Thank You
I can’t say “thank you” enough to all who have done so much for me since my hospitalization. My recovery at home is slow going, but I’m hanging in there. Thanks to all who have called, visited, and sent cards, and of course, those who have prayed for me.
Those who have helped me financially have been a real blessing. Even though I can’t resume work right now, the bills keep on coming. Your help is so much appreciated.
I could not ask for a better community than Port O’Connor to be living in. Thank you all so much, and I do hope I can be out and about to see you all soon.
Janet Johnson
Editor’s Note: As the need is ongoing, a donation box for Janet is located at POC Liquor Store; contributions may also be made to her account at First National Bank, Port O’Connor.
Be Very Aware
Full and part time residents of Calhoun county need to be VERY aware of what is about to happen. Apparently, a 65+ million dollar school bond was passed earlier this year during elections. I am a non-resident property owner so I did not get to vote and was not informed of the issue. However, I have been in contact with the Calhoun Appraisal office and have been informed on each occasion that they did not know how much said bond was going to impact property owners. Well folks…..here it is September and they still have not sent out notices…..at least I have not received mine yet. With a County population of 21,381 plus unaccounted for non-resident property owners, what are the people thinking who voted for this?
Do the math yourself. Can you afford to be burdened with this sort of debt?
The County is in a very enviable position. Don’t pay your taxes and they take your property. That Simple. You never really own it. Even if you pay it off, you will still have to pay these crazy property taxes or lose your property. To add insult to injury, check out what school employees are being paid. It’s public information. It’s your right to know. Principles, Vice-Principals, Coaches….even at the elementary and junior high level. It won’t be any consolation when you write your check every year. I hope someone out there does the research and would publish those figures for everyone to see. I’m sure the Dolphin would print it for free. Shoot….list ALL salary figures for the County. That would draw some BIG interest!
People don’t realize that when they vote for these shenanigans that someone has to pay for it. That ‘someone’ is EVERYONE! You think because you rent that you won’t be affected? Think again when they raise your rent next time your lease renews. Prices rise because of it. Stores pass on the extra costs to the consumer so that profit margins remain the same. The people it hurts the most are the ones who live in their home and don’t rent their property out and the folks on fixed income. They have no one to ‘pass the costs on to’.
Then you have folks like me who do not utilize the school system and hardly any of the public services because I am a part time resident. There are lots of us here. We cannot homestead our property because we live somewhere else. We pay a much higher tax rate than do permanent residents. Why….I don’t know! I suppose its because they figure we don’t spend as much here and, therefore, don’t pay as much in sales tax. But that rational doesn’t hold water because we don’t send our children to school here and we are not a burden to the county in any way. If anything, the county makes more off of us than it does permanent residents.
Well….I’ve vented enough. Just remember….When YOU vote for something that costs money, YOU are going to have to pay for it one way or another!
Thanks for reading this and ‘Vote NO!’
Name Withheld
To All Our Friends
It’s really been heartwarming for us to see how our friends have encouraged and supported us before, during, and after my hospitalization. We appreciate all the cards, flowers, calls and gifts, and the delicious food.
Thank you all. We really appreciate you.
Bell and Bob Allen
Citizens of Port O’Connor:
I became a full-time resident of Port O’Connor in May of 1985. During that winter, which was a wet one, I noticed the need for a sewer system, as there was raw sewage in some of the ditches. There was a utility district that had been started a few years earlier, but it had been placed on invalid status due to lack of activity. After several months of work, we were able to get it reinstated with the election of a new board of directors in April of 1986. I was elected at that time and have had the honor to work for the citizens of Port O’Connor continuously since then. We were able to get a grant from the government which was about 52% of the cost of the water and sewer system. That percentage amount was unheard of at that time. The rest was obtained by bonds issued by Rural Development, a part of the government.
The present board of directors have done their best to keep taxes as low as possible.
Most of the problems we face today are due to the speed at which growth to our community occurred, far above that estimated by our engineers and ourselves.
To receive the Federal Grant and funds, we were forced to buy the existing water distribution system from GBRA and Calhoun County Rural Water system to clear the loan to them that was made by the government. This system was 22 years old when we took possession of it. As it might have been adequate at that time, it is not at this time.
