Thank You
On April 15, 2015 I came to work as I usually do, but that day I had a heart attack. I found out that my left main artery was 90% blocked. I ended up having triple bypass surgery six days later. I was doing well with my recovery until about a year later I started having chest pain and shortness of breath again. I went in to see the doctor and my medications were changed. After the medication changes did not help my symptoms, I went to see a cardiologist in Houston and a cardiac cath was performed on July 28, 2016 revealing that 2 out of the 3 grafts done in my bypass surgery were occluded. I had to have a stent placed at that time. About three weeks after my stent was placed I started having chest pain and shortness of breath again. I had another cardiac cath on August 15th, luckily this time the problem could be fixed with medication.
Even though I do have insurance the deductables and out of network charges piled up, so my sister (Stacie Epley) and good friend (Sylvia Rodriquez) decided to put together a benefit to help my family and I recover financially. These two ladies were able to do so much in such a short time. I want to thank them for all the hard work they put in for my family and myself. I also want to thank every individual and business that donated items for the silent auction, shrimp boil, assisted with cooking, cleaning and baking. I am so very humbled by this community. Never would I have dreamed the support I would receive from all of you reading this letter. I don’t even know how to put into words my appreciation and gratitude to all of you. I believe that God will reward you all for your love and support. I want to thank each and every one of you for your giving spirit and love.
Thank you all,
Dawn (Harper) McClelland
BENEFIT FOR ALEXIS CARRILES
RAFFLE – BAKE SALE – BBQ SANDWICH LUNCH
SATURDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2016
12 NOON TIL 6 PM @ DOCK’S RESTAURANT
RAFFLE : $5 FOR 5 TICKETS-DRAWING SATURDAY
Several Prizes including 7 guided Fishing trips…!
LUNCH TO GO: Chopped Brisket Sandwiches W/ Chips & Sweet Tea
Alexis is undergoing antibiotic infusions twice daily for 6 weeks in hopes to cure an infection in the bone in her foot.
Thank you to all who have donated time, money, food, supplies & prizes!!
Letter to the Editor
A very important election is fast approaching besides the election of the next President of the United States. This election is for the Directors of the Port O’Connor Improvement District and will have a direct effect on your pocketbook.
Please do your research and decide if you can afford to elect the three current appointed Directors to the POC ID Board or if you would prefer to elect two residents who will look after your interests, to provide clean water, and to stop the wasteful spending in order to be able to reduce your rates further while using transparency at all times so that you know what is going on. The two who will truly represent your interests are Joyce Jordan and Nathan O’Neill.
Signs have gone up all over town with the words like “Experience Proven = Lower Rates”. The truth is that multiple times the two elected Directors made motions and seconded those motions to reduce rates and – what did the three appointees do? They certainly did not vote to have our rates decreased at that time. Our rates that could have been reduced were not reduced until I guess the three appointees decided they needed to do something since an election was coming up. Then, and only then, they finally decided to reduce our rates and the decision was unanimous, of course. Check this out and see for yourself what the truth is.
But what did the three appointees do at the same time? They voted to go in the back door and increase everyone’s property taxes. Did you see the property tax increase percentage? Our two elected Directors did not vote for the increase in property taxes. Did the three appointees think we would not notice?
Also, check out what those three did after appointment as temporary Directors; with over 5 million dollars in the bank, they voted YES for a 2.8 million dollar loan from the Texas Water Development Board which did not need the rate-payers’ approval and which carries a much higher percentage of pay back. Our two elected Directors did not vote for the loan. Again, please find the truth—Can you really afford this kind of proven experience?
Please check out the credentials of Joyce Jordan and Nathan O’Neill appearing in another article in this issue. After you find the truth of what has been going on, how can you elect any one else except Joyce Jordan and Nathan O’Neill as Directors for Port O’Connor Improvement District? The two of us ask for and appreciate your vote. You will not be disappointed in electing us as your new Directors.
Thank you,
Joyce Jordan
Attention Voters
The election for the three seats on the Port O’Connor Improvement District Board will be held on Nov. 8th.
I would recommend voting for Allen Junek, Joe Newsome, and Brian Redding. They have my full confidence on doing the right job for the people of Port O’Connor as they are long time residents as well. They understand local community views and needs.
These men have done a good job in taking care of business in the face of opposition from the other members of the board. They have addressed the issues with TCWQ and have lowered the water rates some. One step has already been taken. To which the other two members voted against. Another step in lowering the rates should be coming soon.
