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HALLETTSVILLE – For the second time, voters in Lavaca County have turned down formation of a permanent groundwater conservation district. It also failed at the polls in 2001.

In June 2007, the Texas Legislature created a temporary district with House Bill 4029, and voters were to decide whether to make the district permanent.

The proposition failed with 57 percent of the vote, 1,696 to 1,262.

Groundwater district opponent B.J. Nolen said he was pleased with the victory.

“The longer this goes on, the more people will understand what will happen,” he said. “Each individual has a chance to protect our own water right now.”

Larry Svetlik, president of the district’s temporary board of directors, said he was disappointed, “but we live in a democratic society.”

“Our job as a board was to get the information out. We have to live with the results,”Svetlik said. “When Lavaca County runs out of water, we need to think back on how we voted, look to the people who help get this defeated and ask them to take charge and take care of our water.”

Svetlik explained that since permanent formation of the district was defeated, the temporary board of directors becomes “null and void.” Another election can be called in two years.