Throw the Tea in the Harbor

The city council in CS is out of touch. They implied we were giving half-truths, but please, their attorney says that the citizens of CS cannot do a petition intiative to let us vote? Is he serious and has he read the city charter and the laws of Texas?

The city council say they want to discuss the 'Wellborn Issue' and that we are making the situation too simple. Ben White feels that 'Big Brother' (his words not mine) is better able to determine what is going on.

The laws of ETJ and anenxation are available to everyone on the internet at http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/. Yes, state law gives CS the right to say yea or nay to our voting about our land. But that's not the end. That's the first volley, that's the polite way. CS council wants to play hardball. That's too bad because we wanted to be neighborly. That's why the petition initiative is starting, to give CS residents the opportunity to have their say.

What is their true motivation in all of this? Land? Tax Revenue? Empire building? Maybe it's the fact that Wellborn Special Utility District has water and they don't. Maybe they want to do away with us so they can take over the water district. After all, they tried to take it away and have been turned down by the courts and boards on at least four occasions. All the way to the Supreme Court of the State of Texas. They want somethin, for nothin'. Ain't happnin'.

Or does it all come down to throwing your weight around, being powerful, that gives some folks a natural high? They just like knowing that THEY are in charge, their vote on council matters, they decide the big issues. Give me a break. Some council members have said, boy, if I lived in Wellborn I would do the same thing.

And being a long-time residents of this county, I want to know who wants the city of CS to keep getting larger. Leon. That good time feeling you get when you live in CS, close to the mothership of Aggieland, will dissipate when the city gets bigger. Trust me. Ask the folks in Austin who were lovin' it there in the 1970s. Now it's an urban sprawl of cookie cutter houses and shopping malls.

All in all, this is an odd time (politically) for a small time politician to be acting so imperiously. The US Congress is trampling our rule of law and their own rules to do what a few want. This is making many Americans angry. It's not what they are doing, it's HOW they are doing it. Ditto CS council. Harrumph harrumph.

The antiquated annexation laws and rules need a good overhaul in Texas. In other states, property rights mean something. Let's make Texas a better place for property owners, a place where folks can just be left alone.

Come and Take It.

Doris

CS citizens, Unite! Tea party at city hall!

I've been predicting this for years... CS would escalate to a point as to be unsustainable in its current configuration. I don't know whether we will see full implosion, but it's pretty damn likely.

CS citizens, time to take back your city!! Now, before it's too late. The Red Light Camera debacle really started it all. The proletariat had forgotten that in fact THEY are the ones who are in charge, THEY are the ones who pay the bills, so THEY should decide what happens in THEIR city. Yes! A constitutional democracy gives you a voice and gives you the right to select your leaders.

Well, that's all the Wellborigines really want, a chance to vote.

I am thinking that most folks in this country are sick and tired of being pushed around by politicians who don't really give a fig about them, even though they always say, it's for the people, it's the right thing to do.... Sounds like a bunch of Pelosi to me...

So,  CS-- really--- wake up and smell the garbage. Open your mouth and make words come out. Direct them at your city council. Tell them what you want. Tell them that you expect them to do what you want. Keep on them. Funny how they act and the decisions they make, because I have never heard a CS resident come forth and say:

• I want to sue my neighbors. I want to sue Bryan, Wellborn, Brushy and more! I think this is a good use of my tax dollars, the court system, and other people's money too.
• Trees on University and Hwy 6 make so much sense. I'd rather have trees than a fire station.
• Wellborn Water should give us their water lines. We shouldn't have to pay. If it wasn't for CS, Wellborn wouldn't exist! Too bad they owe money on the construction of those lines, but they will have to suck it up.
• CS Utilities needs more exposure so that folks will realize they are a good value. Let's use revenue from the electric bills to sponsor concerts in the park! That way, more folks will use CS Utilities. 
• I am glad that CS never developed its own sources of water and electricity. It show how green we are. This way, no one can say we are polluting the planet by making electricity or depleting an aquifer! It costs our residents more, but we are happy to pay more so we can pretend we are green.
• A gazillion-dollar skate park sounds like a great idea, too. That way, it will be easier for teens and young adults to get some exercise in a safe environment where the mommies and daddies can be sure it's safe.
• We don't need more police. Sure the city got bigger, but it's a safe city. Plus, if they have time to write tickets, they obviously don't have any crime to fight!
• I'm glad all of our council members are selected at large. That way they are collectively responsible and the council members don't have to be selected from my neighborhood. The council also aren't directly responsible to a particular section of the city. This frees up their votes.
• I think a convention center is a great idea. We need one because, well, because!

