Granite Shoals finally came out of the "Executive Session" closet by letting taxpayers know what their possible plans are for a Municipal Utility District (MUD or DUM (not sure), reducing the land amount to 36 acres on their Eminent Domain lawsuit against Todd Fox and the infamous retaining wall on Lake LBJ in Park 13. Why all the many month of secrecy? I guess the rule of it is none of our business maybe changing. Who knows, maybe the lawyers will give Granite Shoals taxpayers a cheaper deal since the City is now only concerned about 36 acres in the acquisition of taking Mr. Fox's mineral rights instead of the original 131 acres? Oh yeah - looks like they want to discharge sewage treatment effluent into the lake - why not on the remaining 95 acres
on the land they purchased for all of our benefit. Seems like an "unhealthy" decision to dump in the lake. Maybe the Mayor who sits on the TCEQ Board in Austin can convince us to truck the effluent and dump in Lake Travis or Ladybird Lake! If this doesn't work bessie and peggy - we don't need to buy land for disposal of the treated water -we already have it.
Tuesday, May 19, 2009
Monday, May 18, 2009
Beaver Island Responds with The Truth!
Responding to the May 3rd Sunday Tribune from Sandy Collins - yes that Ms. Collins, six salient facts clearly showed how uninformed Ms. Collins is on Beaver Island/Granite Shoals tax use, water/sewe system, relations, volunteers, differences in property values and people. The truth is Ms. Collins doesn't know what she is talking about. In the words of my mother, "if you don't know what you are talking about, you need to keep quiet". Good advice Ms. Collins - perhaps you will take it. If not, we will see you at the 33rd District Court trial and The Truth about Granite Shoals and its leaders will come out. Maybe we can all learn from this bad example!
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Granite Shoals Citizens Have The Right To Know!
Citizens of Granite Shoals want to know how much taxpayer money has been used thusfar by the Mayor and the City Council to defend their questionable actions regarding all the legal proceedings listed in the Executive Session portion of each council meeting agenda! Since this information is suppose to be Public Record, why hasn't the Mayor or City Council or City Manager told us? Citizens have the right to know!
We are still waiting for him to tell us what action they would take on the lawsuit after being told by the 3rd Court of Appeals they failed to negate the claims of fraud in the City versus Winder et all case. Remember The Highlander Article in which the Mayor states, "Any action will be conducted in open meeting". Mr. Mayor we are still waiting for your words - in or out of the Council Executive Sessions!
Maybe the new councilman will be a friend to the citizens - after all - citizens have the right to know how their money is being spent!!!!!!!!!
We are still waiting for him to tell us what action they would take on the lawsuit after being told by the 3rd Court of Appeals they failed to negate the claims of fraud in the City versus Winder et all case. Remember The Highlander Article in which the Mayor states, "Any action will be conducted in open meeting". Mr. Mayor we are still waiting for your words - in or out of the Council Executive Sessions!
Maybe the new councilman will be a friend to the citizens - after all - citizens have the right to know how their money is being spent!!!!!!!!!
Monday, May 11, 2009
Incumbent Unseated! Edwards Out - Chamness In!
Peggy Edwards, Councilwomen, who was appointed by the Granite Shoals City Council after they installed Home Rule government, was unseated in what only could be described as voter backlash against the current regime. Perhaps her campaign signs should not have said, "Re-elect Edwards". The facts are:
Clavin Chamness defeated the incumbent Peggy Edwards. Voting was 124 votes for Calvin - 105 votes for Peggy Edwards. Mayor Frank Reily received 164 votes in his uncontested race. Place 1 - Shirley King received 135 uncontested votes. Place 3 - Dennis Maier received 144 uncontested votes.
The Highlander Newspaper says, Granite Shoals has about 1670 registered voters. Go-figure in a city with over 5,025 residents!
What is the percentage who voted in this rather uninteresting election - out of 5,025 residents? Can anyone help with this difficult math question? Perhaps, a volunteer - Ms. Collins?
