Oink, oink

The letter to the Editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram today reminded us of the “This little piggy” rhyme…

Of course ours cried, “Me, me, me!” all the way home…

Thanks for saying what everyone is thinking, well done, sir.

On the one hand, Kay Granger voted against the recent "fiscal cliff" deal because she opposes increased government spending. On the other hand, her stated goals for the upcoming session are to ensure increased funding for government programs at Lockheed Martin and for the glorified pond north of downtown known as the Trinity River Vision.

Here is my "vision" of Washington: hypocritical representatives like Granger talking about reducing federal spending while extending their arms for more handouts. Which is it, Ms. Granger, pork for your district or fiscal conservatism? You can't have it both ways.

-- William W. Thorburn, Benbrook

Good Question

Possibly the best question we have ever seen in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  We're still waiting on the answer.

It's in a column about the Fort Worth retirees and their pension, but it applies to all things Fort Worth and the Fort Worth Way. The sheep have been asking this question for years, if the fox is guarding the hen house...

If most retirement fund board members are beneficiaries of the fund and the fund's executive director is writing guest columns defending their lucrative packages, who the heck is watching out for the taxpayers?

Again, we've been waiting on that answer for years.


With the recent article about the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, this partial comment on the retiree article seems both relevant and timely.

The biggest opponent to Fort Worth city employees is the FW Chamber of Commerce. The city can't give away tax breaks to lure businesses when they have to pay retirees and future retirees a decent retirement.  

The problem isn't the pension. The problem is upper-crust individuals who are "looking out for the taxpayer" want to spend taxpayer money on pork, at the expense of the city employee. 

Speaking of living outside of Tarrant County....  Look at Dallas TAD website and you'll find one of the great opponents of the pension, Mitch Schnurman, lives in Coppell in a $340k house.

The Fort Worth Way...

Good letter to the editor from Don Woodard in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 

Brings up some other questions we have received concerning the race for Fort Worth Mayor.

How is Jim Lane able to use Molly the Longhorn on his campaign signs?  Doesn't that belong to Fort Worth?  How is he able to put his signs on Tarrant Regional Water District property?  Is anyone else able to advertise on property owned by the taxpayers?

WHY would Kay Granger ask Betsy Price to run when Jim Lane is a champion of the Trinity River Vision / Mirage?  Because Lane is a democrat?  WHY would Betsy Price take a $100,000 a year pay cut to be Mayor?  WHO will make up that difference?  WHAT will it really cost? WHO will she answer to? 

Below is Mr.Woodard's latest -

Hawaii's state motto is "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness."

Is it right for Kay Granger to practice nepotism with a $140,000 job for her son?

Is it right for Tax Assessor Betsy Price to run for mayor while collecting a $140,000 salary?

Dan Barrett says, "It does not pass the smell test."

Here is how Shakespeare would say it: "There's something rotten in the State of Denmark."

Elect Cathy Hirt mayor -- our last best hope to kill the Trinity River Vision boondoggle.

-- Don Woodard Sr., Fort Worth

The Trinity River Vision Shell Game Continues

WHO pays?  YOU do.

What now?  The bridge at Henderson....yes, again. 

Here is one of the emails we were forwarded about this.  YOU should be there Tuesday.  It could save YOU some money.

See the attached M & C which the Council is being asked to ratify Tuesday night. Staff applied for a state grant to reimburse some costs for the TRV Henderson Street Bridge and now they are asking Council to ratify the application.

Note that if the grant is approved, the state would reimburse the funds over a 10-15 year period and that just 80 to 90 percent of the money is actually reimbursed. See if you can figure out from the vague descriptions in the M & C exactly what is to be reimbursed. This one calls for a detailed explanation at pre-council about how much more the City may be out because everything won't be reimbursed even if they do get the grant.

The shell game continues. City Council candidates need to make an issue of this -- our city is strapped for funds, but we continue to front funds or not be reimbursed fully for expenses on the TRV project. Citizens probably won't like this and they need to know about it.

