LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
Important meeting on pipeline upcoming
The Kinder Morgan Permian Highway Pipeline is currently planned to come through the Hill Country and will directly impact 82 properties in Hays County. Along its route, the pipeline will cross rivers, creeks, karst aquifer recharge zones and critical habitat and come into very close proximity of some of our beloved springs, such as Jacob’s Well.
The Wimberley Valley Watershed Association has been following the progress of this pipeline, and has been actively working with landowners, scientists, experts and legal counsel to determine the best course of action to reroute the pipeline out of the Hill Country. Our dedication is to the landowners, watersheds, land, wildlife, and to the Texas Hill Country. As such, we have concerns about the impacts that this pipeline will bring to our region. We believe the unique karst topography and artesian spring fed ecosystems of the Hill Country are far too fragile for such an intrusive project. We are concerned about potential damage to landowner’s property rights and values, our local economy, county infrastructure, water quality and wildlife habitat.
The Hill Country is a great place for many things: recreation, swimming, fishing, touring, hiking, agriculture and ranching, but we do not believe that it is the best choice for a pipeline. Especially not one that will be transporting 2 billion cubic feet of natural gas daily and potential crude oil and gasoline in the future.
Agencies such as the Barton Springs Edwards Aquifer Conservation District and the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District have taken action to have their hydrogeologists investigate the water quality impacts.
If you are an affected landowner, we urge you to seek legal counsel. Kinder Morgan does have the power of eminent domain, and they will use that power to put their pipeline in place. You do not need to accept their initial offers, and you can negotiate your contract with them if they are successful in placing the pipeline on the proposed route. Educate yourself, talk to your neighbors, reach out to the WVWA or to the Texas Real Estate Advocacy & Defense (TREAD) Coalition ([email protected]) about being involved in future meetings.
If you would like to learn more about the Permian Highway Pipeline: On January 29th at 5:30 pm, the Hays County Precinct 3 Commissioner’s Office will hold a public meeting at the Wimberley Community Center. This meeting will discuss Kinder Morgan’s project, and will offer information regarding the planned route and discussions regarding environmental concerns, property rights, and other important issues relevant to project’s potential impact on Hays County.
This massive project could impact all of us – please join us in the discussion. We want to protect the integrity of the Wimberley Valley and the Texas Hill Country, and we can only do it together.
Letter submitted by the Wimberley Valley Watershed Association. For more information on the group, visit www.wimberleywatershed.org.
WWTP – Is There a Compromise Option?
If you have read my previous letters to the editor, you know where I stand on the WWTP plant scope change issue and why. You have also heard the statements from many Wimberley area citizens, “Why can’t we get along? Why can’t we compromise?” How is this for a compromise?
1. Other than completing the Collection System, make NO additional expenditures on the project until 1) a permit to cross Cypress Creek is finalized; 2) an easement acquired; and
3) TWDB funding resolved. This includes engineering design, signing of a contract with Aqua Texas, etc. I want to re-emphasize that until items 1) and 2) are finalized, the City/AT option is not an executable option. Item 3) loss of TWDB funding will increase the 30-year interest cost by several million dollars. Update: Since my initial draft of this note, the Mayor stated at the January 17th City Council meeting that there would NOT be any “hold” on expenditures waiting to resolve the above questions. Why the hurry on the part of the Mayor and the City Council to spend funds on an option that may not be able to be completed? In the January 10th edition of the Wimberley View (A View From The Council Table), Councilman Barchfeld complained “…I thought the City was rushing to contract with Black Castle…” Seems hypocritical on his part to now be in a hurry considering this could be additional wasted expenses.
2. If crossing under the creek is approved, the crossing must be a “Double-pipe design with engineered instrumentation including monitored alarms and system shutdown controls.
3. The (initial) future AT service contract to be for a maximum of 5 years (as stated by the Mayor at the June Town Hall) with no termination fee at the end of the contract, no $300,000 connection fee, no financial link with AT to finance the project, and a requirement for Level 1 effluent measured at the “User” point.
4. After 2 to 3 years, evaluate the performance of AT and make the decision on whether to continue the contract or start actions (funding, permitting, early engineering, etc.) to build a City-Owned Treatment Plant, to be operational by the end of the 5-year contract. This was also mentioned by the Mayor at the June Town Hall.