I think their decision to hire Imagination Monkey to put the information out to the public is a good idea. It is not cheap, but the public has a right to know the Truth without any Slat or Spin.
I know it is a thankless job after serving on the board for 29 years. I did what I had intended to do when I got on the board, that was to get a sewer system and water to Port O’Connor. In a way I’m glad to be a bystander now.
John “Red” Childers
Property Taxes
Three of our District Directors (Allen Junek, Joe Newsom, Bryan Redding) are doing the best they can to get the word out about how they have reduced your water and sewer rates. The truth is after the rate study was done they voted to give you only one half of what was recommended. Leon Brown and myself also voted for the lower rates but wanted to give the full recommended reduction.
What no one is wanting to talk about is the fact that the only way they would vote for a rate reduction was to vote for a $12,000,000.00 dollar tax bond. As you all know the only way a district can pay a bond back is by taxes and rates, so in order to make the payments on the bond you are now stuck with a property tax increase. Now the District has more debt than it ever has. Leon Brown and myself did not vote for this bond, in fact Mr. Brown and myself tried on several occasions to reduce water and sewer rates without any tax increase of any kind.
You have all heard it before, TAX AND SPEND….TAX AND SPEND. Need I say any more, People, we are not spending the District’s money…this is your Money, it should be spent more wisely, and remember Allen Junek, Joe Newsome, and Bryan Redding also voted to spend $72,000.00 dollars of your money for Imagination Monkey to maintain a Facebook page,,, ( REALLY) ???
Marshall Bradford
Thank You
On behalf of the Board of Directors of the Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, I would like to thank everyone who helped make the 2016 Author’s Dinner Fundraiser a big success. To all who worked so hard to make the event happen, to our sponsors and donors, to the Texas authors, and to all who attended our lovely evening under the stars, you are greatly appreciated. We are making excellent progress toward our goal of building a new library and it would not be possible without your help.
We are also pleased to invite you to join us at events planned in the near future. On October 22nd, Jim Hooper will once again host a chili/gumbo cook-off on our behalf, thank you Jim. And, on November 12th a day of fun at a Bar B Que cook-off hosted jointly by the POC Chamber of Commerce, The POC Women’s Service Club and the Friends of the POC Library. Hope to see you at both.
It is truly wonderful to see our community coming together to support a new library. Port O’Connor folks are the best!
Sincerely,
Judy Whitworth, President
Friends of the Port O’Connor Library, Inc.
A Time for Change
As the November 8th elections are fast approaching, I felt compelled to reach out to my fellow Port O’Connor neighbors. Over the past year there have been numerous reports about our local Municipal Utility District, in the newspaper and on television. I have read, studied, investigated, and prayed over the matter all of which led me to this point. A time for change is at hand and I implore you all to vote on November 8th for a change in directors for our Municipal Utility District. The tax and spend mentality has to stop before it cripples us all to a point of no return. The recent passage of the $12 million dollar Tax Bond has put this small community in more debt than most towns more than three times our size. The Tax Bond has to be paid back, yes our water rates were lowered but now our Property Taxes are higher and will be increased again next year. The Appointed Directors have been running this District with a blank check mentality and now it is time to stop the hemorrhaging of our money.
The Appointed Directors are up for election; they are being challenged by two very knowledgeable level-headed, conservative candidates Joyce Jordan and Nathan O’Neill who plan to bring this District back in control. Your vote for change will insure that we, as a community; are heard, protected, and serviced in the most conservative and efficient means possible. No more blank check, no more walking quorum, and no more secrecy.
Please vote for change on November 8th, vote for a better more conservative Board for our beautiful Community. Vote for our future!
Sincerely,
Tonya L. Miller
To the Editor:
First: Thank you for allowing we the citizens of Port O’Connor to voice our opinions concerning the upcoming elections for the Improvement District.
Second: I wish to voice my grave concerns concerning the Improvement District and this upcoming election. I truly believe that we as citizens of this community have done most property owners a grave disservice by allowing only those who live in the Port O’Connor area to have a voice in this election. What happened when “taxation without representation” happened in the early days of our nation – I believe we called it the “tea party!” Our utilities were once governed by a “Cooperative,” but I believe because of the misguided actions of a few, we became a MUD – which because some wanted to also have a finger in a Navigation District, it has become an Improvement District. May our newly elected board get back to fairness and the “one man, one vote” system and return to a “Cooperative!”