Clavin Chamness defeated the incumbent Peggy Edwards. Voting was 124 votes for Calvin - 105 votes for Peggy Edwards. Mayor Frank Reily received 164 votes in his uncontested race. Place 1 - Shirley King received 135 uncontested votes. Place 3 - Dennis Maier received 144 uncontested votes.
The Highlander Newspaper says, Granite Shoals has about 1670 registered voters. Go-figure in a city with over 5,025 residents!
What is the percentage who voted in this rather uninteresting election - out of 5,025 residents? Can anyone help with this difficult math question? Perhaps, a volunteer - Ms. Collins?
Friday, May 8, 2009
Granite Shoals Petition for review doesn't raise any new issues
After a review of the Granite Shoals Petition of Review to the Texas Supreme Court, it appears the City has offered no new issues in the haphazard defense of their highly questionable actions regarding annexations and the forming of their home rule government.
Of course, the Texas Supreme Court has already disagreed with their opinion on other cases but since they are spending taxpayer money not their own - what have they got to lose? Good question!
What do honest, tax paying citizens think? The papers won't tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth - local radio stations won't talk about it - the City uses the rule of "Executive Session" from preventing the residents from finding out. Perhaps the Town Crier is their only hope but then again we have Ms. Collins who knows - don't we?
Of course, the Texas Supreme Court has already disagreed with their opinion on other cases but since they are spending taxpayer money not their own - what have they got to lose? Good question!
What do honest, tax paying citizens think? The papers won't tell the whole truth and nothing but the truth - local radio stations won't talk about it - the City uses the rule of "Executive Session" from preventing the residents from finding out. Perhaps the Town Crier is their only hope but then again we have Ms. Collins who knows - don't we?
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Last Ditch Effort by Granite Shoals!
In what can only be seen as a last ditch effort to avoid the simple truth - the City of Granite Shoals filed a Petition for Review with the Texas Supreme Court on May 4th, 2009, in attempt to overule the 33rd District Court and the 3rd Court of Appeals rulings against Granite Shoals.
In fact, 3rd Court of Appeals Chief Justice Woodie Jones states in the March 2009 court ruling, "there is more than a scintilla of evidence that the City failed to make a good-faith effort to comply with the inhabitancy requirement imposed by the constitution, and in fact sought to contravene that requirement".
What this means is more taxpayer money being wasted by the City to defend their past and highly questionable actions on annexations and how they formed their home rule government.
Perhaps Ms. Collins, who knows a lot on how city tax money is being spent, can find a way for the City to face the truth and spend less tax money on legal issues facing the City - too many of to speak of here. Honestly, woudn't that be fair to all of us? Ms. Collins we need your help!
In fact, 3rd Court of Appeals Chief Justice Woodie Jones states in the March 2009 court ruling, "there is more than a scintilla of evidence that the City failed to make a good-faith effort to comply with the inhabitancy requirement imposed by the constitution, and in fact sought to contravene that requirement".
What this means is more taxpayer money being wasted by the City to defend their past and highly questionable actions on annexations and how they formed their home rule government.
Perhaps Ms. Collins, who knows a lot on how city tax money is being spent, can find a way for the City to face the truth and spend less tax money on legal issues facing the City - too many of to speak of here. Honestly, woudn't that be fair to all of us? Ms. Collins we need your help!
Sunday, May 3, 2009
Beaver Island residents pay more than fair share of Granite Shoals taxes
In a recent editorial in the RiverCities Tribune, Granite Shoals resident, Sandy Collins, says, "they have all the services and yet pay nothing". Perhaps Ms. Collins should contact the Burnet County Tax Appraiser to find out how much Beaver Island residents pay before she inserts "foot in mouth". Look at the Tax roles in the city and county! However she is right when she states, "Right now there is a lawsuit in the courts and there it will be decided" if Granite Shoals has an open, honest government or if they committed constructed fraud not only against Beaver Island residents but the entire population of Granite Shoals. Wake up Ms. Collins - Beaver Island residents pay more than their fair share of taxes - the numbers do not lie! Join us? Well the City made Beaver Island a part of City back in 2006 with their hostile annexation despite the pleas from the residents to be left alone - all in the name of a money tax grab!
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