The Ridgerunner

Staffers at the WPOA testified on behalf of our community at a recent hearing in Austin regarding concerns about Aqua Texas and other water provider utilities throughout Texas. Also testifying was Woodcreek North resident Sue Hollis who had received a letter from Mr. Rose inviting her to speak on these issues. Apparently, anyone in our area who contacted Mr. Rose about Aqua Texas rates received an invitation to attend the hearing and to address the committee.

WPOA office manager Janelle Delaney and administrative assistant, Sue Csejka testified about these issues. WPOA Roads Manager Bill Bradfield went along to voice his very strong concerns also. Mr. Rose is sponsoring a bill (HB 3366) which relates to the rates charged by a water and sewer utility. His bill had been referred to the Natural Resources Committee for public hearing.

Although very interesting, the process made for a long day. The hearing began at 10:00 a.m. and was not finished until 5:00 p.m. Our representatives’ testimonies were not taken until about 4:00 or 4:30 p.m. after they had heard the utilities’ side of the story repeated ad nauseum. Several water utilities were represented, all having the same story about the way their rates and rate increases are configured and each one using basically the same rationale for adding recovery of legal fees and deferred capital expense surcharges to customers’ bills. The companies apparently feel perfectly justified in subjecting rate payers to their exorbitant fees while defending them by noting TCEQ’s having permitted the rates and surcharges.

That the outrage over the utilities’ total disregard for the rate payers holds sway over the entire state was made obvious by the number of protesters in the hearing room. Aqua Texas is, by far, the most outrageous of these offenders. The company runs rampant over all areas of their coverage.

We do not yet know if HB 3366 has made it out that committee and on to the Calendars Committee to be scheduled to go on the Senate for discussion/resolution. Representative Rose’s office will keep us apprised of its progress.

There were plenty of questions on the minds of those who attended the informational meeting regarding the incorporation of Woodcreek North as Jacobs Well Village this week. Questions ran from matters of the financing and housing of a city government to taxation and the possibility of annexation of our area by one of the other nearby municipalities, to the question of what becomes of the Woodcreek Property Owners Association if the area should incorporate.

On the matter of taxation, those who have studied the possibility are reasonably certain that income from franchise fees could be enough to run a city government without the necessity of enacting a property tax. The city would run on the services of volunteers and would have no salaried employees. Anticipated are expenses such as dues to and the purchase of insurance from the Municipal League, legal consultation, engineering costs, rent and utilities for a small office in the same building now housing the WPOA. The property owners’ association would continue to function as before with annual fees going to the upkeep of roads and maintenance of common areas. The city’s function would be to exercise its powers of planning and zoning, overseeing of its extraterritorial jurisdiction and estab- lishing ordinances such as a ban on fireworks and codes such as uniform building requirements. The city would also have the power to create a comprehensive plan for future development.

Once incorporated, a city government can begin negotiating franchise fees with all the businesses that operate the area. In our own case, these would include companies providing services including water and sewer, telephone, electric, cable and trash removal. Based on figures from another nearby community, it is projected that such negotiated fees would provide enough income to allow the city to function efficiently. In addition, a city would be eligible for improvement grants and lower insurance rates for its residents.

Proponents of incorporation point out that, as things stand now, as an unincorporated area we are governed by Hays County, have no ability to negotiate with utility companies, have no ability to affect in any way what is done in the areas around our borders. They contend that growth in our area has already and will continue to affect the entire Wimberley Valley, and that is one of several reasons we need to be able to govern ourselves.

The question of incorporation will be on the May 9th election ballot and can be voted on only by registered voters who live in the area proposed for incorporation. The proposed Jacobs Well Village covers 2.3 square miles. It is comprised of 1,430 acres of land, has a population of over 2,000, has some 800 existing dwellings and 27 houses under construction. There are 3,567 platted lots, 1,600 of those are unimproved.

Because state law limits elections to twice a year, should our area choose to become incorporated, there would be a period of six months before an election could be held to name a mayor and five council members. There is some hope that the governor might address this defect so that an election could be held sooner. Failing that, the interim plan would be to form volunteer committees to address needs leading up to such time that the city could elect its mayor and city council.

If you would like to be kept up-to-date on developments or can volunteer to help in this effort, please send an email to: miztrent@gmail.com or check on the web: ridge-runner.org.