The Utility District put in a 12 inch main from Port Lavaca to supply water to Port O’Connor. This allowed all individual lots to be developed and growth to take place. Before that time, to have a water well and septic system, you had to have a minimum of one acre of ground.
Due to the number of connections on the older lines, they are no longer in accordance with the State Administrative Code, which we are ruled by, and therefore need to be replaced.
The District must continue to do what is required to furnish the citizens with a good supply of water.
There are several things ongoing at this time that I feel it would be best suited to keep the present experienced board members.
There are two positions on the ballot. I hold one and Wanda Redding holds the other.
We are both up for reelection.
There is a lot of misinformation being presented to the public. Please feel free to call me with any questions or concerns you may have. My phone number is 983-2937.
Therefore I ask for your vote on November 4th.
To answer an email that’s being sent around from one of my opponents, Leon Brown:
Contrary to his statement, the board has not been lying to the public. He is the one that is NOT telling the truth. The rate study he says was NOT done, was conducted by an independent contractor paid for by the TCEQ FNT Assistance Program. The reference numbers on the study submitted to TCEQ are as follows: dated August 2009 Log Number: R-0809020 PWS ID No. 0290065. It states in the final sentence that the current rates were much lower than those determined and recommended by the study. A copy of this document may be obtained at the Port O’Connor Improvement District’s office.
Thank you.
John “Red” Childers
To the Residents of POC:
Election time is here again for Port O’Connor Improvement District. After many years of being a customer and working for Port O’Connor Improvement District, I have never had concerns about the board making decisions for the betterment of POC. The water bills have gone up and none of us like it, but the system is in need of improvements due to POC growing and parts of this system are very old. When the town grows, so does its water and waste water needs that are controlled by TCEQ.
At this time the Improvement District and TCEQ have a very good working relationship because the District does what they are told must be done to stay in compliance. If the wrong people are on the board and start disagreeing with TCEQ and not doing what the STATE law requires, that working relationship will turn bad and you have not seen a high water bill yet! I could go on forever, but I will not!
Please re-elect John Childers and Wanda Redding! They have done an outstanding job with the Port O’Connor Improvement District!!
Thank you.
Bryan Redding
Letter To The Editor
It’s almost time for us all to get out and exercise our right to fire certain individuals that we feel haven’t acted in our best interest, or the community’s. We all need to elect individuals that we feel will represent our best interests and views, and this is done by voting in this upcoming election. The POC Improvement District is where my focus will be during this time. I’m really upset and concerned on the arrogance and incompetence that has been displayed by our present elected directors and staff. Mr. Leon Brown who will be running for the director’s position this election is a man to consider in my opinion. He has worked effortlessly to get to the bottom of our higher water and sewer rates by starting a petition, and then he personally took it to TCEQ in Austin, which is up for review shortly. Hopefully he will be in office when this happens. It’s been a long process and he’s hung in there. All I ask is you study all the candidates running, and decide who you think would represent your views and our community the best. The more than doubling of our water and sewer rates was the last straw for me. The main thing is for everyone who can, to get out and vote. This is a very valuable right that we all have, and should exercise.
W.D Smith Jr.
Letter to the Editor
As a member of the Port O’Connor Improvement District Board of Directors, I must let you and the people of Port O’Connor know about the Board.
I have had a house in Port O’Connor since 1964. I sold my first house in 1983. In 1987 I purchased my present home at 1312 Monroe. In 1988 I retired and moved into my home and then remodeled.
In 1988 there was no city water or sewer available to everyone and I had to drill a water well.
In 1993 I was asked if I would serve on the current Municipal Utilities District Board of Directors. I agreed to serve. At this time the Board was meeting once a month in a room by the Fire Station. There was no money paid to the Directors, it was all voluntary. There was no money to hire a Secretary, so one of the Directors, Wanda Redding, took the minutes and also used a recorder.
The Board had received a loan and a grant from Texas Water Development Board to be used to purchase the Water System from GBRA. GBRA’s water line from Port Lavaca to Port O’Connor ran along Matagorda Bay through Powder Horn Lake and it had several bad leaks. We knew we had to run a new 12” line to Port O’Connor and not through Powder Horn Lake.
