Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 67, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 20, 2006 Page: 4 of 50
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EDITORIAL
PAGE 4A
THE POLK COUNTY ENTERPRISE
, SUNDAY, AUGUST 20, 2006
Letters to the editor
Common questions answered Live within means
To the editor:
The following are some answers
to the most commonly asked ques-
tions about Lower Trinity Ground-
water Conservation District:
Why do the citizens of Polk,
San Jacinto and Liberty counties
need a groundwater conservation
W district?
•>; A water shortage has developed
in Harris, Galveston and Mont-
*** gomery counties. A property
owner’s right to pump water from
under his or her property may be
lost if high capacity wells are
drilled nearby. The preferred way
to manage groundwater in Texas is
by the creation of local groundwa-
ter conservation districts. Investiga-
tions show that the groundwater in
Polk, San Jacinto and Liberty coun-
ties is already being affected by
pumping in the nearby counties.
How will a groundwater con-
servation district conserve and
protect the water underneath my
land?
The main function of the
groundwater conservation district
for Polk, San Jacinto and Liberty
counties will be to monitor the wa-
ter level underneath the counties
and be sure that any future removal
of water, especially for export, does
not endanger the availability of
water for our own citizens. Existing
users will be protected.
How will the district be
funded?
Industries, cities, rural water
utilities and other non-exempt
groundwater producers will pay a
maximum of five cents per 1,000
gallons of water pumped each year.
Agricultural wells are not required
to pay production fees. Household,
farm and ranch wells, incapable of
producing more than 25,000 gal-
lons/day, used for domestic, farm
and livestock purposes, by law, will
not be required to pay this fee nor
will they be metered. The average
home uses approximately 5,000
gallons per month (that translates to
a monthly cost of 25 cents per
household per month for homes
connected to a water system.)
Will the district have the au-
thority to levy taxes, condemn
property, or go into the water-
selling business?
No. The legislature has specifi-
cally denied the district such au-
thority.
How was the process that cre-
ated the district started, how will
it be governed, and what remains
to be done before the district be-
comes final?
At the request of landowners,
water utilities and others, the com-
missioners’ courts of Polk, San
Jacinto and Liberty counties re-
searched the matter and unani-
mously proposed legislation that
would create a district similar to
one that is already operating in
Nacogdoches and Angelina coun-
ties. The legislature passed SB
1017 in 2005 as recommended by
the three counties. The district is
managed by seven appointed direc-
tors who serve three-year terms.
T he cities in Polk County jointly
appoint one director. The cities in
San Jacinto County jointly appoint
one director. The cities in Liberty
County jointly appoint one director.
Polk County commissioners ap-
point one director to represent the
rural water utilities or large indus-
trial users. San Jacinto commis-
sioners appoint one director to rep-
resent the rural water district inter-
est or the forest or agriculture inter-
est. Liberty County commissioners
appoint one director to represent
the rural water utilities or the for-
estry or agricultural groundwater
supply interest. The commission-
ers’ courts of all three counties
jointly appoint one director to rep-
resent the forestry, agricultural and
landowner groundwater supply
interest in the counties. The final
step is for citizens of the three
counties to vote to confirm creation
of the Lower Trinity Groundwater
Conservation District in the general
election on Nov. 7, 2006.
Is there another way to create a
groundwater conservation dis-
trict?
Yes. The Texas Commission on
Environmental Quality (TCEQ) can
be requested to create a district.
Districts established under this
process have all powers available
Texas Water Code Chapter 36 in-
cluding taxing all property owners,
condemning property, and setting a
pumping fee far in excess of five
cents per 1,000 gallons. Also, a
person must own at least 10 acres
of land before they qualify for a
homeowner exemption for their
domestic use wells and agriculture
producers may have to pay pro-
ducer fees.
What happens if voters in one
or two counties approve creation
of the district and voters in the
other county reject it?
The district will be in effect only
in the counties where voters ap-
proved it.
What happens if all counties
reject the district and no one re-
quests TCEQ to establish one?
Possibly nothing in the very short
term. However, as part of the
statewide water management plan,
Texas Water Development Board
(TWDB) has established ground-
water management areas (GMAs)
covering all of Texas. Polk, San
Jacinto and Liberty counties are n
GMA 14, which also includes Gal-
veston, Harris and Montgomery
counties. The groundwater districts
in GMA 14 will set conditions for
the pumping of groundwater in all
of the GMA. If Polk, San Jacinto or
Liberty counties are not part of a
district, the other districts will set
the conditions.
What are the other areas of the
state doing about creating dis-
tricts?
Approximately 60 percent of the
state is currently within a district.
The availability of fresh water in
Texas is probably the most critical
issue facing the state. We are fortu-
nate in Polk, San Jacinto and Lib-
erty counties to have plenty of both
surface and groundwater at this
time. The surface water from our
rivers, creeks and lakes is protected
and managed by the state. How-
ever, without groundwater conser-
vation districts, there is no man-
agement system in place to protect
the water under our property from
harmful removal.
