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Written by Responsible Development
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Tuesday, 03 August 2010 12:04 |
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Group wants reversal of state permit on landfill
August 2, 2010 3:25 pm
By. Zen T.C. Zheng, Houston Chronicle
Despite an agreement reached between a landfill operator and leaders of a resident coalition opposed to that landfill’s expansion in east Fort Bend County, a group of coalition members aren’t giving up the fight yet.
Some of them have filed motions to overturn the state approval of a new permit for the continued operation and expansion of Blue Ridge Landfill.
Lisa Wheeler, a spokeswoman for the Texas Commission for Environmental Quality, said opponents have until the end of Wednesday to submit their requests for the commission to review the approval by Mark Vickery, the commission’s executive director.
After a drawn-out battle that started in 2006, leaders of the grassroots Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion in May reluctantly heeded to the advice of the group’s attorney Richard Morrison, who also is Precinct 1 county commissioner, to forgo their opposition in exchange of unannounced compromises from Republic Services, which is pursuing the project off FM 521 just north of Fresno.
Neither Morrison nor Gary McCuistion, a company spokesman, would disclose the details of the agreement, citing terms of confidentiality.
The coalition was the last group that abandoned the fight against the expansion, following three local television stations and the city of Pearland.
As part of the settlement, the group withdrew its original request for a contested case hearing, essentially a trial that would have been conducted by the State Office of Administrative Hearings.
On July 2, Vickery officially issued the company the new permit that allows for the expansion.
Despite slim chances of success, coalition member Rodrigo Carreon said some of his Fresno-area neighbors want the state commission to review and reverse the green light for the expansion that they said will harm their environment and quality of life.
The company is seeking state approval to add 1,345 acres to the 599-acre landfill, which would raise its height from 58 feet to 170 feet over 40 years.
In its deal with Pearland, the company agreed to limit the height to a maximum of 60 feet for 12 years, and then a maximum of 130 feet for an additional eight years. Additionally, Blue Ridge agreed to place grade breaks and landscape screening along the eastern slope of the landfill to minimize the visual impact of the landfill’s height.
“Many of us listed on the petition and complaint forms have been kept in the dark regarding what was agreed to,” wrote coalition member Chris Calvin in his letter to the commission.
“I have numerous questions regarding enforcement of the terms arranged by all these different organizations and would also like to know if the TCEQ becomes responsible for the enforcement and oversight of these separate agreements … Why was the information kept from us and the immediate general public?” . . . (get the full release below and related FBN report)
Source and related:
http://www.ultimatefortbend.com/2010/08/group-wants-reversal-state-permit-landfill
http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/08/03/47124
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Written by Staff
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Monday, 19 July 2010 08:28 |
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First Colony Residents Dive into Pool Fight
A high stakes water fight is underway in Sugar Land. Residents in First Colony are taking legal action against their homeowner's association that wants to spend $11 million to close five community pools and open a splash pad instead....get the full story at:
http://www.39online.com/news/local/kiah-community-pools-first-colony-story,0,3716591.story |
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Written by Staff
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Saturday, 10 July 2010 09:49 |
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Star liable to pay $48,000 in libel lawsuit
KUMAR 07.JUL.10
Judge Thomas Culver of the 240th State District Court on July 1 affirmed the award of about $48,000 in court costs and attorney fees in an appeal pertaining to a defamation lawsuit filed against a local newspaper, the Fort Bend Star.
Wade Brady, son of Chief Deputy Craig Brady in Fort Bend County Sheriff’s office filed the lawsuit against Fort Bend Star Publisher Bev Carter and Reporter LeAnn Klentzman.
The Star initially sought a summary judgment dismissing the lawsuit filed by Brady and Culver rejected the motion.
The Star then filed an appeal in The Court of Appeals for the First District of Texas.
The appeals court rejected all seven complaints made by the Star against the denial of summary judgment by the district court and remanded the case back to the same court.
The appeals court also ruled that the Star should pay Brady the court costs and the attorney fees incurred in connection with the appeal.
After a long hearing, the judge awarded the court costs and attorney fees as requested and the judge did not cut any of the requested amount, John Zavitsanos, attorney for Brady said.
The judge, in effect, endorsed the number of hours claimed and rejected the suggestion of the attorney for the Star that the attorney has billed for an unreasonable number of hours.
The obligation to pay the amount does not arise until the end of the trial, set to begin on Oct. 5...
Get the full story at: http://fbindependent.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=2690&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2531&hn=fbindependent&he=.com |
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Written by Staff
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Thursday, 17 June 2010 13:37 |
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Chron: First Colony park plan draws fire
June 17, 2010 12:59 pm Zen T.C. Zheng
Expect some sparks and fireworks at a homeowners association meeting in First Colony this afternoon.
Residents said they have signed petitions and hired attorneys to combat a First Colony Community Association proposal on neighborhood amenities. They plan to speak out against an Edgewater Park redevelopment plan at the meeting at 3 p.m. in the recreation room at the aquatic center.
One property owner told me that the board plans “to spend $11 million to close five good pools and destroy a nice quiet park area and turn it into parking and a splash park that will drain directly into the lake.”
Another resident expressed concerns about the potential impact on property values, wetlands and the environment.
Others accused the board of not properly conducting a survey of the residents. Nor did the board address their request for other improvements such as hike-and-bike trails, they claimed....
Learn more about this growing and unaccountable industry: http://www.texashoareform.org/ |
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Written by MCCNews
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Wednesday, 09 June 2010 07:49 |
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MoCity Budget: No Raise In Taxes, But City Services Could Be Affected
Mon, Jun 7, 2010News
Missouri City’s proposed 2011 budget guarantees residents that the city will not raise the current $.5284 tax rate, but City Manager Frank Simpson has warned council that the five percent reduction in city staff does have the potential to decrease the efficiency and effectiveness of city services.
The reduction is the result of the hiring freeze in 2009, implemented due to the current economic climate. Sixteen vacant positions have been left unfilled, with a savings of more than $1.2 million.
“City Staff will continue to do everything it can to avoid any drops in levels of services to residents and businesses,” said Simpson.
The police department is exempt from the freeze. Council decided earlier this year to drop a proposed homestead exemption from the May election ballot in order to provide $514,226 in the 2011 budget to hire seven additional police officers...
MCC comment: What they don't mention about the homeowners exemption is the fact that it was a hot topic in the 2007, '08 & '09 elections and the city purchased, in a land deal for about $600,000 from a Houston developer who appears on many of the council members, including the mayors, campaign finance reports bottom land at full market value, nor do they mention the large borrowing from the cities "contingency" funds to give off the appearance of a balanced budget each year. These funds come from "slipped" bond projects (re-purposed bond monies).
Stay informed and keep in touch!
Source: http://www.fortbendnow.com/2010/06/07/46074 |
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My Fort Bend Network Cleaned up some formatting issues