But I digress. Some folks think the Wellborn folk have been too pushy, too demanding. Well, we have just been advocating for what is ours, for the land we paid for. WE are not trying to take away anything from our friends in CS, but I think the CS city council will be trying to take away OUR things. Remember, one of the stated reasons to quash the vote in Wellborn that they publicly stated is that if we vote to incorporate, it will prevent them from taxing us to pay for their mistakes! "Loss of future tax Revenue" is how they phrased it. Pretty bold, but I've blogged on that before.

Go outside and scream. Then go email or write your city council. Please.  It's not just Wellborn in danger any more, it's the good folks in CS as well.

Doris

Resolute

The city of CS staff and the CS city council don't listen, don't learn. At the workshop meeting last Thursday, the staff presented the pros and cons of the incorporation of Wellborn. Credit goes to Bob Cowell for stating upfront that he has a bias against the idea of any city incorporating on the border of his city. Fair enough. He did present Wellborn information. However, none of the Wellborigines were allowed to speak. Now I've been to more than a few of these workshop meetings. I've seen them request information from others to provide information. How comical to see council members ask Cowell "how did they draw this map?" and so forth and Cowell not be able to answer. Karen Severn sitting on the front row, biting her lips til they bled, furiously crocheting a baby blanket to keep herself from raising her hand. The council are so childish and self-centered.

And then their lawyer. Geez Louise. Citing an old law case that doesn't apply, saying Wellborn is not compact or contiguous (we are, btw) with a serious demeanor. Lord Crompton pretending to ask 'pertinent questions' and still slinging his mic around. What, is he part of the UN? Maloney showing what a local he is and talking about his wife being from Snook, but no, no, no to Wellborn.

The good bits came during 'visitor speaking time' at the beginning of council meeting at 7 p.m. A packed house. Felt almost like being at Wmbledon with a hushed crowd. First to serve was Karen. Too funny, they forgot to turn on the three-minute timer! She spoke, and, not seeing a caution light, kept lobbing balls in their court, speaking, pulling up all kinds of stuff, refuting the city lawyer, chiding a few, reminding them that she has given to the city, that she is the mother of a serving Marine, and finally stopping. Applause. Advantage Wellborn. Mayor White, "Uh, now let's get that timer turned on..."

Other volleys came from our own world-renown violin artisan, Joe Nagyvary, who described CS as 'the largest Station in the world' a la the Little Shop of Horrors, guaranteeing them indigestion if they gobbled us up. Margie Boyd on all the laws that guarantee our voice in the voting booth, Leigh Turner (who reminded them subtly she, too, has a PhD) looking super in her normal business suit, Lynn White reliving the financial horrors of CS planning and zoning with their duplicity toward her property, Hugh Lindsay speaking as a long-time CS resident, and the list goes on. Slam, slam, slam.

Not a single peep or return from the opposition. No CS resident spoke against. Why? Well, I think most are on our side. "Wellborn's always been there. Good for Wellborn, leave them alone and let them be." But even though every serve was in the court, and the crowd applauded each return, the line judge in the game has been paid off by developers and others with financial interests. It's the only explanation.

Mr Cowell, bless his heart, said he had talked to many people about the issue, but he did not disclose any names. He stressed that the Wellborn corridor was essential to CS, but still no names of actual people. Why? They don't want their names known. Probably a bunch of east side NIMBYs and developers,.

Well, CS Council, your residents HAVE spoken and you should have listened. We've been playing nice and polite, but the gloves are coming off (or do I mean going on?). The Freedom of Information  requests have been filed with CS Secretary and more are on the way. Hope CS has a mouth guard cuz both eyes will be black soon and then comes the fat lip, kidney bunch and uppercut.

Hmmm. Tennis and boxing, a new sport in Brazos County.
Love
Doris