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Toledo Bend Bi-State Alliance
Minutes August 26, 2002
The meeting was called to order by Larry Kelly.
J. B. Meyers lead the group in the opening prayer.
Joe Goodson asked members and visitors in attendance to introduce themselves and to state where they are from.
Minutes of the July 22, 2002 meeting were approved and accepted as read.
Margene Boudreaux gave the treasurer's report for Janna Lehman. There was no activity for the account and the balance remains $2,248.42. Margene reminded the group there are hats still available for $12 each. The Treasurer's Report was approved and accepted as given.
Old Business:
DETDA REPORT: Charles English reported the Economic Development Retirees Committee for East Texas has secured a director of a retirement organization from Mississippi to speak at a September 27th meeting. Mississippi was selected because they have 23 cities designated as a retirement community destination. A set of criteria has been established by which to judge these cities. There were some cities in Texas doing things to attract retirees, but no cities found that were organized. Charles said they also had a report from a man interfaced with the U.S. Forestry Service telling about Senator Daschell attaching a rider to a defense spending bill that will prevent any judicial tampering or interference with the Forest Service managing the timber industry in South Dakota. This is something that has never happened before, and President Bush is now trying to get similar legislation in other states because of the terrible forest fires in the U.S. Forests this summer. This could affect our area since about 40 % of the lake frontage is in U.S. Forest.
REGION I WATER PLANNING REPORT: Bill Heugel reported the Water Management Plan that was done last year is now available to be read. Several reservoirs that were planned are now in the process of being "torpedoed" by groups like the Sierra Club, the National Wildlife Federation, and one of the timber companies. One reservoir planned for the northeast part of Texas where a lot of water is needed, and two in the Houston area where reservoirs were planned to supply the city, are the ones where opposition is stopping the progress. This opposition is causing the board to look to areas where water is in abundance, which is in East Texas. As a part of the next plan, the Texas Water
Development Board has allocated $50,000 to Region H to study a plan for taking water from East Texas. At our request, the board has also allocated to Region I $50,000 to study ways in which we can cooperate and work with all the surrounding regions in forming a plan by which water can be moved in the needed direction. Among things to consider will be the benefits to our area that will come from the plan. It is very important that people in Region I pay attention to what is happening in this next Five Year Plan. The Lower Colorado River Authority has made a deal with the Highland Lakes people to supply water to the San Antonio area, and it seems to be a good deal for the Highland Lakes people. The key thing for our area is studies will begin to look at things like the economic impact to the area. The Texas Water Development Board did a population study and noted the rural areas like Sabine County are not growing in numbers and are tending to go down in population because retirees do not reproduce, and that is the negative side for retiree communities in regard to the water planning studies. Public meetings where ground water management issues will be discussed are going to be held in Nacogdoches, and Bill urges people to attend these meetings. The aquifers that supply water to our lakes will be defined as ground water management areas. Larry asked Bill to send him the dates of the meetings for distribution to the members.
New Business:
Lake Level: Larry Kelly
FERC - The Letter Writing Campaign was started in April and letters continue to come in and be posted on the FERC web site. There may
be 500 to a 1000 letters now posted on the FERC web site. Larry feels the Letter Writing Campaign is being effective and the FERC is taking note of the letters. Larry said a good effort has been made by all the groups to get the letters in to the FERC. Larry distributed for comments copies of Draft # 1 of a second letter to the FERC requesting the SRAs of TX and LA change the Operating Guide of Toledo Bend Reservoir to the Guide outlined in Simulation #6 on the Brown & Root Operating Guide Re-Evaluation Study.
LA SRA -Larry said the formal complaint that he filed under his name as an individual, with the District Attorney's Office in Sabine Parish concerning the Sabine River Authority Board of Commissioners going into Executive Session during the June meeting and discussing the lake level issue under the topic of the Simmons Vs SRA case is still being pursued. Although the District Attorney's Office does not believe we can get the decision reversed, they do feel there is still something that can be done about the SRA's possible violation of the Open Meeting Laws of Louisiana. Larry received a copy of the letter sent by the SRA of LA to the District Attorney's Office. There are no records or minutes taken during the Executive Session of the SRA of LA.
TX SRA -Joe Goodson decided to take a different approach at reaching the SRA of TX Board of Directors. Since Larry noted numbers count, Joe passed out draft copies of a Petition form containing facts regarding the lake level issues and requesting a meeting be scheduled to discuss those issues, with a page for collecting signatures. Joe felt if these forms were placed in strategic areas, and the people and businesses affected by the low lake level would sign, the numbers would be enough to support writing a letter stating that "ground swell" demands a meeting be scheduled to discuss these issues. The letter would be signed by businesses and the Alliance, as well as others affected by the low lake level, and would request the meeting be held in our area, with enough time (perhaps 2 hours for presentation with one hour for questions) to address the issues. Joe stated the issue "needs a face on it". Joe and Larry suggested recommendations or comments on the draft form be sent and a final copy be distributed. Signatures of as many as possible of the approximately 5000 folks represented by the Alliance would carry a lot of weight with our legislators, as well. The Hemphill High School Cafetorium was suggested as a central place where the meeting might be held, if it were during a time when the students are out of school., such as Spring Break. Joe emphasized that anyone who uses the lake would be a legitimate signature. Larry asked that Joe finalize the form and get it out to members for distribution to areas for obtaining signatures. It was decided a time limit of 45 to 60 days be set for gathering the signatures. No meeting with Senator Todd Staples has been set yet. Charles English said there will be a legislative session in DETDA in December where all of the legislators on the Texas side will be present, and there will be opportunities available to speak with them. Charles will keep Larry apprised of the meeting so at least 8 or more Alliance members can be there. Further discussion regarding the petitions followed.
OTHER COMMENTS: A Thank You Note from the Board of Directors of the Library for the donation from TBBSA for use of the facilities
was read by Larry.
APPROVAL OF NEW MEMBERS: The Southwest Toledo Bend R.V.& Mobile Home Park Owners & Tenants Group was approved for membership in TBBSA. This group consists of 6 Mobile Home Parks that represent 374 tenants who lease property on the lake.
APPROVAL FOR PAYMENT OF BILLS: No bills were submitted for payment.
NEXT MEETING OF TBBSA will be September 23, 2002
Meeting adjourned.
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