The Board tried tirelessly to negotiate with land owners along both sides of Highway 1289, but only a few would give us an easement at no cost. We could not afford to pay for easements. The Board finally contacted the Highway Dept. to see if they would allow us to run a 12” water line on the west side of 1289 to Port O’Connor to Hwy. 185 junction, then north side of 185 to POC. Finally the Board’s negotiations were accepted. Believe me, this was not easy.
The next step was Sewer. We knew that sewer would be a major problem, that sewage does not roll uphill. The Board and our Engineers began searching for an alternate system. This revealed a new type of Vacuum System used in areas below sea level. No one knew much about this type of system. Teddy Hawes and I flew, along with our Engineers, to Florida to look at a Vacuum System installation. All of us were very impressed with the installation and the workers and customers gave it great reviews. The Board asked our engineers to prepare Plans & Specifications for the new Sewer System.
The Board had to acquire land for the two pumping stations. The job was bid and a contract let for Port O’Connor’s first Sewer System. I cannot tell you of the many problems we had to solve to run the vacuum lines.
It was about this time that we voted to start paying the Directors $100 for each monthly meeting.
Teddy and I had several meetings in Port O’Connor and Austin with Engineers and Contractors to clarify rules and regulations.
In 2009 we asked TCEQ to conduct a rate study on our water and sewer rates. This was done in August 2009 and our rates were found to be on the low side. At this time we decided that interest rates had dropped since we sold our existing Bods at the beginning of our entry into the water and sewer business. We then asked the people of Port O’Connor to approve a Bond issue so we could call in our Bonds and purchase new Bods and sell them at a lower rate of interest. This was approved by the people.
The Board hired an engineering firm to look at our immediate and long term needs and estimated cost. The only way we could finance this is by issuing bonds. The board hired legal and financial advisers to advise us as to what we should do and their recommendation was to place a Bond issue on the Ballot along with asking for approval to have a sales tax. Both issues failed.
The Bond issues were placed again on the Ballot later and again the Major Bond issue Failed. The issue of a Sales Tax passed.
Our Legal and Financial advisers told us the only way we could accomplish our Water and Sewer plans for Port O’Connor was to increase Water and Sewer Rates. They told us exactly how much to raise the rates.
The facts remain:
Without Bonds you cannot have new and repaired schools.
Without Bonds you cannot have new overpasses or super highways.
Without Bonds you cannot have major city improvements.
Without Bonds you cannot have major drainage or sewer repairs.
Bonds are the only way State, County, City and other Municipalities can obtain funds for large projects.
Bonds are the only way you can improve quality of life.
Doyle G. Adams
Those Darn Out Of Towners
From what I can gather from our local MUD board it seems these out of towners come here just to take advantage of the local residents. It seems they don’t want to pay their fair share like us local. They come down here and take all the good parking spots at the docks. We have to get in line to to buy gas, they create traffic tie ups and some times we have to stop at the stop signs we normally just slow down for.
We voted in a sales tax so the out of towners could start paying their fair share and that seems to make the board appear to be looking out for our best interest. But, if they are only here for the weekend and pay the tax for two days, who pays the increased sales tax for the rest of the week? Would that be the locals? Trying to understand what you can get out of this board is like trying to explain to someone what the color purple smells like.
I know a lot of these out of towners and enjoy getting to visit with them when they can get down for a few days. They come down here and buy property, and most hire someone local to maintain it while they are gone. They eat at the restaurants, do some shopping here for their needs and recreation, have their boats and trailers repaired, and rent boat barns to store their property in. They buy their bait and fishing or hunting needs here, they shop at the local hardware store to fix or repair things that brake around the house, or to do some improvements around their property. They pay property taxes, the same as we all do, they also pay the inflated price for water and sewer like the rest of us. The only thing is, during the off season, most don’t or can’t come down because of weather or kids in school, what ever the case may be. That means they are not using any water, therefore nothing is being returned to the plant for treatment as sewage. Still they are paying their water bill and are receiving nothing in return. It seems to me that if you are paying for a service and you are not receiving said service, something is wrong with this picture. Even better yet they have no say when it comes to being able to vote for the people who impose these demands upon them.
