition, essentially will close the book on the remaining funds in the county's $30 million parks and open space bond fund. Voters passed the bond in 2007 in a small turnout (11% of registered voters, 6,963 For | 3,286 Against).
Note: San Marcos resident Sam Brannon (originally of the Woodlands) quickly dived into local community activism when he returned from a 5-year tour of Europe, including a couple of years in Turkey where he was an English instructor. He took a gambit at running for Congress as an Independent, 25th District, but didn't make it on the ballot. One of Mr. Bannon's most recent public stands was against Pct. 2 County Commissioner Jeff Barton's campaign for County Judge, with a particularly poignant standoff at Barton's late October Kyle "Showdown" with his critics.Send your comments and news tips to roundup.editor@gmail.com, to Mr. Brannon at sam_brannon@hotmail.com or click on the "comments" button at the bottom of the story
By Sam Brannon
Guest Commentary
Self-government never has been easy. I was talking with a friend this weekend about the County "business" going on. She asked, "Where are all the big people who should be stopping this?" My response was, "We are They." She got the point. I hope you get it as well, and support our efforts for honest, open and responsible government.
We need your help tomorrow at the Commissioners Court meeting. We need you there, with a friend or two. We need a statement from everyone willing calling for "No Action" on the following:
• Nicholson Ranch, in Open Comments. Agenda Items #11, 12, 13, 17, 18, 21 and 23 (details below).The agenda has been updated to include other Parks Bond projects, and other items of concern. It can be found at this link: http://www.co.hays.tx.us/CommissionersCourt/WeeklyAgendaArchive/tabid/127/Default.aspx
On the Parks Bond
Nicholson Ranch is under contract, and I've been speaking weekly against it. It's a terrible use of $5 million in taxpayer obligations, and it's basically a developer subsidy in the cover of "sustainable development" (on a thousand acres in far western Hays). This is NOT an agenda item, and I / We will be speaking on it in open comments at the beginning of the meeting, and we'll be pushing for "No Further Action," letting the contract expire without closing.
The Swimberley Project is essentially a county-wide funding project for a Wimberley High School swim center. It's saddled with problems, including its association with Aqua Texas, the local water utility that wastes half of the water they pump. Aqua Texas is also slated to handle the wastewater though they have ZERO capacity to do so. Another ugly deal. This and other new items fall under Item #11 on the agenda, and again we'll push for "No Action" on this and other new projects.
The Jacobs Well Project has its issues, including that about 15 acres of it looks to be headed to private hands, and in which the conservation restrictions could be unilaterally removed on this parcel. The county has already invested millions but best we can tell, has little to show for it among the various transactions that have taken place. This is Item #21 on the agenda, and we'll push for "No Action" on this.
Other deals on the agenda that we want to stop
Item #18, buying land for the Pct 2 Commissioners' office (Kyle/Buda) - I can't figure out why Commissioner Barton is trying to buy land for an office when he will no longer be on the Court as of January. This must stop.
Item #17, hiring K. Friese and Associates for engineering work for U.S. Food's road. This was a very controversial deal, and it can wait until the new court convenes in January.
Item #23, taking the CR 266 right-of-way purchase into Executive Session. I can't figure out why they want to build a 4-lane road on a lightly traveled 2 lane on the edge of the County, that connects pretty much nothing to pretty much nothing. I drove it yesterday, and am thoroughly at a loss on this one. This can wait for the next court.
Item #12, expansion of Purgatory Creek. This may be an excellent project, but it can certainly wait for the new court.
Item #13, proposed changes to County development regulations. 'll support this only if the public hearing is after January 1.
Milton Friedman reminded us that there is no political freedom without economic freedom. We're being taxed to oblivion by all levels of government today, and this needs to stop if we wish to remain free people.
The People of Hays County spoke in the last election against "business as usual," and I'm suspicious of the efforts to push all this stuff through 2 days before Thanksgiving. This agenda does not reflect the will of The People, and it's obvious we'll have to show up strong to assert our will.
I think the votes we'll need will be found among Commissioners Ingalsbe and Conley, and Judge Sumter, if they are to be found at all. Please call and write them today, and show up tomorrow for a civil - and emphatic - conversation with them.
