Published: February 19, 2009 11:24 am      

GCD offers options

The Cooke County Ground Water Conservation Committee members cast their ballots to rank the options for a Groundwater Conservation District during their Feb. 17 meeting.

Cooke County Water Conservation Committee Chairperson Wayne Becker reminded the committee that their objective is to examine, evaluate and make recommendations for the best course of action in forming a groundwater conservation district (GCD).

The committee is to make their recommendation to the Cooke County Commissioners Court. The County Commissioners will then make the decision and then make their recommendation to Austin.

Becker complimented the board and citizens of Cooke County on the work being accomplished toward the GCD, saying that some counties have not even begun to address the GCD issues and decisions that need to be made.

“Maybe today we can get through the sticking point,” said Becker, referring to the ranking of the options to take place by each member by the end of the meeting.

Three citizens gave public comments before the committee.

Ken Arterbury said that everyone needed to move on and start looking at a three-way water district with Grayson, Fannin and Cooke counties.

Gene Montgomery said, “I don’t think a single-county district will be approved.” Montgomery said that a single-county district is not feasible and we should not waste our time trying to get one approved.

Ronnie Felderhoff said, “keep local control. Don’t go with Grayson and Fannin, they don’t have anything to offer us.”

“Try to keep a single county groundwater district,” said Montgomery. “We will lose control. Don’t let it happen.”

Each Cooke County Ground Water Conservation Committee member was given five minutes to make their verbal recommendations pertaining to the future of the groundwater conservation committee.

Kenneth Klement recommended a single county district.

Greg Bohl, Muenster Water Supply, recommended a single county district.

Ronnie Young, Kiowa Water Supply Corp., passed without making a recommendation.

Carl Kemplin, city of Valley View, passed without making a recommendation.

Bradley Mitchell, Era Water Supply Corporation recommended a single county district.

Jerry Stell, Bolivar Water Supply, recommended a Cooke County and Denton County district.

Darlene Nelson, Oak Ridge Water Supply, passed without making a recommendation.

Committee Chairperson Wayne Becker said, “I am not ready to give Grayson county more representation than we have...there is no reason to enter a district under somebody’s thumb. I’m begging you not to go with Grayson.”

Jodie Vance, Mountain Springs Water Supply, said his board wants a multi-district GCD (Grayson,Fannin, Cooke).

Ken Swirczynski, Woodbine Water Supply Corp., recommended going for a multi-district GCD (Grayson, Fannin, Cooke).

Vanessa Price, city of Callisburg, Barry Sullivan, city of Gainesville and recommended a three-county district (Grayson,Fannin,Cooke).

Gene Shasteen recommended going with Grayson and Fannin county.

Following the verbal recommendations Becker said “with comments out of the way, go ahead and fill out the ballot and we will put them into a report for the County Commission meeting next week.”

Becker said, “I think everyone’s mind is made up. Let’s go ahead and take the vote.”

There are four options to be ranked by the twelve committee members.

• Grayson, Fannin, Cooke

• Cooke County as a single district

• Denton and Cooke

• Do nothing (allow TCEQ to place us in a district as they see best).

Members recorded their first choice through their fourth choice on the ballot and passed their ballots to Becker.

The next step in the process is the County Commissioners Court meeting Monday, Feb. 23 in the County Courthouse.