Posted on 11/09/2003 7:12:35 PM PST by TXBubba
Neighborhood protests proposed water treatment plant Brushy Creek facility would take 24 acres of longtime resident's property
By Sarah Coppola
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Sunday, November 9, 2003
ROUND ROCK -- Dan McFall's 95-year-old grandfather, Garland Walsh, has lived on the same parcel of land since 1938. Walsh loves its open spaces, occupied by big oak trees, cattle and a clan of wild turkeys.
So his grandfather was stunned, McFall said, when utility district officials told him a year ago that they planned to build a water treatment facility on the land.
"He's been living out his remaining years there," McFall said. "He had no intentions of selling any of the land."
Nearby residents aren't happy about the idea, either. On Saturday about 150 of them gathered to protest the plant proposal.
Bundled in coats and hats, the protesters walked a half-mile down Great Oaks Drive to the proposed site carrying signs. "Leave Great Oaks Alone," one sign said.
The $27 million plant would be built on 24 of the 166 acres Walsh owns, near the corner of Sam Bass Road and Great Oaks Drive.
The Brushy Creek Municipal Utility District has the authority to condemn, or take control of, the land. General Manager Mike Taylor said the district would pay Walsh fair market value for the property once it is appraised. The Walsh family may fight the condemnation in court.
Taylor said the 22-foot-tall facility will emit no foul odors or noise because its pump stations will be underground or inside buildings. It will be surrounded by fences and landscaping to make it unobtrusive, he said. "We think the plant will hardly be noticeable," Taylor said.
Residents say the plant would lower property values, ruin the area's aesthetics and chase away wildlife. The plan includes rerouting part of Great Oaks Drive and creating a four-way intersection; residents worry that it would create a safety problem. They are also concerned that the plant would attract other industrial or commercial buildings to the area.
"Realtors are already telling people their property is worth less," resident John Stobaugh said.
Taylor said the plant must be finished before October 2006, when a water purchase contract with Round Rock expires. The plant would treat about 6 million gallons a day and serve 4,500 homes, he said.
Taylor said the Great Oaks site is ideal and cost-effective because it is midway between the district's northern and southern borders. Utlility district officials considered eight other sites but ruled them out for cost and logistical reasons, he said. Residents want the plant built closer to Lake Georgetown, away from existing subdivisions.
"We don't want to have to drive by it or look at it," said Deidra Tyler, who owns a home behind Walsh. "There are other, better places they could put it without having to take away his land."
The plan also includes running a pipeline along 3,000 feet of Great Oaks Drive and nearby roads to pump the water. Fourteen homeowners would lose 20 feet of property each for the pipeline. The homeowners would be paid for that land.
The utility district has asked county commissioners to approve a permit that would allow them to bury the pipeline under Great Oaks Drive instead of beside it. That would help preserve trees and property along the road. Commissioners have not acted on the request.
scoppola@statesman.com; 246-0043
They are condemning the farm and about 10 other houses to install this water treatment plant. No monetary offers have been made to the owner by the MUD. The article slants the story to make the protesters appear to be a bunch of "not in my backyard" types. The issue they are protesting is the imminent domain abuse. There are at least four other properties that would be suitable for the treatment plant.
If anyone can provide media contacts of those willing to support the cause it would be appreciated.
I will post more information as it becomes available for public consumption.
There is a lot more to this story about the overall corruption of the Brushy Creek MUD yet to become public.
This seems to be an exception, where the use truly is in the public interest and exactly why the concept exists at all.
It sounds suspiciously like the NIMBY crowd in action, where they themselves are the recipients of the benefits of the plant.
I will reserve judgement and say no more until more details are known.
BTW the sewage treatment plant keeps "accidently" dumping into the local creek and has contaminated the wells the MUD owns. Now that is something I wouldn't want in my back yard. I wouldn't want the local jail under the control of these guys either.
One developer, in my memory, planned a big subdivision and paid a college student to live on the land in a trailer. This person was the ONLY voter in this 'special taxing district' and was paid and instructed how to vote by the developer holding the 'election'.
Years later this guy, company-whatever, TAXES those who bought the homes to provide the 'services' he had promised would come with their purchase.
This was apparently all legal.
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