Captain Ken Wright and First Mate Linda Wright provided a 1.5 hour ride on Yellowstone for the organizing committee and dignitaries attending our Town Hall Meeting. We rode upriver to a bend in Lazy Oaks and returned to dock at Dido's, where the River's End Volunteer Fire Dept. greeted us with a one-turret-gun spray salute from their new fire truck.

The following joined us at the Town Hall Meeting at Dido's on the river: 

 Chris Robinson, Reporter for The Facts, was also present.  Dido’s provided a buffet dinner for $9.95. After dinner, Roy Edwards welcomed the crowd of over 100—some said as many as 150, but the exact number is not known.

Roy Edwards Welcome & Introduction
Roy began by stating that we want to preserve the river for future generations, and also to have fun activities and involve the entire river community. He stated that in the last 45 days, we have had 19 articles in newspapers and even were mentioned on Channel 11 (CBS) news. He stated that everyone knows someone who can help us on the river, and that we all need to tap our resources to get the attention and help needed to open the mouth.

Roy reviewed David Pope’s 2006 "Spring Cleanup" in which the river community cleared 26,000 lbs of debris and junk from the river.

He reviewed success of the "Can You Dig It ?" event at the mouth last weekend.

He promoted the Memorial Day Boat Parade next Saturday, stating the two themes: (1) to honor our servicemen who died to keep us free; and (2) a memorial to our dying river. Tshirts for the event were available.  He also introduced Vanessa and Nelson Taylor, who are chairing the event.  The parade will begin at 2:00 at the 521 bridge and will end at the Las Playas boat ramp.  There will be a bar-b-que at the Taylor’s afterwards where awards will be presented.

He gave an update on our endeavors to complete our non-profit incorporation, stating that Nancy Kanter, our Treasurer, and Lynn Klement, our attorney for this purpose have been working toward completing the process. He reported that Lynn Klement is providing his services without charge.

He promoted the raffle tickets for the hybrid hibiscus plant, donated by Todd Sebesta of Landscaping by Marji. These tickets were available through Vanessa Taylor at the event.

He introduced the dignitaries present, and recognized Captain Ken Wright and Linda Wright of Yellowstone.

Roy referred to the editorial in The Facts yesterday. Copies of the editorial were available on each table. He read the following part.

"Friends of the River San Bernard is a model of how to get government to listen. Their actions are speaking more loudly than mere words of complaint, actions that are being heard by those who have he power to put the river back on course"

He recognized those who participated in the Spring Cleanup, those who attended the Dig event, and those who purchased our flags, saying “You are the friends of the San Bernard”, "You are the voices of the "Singing River".

Roy then introduced Tom Lizardo, Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Ron Paul, who answered questions that had been submitted throughout the evening on slips of paper at each table.

Tom Lizardo, Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Ron Paul

Tom stated that this is a battle we are in together to open the mouth. Dr. Paul became aware of the condition at the mouth toward the end of last year. Tom Lizardo came to see the mouth first hand with Roy and Jan Edwards at that time. Dr. Paul submitted a bill for the opening of the mouth last year, but it did not pass. It has been submitted again this year.  In this coastal district they have about 50 water projects every year. Congressman Paul looked at their projects this year and determined that reopening the mouth of the San Bernard is his number one water project. With that, he proceeded to address the questions submitted.

Question: What is Congressman Paul’s position on immigration?
Response: He voted for the legislation for an "enforcement only" approach. He will not support amnesty nor allowing a child born in the U.S. to illegal immigrant parents, to "automatically" be considered a U.S. citizen

Question: What can you tell us about the status of the proposed reservoir on the San Bernard River at Boling? How can we prevent the Lower Colorado River Authority from getting water out of the San Bernard to use to pay back their oversold water rights in their watershed?
Response: LCRA is a state agency, so you should look to the State of Texas for that. Congressman Paul is quite interested in the subject however and will assist in any way he can.

Volunteered: Tom stated that Congressman Paul can be helpful in F.O.R. San Bernard obtaining non-profit status once all paperwork has been submitted. Approval is required by the IRS and he can help make that happen faster.

Question: What did you think of the ride on the river today?
Response: He enjoyed it. Congressman Paul has a place on the San Bernard and he has visited that before, and also has been to the mouth. He sees that the river is different in different areas, and the ride today was in a beautiful part. The mouth of the river is beautiful also, but  has some very serious problems .

Question: Why has Congressman Paul voted against every bill that could have helped the mouth?
Response: He was not aware of anything to help the mouth that was voted against by Congressman Paul. He introduced legislation to help the mouth late last year in appropriations but it did not pass. He has introduced legislation this year in appropriations, and it is a high priority to him. He stated that Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison is now on board with helping our river, and said that we should all write her as she is on the Appropriations Committee and also often on Conference Committees, and that she is a good ally to have.  “It’s a long process,” he said, but we’re going to get this done.”

Question: Do you know if the Water Resources Development Act has received the re-authorization process from Congress? If so, would this be a good place to seek funding for the study necessary to obtain the C.O.E permitting to dredge the river. If not, is there anything we can do to help get it past Congress?
Response: That bill has not yet passed the Senate. It is very important to us because we have so much coastline in our district. Water projects are long and difficult. One week, it may be said to be on fast-track; the next week a long delay is announced. The Water Resource Development Act is an “authorization bill”. It doesn’t mean there is money there to actually do the project.

Question: Who pays for the permit to dredge by the Corp of Engineers?
Response: Everything requires a study beforehand and every project must have a local sponsor, presumably the county. There is a cost-share involved .Permits are paid for between federal and local monies Commissioners Payne and Stanley have been very supportive and Congressman Paul has heard from them frequently.

