Serving Kerr County with a Conscience
Water Meters
Taxpayers Take Note!
10/18/2011 22:22
Taxpayers Take Note!
You may soon be asked to pay for the cost of collecting data when developers are drilling privately owned permitted “public” wells in Kerr County. The term “public” just means that the well extends into the Trinity Aquifers. Up to now, the developer of the public well has paid for the data logging equipment usage and a geologists time to collect the data and submit it to the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation Board. Costs can range from $4000 to $6000. I believe both conservative and more liberal thinking citizens can agree that the developer, who will obviously benefit the most from a successful project, should pay for the data collection. Developers pay for other costs including streets, sewer, curb, park space, etc. that they recover from those who buy into or rent portions of their development.
Kerr County has one of the outstanding hydrogeological pictures of the aquifers and well water supplies of any county in Texas. HGCD has monitor wells in place paid for by taxpayer funds. They are monitoring several privately owned wells with the cooperation of well owners. The water in our deep aquifers may take 2000 years to recharge. We may now be in a 30 year drought cycle. Good science can help us manage our water supply. Present and new water users will pay to keep good data collection science in ongoing. Let’s have the developers pay to collect the data for new wells coming on line.
Mark your calendars for October 19(Hearing on Rescinding Rule 8.5) and November 9th(the HGCD Board will vote to Rescind Rule 8.5) I know that about 75% of the voters in Kerr County tend be conservative voters and desire to keep the individualistic entrepreneurial spirit alive. Now is the time to attend the above meetings and let the HGCD Board of Directors know that developers should pay their own way. If a $5000 data collection cost related to developing a $100,000 to $250,000 “public” well would nix a developer’s project then the developer should review the business plan. Spread over a 100 home project the cost is $50 per home. These seemingly minor costs passed to the taxpayer can result over time in less money available for your children and grandchildren’s education. Education in Texas is a better investment right now than providing more financial incentives to developers.
Gary C. McVey, Former Prec. 1 Director, HGCD
You may soon be asked to pay for the cost of collecting data when developers are drilling privately owned permitted “public” wells in Kerr County. The term “public” just means that the well extends into the Trinity Aquifers. Up to now, the developer of the public well has paid for the data logging equipment usage and a geologists time to collect the data and submit it to the Headwaters Groundwater Conservation Board. Costs can range from $4000 to $6000. I believe both conservative and more liberal thinking citizens can agree that the developer, who will obviously benefit the most from a successful project, should pay for the data collection. Developers pay for other costs including streets, sewer, curb, park space, etc. that they recover from those who buy into or rent portions of their development.
Kerr County has one of the outstanding hydrogeological pictures of the aquifers and well water supplies of any county in Texas. HGCD has monitor wells in place paid for by taxpayer funds. They are monitoring several privately owned wells with the cooperation of well owners. The water in our deep aquifers may take 2000 years to recharge. We may now be in a 30 year drought cycle. Good science can help us manage our water supply. Present and new water users will pay to keep good data collection science in ongoing. Let’s have the developers pay to collect the data for new wells coming on line.
Mark your calendars for October 19(Hearing on Rescinding Rule 8.5) and November 9th(the HGCD Board will vote to Rescind Rule 8.5) I know that about 75% of the voters in Kerr County tend be conservative voters and desire to keep the individualistic entrepreneurial spirit alive. Now is the time to attend the above meetings and let the HGCD Board of Directors know that developers should pay their own way. If a $5000 data collection cost related to developing a $100,000 to $250,000 “public” well would nix a developer’s project then the developer should review the business plan. Spread over a 100 home project the cost is $50 per home. These seemingly minor costs passed to the taxpayer can result over time in less money available for your children and grandchildren’s education. Education in Texas is a better investment right now than providing more financial incentives to developers.
Gary C. McVey, Former Prec. 1 Director, HGCD
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***TAXPAYER WATER ALERT***
10/17/2011 21:05
A public hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, October 19 to gain public opinion on Headwaters Groundwater Conservation District board member Pratt's proposal to switch the cost of well sample collection and analysis from new subdivision drillers to the HGCD thus the taxpayers of Kerr County.
Attention Private Well Owners: Calls to Kerr County Conscience indicate a continuing pattern of misinformation by the usual suspects i.e. a few unscrupulous developers, realtors and investors in Kerr County. The unfortunate pattern is to convince private well owners the HGCD is trying to meter, regulate pumping or assess fees to current or new private wells. That is not the issue.
The Issue: If Mr. Pratt's proposal passes the cost of well samples and analysis for large well permits (new subdivision/commercial/industrial development) will become the responsibility of the HGCD and thus the county taxpayers. Under current rules the driller/developer pays the cost of collection and analysis.
Background: Development, whether residential or commercial needs to take place where there is an adequate well water supply. Unlike surrounding counties our Kerr County Commissioner's Court does not require new subdivision developers to establish a reliable water source before building. The HGCD is largely dependent upon well samples to determine areas of future sustainable water sources within the county. This information is currently obtained by securing well samples during the drilling of new large permitted wells which are usually for a new subdivision and public water supply for the subdivision. The information collected does not affect the well being drilled but allows for mapping of availability and future planning and wise development within the county. A fee for the collection and analysis of the well sample is $4000 to $6000 currently paid by the driller/developer. There is no such requirement for domestic well drilling only those developments/new public water systems with multiple connections or pumping huge amounts of water.
Questions: 1) Should the county taxpayers bear the expense of well samples for large water systems who will be selling the water for profit to the new subdivision residents thus making a profit from the same taxpayers main water supply--- the Trinity Aquifer?
2) Can you expect private well owners as taxpayers to bear the expense of well samples and also live with the new subdivision residents next door pumping their aquifer to the point of depletion?