To me this sounds a lot like taxation without representation on the people we most need to be here. If you think about it for just a few seconds where would this little committee be with out our darn out of towners?
Marshall Bradford
Election time is coming.
Two of the seats on the P.O.C Improvement District are up for election this year.
Election day is November 4, absentee voting October 20 through October 31 in Port Lavaca, and you can go online to votetexas.gov to request an absentee ballot.
The present water board is trying to go around the vote against the bond election held earlier this year by applying to the Texas Water Board for revenue funds that they were denied in the election.
The board told us earlier that they needed the money for improvements that were mandated by TCEQ. I talked with TCEQ myself earlier this year, and they said they had initiated no mandated to the Improvement District, and that Port O’Connor was meeting all the guidelines.
When we go to meetings, we are held in contempt by the board, often ignored, and many times, treated rudely.
As of now, the best we can do is vote in two new people this year, and start trying to put a stop to being run roughshod by those presently in power. The eleven million the Improvement District wants now, not even counting the additional twelve million later, is a tremendous tax burden this small town cannot afford, and should not be expected to carry.
Please, get out and make your vote count.
Marilyn Miller
Letter to the Editor
CONGRATULATIONS!! go out to the Port O’Connor MUD/Improvement District for continuing to carry out their threat of higher fees/taxes if their Bond election did not get approved which provided for repayment in their wording of those bonds by a charge of any amount and any rate to the property owners. We apparently weren’t so stupid as to vote for that.
They are truly working hard to get our money! The Board has implemented an additional increase in our Property Taxes to take more money out of our pockets. Do you like having money taken from you without any relief in sight in order to have water, sewer and garbage pickup – just because the all powerful Board can?
I understand but do not have all the details, of course, that they are now going around that Bond Election defeat to apply for funds. Who do you think will have to repay that – however much they are requesting?
When will the bleeding and retaliation by the Board for not passing the $11,000,000. in Bonds stop? And on that note – how about all the customers and property owners who were barred from voting because they did not reside in POC? Whose decision was that? Was that legal? Do you know what the TCEQ (Texas Commission on Environmental Quality) says about those people who are eligible to vote regarding their ownership of property in POC? Ask them. What laws govern for the higher power – this Board or the State of Texas? Were the rights of property owners violated along with the Voting Rights Act?
With the election of two Board Members coming up in November this should be something to ponder. Do you want the business as usual with threats and higher rates? Do you want taxation without representation?
Tea, anyone?
Joyce Jordan
Clarification
This letter is to clarify statements made in a letter in the September Dolphin Talk.
The voters voted to pass a 10 million dollar tax bond to pay off the original revenue bonds. Only 4.75 million in bonds were issued. That saved the District over 1 million dollars over the 25 years of the bonds. The 5.25 million tax bond that was approved was not used (or issued). It can only be used to pay off revenue bonds and can’t be used for anything else.
The reason the District asked for 11 million in tax bonds was for construction projects. The District can issue revenue bonds at any time without voter approval approval. Revenue bonds cost more than tax bonds; that is why the District asked for approval of the tax bonds.
These construction projects have to be done to comply with TCEQ mandates and to insure that we have the water and sewer capacity that we need in the future. There was no 20 million dollar bond issue.
As for the letter that stated most outsiders took their trash back with them – most find a dumpster to dump their trash in or put it on the back of their boat or truck so that it would blow off on the way out of town. I do not consider people who own second homes in Port O’Connor as outsiders, but as part-time residents.
The reason the water and sewer rates are lower in Sinton and other cities is that they have had the services for a lot longer and they have been paid off a long time ago. They also have a lot more tax and rate payers. Port O’Connor has only had water and sewer for 14 years and it’s not everywhere in town. The services need to cover the entire town.
State law says that you can only vote in one place where you are registered. You can vote in Port O’Connor if you change your voter registration for here.
At the meeting on September 11, item 4 was not the adoption of a tax rate, but was the adoption of a proposed tax rate. The adoption of a tax rate higher than the effective rate can’t be voted on by the board until after the public hearing. Yes, the Board did vote on a 2 cent tax rate increase.