Third: I wish to address my outrage over how the local board came to serve us. Two members of our board were elected. The other three were selected by the outgoing board out of the view of US, the citizens. Before the previous board had resigned, they already had been assured that the three appointed would indeed be their replacements. The openness of the political system has always been an important part of our republic and this action should not be ratified by US voters! I am sure that Allen Junek, Joe Newsome, and Brian Redding are good men, but the manner in which they were selected should never be upheld by an election. They all should be immediately replaced!
Fourth: I called the TDECQ and asked them about the rates we are forced to pay to live in Port O’Connor, and they told me all we had to do to reduce those rates was to select a new board. The current board hired a firm to assess our rates, and then rejected their recommendation. The two reductions we have received are simply a return of the overpayments we have been making. That is why our Improvement District has over 8 Million dollars in surplus, plus much unused machinery, and 20 acres of land that is not being used. To add to this mismanagement, we have a water well that produces water that is not fit for human consumption, when GBRA could and would supply us all the water we will ever need. Why do we need lawyers and engineers at every meeting if not just to spend our money? Why do members of our board need a spokesman in “Imitation Monkey” if not to ensure their personal reelection?
I call on all the people of this community to rise up and demand that the Improvement District be governed by all the people who pay for their services – that we return to a “Cooperative,” that we allow no more “dirty politics” to determine our leaders, and that we demand rate reductions so that some of our older citizens no longer have to choose between water and medicines and/or food, which is presently happening!
Erny McDonough
Lower Rates, And…
During the Board meeting of October 13, 2016, myself, Marshall Bradford, Allen Junek and Brian Redding voted to give the ratepayers a further reduction in your water and sewer rates. Joe Newsome was not in attendance to cast his vote.
I am so proud that we can reduce the horrific rate increases voted for by previous board members and look forward to further rate reductions.
The Bad News, you have probably already received in the mail, the POC Improvement District raised your property taxes. This strategy to raise your property taxes was only voted Yes by Allen Junek, Joe Newsome, and Brian Redding.
The three have learned that they can raise your property taxes high enough without having voter approval! And, future tax increases will happen if they vote for the increase.
A troubling twist occurred during the Board meeting. An item for discussion was placed on the Agenda to vote for a new way voters could vote for the 2016 Directions Election. Not the General Election the DIRECTORS ELECTION.
Without any presentation, no brochures, no costs, and no explanations the attorney wanted the directors to vote for this new tabulation machine. I asked some difficult questions and our General Counsel explanation was that “the attorney made the recommendation” Just vote for something because the attorney recommended it. This is wrong!
To clarify, Allen Junek, Joe Newsome and Brian Redding voted to Not use the Calhoun County Election Office for their Election and hired an Attorney firm in Houston to be the officials for the elections at a substantially higher cost (Your Money). Ask yourself why? Myself and Marshall Bradford voted NO to this abuse of public funds.
When you only Vote for 2 during the 2016 Directors Election, Nathan O’Neill and Joyce Jordan will bring to the Board; higher standards, transparency, clean drinking water, stop wasteful spending, look for further reductions, stop property tax increases and ensure public funds are spent within the district’s budget.
Leon Brown
Port O’Connor mail slot
The Editor’s Opinion:
Government Waste?
Is it just me, or was anyone else shocked to find the “local” mail slot taped shut at our post office? Sign on the Out-of-Town slot says, “Place local mail here,”
The Port O’Connor Postmaster says the “powers that be” say it must be done this way so they can have a record of how many letters come through here. They are trying to determine if they will cut the post office hours here to six per day.
So, our local letters are hauled to Corpus Christi, repackaged, and then hauled back — extra waiting time for us and extra work for the employees. I don’t get it!
The Dolphin welcomes letters from our readers on any subject that is of general interest to our audience. Letters should be 300 words or less (with exceptions at the Dolphin’s discretion). Letters reflect the opinion of the writer, and not that of Dolphin Talk staff, and we retain the right to determine suitability for publication. It is the policy of this newspaper to promote area interests: therefore, complaints against local businesses should be directed elsewhere. Letters must be signed and include day and evening phone numbers, which will not be published. Your name will be withheld upon request, but anonymous material will not be considered for publication.
Dolphin Talk, PO Box 717, Port O’Connor, TX 77982 dolphin1@tisd.net
