Posted on 05/04/2023 7:17:01 AM PDT by crusty old prospector
DIKE, Texas (KLTV) - An East Texas community is faced with a new development that is creating concern. A solar farm is being built in the community of Dike, located in Hopkins County. Some say incorporating into a city would be the solution.
In 2020, the Hopkins County Commissioners Court approved to build a solar farm in the community of Dike. Construction has already begun. But many community members are against the project, like Kirk Reams.
“The landowners that have leased this land had already signed leases and everything had been done before most of the community members ever found out about it. So by that time, we had no way of voicing our opinion or our concerns.” said Reams.
Reams says he is concerned about the location of the solar farm, saying they are stripping away the nature that once occupied the land. “If you knew what this land looked like before, it will break your heart because there was cattle on it, there was ducks, deer, wildlife and everything out there.”
The owner and operator of the development, ENGIE, countered the argument by saying the farm is well-located to serve Northeast Texas with much-needed electricity in the ERCOT market.
Some people in Dike want to incorporate into an official city.
“We have lost all faith in local government in Hopkins County. Right now the commissioners and the county judge has all the power to do whatever they want to do in Dike, Texas. We want to take that power away from them because we can’t trust them, because of what’s happened.” said Reams. If approved, Dike would become a class C city, bringing in a mayor and two councilmen. Reams says it may be too late to stop the solar farm, but creating a local government could stop other future developments.
But not all Dike community members are for the possible incorporation.
Donna Tubb says it was not a mutual decision for the incorporation to be on the ballot.
“The rest of Dike was hurt. We’re not just a community, we’re a family. And when you make a decision you ask all of your family, not just part of them.” Tubb says she’s also concerned about a possible tax increase.
“When you become your own city, there are taxes that have to be created for our community to fix our roads, to maintain our Volunteer Fire Department.”
Right now, Hopkins County maintains their roads which could change if they incorporate.
She also says Dike has a large elderly community. “People on fixed incomes and taxes are high enough and we just don’t need another layer.”
Tubb adds, “We love our community and I think everybody that has a small community can understand both sides. I voted, I hope that everyone votes and it’s in God’s hands now.”
Election Day is this Saturday, May 6. Residents can vote at the Dike Community Center from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What if the landowners had wanted to drill for oil instead? Would the same busybodies be trying to form a city government to prevent it or would it be different busybodies?
If you go to the southern half of Camano Island, WA you will find that it has been taken over by female lesbians.
I am waiting for the male lesbians to buy them out and take it over from them.
I love me good igneous dike, sill, or laccolith. Check out the contact metamorphosisism with the sedimentary rocks.
It is mostly farmland around there. I have heard several thousand acres.
There are some small fields in the area but not much hope for more.
Yikes. Is that Molly Cyprus?
I looked at it on Google Earth earlier. Looks like farms and some houses, but that’s it. I think the whole story is due to a few NIMBYs, and it’s nonsense that it refers to “many community members” and “a large elderly community”. Just not that many people around there, unless they live underground or something.
I am so glad I do not come from the Dike community.
They didn’t get the major cash award on the buyout as it was across the road and now they don’t want to look at it everyday. Same with windmills.
Too bad.
They should plant a row of pine trees along the outside boundary. Or else some rednecks might accidentally send a few errant shots that way.
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