Letter from County Commissioner Dude Payne
Posted Friday, March 17, 2006

 

DONALD “DUDE” PAYNE
Commissioner Precinct 1
P.O. Box 998                                        
Clute, Texas 77531

(979) 265-3953
(979) 864-1523
(281) 756-1523
        (979) 265-5409 Fax

BRAZORIA COUNTY

 

I attended the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association summit in Washington, D.C. on March 1st through March 3rd in hopes of seeking further funding for the San Bernard River Project and Shoreline Erosion issues.

 While in Washington, D.C. Greg Burns with Howard Marlow and Company (lobbyist for the Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Taskforce) and I met with staff members of Senator Cornyn, Congressman Ron Paul and Congressman Tom DeLay’s offices.  At these meeting I stressed to all of our elected representatives the dire need for funding of the required study needed by the Corp of Engineers and the funding to actually begin the process of dredging the Mouth of the San Bernard River.  Due to the numerous cuts in our federal budgets, funding is limited for these types of projects and – as we all know – each year when fund become available, they are already committed to previously approved projects.

 Tom Lizardo with Congressman Paul’s office assured me and Mr. Burns the San Bernard River project would be included in their top three projects list (of approximately fifty projects) when they meet with the Army Corp of Engineers during the week of March 13, 2006.  Tom was also planning to meet on Monday, March 6, 2006 with Raymond Butler of the Gulf Coast Intracoastal Canal Association to further discuss the need for this project.

 The funds I mentioned at the last Friends of the River, San Bernard meeting (offshore oil & gas funds – CIAP) unfortunately will not be available until late spring of 2007.  I realize that the San Bernard River Project needs funding now, therefore I am continuing to seek the needed allocations.

 At the last meeting it was also asked how many structures were actually on the San Bernard River.  As per Gary McMahan, Regional Manager with the Texas General Land Office there are 608 permitted structures, including single residences, multi-family residences, commercial and public structures (i.e.; the TPWD boat ramps) beginning from immediately above Hwy. 35 to the mouth of the river.

 Due to the efforts of your group, I truly believe our elected representatives have realized the importance of this project and the issues we are facing with the closing of the mouth of the San Bernard River.  I also believe they are working diligently to allocate the needed funds to begin this necessary project.

 Again, thanks to all of you for your hard work and dedication to this project.  Your efforts have not gone unnoticed.

 

Sincerely,

 

Donald “Dude” Payne, Commissioner
Brazoria County Precinct 1

 

 

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Great News Update from Congressman Ron Paul

Tom Lizardo, Chief of Staff for Congressman Ron Paul, has just sent us some promising news about appropriations requests for Fiscal year 2007:

"We have begun submitting our FY 07 E&W requests. The Mouth of the San Bernard has gone in and is the #2 priority (out of about 50 projects) for this office this year."

Everyone keep your fingers crossed. We know requesting is not getting, but you have to ask for something before it can be granted.  Good Luck, Congressman Paul.
 
River Quotation

There is comfort in knowing that no matter what aspect my life takes on, this river will flow freely here, and that I might come to this place any time, in sadness or joy, alone or with someone I love. The waters will run smooth and fast, and though it will be a different river coming down, it will also retain its constancy. ~Jeff Wallach, What the River Says
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  • Questions have been submitted to the OC. The following questions were asked:

    1. How and when will officers be selected?

    2. There are meetings about the Mouth of the San Bernard and Quintana Beach restoration coming up. Why has there been no news or e-mails about these very important meetings about our River ? I understand that Eileen has been out of town but does anyone else have news ? There have been no post in the discussion area or direct e-mails.

    3. What info do we have about the Energy Bill payments to the State of Texas that may be passed to Brazoria County? Has anyone checked with the Texas GLO or RR Commission about info and estimates of these distributions ?

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Friday is St. Patrick's Day

This comes from StPatricksDay.Com

St. Patrick's Day wouldn't exist if not for the man himself!
But how much do we know about him?
Did you know that he spent six years of slavery in Ireland until he escaped and undertook religious training abroad?

Saint Patrick is believed to have been born in the late fourth century. He was the patron saint and national apostle of Ireland who is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland.

Saint Patrick is most known for driving the snakes from Ireland. It is true there are no snakes in Ireland, but there probably never has been - (the island was separated from the rest of the continent at the end of the Ice Age). As in many old pagan religions, serpent symbols were common and often worshipped. Driving the snakes from Ireland was probably symbolic of putting an end to that pagan practice.

So, why is it celebrated on March 17th? One theory is that that is the day that St. Patrick died-There are several accounts of his death. One says that he died at Saul, Downpatrick, Ireland, (on March 17, 460 A.D.) Another account says that he died at Glastonbury, England and was buried there.

In American cities with a large Irish population ,St Patrick's day is a very big deal -with celebrations ,parades ,"wearing of the green" music and songs ,games ,Irish food and drinks .Some communities even go so far as to dye rivers or streams green!

Most importantly, to those who celebrate its intended meaning, St. Patrick's Day is a traditional day for spiritual renewal and offering prayers for missionaries worldwide.

Resource:
http://www.stpatricksday.com