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The Victoria College. Full-time salaried position with benefits available...
DISTRICT "Champions for Community Wellness" has the following positions...
HALLETTSVILLE – Kenneth Henneke owns a fish hatchery outside Hallettsville, and he thinks that Lavaca County needs a groundwater conservation district.
“I use more water than most people. You think I’d be in favor of something to hurt my family?”said Henneke.
“A groundwater district with local control is our only protection to keep big water companies from sucking Lavaca County dry,” said Henneke, a former member of the Region P water planning group. “It’s real simple. We have no control right now.”
Bob Weiss, the current vice-chairman of the Region P group, agrees with Henneke.
“I think it’s necessary,” he said. “We are smack dab between Houston and San Antonio that need water. If we don’t get a groundwater district ultimately what water we have will be used by those two cities.”
Lavaca County currently has a temporary groundwater conservation districted created by the Texas Legislature through House Bill 4029 in June 2007.
It is now up to the voters to decide if it will become a permanent entity, with a board of directors that levies taxes.
But not everyone in Lavaca County is in favor of the groundwater conservation district.
B.J. Nolen, secretary of Lavaca Taxpayers, said the only protection a district would provide would be protection for permits leaving the county.
He also noted that local representatives on the regional planning board were part of the group that indicated Lavaca County had a surplus of water in 2000 and 2007 state water plans.
“And local control is a fallacy,”Nolen added. “Once it’s voted in, you can’t vote it out. That should be a red flag right there. The state will take it all over eventually.”
Nolen urges voters who aren’t sure about the district to vote against it because he’s sure it will come up again in future years.
Lavaca County voters turned down a groundwater district in 2001.
“We’ve been talking about this for eight years,” Weiss said. “The facts have been out there a long time. If you vote against it, I guarantee you the metroplexes and other people who need water are interested in our water.”
Sonny Long is a reporter for the Advocate. Contact him at 361-580-6585 or slong@vicad.com.
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There will be three propositions on the ballot for the May 10 special election in Lavaca County. Early voting begins Monday in the commissioners court room of the Lavaca County courthouse.
Proposition 1 For or Against the creation of the Lavaca County Groundwater Conservation District.
Proposition 2 For or Against the approval of an ad valorem tax not to exceed 5 cents per $100 valuation which will provide funding for the district to be able to protect and preserve our water.
Proposition 3Election of directors, one from each precinct and one at-large. All temporary directors are running unopposed. They include: Precinct 1, Larry A. Svetlik; Precinct 2, August ”Boyce” Etlinger; Precinct 3, A.J. Cerny; Precinct 4, J.C. Hermes Jr.; and at-large, David Myers.
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To learn more about the temporary Lavaca County Groundwater Conservation District visit www.lavacagcd.org.