The Lower Trinity Groundwa-
ter Conservation District means:
Locally governed with appointed
board; no taxation or eminent do-
main; no ability to issue/sell taxa-
tion bonds; no homeowner fees; no
meters on homeowner wells; ex-
emption of wells incapable of pro-
ducing 25,000 gallons/day, maxi-
mum fee on non-exempt users at
five cents per 1,000 gallons; and
permit required for non-exempt
new wells.
We meet on the first Thursday of
each month and our meetings are
open to everyone and we welcome
your questions and comments.
Aidney Reeves
Secretary/T reasurer
Livingston
Do you have an opinion?
The Polk County Enterprise encourages readers to submit letters expressing their
views and opinions The letters will be published in the Enterprise's "Letters to the
editor" column on Thursday or Sunday.
The letters may be written on any subject or issue of general interest. Letters must be
accompanied by a name and mailing address and will be subject to editing tor grammar,
punctuation, spelling and length. Letters must include a telephone number for
verification. We will not publish the telephone number
Readers should keep their letters brief and to the point Each letter should contain no
more than 650 words. Letters exceeding that length will be subject to editing or withheld
from publication.
Letters will also be subject to editing for libelous statements and commercialism.
This column is not meant as a forum for political candidates, although we welcome
comments from the public concerning campaign issues. During election campaigns, we
will not allow reference to specific local candidates.
Letters may be submitted in person: mailed to “Letters to the editor." Polk County
Enterprise. P.O. Box 1276, Livingston. TX 77351; sent to the Enterprise by lax to (936)
327-7156 or sent via e-mail to polknews<a)livingston.net.
Deadline tor letters is 5 p.m. Tuesday for Thursday's newspaper and noon Friday for
Sunday’s newspaper.
To the editor:
As a child, I went to my parent
when I needed money. Many times
the answer was no. “Why,” I would
ask. “You’ll have to wait ’til pay-
day,” I would be told. “Write a
check,” I would say. I then learned
my first lesson in high finance -
you have to have money in the
bank to take money out of the bank.
My parents, like most of that era,
believed in paying cash. Except for
a house note, they paid upfront. In
later years, they had one credit
card. I doubt whether that card ever
went beyond 30 days. I did not
follow in their footsteps. They
wouldn’t be proud.
Our economy has flourished be-
cause of credit. It’s a convenience.
It’s easy. We use the card, the bank
raises our credit limit, they even
send us checks, and best of all, we
can make a minimum payment.
Eventually we have to face the
truth. Credit is a blessing for some
and a curse for others.
Not long ago, I was in line at a
large retail store. The guy at the
register tried to pay with several
cards which were refused. The
store vetoed accepting a check. He
left a full cart and said he would be
back with cash. I wouldn’t bet my
Social Security check on his return.
Our federal government deals
with shortfall by increasing our
credit limit. This enables them to
borrow more. Many believe deficits
are a good thing. Still others in
Congress, on both sides of the aisle,
have voiced concern over the rising
deficit. Unlike the guy with the
maxed cards, they can vote to in-
crease our debt. Furthermore, we
are told the deficit is much more
than reported. Of course, it’s politi-
cal suicide to tell voters the truth.
Jack Nicholson may have had it
right in “A Few Good Men” when
he said, “You don’t want to hear
the truth. You can’t stand the
truth.” We are solving the problem
of funding by borrowing more. The
deficit keeps going up. How long
can this continue before we are
forced to face the music?
The list is endless. Social Secu-
rity, Medicare, Medicaid, the war,
the seriously injured which will be
a long-term commitment, the $17
billion the military will need to
replace worn-out equipment de-
pleted by an extended war, pet pro-
jects in the home states of Con-
gress, congressional raises, tax
breaks, Homeland Security, and a
host of other programs will need to
be funded.
Cuts are sure to happen. Who-
ever has the courage to give us the
remedy will be a political casualty.
Believe it or not, the debt limit is
coming. We’re writing checks on
money that isn’t in the treasury.
The future will demand sacrifice
from everyone, and yes, facing the
truth.
Bill Schubert
Livingston
How to talk to Congress
Room 284
Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC. 20510
202/224-5922
FAX. 202/224-0776
xenatorfwhutchisonsetuire wt
U.S. Reo. Kevin Bradv:
How to contact
your representatives
U.S. Sen. John Cornvn:
■
'
United States Senate
Washington, D C. 20510-4305
202/224-2934
U.S. Sen. Kav Bailev Hutchison:
428 Cannon Building
Washington, DC 20515
202/225-4901
FAX: 202/225-5524
or
1202 Sam Houston Ave„ Ste. 7
Huntsville, TX 77304
State Sen. Todd Staples:
P.O. Box 2208
Palestine, TX 75802
903-729-7717
FAX: 003/723-0408
SlatJLRfBr. Jghn Qttp
P.O. Box 2910
Austin, TX 78768
512-463-0570 or
508 W. Church
Livingston, TX 77351
(936) 328-5222
By LEE HAMILTON
Sometimes, you just have to get
in touch with your member of Con-
gress. Perhaps Congress is taking
up an issue — the minimum wage,
say, or a bill to promote medical
research — that would make a dif-
ference in your life. Maybe some
matter is embroiling your commu-
nity, such as growing drug prob-
lems at the high school or a pro-
posed urban renewal project that
will destroy a neighborhood.