Award of Contract

1. M&C C-24837

- Ratify the Application for and Authorize Acceptance of a Grant, if Awarded, of Pass Through Financing Project Funds in an Amount Up to $10,510,000.00 for the Construction of the New Henderson Street Bridge with the Texas Department of Transportation and Adopt Appropriation Ordinance (COUNCIL DISTRICT 9)

M & C 24837

DATE: 4/5/2011 REFERENCE NO.: C-24837 LOG NAME: 06HENDERSON STREET BRIDGE CODE: C TYPE: NON-CONSENT PUBLIC HEARING: NO SUBJECT: Ratify the Application for and Authorize Acceptance of a Grant, if Awarded, of Pass Through Financing Project Funds in an Amount Up to $10,510,000.00 for the Construction of the New Henderson Street Bridge with the Texas Department of Transportation and Adopt Appropriation Ordinance (COUNCIL DISTRICT 9)

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the City Council:

1. Authorize the City Manager, if selected, to execute a contract with the Texas Department of Transportation for the reimbursement;

2. Ratify the application for and authorize the City Manager to accept, if awarded, a grant in an amount up to $10,510,000.00 in Pass Through Financing Project Funds from the Texas Department of Transportation for construction of the Henderson Street Bridge Project; and

3. Adopt the attached appropriation ordinance increasing estimated receipts and appropriations in the Grant Fund by $10,510,000.00.

DISCUSSION:

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has allocated $250 million in funding for the 2011 Pass Through Financing Program. Applications were dueMarch 1, 2011, and qualifying projects had to be part of TxDOT's highway system ("on-system") in order to be eligible for selection. Reimbursement is only for local dollars that were contributed for construction by a local agency, and full reimbursement occurs over a 10-15 year period. On average, 80-90% of local costs are reimbursed with respect to selected projects. However, the actual reimbursement rate is negotiated after project selection and is primarily based upon the amount of traffic annually "passing through" the transportation improvement.

After staff reviewed multiple city projects, the only project meeting TxDOT's criteria for the Pass Through Financing Program was the new Henderson Street Bridge. This Bridge is located on State Highway 199 and it is being constructed in order to span the new bypass channel that is part of the Trinity River Vision – Central City Project. The new bridge is expected to begin construction in mid-2012 with an estimated construction cost of $20.26 million, including an additional $3.05 million in construction contingencies. Of this amount, $12.8 million is already funded by the federal government with the remaining $10.51 million coming from local funds. The City's portion comes from funding that was previously set aside by voters in the 2004 and 2008 Capital Improvement Programs.

The purpose of the application that has already been submitted to TxDOT for Pass Through Financing is to request reimbursement for the local dollars already budgeted for the Henderson Street Bridge Project. Because of the short turnaround with respect to the grant program submittal deadline, and because this program does not require any additional local matching funds beyond those already budgeted, the application was submitted prior to the March 1 deadline. Therefore, the City Council is being asked to ratify the application process. A letter of support from the Regional Transportation Council (RTC) that was approved at their February 10, 2011 meeting was also included in the application.

This project is located in COUNCIL DISTRICTS 2 and 9, Mapsco 62U, 62Y and 62Q and will benefit the entire City. FISCAL INFORMATION/CERTIFICATION:

The Financial Management Services Director certifies that upon approval of the above recommendations, receipt of the grant, and adoption of the attached appropriation ordinance funds will be available in the current operating budget, as appropriated, of the Grants Fund. Funds will be reimbursed by grantor after expenditures are made.

TO Fund/Account/Centers

GR74 451942 006302459000 $10,510,000.00

GR74 5 (VARIOUS) 006302459300 $10,510,000.00

FROM Fund/Account/Centers

Submitted for City Manager's Office by: Fernando Costa (6122)

Originating Department Head: Randle Harwood (6101)

Additional Information Contact: Mark Rauscher (2446)

Tarrant Regional Water District Corruptees Give Themselves a Raise

Did you get a raise this year?  Did your water bill increase?  Are your city taxes increasing?

