2015 Hays County and Cities of Buda and Kyle Texas Halloween Flood
Government Officials and Politicians Chose Tax
Revenue and
Best Interest of Developers and Wastewater Districts over the
Safety of
Citizens
There are numerous floodwater control dams throughout the
United States and the
State of Texas. These floodwater control dams were constructed on private properties. The property owners at the time of construction granted easements to
United States Department of Agriculture (
USDA) for the purpose of construction, operation and maintenance of the dams. USDA contracted with sponsors to manage the floodwater control dams after construction.
Former
Texas Congressman
James Jarrell “
Jake” Pickle is credited with diligently helping to establish the flood control dams in
Central Texas. The floodwater control dams are critical because they greatly reduce flooding. The flood control dams in Texas Upper
San Marcos Watershed District are being managed properly and functions as intended.
Unfortunately, several flood control dams in Texas
Plum Creek Watershed District are being used as wastewater detention ponds by the
City of
Buda, Texas,
GBRA and other wastewater districts. Wastewaters are occupying space that’s intended for floodwater during extreme rain events. The mismanaged dams are located in the areas of Buda, Texas and
Kyle, Texas. Many of these dams breached and caused severe damage to roads and surrounding properties during the
2015 flood.
The intent of the easement for
Soil Conservation Site 6 Dam and other floodwater control dams were modified when the sponsor, Plum Creek Conservation
District (PCCD),
Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA), the City of
Buda and other wastewater districts began releasing and storing their wastewaters onto private properties in the areas that are intended for floodwaters.
Soil Conservation Service Site 6 Floodwater
Control Dam breached as a result of Buda wastewaters during
October 2015 flood. Properties (including homes) flooded during this event. Some livestock escaped or had to take refuge on the bank of the dam. Yet, almost six months later, Buda wastewaters continue to inundate private properties.
Landowners 5th Amendment Rights were also violated when Texas
Hays County Commissioner’s
Court Judge Bert Cobb, Plum Creek Conservation District (PCCD) and others deliberately mismanaged more than one flood control drainage easement. Citizens are not only endangered by the mismanagement of the easement. But our properties have also been “stolen”.
None of the responsible parties are remorseful or feel they have done anything that’s illegal.
Hays County Texas Government officials, City of Buda Mayor
Todd Ruge, PCCD Manager Johnie
Halliburton, Guadalupe Blanco River Authority (GBRA) and others have been grossly negligent in protecting the property and lives of their citizens.
FEMA and Hays County
Development Texas development regulations were also violated when wastewater treatment facilities were permitted to release and permanently impound wastewaters into these floodwater retarding dams.
An investigation is currently pending (since
November 2015) with the USDA
Office of the Inspector General. Prior to filing the complaint, contact was made to the offices of Congressman
Lloyd Doggett,
State Representative Jason Isaac,
State Senator Judith Zaffirini, Hays County Development Services and
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (
TCEQ). I was either ignored, the buck was passed or there was a lot of finger pointing. For several years, I have felt like a dog chasing its tail.
The Endangerment of
Public Health and Safety complaint was filed with the same federal agency that convicted
Michael Vicks for supposedly endangering the lives of dogs. Hopefully, the unethical politicians and government sponsors will get more than a slap on the wrist for cold-heartily endangering human lives!
The City of Buda, Plum Creek Conservation District (PCCD) and Hays County knowingly placed the citizens of Hays County Texas in harm’s way and turned their backs.
Hopefully, corrective measures will take effect before the next major flood arrives. I would like to believe that the lives of human beings matter as much as our four legged friends.