Or you might just want to sug-
gest that Congress start acting like
the independent branch it's sup-
posed to be, rather than a rubber
stamp for the White House.
Whatever the case, you can al-
ways write a letter or send an e-
tuail - the more personalized, the
better. This is the most common
form of communication with Con-
gress. But there are times when a
letter doesn't seem enough. So how
do you go about getting your Con-
gress member's attention? Isn't that
something only wealthy donors and
Washington lobbyists can manage?
Hardly. Remember, Congress is
there to represent you. For our sys-
tem to work, you need to be willing
to share your thoughts with mem-
bers of Congress, and they need to
be willing to listen.
In some ways, the easiest step is
actually getting in touch. If you
call, for instance, it's unlikely you'll
get your member of Congress right
away, but you can certainly pass on
a message; most members set aside
time each week to call back con-
stituents.
Members also make time on their
schedules to meet with constitu-
ents, so if you're going to be in
Washington, set up an appointment
in advance. It's even more likely
that you'll be able to schedule a
meeting back home, in the district
office or even at a local coffee
shop, where the distractions of the
Capitol are far away.
There are other avenues, too, be-
sides one-on-one conversations.
Members regularly hold public
meetings in the district, and their
times and places are usually listed
on the member's website. Just show
up, and don't hesitate to say what's
on your mind.
Members also hold "virtual fo-
rums” now — online discussions in
which they and their constituents
can share their views. You might
also take the bull by the homs and
invite your member of Congress to
speak to a local group to which you
belong; it's a good way to get a
conversation going, and you may
feel more comfortable having
friends and acquaintances along-
side you.
Finally, it is always worth getting
to know a member's staff, either in
Washington or in the district. These
men and women often have exper-
tise that can resolve your specific
problem. If only speaking to your
elected official will do, they can
help smooth the way.
Once you're on the phone or face
to face with your lawmaker or a
staff member, there are certain
things you can do that will help you
be more credible. Do enough re-
search beforehand to be knowl-
edgeable about the issue, and defi-
nitely do not overstate your case or
try to mislead. If you can make
your case with facts and figures
instead of spin, and know the ar-
guments on the other side, you will
be far more convincing.
Since you have limited time, be
sure to stick to the most important
points in your position. Do what
you can to be as personal as possi-
ble: Explain how a given issue will
affect you or your family, and if
you can, appeal to your member's
own experience or background to
make a point.
Finally, mention who else in
your community - a church group,
labor union, neighborhood associa-
tion -- shares your views, especially
if they're from a different back-
ground or hold different ideological
beliefs from you.
Perhaps the most important ad-
vice I can give, though -- and 1
speak from experience - is that
how you say it is as important as
what you say. It helps to be con-
structive, to find a way not only to
raise a problem but then help your
legislator find a way to solve it. It's
important to listen as well as to
speak — to learn more about your
lawmaker's position and gain some
insight into how this issue might be
playing in Congress.
Be patient, since some issues
demand time for deliberation and
consultation before your legislator
can give you a commitment, and be
unfailingly courteous; knowing
how to disagree without being dis-
agreeable is the surest way I know
to earn an elected official's respect.
Above all, be open to compro-
mise. Making some progress to-
ward your goal is better than none
at all.
And finally, relax! Say what you
want to say, and enjoy your ex-
changes with your representative.
We live in a democracy, and my
experience has been that partici-
pating in it is both a privilege and a
pleasure. I hope that's what you
discover, too.
Lee Hamilton is Director of the
Center on Congress at Indiana
University. He was a member of
the U.S. House of Representatives
for 34years. .
Opening the door to hope
The Muscular Dystrophy Association's support
services help Americans live with 40 neuro-
muscular diseases. And our cutting-edge
research offers hope for a future without these
disabling disorders.
Call our lifeline. It’s toll-free.
1-800-572-1717
www.mdausa.org
Muscular Dystrophy Association
Polk County
ENTERPRISE
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SUBSCRIPTION KATES - $20.00 per year tax included in county. $22.00 per year out
of county: $24 00 per year out of slate Published semi weekly. Sunday and Thursday at 100
Calhoun in Uvingslon. Texas by the Polk County Publishing Co
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White, Barbara. Polk County Enterprise (Livingston, Tex.), Vol. 124, No. 67, Ed. 1 Sunday, August 20, 2006, newspaper, August 20, 2006; Livingston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth788783/m1/4/: accessed April 26, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Livingston Municipal Library.