Corpus Christi city councilmen sent city officials in Beeville and Alice scrambling for legal and engineering advice a few months back when Corpus Christi considered allowing water levels at Lake Corpus Christi to drop to the point that two other two cities might not be able to take water from the lake.
Beeville got some bad news when a study conducted by Urban Engineering of Corpus Christi showed that dredging the bottom of the Nueces River at the point where this city takes its water from the lake would not help the situation.
New City Manager Tom Ginter and Interim Assistant City Manager Joe B. Montez told the council on Nov. 24 that they had enlisted the services of Austin attorney Wil Galloway. The Beeville native has been involved in negotiating water resource problems in recent years and he joined Ginter, Montez and engineers from Urban in a meeting with Corpus Christi officials early last week.
Montez said a modification to the perpetual contract between Beeville and Corpus Christi may even result in reduced water costs for this city.
The council expects to be updated on further negotiations in the near future.
In other business, the council voted to:
— Approve the payment of fines to the municipal court by credit cards.
— Allow the city manager to seek qualifications from engineering services for drawing up plans to service the Blueberry Hill area west of the city with bulk water.
— Table a request to renew the contract with Angel Care Ambulance Service for emergency medical service until the contract can be reviewed.
— Review coverage proposals from Blue Cross Blue Shield for insurance policies for city employees.
— Delay action on a request from the Coastal Bend College’s women’s softball team for the use of the softball field at Veterans Memorial Park.
— Approve a deadline extention for Gignac and Associates of Corpus Christi for the completion of a parks master plan for the city from Nov. 30 until the end of May.
— Accept a report from Cuevas Concrete Construction on the progress of building a cart path at the John C. Beasley Municipal Golf Course at Veterans Memorial Park.
— Grant a six-month extension for demolition for a home at 605 W. Springer St.
— Close the 1700 block of North Live Oak Street. That block of the street has never been developed or opened for traffic.
— Appoint Mitch Elliott to the city’s Parks and Recreation Commission.
— Schedule a special meeting for 7:30 a.m. Monday to approve a resolution allowing Grant Works to submit an application for a Texas Capital Fund grant to pay for utility extensions to a retirement community on North St. Mary’s Street.
I know someone who had to run a hose from their property to their rental property so their tenants could at least have water for sanitation purposes [they had small children also].
This is the same 'company' under new ownership [Mrs Eisler's daughter] that can take over a year to look at a problem relating to one of their water lines running through a private property. 18 months later, a couple of reminders later and a "we're so busy we will look at it when we can" it's still not been looked at. Is this the kind of service Blueberry Hills residents can look forward to?
And the same company that earlier this year, illegally ran oil exploration equipment over property that they were not given written permission to lay anything on! [I've got the photos to prove it!]
Now, think back - remember before Mrs Eisler's death, the County purchased the supply from Mrs Eisler. This was duly report in the Bee-Picyune.
So what has happened?
Why is Mrs Eisler's company [now run by her daughter] involved if the County actually own the supply?
Was it the County found there were too many problems [with the existing wells] and quietly canceled the sale?
Perhaps Denis DeWitt would like to make a detailed statement on behalf of the County as to what happened to the purchase.
And perhaps the City would like to publicly advise exactly where if this proposal goes ahead state how this supply is going to take place i.e. use old existing lines belonging to the company of Mrs Eisler's daughter which run through private property and are subject to bursting [witnessed]. Or do they intend installing new lines on County property?
Fire hydrants - does the City propose installing fire hydrants as well? If not, why not?
Mrs Eisler's daughter in reply to a Letter to the Editor's column several months ago regarding this matter, quoted the appropriate State legislation which she can apply for to have Blueberry Hills residents terminated from using their own water wells for household purposes.
Perhaps she would like to publicly explain the action [to the State of Texas] she took in regard to Bee County welldriller Mr Lawson. I would be interested in hearing the grounds for her action and the outcome i.e. was it a genuine complaint/filing or a malicious complaint/filing?
If this proposal goes ahead, there's no doubt in my mind that she will within a very short period of time apply to the State to have all residents with their own wells brought onto her supply.
Does the 'owner' of Blueberry Hill [as previously stated in an earlier matter regarding supply of City Water] speak for those who own their own property's?
There is *no* owner of Blueberry Hill.
The person who may be presenting themself's as the owner does *not* speak for many property owners, and in particular, those who have their own water wells.
Residents of Bluberry Hill, the person who the City will have run this 'supply' will no doubt within a very short time of this going ahead, apply to the State to have your rights to use your own water wells for household use, terminated.
The City advertises dealings under the City of Beeville banner and posts it at City Hall *but* where the hell is the local notifications for those in Blueberry Hill which is in Bee County NOT the City of Beeville.
Where is the area's Commissioner voice? Come on Salazar, where is your voice on this matter?
Don't you think it is unfair that the City is carrying on talks when Blueberry Hill is not part of the City? Don't you think it un-democratic that the residents are not being directly advised? How many County residents do you know visit City Hall?
When did you last vist every resident, talk to them and update them on this matter?
When do you intend to?