Thursday, September 17, 2009
Hays Trinity groundwater district meets today in Dripping Springs
For more information, go to the district's web site and click on "Meetings" in the Quick Links: www.haysgroundwater.org
Send your comments and news tips to online.editor@valleyspringcomm.net or to Dana R. Carmean, manager@haysgroundwater.com
The board of directors of the Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District meets today at 5 p.m. at Dripping Springs city hall, 511 Mercer St. For directions, call city hall at 512.858.4725.
The board will consider adopting an amended Rule 9 – prohibition against groundwater waste. The long-awaited amended rule will attempt to hold public water suppliers in western Hays County (we have three large suppliers) to a line loss waste factor of 15 percent.
As things now stand we are seeing some suppliers experiencing (and getting away with) huge amounts of unaccounted for line loss, upwards of 40 percent. In the case of Aqua Texas (Wimberley-Woodcreek), their losses are coming in at an estimated 80,000,000 gallons a year. Aqua was supposed to have submitted a waste reduction plan to the district by Sept. 9 by order of the board at its July 9 public hearing held in Wimberley.
Also on the agenda are consideration of three groundwater permits for non exempt permit holders: Dr. Ron White, Dripping Springs; Erik Howard (Howard Ranch), Wimberley Springs Partners; and Quicksand Golf Course in Woodcreek).
There will also be consideration and possible action on three notices of violation: Frank Leal, Notice of Violation Review, 2100 Creek Rd, Dripping Springs; Alfred Albert, LLC, Browning Ranch Notice of Violation, Dripping Springs; and Jon Cobb Notice of Violation Review, 31300 Ranch Road 12, Dripping Springs.
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11 comments:
I didn't see John Gorman's name on the list. Apparently, he likes to waste water as well as he fills up Bear Creek adjacent to his property with groundwater. Did he get served notice? Or is he "too big to fail" because of his connections with the President?
That illegal practice is more prevalent than most think. I can’t prove it, but I suspect someone is filling up his or her section of Cypress Creek with ground water. Who is supposed to go out and arrest these violators? The HTGCD is little more than a paper tiger thanks to the legislature refusing to give them the funds and authority (chapter 36) they need. Kina like cops without cars or guns.
Maybe if they would act responsibly against all parties and not just those that they feel like enforcing against would make it easier to justify their empowerment. However, when they let their friends get off scot-free without even so much as a slap on the wrist, then they are no better than anyone else. If they did enforce against Gorman, do you think they would ever collect a fine?
Aqua-Texas’ water wasting correction plan is now, not due until 9/22. Something about the papers not getting to them in early July.
Man, the silence is deafening. Wherefore art thou Charles O'Dell? Why don't you pursue this violator of law, waster of water? Would that be because you sat next to him at Barack Obama's inauguration? Oh, so there is a double-standard when it comes to being green and when it comes to enforcement of rules? Charles you are our champion, where are you in our darkest hour of need? Please investigate the Hays Trinity Groundwater District's failure to levy fines and penalties against Mr. Gorman. You know how to get the TRUTH. You are the watchdog, now bark!
HaysCAN was called in several years ago by an alarmed citizen to investigate illegal dozing of Bear Creek on the Gorman property. Our photo verification of that action didn't have any traction with the corrupt Hays County Environmental Health Department, and since retired Director, Allan Walther, couldn't have care less that Gorman didn't have a permit to construct one or more dams on the Creek. Growing evidence shows that Gorman is another dark example of a property owner with lots of money selfishly injuring many of his neighbors with a wink and a nod from public officials. HaysCAN will report the matter once it has completed its research...not before.
"HaysCAN will report the matter once it has completed its research...not before."
What the hell is that? Sounds like a chihuahua barking (or is that the muffled bark of someone with their pockets stuffed full of cash?)
Charles, that was a pathetic attempt at an excuse. Walther hasn't been at that poor excuse for a County Environmental office for a couple of years now. So you're saying you've known about this for that many years and have remained silent? How long did you remain silent on the restauranteur in San Marcos that you persecuted relentlessly? Or the poor schmuck over at Gatlin Creek Road a few years ago? You sure ran that poor SOB ragged.
Is this your answer to unvarnished truth? Just where did you and Gorman sit in relation to one another at the President's inauguration? What other facts are you waiting for before ruining this man's bad reputation? Why haven't you posted your pictures for the whole world to see on this blog? Even your own admission is that you were called in "several years ago". I think I smell either pay-off or that you are in someone's back pocket on this one. Is it that you are afraid of taking on one of your own? Sort of like Congress overlooking Charlie Rangel's tax evasion, all the while he is in charge of the committee for writing tax law? Funny these ethical lapses that even the mighty whitey like you are able to forget that you too are human. I call your hand to either put up or shut up on Gorman, and others. Either play fairly and expose him like you have others by doing your job, or you are obviously as slanted and prejudiced as everyone says. A real watchdog turns loose the dogs, no matter what. Come on Charles what have you got on Gorman that you are afraid to turn loose?
Where have you been the past six years while HaysCAN was reporting bad behavior of government officials and their special interest supporters? During those six years there was never a project involving any restauranteur in San Marcos or anywhere else in Hays County. The poor East Gatlin Creek Road schmuck you referenced was actually three schmucks, attorney Rex Baker, investor Paul Watkins and his son-in-law from New Jersey (I forget his name) who got Environmental Health Department director Walther to permit Heatherwood, an illegal development project. Remember, it was you who called Watkins an SOB, not me, even if I agree with you. As for Gorman, we reported illegal dozing in the creek bed to Walther and the Army Corps of Engineers. Walther couldn't be bothered. We are following up on the current status based on a citizen tip. If our research confirms violations we will report them to officials and to the Roundup.
Charles:
The restaurateur was Nick Ramus. You may disagree whether or not he is a restaurateur, but whether he sits them at his place of business or he takes the food to them as a caterer, a restaurateur he is just the same. And yes, you did run him ragged as well.
You avoid discussing Gorman and your ethical lapse of staying on top of this. So you stop at only "reporting"? Not what you did with everyone else. And the Gorman story has never appeared in print anywhere to my knowledge. Why don't you elaborate for those who don't know, just what it is you reported to the County? Pictures and all? Name names, etc. (Besides Walther).
Come on, man up! Grow a pair!
As Tom Gresham said: "A lie left unchallenged becomes the truth."
Nick Ramus is not a restaurateur. That’s a lie Barton and Conley launched in the public domain by repeating it over and over---as you are doing on this blog.
res⋅tau⋅ra⋅teur–noun: The owner or manager of a restaurant
Nick Ramus has never owned or managed a restaurant. Ramus has never catered from a restaurant that he owned or managed. Ramus was a cafeteria cook at Southwest Texas State until Chartwell’s let him go because of laziness and unsanitary hygiene. If he ever owned or managed a restaurant---let him prove it and I will grovel before him in public. He can’t because he never owned or managed a restaurant---ever!
It’s a lie. Nick Ramus never owned or managed a restaurant.
As for the Gorman matter---you can stop trying to bait me. We are gathering the information through open record requests, photographs and interviews. When we have our facts straight and there is something to report it will be made public, we will name names and report any violations to the authorities.
Chuck, you truly are an idiot. First of all, that guy who you can't remember his name, my former son in law, was not from New Jersey. When my daughter took up with a personal trainer when they moved to Houston, and got divorced form him, it was a godsend. He was the only one who knew enough that what we were doing was illegal, but we kept his eye on the goal line. Even though I have had to sell off my ranch to pay the bills, I'm still the same old arrogant SOB you refer to. AND, Heatherwood still has its permits! Paul W.
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