I have not seen anywhere where Mr. Brown or Mr. Bradford stated any of their qualifications for being on the board. All I have seen is them trying to discredit the present board with misinformation and untruth. They can’t even follow simple campaign law regarding campaign signs. What other laws would they not follow? That could cost the district money in fines. They say that they will not vote to raise taxes or rates, but they didn’t say how they will pay for the work that needs to be done. Nothing is free; someone has to pay. The rollback petition that Mr. Brown said was free could cost the district up to $100,000.00 dollars. Who pays for that? You do. Mr. Brown said that the district lied about being mandates. All the rules and regulations of TCEQ are mandates. He said that the lady from TCEQ told him that the district is not under any enforceable mandates. If we do not address the mandates to TCEQ’s satisfaction, then the district would be under enforceable mandates.
There is a whole lot of misinformation out there that needs to be addressed and I would be more than willing to address anybody’s concerns.
Please look at the candidates to see what their motives are for being on the board. Please get out and vote. And again I ask that you reelect John “Red” Childers and Wanda Redding.
Thank you.
Teddy Hawes
There were questions posted at the post office to think about in the upcoming election. Here are answers to these questions:
1. Property taxes are applied the same to every individual. The District sets the rates necessary for the ongoing operation and maintenance of the District and to cover debt payments on tax bonds. Different people have different house values and different exemptions; thus, the taxes each individual pays will be different. The board only has the authority to set rates and the exemption amounts for the Port O’Connor Improvement District.
2. Every board member pays a water and sewer bill.
3. Citizens were informed if a tax bond was approved, the District would have to finance the necessary improvements and upgrades with revenue bonds.
4. The rate increase is financing District operations.
5. Section 49.060 of the Texas Water Code states: “(a) A director is entitled to receive fees of office of not more than $150.00 a day for each day the director actually spends performing the duties of a director.” The directors voted on a rate of $100.00 a day for each day the director actually spends performing the duties of a director.
6. The board felt it was in the best interests of the District’s customers to have all personnel present that could answer all the questions customers had and provide all the information necessary for residents to make an informed decision on the bond proposal.
7. The old backhoe was unsafe due to mechanical issues; it was traded in to reduce the purchase price of the new backhoe. The backhoe is necessary for District personnel to perform maintenance, repairs and installation work on the District’s water and wastewater systems.
8. The cost of water did increase when the District was under the management of Severn Trent.
9. The voters approved the issuance of revenue bonds in an amount of up to ten million dollars in 2013. These bonds were issued to retire the old revenue bond debt and to replace it/ refinance it with tax bonds. The amount of tax bonds issued were 4.7 million dollars in bonds. This action resulted in a substantial gross savings over the life span of the bonds in excess of one million dollars. The remaining authorized amount that was approved in 2013 cannot be utilized to finance new debt; it is only available for refunding purposes. Thus, it is not available for use at this time.
10. The Board specifically directed and authorized office personnel and its engineers to explore all opportunities for grants to lower the cost to the District and its customers for the necessary improvements.
Teddy Hawes
A Huge Thank You to the Port O’Connor PTO
The Chamber of Commerce would like to send a Thank You to the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) for playing a huge part in our 2nd Annual Labor Day Beach Bash. These folks assisted with the children’s area of our event and provided some great fun for the children that attended. If you have never seen Chicken Poop Bingo –well you missed it for this event–however I am sure you can get you a square at the schools Fall Carnival in a few weeks.
Without our town joining together at these large events it would be impossible for them to be the huge success that they are. Thanks to April Guevara and the folks that helped her. The funds that were made in that area were kept by the PTO to help start their 2015 school year off- I as a past PTA president understand the need of raising money to assist with our local POC Elementary’s needs.
Mary Jo Walker
Chamber Of Commerce President
Thank You from the Service Club
A special “Thank You” to Jim Butler and Mr. Vinson for the use of one of Mr. Vinson’s boat stalls (Vinson Boat Storage) for storage for the Service Club’s upcoming Garage Sale. A big shout out for helping our community!
Don’t forget to check out all the many bargains at our annual fall sale at the Community Center on Saturday, November 8th.
Marie Hawes
President, POC Service Club
