Shame on them!

From Melissa McDougall

Tonight, I urge you all to at least watch the city council meeting in action. The particular item of interest on the agenda is the approval of the permanent twice a week water restriction ordinance. It is a controversial topic that last week caused a division amongst councilpersons. I won't say that you will be shocked tonight by what you see but, you will see a little about my concerns at the TRWD in action and that is lack of transparency in government, and obvious strong a...rming IMO by someone outside of city hall. Could it be the TRWD, the Chamber of Commerce, or what?

Last week, TRWD Director Mary Kelleher and myself attended the Council mtg. and to her surprise, there was three of her five member Board of Directors from the TRWD. Mary was there as a concerned citizen. The other three were there to support the passing of the permanent water restrictions. The chairman of her board spoke in front of council supporting the ordinance change. While speaking he introduced his fellow board members BUT, HE DID NOT INTRODUCE MARY KELLEHER! Mary was elected by the people of Fort Worth that are sick and tired of the lack of transparency! I was beside myself and very obviously did my SHAME, SHAME FINGERS at him as he departed the podium. The blatant disrespect they have for a fellow director. UNBELIEVABLE! Why you may ask? Because she is forcing ethics and transparency and they don't like it!

Here's my questions....

TRWD directors get paid $150 per appearance up to a annual maximum. Are the directors that showed up last Tuesday going to expect their $150 each although only one spoke? Was it necessary for all three to be there? And how many will show up tonight? Mary does not expect a payout, she was there as a concerned citizen.

When did the three TRWD directors discuss attending the council meeting without Mary Kelleher present? Three of five members discussing and making decisions is a quorum. A public notice should have been posted so that the public could attend the "open meeting"! IT'S THE LAW!!!! Isn't this one of the hot topics we are all furious about? Here is perfect example and proof that decisions are being made BEHIND CLOSED DOORS! They made the decision to attend council and spoke as if the TRWD directors all agreed to support the cities new ordinance WITHOUT Mary Kelleher present and without a PUBLIC MEETING!

SHAME ON THEM!!!

Watch the council mtg tonight! Go to the city website and click on the live stream of the council meeting. See for yourself what we've been talking about!

Got Water?

The Fort Worth City Council is scheduled to approve a revised Drought Contingency Plan Tuesday night, April 1, at the 7:00 PM City Council Meeting.  The plan will make the current inflexible designated watering day restrictions year-round, in addition to making other immediate and future changes to your interior and exterior water use.  Some friends stopped by my office Saturday with a document they had to sign just to add a bathroom in their California home.  In California, you must get a permit from the local water agency to add any water fixture, even a toilet, and to get the permit you must modify the deed on your house to bind yourself and any future purchasers to the water agency’s water ordinances.  It’s extreme government control.  I think that is where Fort Worth is heading and will be in 20 years.

Government does not have to be this heavy-handed to promote water conservation.  There is a better way.  I will speak against the part of the Drought Contingency Plan that makes the current restrictions year-round and recommend the Council postpone the vote to consider the Woodard Plan, which is attached.  I only get three minutes unless 9 others agree to show up and actually do show up. They must arrive before the meeting starts at 7:00 and stay until after the issue is decided.  To be safe, they should plan on being at the meeting until 10PM.

Please let me know if you or family members will definitely commit to attending Tuesday night’s meeting.  If they will come, please give me their names and e-mail address.  I must enter their name in my registration on the city’s website, and I would like to do that by 7PM Monday night.  Even if you decide to show up at the last minute, I will appreciate your attendance and support.

Regards,
Blake Woodard

Arlington Water

Talking about Tarrant County water restrictions has raised some comments and push back. 

Read the comment here and read what happened at the Arlington Council meeting on the FW Weekly.

Again, we are about conserving water, but still take issue with the word - permanent.

And the thought that any variation from that schedule (ever) is a $2,000 fine is disturbing. 

Also, should we conserve water to bring new people to the area?  Shouldn't the reason be to provide it for our kids and their kids?

Restrictions...What Restrictions?

From Don Young...

A Fractured Fracking Tale

> August 30, 2011.

> Fort Worth, Texas.

> Worst drought in Fort Worth history is underway.

> Stage 1 water use restrictions went into effect yesterday.

> I took a little hike along the Trinity River today.

> Hundreds of gas wells and related infrastructure dot the entire length of river as it winds through town.

> Drilling companies are among the the largest contributors to Texas politicians.

> Fracking and drilling are exempt from water restrictions.

> Each frack job uses around 5 million gallons of fresh water.

> Prior to 2005 there were ZERO gas wells in Fort Worth.

> As of August, 2011, there are around 2,000 gas wells in the City of Fort Worth.

> Each gas well is re-fracked over and over again for many years.

> Each frack job produces millions of gallons of toxic wastewater.

> Hundreds of tanker trucks loaded with wastewater and drilling chemicals roam city streets day and night.

> Fort Worth is now one of the largest generators and exporters of toxic waste in the state of Texas.

> In late 2010, Chesapeake CEO claimed they had, thus far, only drilled about 20% of planned gas wells.

> Some Fort Worth City Council members received cash donations and gifts from the drilling industry for their political campaigns.

> Mayor, Betsy Price, was openly endorsed by the drilling industry.

> Remember to water you lawn and garden ONLY on designated days.

DY

Trinity River near downtown FW, 8/30/11.

Frack job underway for Chesapeake Energy.
Fish, turtles and other wildlife, beware!

River water being pumped with three huge diesel generators.

A non-English speaking worker kept watch nearby.

Be prepared!

Heavily used bike trail is still open for business.

These water pipes extend about a half mile to the pad-site
along the formerly scenic river bank.

It's all legal, of corse, and safely "stored" for a million years.

More diesel generators at the pad-site add to the already dirty air quality in FW.

We have been warned.

Enormous quantities of water, sand and chemicals pumped
into Mother Earth to make someone rich.

Meanwhile, back at Chesapeake HQ in downtown FW today,
workers are watering the big green lawn.
Restrictions? What restrictions?

Don Young
FWCanDo
P.O. Box 470041
Fort Worth, TX 76147

Could you repeat the question?

A letter to the editor in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram brings up the question that continues to come up at least once a week from citizens.  WHO's listening?

Water woes

According to news reports, we are experiencing a severe drought. Water supplies in our lakes and reservoirs are getting lower and lower and, unless we get some much-needed rain, the situation will only continue to get worse.

Many cities in our area have imposed water restrictions and others are talking about doing the same. We have even explored the possibility of piping in water from East Texas or Oklahoma.

If we started building these supply lines today, it would still be years before they are completed.

In light of our current, or soon-to-be, water shortage, why are we allowing the natural gas drillers such as Chesapeake and Devon to continue using hundreds of millions of gallons of this precious resource to frack their gas wells? I have read nothing to indicate that there is a shortage of natural gas.

My suggestion is to let these drillers go ahead and drill all the wells they want, cap them off and, when the water shortage is definitely over, then frack the wells.

-- Larry McGuire, Crowley