3) Do county residents deserve appropriate data collection to assure reasonable growth where there is a reliable water source?
Beware: Board member Pratt has been joined by board president, Gordan Morgan, in suggesting we may not need this information at all. Just stop collecting the samples.
1) Would the absence of any absolute scientific information on groundwater stores in the county lead to the same unplanned growth and water shortages Kendall County is experiencing.
2) Is it fair to sell new county residents property without a reliable water source supported by scientific data?
Taxpayers should attend this meeting to voice their opinions. Developers, realtors, and investors will be there in force and they carry a lot of weight with some board members.
October 19th 1:30pm UGRA building
F. Lovett
Attention Private Well Owners: Calls to Kerr County Conscience indicate a continuing pattern of misinformation by the usual suspects i.e. a few unscrupulous developers, realtors and investors in Kerr County. The unfortunate pattern is to convince private well owners the HGCD is trying to meter, regulate pumping or assess fees to current or new private wells. That is not the issue.
The Issue: If Mr. Pratt's proposal passes the cost of well samples and analysis for large well permits (new subdivision/commercial/industrial development) will become the responsibility of the HGCD and thus the county taxpayers. Under current rules the driller/developer pays the cost of collection and analysis.
Background: Development, whether residential or commercial needs to take place where there is an adequate well water supply. Unlike surrounding counties our Kerr County Commissioner's Court does not require new subdivision developers to establish a reliable water source before building. The HGCD is largely dependent upon well samples to determine areas of future sustainable water sources within the county. This information is currently obtained by securing well samples during the drilling of new large permitted wells which are usually for a new subdivision and public water supply for the subdivision. The information collected does not affect the well being drilled but allows for mapping of availability and future planning and wise development within the county. A fee for the collection and analysis of the well sample is $4000 to $6000 currently paid by the driller/developer. There is no such requirement for domestic well drilling only those developments/new public water systems with multiple connections or pumping huge amounts of water.
Questions: 1) Should the county taxpayers bear the expense of well samples for large water systems who will be selling the water for profit to the new subdivision residents thus making a profit from the same taxpayers main water supply--- the Trinity Aquifer?
2) Can you expect private well owners as taxpayers to bear the expense of well samples and also live with the new subdivision residents next door pumping their aquifer to the point of depletion?
3) Do county residents deserve appropriate data collection to assure reasonable growth where there is a reliable water source?
Beware: Board member Pratt has been joined by board president, Gordan Morgan, in suggesting we may not need this information at all. Just stop collecting the samples.
1) Would the absence of any absolute scientific information on groundwater stores in the county lead to the same unplanned growth and water shortages Kendall County is experiencing.
2) Is it fair to sell new county residents property without a reliable water source supported by scientific data?
Taxpayers should attend this meeting to voice their opinions. Developers, realtors, and investors will be there in force and they carry a lot of weight with some board members.
October 19th 1:30pm UGRA building
F. Lovett
Are Water Well Meters a Phantom or Reality?
07/23/2010 09:20
I became interested in water issues several years ago when I heard the government was planning to place meters on residential water wells. The threat was real. It could mean a limit on the amount of water I could pump from my own well or maybe a tax on the water I did pump. There was always the possibility of both a limit and a tax.
I was worried and defiant.
I wanted to know when the meters were coming and find out which officials were behind them. What could I do to stop this interference with my own private property rights especially my right to pump water from underneath my own land?
After all, the 2005 Texas Legislature had determined that our state might not have enough water during future droughts if our projected population growth materialized. This was serious. It might not just be the local authorities but the state might really have an interest in my personal water well.
I began attending public meetings, reading, researching and talking to people who really knew about water. A strange reality surfaced. Nobody outside Kerr County was talking about water meters. Reading and research produced nothing on private well meters.
The threat was isolated to Kerr County.
A very ominous pattern finally became evident. A select few investor/developer/realtor types are very skilled at attending local board meetings and water workshops to threaten a citizens uprising when any responsible water planning item is scheduled. One recently threatened to ‘fill up the Callioux’ with people fighting water meters if the board even considered a totally unrelated issue. How he extrapolated the agenda item to water meters was puzzling until I realized his own stake in the issue at hand.
Knowledge gained at meetings in surrounding counties and regional water planning groups has been enlightening. Water meter paranoia is absent.
I have come to the conclusion that any time I spend worrying about a meter on my well means I have been outfoxed into wasting my time and energy on a phantom threat. I now know the water meter threat is a sly diversion from the real issue of whether there will be any water in my well to pump.
I was worried and defiant.
I wanted to know when the meters were coming and find out which officials were behind them. What could I do to stop this interference with my own private property rights especially my right to pump water from underneath my own land?
After all, the 2005 Texas Legislature had determined that our state might not have enough water during future droughts if our projected population growth materialized. This was serious. It might not just be the local authorities but the state might really have an interest in my personal water well.
I began attending public meetings, reading, researching and talking to people who really knew about water. A strange reality surfaced. Nobody outside Kerr County was talking about water meters. Reading and research produced nothing on private well meters.
The threat was isolated to Kerr County.
A very ominous pattern finally became evident. A select few investor/developer/realtor types are very skilled at attending local board meetings and water workshops to threaten a citizens uprising when any responsible water planning item is scheduled. One recently threatened to ‘fill up the Callioux’ with people fighting water meters if the board even considered a totally unrelated issue. How he extrapolated the agenda item to water meters was puzzling until I realized his own stake in the issue at hand.
Knowledge gained at meetings in surrounding counties and regional water planning groups has been enlightening. Water meter paranoia is absent.
I have come to the conclusion that any time I spend worrying about a meter on my well means I have been outfoxed into wasting my time and energy on a phantom threat. I now know the water meter threat is a sly diversion from the real issue of whether there will be any water in my well to pump.