5. If the decision after 2 to 3 years is to not continue the AT contract, the pipeline under Cypress Creek can be used to route Level 1 effluent to AT during periods when soccer fields are too wet. This would ensure “no discharge” and allow the size of the retention tank to be significantly reduced thereby lowering the project cost.
6. Do not make any decision to cancel the TCEQ permit early as suggested by Councilman Fore at the January 3, 2019 council meeting.
William Bowman
Supporting the change in scope for wastewater
I attended the Jan.8, 2019, Public Hearing on Proposed Central Wimberley Wastewater Project Modifications and strongly SUPPORT the modifications that were approved by the City Council vote over 4 months ago. First the NO DISCHARGED option prevents sewer plant discharge or leakage into Cypress Creek and Blanco River lowering potential environmental impacts. Second the modifications significantly REDUCES ECONOMIC IMPACT BURDENS on small business and shop owners by significantly lowering sewer plant operating costs and eliminating City liability for sewer plant spills and smells that would appear in our tourist areas.
I left the meeting before my time to speak therefore facts I wanted for the record could not be entered. AS Todd Chenowenth knows I have fought this loan (called the circle of deception)from the beginning. Common sense tells any thinking person that 100 users cannot afford a loan of $5 million-to-$8 million. Reason for the deception was to clear up pollution in Cypress Creek. Nice idea but impossible as I tried to tell Dain and group...... Wimberley has Bats under Cypress Creek bridge, Buzzards roosting in trees over Creek and the greatest pollution of all is caused by TEXDOT. As soon as they widen #12 they put in the storm sewers. There is an outlet on each side of the Cypress Creek bridge and have been there for 2 years. If TWDB were experienced (staff,field personal)with their new program and good stewards of taxpayer money TWDB would take TEXDOT and their activities into consideration. Wimberley is NOT an isolated case. And the same should be done for a community when TWDB goes to “review” and give the “go-ahead” for the project to begin. TWDB did come and give our past mayor and council the go-ahead.... however had anyone cared to look the collection site had PEC wires going above. Common sense should have told every one that this was not a “shovel ready project.” The City has spent the last 8 and 1/2 months purchasing a new site and still the interest keeps piling up which puts the City’s financial’s at risk. Additionally TWDB is put in the position of being most wasteful of time and money and being accused of dragging their feet on proposed solutions. Same with the Black Castle contract.......I had an engineer (ret)check their work. At no time was I told Black Castle had done $300,000.00 worth of work.
I should say something of my background. (Todd Chenowenth knows)In my past life I was President of a Development Co.(private) that partnered with another Development Co. (public) We developed approximately 3,000 acres............ including having 3 MUD’s to service the development. We master planned around many pipelines... some abandon, most active. I understand now we have some 26 pipelines in the area. Some on the developed property also crossings next door etc. In the area is Greens Bayou....several cross over the Bayou. If there are any lines with a “sleeve” i am not aware of them. There are alert systems all over. All this new technology has made that possible. It would be the same with Wimberley boring under Cypress Creek .......you could have an alert system without a sleeve.... as well as alert on a sleeve. I guess you could have an alert system on as many sleeves as money could buy.
As Ben Franklin said “we are all born ignorant but we must work hard to remain stupid”. I am always amazed how my community refuses to listen and learn but then they set themselves up as a welfare state early in their existence. The City has little to be proud of. Their tract record speaks to “NO TAXES” there is no road fund, or flood fund etc. The best things about our community are from the private sector. The private sector has experience to accomplish many things and TWDB could certainly use their help....if nothing else help staff members gain experience. We understands since TWDB has awarded Blanco City $5 million for their plant we can expect discharge in the Blanco River to head for Wimberley. Amazing!!!! And still TWDB delays a decision as to Wimberley’s request for change in scope. At approximately $700.00 a day I ask TWDB take a look at what is being done by continuing to postpone the decision. Financially crippling Wimberley and making them your first failure of the program (fiscally) will keep TWDB in the public eye. A small loss by TWDB standards but significantly important to Wimberely. Again I ask you to stop your delay and support Wimberleys request for change in scope.
Lila McCall