Question: If the river floods, who do we turn to for help?
Response: The Corp will be important; also your local government will be important. You can contact Congressman Paul’s LJ office to let him know when you are flooding. When we have big floods, the feds are involved though it is not necessarily recorded as a federal responsibility. “Whenever you deal with government agencies, let your congressman know. He can help you. We are there to help you. That is why we are there.”

Question: Why should we have to pay the cost of sand for Treasure Island when they could take ours?
Response: Great question. So many need more sand and here we have too much sand. The solution seems easy to us individually, but the Federal government has to have a very reasonable, rational approach. There has been talk of coupling projects of beach re-nourishment and reopening the mouth of the San Bernard. Congressman Paul elected not to do this because it is a small amount of money in relative terms, and it is a worthy project. He is hoping not to slow it down by coupling it with other projects.

Question: Will reopening the mouth increase county taxes?
Response: No, but there will be a contribution by local government required.

Question: If the mouth is reopened now, how long before it closes again?
Response: He did not know, but understands that it will close again without ongoing maintenance, and that maintenance needs to be a part of the project. There are many such projects accomplished and maintained up and down Intracoastal by the federal government

Question: How many tons of sand need to be moved from the mouth of the river?
Response: This is a technical question; I do not know the answer. This will be determined through the study.

Question: Since there is little saltwater mix upriver now, we are getting alligators.
Response: He believes we can and will get the mouth open. He has been with Dr. Paul for 10 years and has been told no a lot. They just ask again and again until the answer turns from no to yes.

Question: Why is the Corp of Engineers not required to close the Brazos flood gates unless a barge goes through?
Response: He was not familiar with that issue. Any project takes a team to bring information together from many sectors. For instance, we are working now on the environmental aspects of reopening the mouth. The real answer is ‘let’s get the mouth reopened’.

Question: With the mouth closed, where will all the water go in a flood?
Response: He did not know, but hopefully the mouth will be reopened before that occurs. Contact Congressman Paul’s office if the river floods.

Question: (In jest) Does Ellington Air Force base need any bomb training? (to "blow open" the mouth of the river ?)
Response: (laughter) Along that line Congressman Paul opposes closing military bases as long as we have servicemen overseas.

Question: It seems that with serious erosion on the Texas coast in Congressman Paul’s district, that it would be a highly worthy and visible project to open the mouth and make a sand trap for annual harvest of our sand. Is Congressman Paul in favor of that approach?
Response: Yes, he is in favor of moving the sand from where we don’t want it to where we do want it.

Question: Couldn’t the GICA get this done?
Response. It is a real and important effort to get a team at all levels to work on this issue. Raymond Butler of Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association absolutely can be a big help. We need everyone we can get; the more expressing an interest, the better, the faster.

Question: After Hurricane Rita, many places received lots of Federal dollars. Why didn’t Congressman Paul help us in Texas?
Response: He did help Texans! Still he feels that Texas is not getting its fair share of assistance, but not for lack of asking. Paul wrote the speaker about it and introduced legislation for $574 million for Texas. He was ruled out of order. Ron Paul has probably been the loudest on this issue that Texas is not getting its fair share. Yes, he voted against the bill for Louisiana, but people in Chambers County with blue tarps on their roof aren’t complaining that he didn’t want to give Louisiana more.

Question: Yesterday the House appropriations passed the Port Security Bill and it did not include any money for this district. What did Paul do for this district regarding this bill?
Response: Paul voted for the Port Security Bill. Much of that money comes to the 14^th District of Texas. In the past few years, several million in port grants has come to this area.  There have been times when Homeland Security has come up with plans to exclude our port. Paul has been very vocal against that.

Question: Is there such a thing as a “fast tract project” with the Corp of Engineers?
Response. Yes. Section 206 funding is difficult to get because a small amount of money is available for the entire nation. It’s difficult to achieve and it also requires a local cost-share. The San Bernard may be eligible. “We will pursue that though. We’ll go for Section 206.”

Question: Wouldn’t it be smarter to open the mouth before the big storm rather than suffer the FEMA expenses?
Response. Yes. But, the truth is that the Feds move slowly. There’s a process and we must follow the process. But we will less than diligent if we said that it will be done in three months. It’s easier sometimes to get funding for things in other countries than it is for our own.

Question: What is the likelihood we will receive funding for the study? If our group were to raise $250,000, would that increase the likelihood?
Response: I hope it will happen in this appropriations process. If so there is no reason the Corp can’t move in the next fiscal year following the appropriation. The House should be done with appropriations by Labor Day, but more likely they will return after the November elections to finish appropriations. He believes the Corp would start on the project quickly. We have the attention of lots of people, including the corp. If there is $1 available for us, Congressman Paul will go after it.

Question: If local money is raised, would that help?
Response. It is more usual for the county government to pass a resolution and commit to the project to be a co-sponsor.

Closing
Roy thanked Tom Lizardo and everyone who came. Eileen reported that Commissioner Dude Payne had to leave a little early and asked that she report the status of the funds from the Coastal Impact Assistance Program. Fund allocations will be known in late spring fiscal year 2007. States must submit a coastal impact assistance plan to be approved before funds can be disbursed.  He announced at our February public meeting that Brazoria County anticipated $2.2 million from these funds and that it seemed likely that the funds for the comprehensive impact study could come from these funds. The County Commissioner’s Court has passed a resolution in support of opening the mouth of the San Bernard.

The meeting closed.
It was a very successful event

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