Last thing, and just to be clear, I am not anti-development, and I am not anti-conservation, though I've been accused of both. I am neither Republican nor Democrat or Libertarian or Green. I am all about honest, open and responsible government, and about getting out from under mounds of debt our governments have placed us under. This starts here at home in Hays County, and tomorrow can be a big day if we make our voices heard.
No more asking "When will they stop this?" We are They.
Pass the word, and please join us 9am at the County Courthouse on the San Marcos square tomorrow, 3rd floor. Sign up sheets to speak are to the right of the door as you enter. Get there 15 minutes early, and we'll help get you set up to speak if you wish, or we can speak on your behalf.
22 comments:
Today Commissioner Ingalsbe explained there will be no action on Item #23, just a discussion on future actions, and I believe she wants to be sensitive to our fiscal concerns.
It was also explained to me that Item #18 has no money associated with it, so I won't be addressing that one.
There is nothing the current kangaroo commissioners' court can approve that the new court of the people cannot rebuke and overturn in January.
Conley and his cohorts on the court have real nerve trying to push these projects through before the new members and Bert Cobb have a chance to vet them thoroughly. The argument that the current court started them and has a right to finish them holds no water. They remain chuck full of questions and conflicts. Approving projects worth millions on the backs of the tax payers just before the holidays while the public is distracted is an old trick. The odor of baked fish permeates the air, or is it turkey. I agree with Mr. Brannon's assessment---HOLD ALL ACTION on these projects. I ask commissioners, what's the rush?
Should Liz Sumter have stepped down or stopped voting on items after she lost the Primary?
Life goes on. Get over yourself
So-called "Conley's cohorts" are 4 Democrats. Guess it's a good thing we'll have 4 Republicans and 1 Democrat in January, right?
Thanks to the Parks and Opens Spaces Board, and to Judge Sumter and commissioners, for recognizing
that Swimberley is not a park.
But be vigilant -- Swimberley will be back before the Parks Board and
the commissioners again next year
with its hand out.
Apparently Conley, the lone Republican, is better at spending than his Democratic friends on the court. I think it will be most interesting to see how the new court's 4 to 1 Republican majority treats our money. Start placing your markers.
Any one heard yet on how things went on all the park projects? I am inclined to oppose all the requested spending due to the fact that they look like too much money for too little return for us tax payers. Our county commissioners should take a remedial course on return on investment. It's an economics course not political science.
The 12 projects asking for Park
funds were ranked by the Parks and
Open Spaces Board. Ranked #1 was a
park for Dripping Springs; #2 was
a Purgatory Creek project (San Marcos); #3 a park for Buda; #4 a
state park for Buda. I don't know
the other 8 rankings, but Swimberley was in the lower half of
the pack.
"#3 a park for Buda; #4 a
state park for Buda."
A state park for Buda, that's a joke, right? Those yokels can't manage the parks they have 9and they keep getting more everytime a subdivision goes up thanks to their open space requirements). They have been through four park directors in four years. And never mind the Stagecoach Park debacle.
"...the highest scoring (84.6) Harrison Ranch Park, $1.7 million..."
Anyone can rank high if you submit false infomration...which is what the Dripping Springs folks typically do.
Nothing the Mayor with the aid of his unethical grant writer promised three years ago when they conned the County out of $775,000, has come to pass.
I know. Just two weeks ago I walked the 64 acres and documented with photographs the unkept promises made three years ago. They are all spelled out in a PowerPoint presentation using some of the City's original slides. I sent the documented presentation to all members of the court last week.
When some elected officials are willing to cheat and other elected officials ignore the cheating, those who play by the rules have no chance at grant money.
Hopefully, the new court members can team up to stop Conley.
Of the 12 projects presented for
consideration by the Parks Board,
the gun park was ranked last (#12)
and Swimberley was ranked #11.
Many Thanks to Sam Brannon for his attention and watching over to our funds, parks and otherwise. The people of Hays County have to stop being suckers for everything that claims to be “for the Children”. This is a common ploy to get support for projects that don’t deserve it. Every time I hear that claim I vote against the issue.
