Wimberley City Council Elections

Q: The plan to have the city’s effluent treated by Aqua Texas is well underway, but there are still steps to be taken before it is finalized. It appears there may be a possibility for the city council to reverse course and revert back to the city-owned treatment plan. If elected, how will you try and handle the sewer system and why do you believe that is the correct and feasible option?

Wollam: I favor protecting the Blanco River and Cypress Creek by preventing direct discharge of wastewater into our waterways. Look what just happened in Blanco, Texas when they started dumping wastewater in the Blanco River: a prompt algae bloom. The City’s Master Plan stressed the desire for “zero discharge.” Zero discharge should be the standard for our waterways. A City plant would be permitted to discharge 75,000 gallons a day into the Blanco River and would destroy our moral high ground to challenge other discharge permits. Those who promote a City owned plant say they won’t discharge, despite a discharge permit. That’s not true. The rainfall we saw from September to February had our waterways flowing beautifully, including Dry Deer Creek running through Blue Hole Park to the Blanco River. Had there been a City plant, we would have seen thousands of gallons of wastewater flowing into the Blanco River every day. I also believe wastewater needs to be treated in an economically responsible fashion. The service area of 107 properties does not justify the expense of building, operating and maintaining a multi-million dollar sewer plant over 30 years.

Q: Besides the sewer system, what are your main priorities if elected?

Wollam: We have the challenge of managing growth and protecting what makes Wimberley, Wimberley: we need to be united to meet that challenge. This community needs the sewer project completed, not delayed further, to get ourselves back on track to being supportive neighbors, friends and a united community. Don’t you want this over, already? This community is blessed with a lot of passionate and caring citizens. We accomplish incredible things when we are united in a cause.

Q: Do you foresee a need or an appropriate situation for the city of Wimberley to have a property tax above zero percent? Would you support a property tax?

Wollam: No, I do not currently foresee a need for a property tax set above zero. I do believe that with the Texas Water Development Board’s approval of change in scope, funds are sufficient to complete the sewer project without the financial impact imposed by a City owned wastewater plant in its own Blue Hole Park, which of course makes no sense at all. I would add that contrary to what has been reported, the costs of the two options are not the same. Those promoting a City owned plant are padding their calculations $100,000 per year to account for the City paying itself to purchase its own City generated wastewater at an inflated value.

Q: For a number of years, local politics have become rather divisive in Wimberley with the discord creating apparent issues for the city and council. How will you try and heal that division and can you work with those on the other side of a political issue to strike a compromise?

Wollam: Please see my response to question 2, above. We all care about Wimberley, a lot. But we have differences of opinions about what is best for our community. We need to remember how to agree to disagree and while respecting one another’s positions. Chances are we are all right, to some degree, on just about any topic you want to bring up. People who operate on the extremes of any issue will accomplish nothing. I look for common ground, reasonable compromise and I do my best to be cordial and not make things personal. If we’d all operate that way, we’ll get things done we can all be proud of.

Q: The city recently deannexed two properties in Wimberley totaling more than 100 acres. How do you view the issue of deannexation for the city?

Wollam: Personally, I would prefer that owners who may legally qualify for de-annexation not seek it, but remain part of the City, helping to mold it into a community they desire to be part of. However, the law allows for de-annexation if a property meets certain criteria. The two properties de- annexed exceeded those criteria. These and any future requests must be viewed on a case by case basis. I abstained from voting on the Sabino Ranch request because I have represented that entity. As a councilperson, I felt it was important for the community to know I will not favor a former client. For those that have concerns about de-annexation, I would point out that the second property to be de-annexed would likely have been voted down 3 to 2 had Ms. Davis attended the council meeting and voted against de-annexation as she did for the Sabino Ranch property.