Then WHY would OUR money go to giving those making $286,000 a raise?  And WHY would we loan $226 million of OUR money to the Trinity River Vision?  Interest free, no less. 

ASK YOUR City Council, Mayor, and Congresswoman. ASK the media.

Read about the latest developments at the Tarrant Regional Water District in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.  Be sure and read Adrian Murray's comments.  Excellent points.

The general fund budget is used to operate and maintain the district, which spans 11 counties from Jack to Freestone. It rose nearly $4.3 million from fiscal 2010, largely due to a $4.6 million increase in capital expenses for trailheads and parks.

Among the projects are $2.5 million for a LaGrave Field environmental study. In June, the water district paid $17.5 million for 42 acres around the field for the Trinity River Vision project, but much of the property must be cleaned up before it can be used.

In a separate action Tuesday, the board approved a $287,093 contract with Camp Dresser and McKee to start designing a remediation program for the site.

What's more important to you? Trailheads, parks and river floats or clean, affordable water and no flooding? What is the Water Districts purpose?

The water district is also projecting $30 million in oil and gas royalties in the upcoming fiscal year, down $5 million from the amount budgeted in 2010.

$30 million for gas drilling...royalties or water purchase? Ask WHO monitors their usage.

The budget does not include any funding for the Trinity River Vision project, which is a political subdivision of the water district. Tarrant Regional's $64 million contribution will be met with funds from the 2010 budget, Swinnea said.

However, the water district agreed in May to a no-interest loan to the Trinity River Vision Authority of up to $226 million until the tax increment financing district starts generating revenue. Swinnea said it is too early to say how much will be loaned in the upcoming fiscal year but doesn't expect it to exceed $40 million.

The Tarrant Regional Water District needs to refocus their VISION...to water and flooding, where it should be in the first place.

Pants on fire...

Kay Bailey Hutchison breaks her promise to resign. Surprised? Us either.

Read the article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram.

Hutchison, who serves on the Senate Appropriations Committee, has also pledged vigorous support for Trinity River Vision, Fort Worth's $909 million economic development and flood control project, which has been characterized as an earmark, Washington-speak for targeted federal spending projects.

Tell it like it is

And as usual, he does it with style.

Thanks to Don for another gem of a letter in today's Fort Worth Star-Telegram daily newspaper.

Cut, cut, no cut

The Fort Worth city budget is $59 million in the red. Council members are probing into every nook and cranny in an effort to stanch the hemorrhaging.

Sister Cities? Stay home. See you later!

City employees? No pay raises, but your health premiums will be raised.

City jobs? Cut 200. Your income tax will be lower.

Swimming pools? Water is money. Cool off in 100-degree summer breezes.

Nonmowing of street medians? Green is in.

Parks and the Botanic Garden? We never promised you a rose garden.

Graffiti abatement? Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.

Closing the city day labor center? Get a job.

Raise taxes? No way. Heaven forbid! I want to be re-elected!

But all is not lost. There seems to be one area that no council member is willing to touch — no, not one: the billion-dollar Trinity Uptown boondoggle to which they cling like a drunk to a lamp post.

I am reminded of Alfred Lord Tennyson’s poem about the brook:

For men may come and men may go

But I go on forever.

— Don Woodard Sr., Fort Worth

Texas Earthquakes

It looks like there have been anywhere from 3 to 7 in the area in 8 months. (Depends on who you ask).

The question is WHY?

Looks like Don Young and Durango discussed last month.

The book they discussed lists the following three human activities that commonly induce earthquake activity as:

1) Injecting high pressure fluids into rock formations beneath the earths surface. (CHECK - Courtesy of gas industry)

2) Withdrawing large amounts of fluid or gas. (CHECK- courtesy of gas industry)

3) Construction of reservoirs and lakes. (CHECK - courtesy of Trinity Uptown Pork, aka your tax dollars)