These luxury items, especially the ones that waste our precious resources at the expense of the taxpayers must stop. The County should only be in the road business and the School Districts should be about education not sports. We could enjoy a significant tax reduction if they would get back to basics, especially the ISDs. Simply put, government tries to do way too much.
I believe the "state" park for buda was actually a Skate park.
Yes, sorry. It's a "skate park
for Buda," not a state park.
Charles, would you care to share your brilliance with us and let us see what you gave the Commissioners? Also, in the interest of full understanding do you have the full slide slow presentation given by the City originally? Would like to see it all.
A skate park in Buda? That's even worse. Why, we Godly folks here in the beautiful Hill County don't need no hooligan whippersnapper skate park.
Next thing we know they'll try to outlaw selling military guns to us good citizens that we buy to protect us from those skate kids when they grow up.
The spend mentality has been outrageous and it is far from over. There are still 2 commissioners from the current court who will be there next year. Voters may have to send further messages to Commissioners Will Conley and Debbie Ingalsbe if they continue their irresponsible spend actions.
Skate park, huh? Tell me that's not going to be law-suit-city. I can tell you exactly how this will go the first time little Johnny knocks out his front teeth on the "improperly poured concrete."
“law-suit-city” is right, that’s why no one except someone with unlimited finances (wink) would put one of those things in. You can bet the PI attorneys are already salivating over it; Mesothelioma cases are getting harder to find, you know.
Charles O'Dell - "When some elected officials are willing to cheat and other elected officials ignore the cheating, those who play by the rules have no chance at grant money."
Of course there is the money that the County just handed to another private group, WVWA, again. The Commissioners claimed it was to "save" Jacobs well. However, Jacobs well is not on the 51 acres being purchased and WVWA does not have authority to convey the 31 acres that are part of the deal. This was really pure conversion of taxpayer dollars to WVWA yet again.
The 46 acres owned by WVWA was actually paid for with county dollars (nearly $3 million) in 2008. But Commissioners foolishly simply gave this organization the cash to pay off a mortgage on the property. Will the commissioners pay you $3 million to buy a ranch, give you title to the ranch, and then pay you to maintain the ranch?
The 46 acres has a so-called "conservation easement" that is owned by SOS. The easement states that the property must be transferred in its entirety (i.e., no subdivision). However when it suited WVWA economically SOS & WVWA amended the "conservation easement" to allow subdivision. Only catch is that they did this in July (signed)/August (recorded) of 2010.
SOS had filed bankruptcy and this easement is specifically identified in the bankruptcy estate. SOS did not obtain permission from the court to modify the conservation easement. SOS did not notify creditors. There are judgment creditors that have a superior right to any of the SOS assets - including the conservation easement.
SOS' bankruptcy was thrown out by the bankruptcy court, however, this decision is being appealed and arguments will be heard by the 5th circuit on December 7th, 2010. If SOS wins, the conservation easement is still part of the bankruptcy estate and will require court approval for modification. If SOS loses, the conservation easement is fair game for the judgment creditor developers. The county commissioners and county attorney are and were on notice of this and yet have chosen to move forward despite the obvious title problems created by the surreptitious conduct of WVWA and SOS.
The two Al-Anonymous duds who think Skate Park is a synonym for law suits I guess would rather have our kids smoke pot and do drugs - because they have nothing else to do but get high.
America is being taken over by fearful penny pinching old goobers who forgot what it means to be a kid. What a bunch of boring zombies.
Yes, kids, just go to the mall and hang out - or look at stuff on the Internet your parents would hate - because a whole
generation of corporate controlled early senile tax moralizers are afraid to let you have fun.
That is some great information that was suppressed by the players. Invoking the Jacob’s Well name almost has a spiritual quality to some people in these woods. The amount of our tax money that has gone into this project is shameful. I say, let fairly obtained donations finance this cause from now on. Enough is enough.
This is a County Bail-Out for the WVWA and the City of Woodcreek by quashing the lawsuit against them. It is also a sweetheart deal for the developers that will sell the land to ????.
If you have a large undeveloped chunk of land you’d like to sell, just call you friendly Commissioner and he/she will arrange for the County to purchase it at a premium under the guise of a Conservation Park.
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