tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76284192935353889142024-03-13T14:39:24.835-07:00Mary KelleherMary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-25168177285288255952022-09-09T10:18:00.003-07:002022-09-09T10:52:22.880-07:00East Fort Worth IS FULL OF IT Stormwater Runoff and Sediment Pollution<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLXR0JLawju_eLZumRJr0-vWT_6eIc9B1KQwf-Q2E-XtIRLqr3S88uLeJAIS2k1qsT9cEz8-DkpQC8OPWP7w3QG1fQg7rqN73ZKQFXStgZXgYq0MrWiP7-n0bEm6hzH92z2WHhsOmfbzK_xuGTc5aWrCcfh312zyynSvw-e2sQp6Y32YPeDGtyBtyXA/s320/IMG_5708.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="261" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLXR0JLawju_eLZumRJr0-vWT_6eIc9B1KQwf-Q2E-XtIRLqr3S88uLeJAIS2k1qsT9cEz8-DkpQC8OPWP7w3QG1fQg7rqN73ZKQFXStgZXgYq0MrWiP7-n0bEm6hzH92z2WHhsOmfbzK_xuGTc5aWrCcfh312zyynSvw-e2sQp6Y32YPeDGtyBtyXA/w269-h320/IMG_5708.jpg" width="269" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsgvvsWoyYNUTCIGPIt_TEG_VBV18m28UmY_azhiuy3p8cLeG7jn5qaSMts-Ws3KFW5BMjO7EQH19xmK0B0Rtul-cwo-pgZgo_RavnHuLw9faS6yGy0cdaH0uO0gtbvkXdk2ZwryPIhtrhVrYT6q_9ZPPUzVnPEs2tyPUehcpmwf5BmBkRFDbqFnrcw/s320/IMG_0539.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNsgvvsWoyYNUTCIGPIt_TEG_VBV18m28UmY_azhiuy3p8cLeG7jn5qaSMts-Ws3KFW5BMjO7EQH19xmK0B0Rtul-cwo-pgZgo_RavnHuLw9faS6yGy0cdaH0uO0gtbvkXdk2ZwryPIhtrhVrYT6q_9ZPPUzVnPEs2tyPUehcpmwf5BmBkRFDbqFnrcw/w281-h320/IMG_0539.jpg" width="281" /></a> </div><br /><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Q:</span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">What is stormwater runoff?</span></div><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stormwater runoff is water from rain which flows
from rooftops, over paved streets, sidewalks, parking lots, across bare soil, through
lawns, and storm drains.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">Q:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What is sediment pollution?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">A:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As stormwater runoff flows, it collects
and transports silt, soil, pet waste, pesticides, fertilizer, oil, grease,
litter, and other pollutants and drains into creeks, streams, and rivers which
eventually reach the ocean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> This is sediment pollution.</span> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;">These are pictures of sediment pollution caused by developer LGI on the east side of Fort Worth. City of Fort Worth staff and elected officials have known about this for almost 5 years now. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkji_4Wfxiow47oDotsuBgBwUqig15ERLdKRHxWodoWemPEgR8KdBn2lqdPqf5CMBPgp0Ihy-m21YHlDSpedSltXal_KHJPbFuBRMB8uweN2GXr5fD88EHHPXZKx7FX-JcBPPU9UJaqm24qw_7N1CT0m3gJLe8sLenlcw023hD6NBayzT8rHuw3kKiIw/s320/FullSizeRender.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="282" data-original-width="320" height="282" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkji_4Wfxiow47oDotsuBgBwUqig15ERLdKRHxWodoWemPEgR8KdBn2lqdPqf5CMBPgp0Ihy-m21YHlDSpedSltXal_KHJPbFuBRMB8uweN2GXr5fD88EHHPXZKx7FX-JcBPPU9UJaqm24qw_7N1CT0m3gJLe8sLenlcw023hD6NBayzT8rHuw3kKiIw/w278-h282/FullSizeRender.jpg" width="278" /></a> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhgOlQRQhHOXcfIrejdwaFEruohYMWo9VFZPuYIxAqm7Vs3vXLaVGxKR-1trTh89zVukF4P36HL-Uw29emAf35zdItL2IvVNY4d78UUGet_eiJEC-Emv1RCkXng_ICBvDXZFKkCmB4koaZqKCnlT4aCYuTxB1iW3RtHNrfSrK0GnXWoD9DnVGfHUKKA/s960/neighborhood%20on%20southside%20of%20LGI.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLhgOlQRQhHOXcfIrejdwaFEruohYMWo9VFZPuYIxAqm7Vs3vXLaVGxKR-1trTh89zVukF4P36HL-Uw29emAf35zdItL2IvVNY4d78UUGet_eiJEC-Emv1RCkXng_ICBvDXZFKkCmB4koaZqKCnlT4aCYuTxB1iW3RtHNrfSrK0GnXWoD9DnVGfHUKKA/w278-h283/neighborhood%20on%20southside%20of%20LGI.JPG" width="278" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJZnysRlMunl_EsdvIfOS3sxTCwF36-b13XhuVvzX23qEatfF_IxP2sgSX_k_u6iFO0I6uV9GrtrFzns5R2BppCkj977z1bYpVCFUYP1xnuaG5ueZEso2ThDlU48oxhVkro__FlnwPGKoBf6kL1MZQix7mQKJf9Tgj2uJKcr3apijeEKA2yK2CfDgrA/s960/IMG_1865.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnJZnysRlMunl_EsdvIfOS3sxTCwF36-b13XhuVvzX23qEatfF_IxP2sgSX_k_u6iFO0I6uV9GrtrFzns5R2BppCkj977z1bYpVCFUYP1xnuaG5ueZEso2ThDlU48oxhVkro__FlnwPGKoBf6kL1MZQix7mQKJf9Tgj2uJKcr3apijeEKA2yK2CfDgrA/w379-h240/IMG_1865.JPG" width="379" /></a><br /><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></p><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">Q: Did you know? </span><div><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt; text-align: justify;">The EPA identifies sediment as the most common pollutant in rivers, streams, lakes, and reservoirs.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 7pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">Construction activities account for 70% of sediment pollution.</span></li></ul><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Sediment pollution is considered a violation in the City of Fort Worth, but LGI and other developers in east Fort Worth (DR Horton, Benchmark, Huffines, and David Weekly) are not being held accountable for this by the City of Fort Worth. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Our neighborhoods first brought this sediment pollution to the City of Fort Worth's attention in 2017 when DR Horton clear cut a 50-acre forest on a hill on Randol Mill. The unmaintained drainage ditches and inadequate drainage design by DR Horton approved by the City of Fort Worth is a recipe for disaster for property owners and motorists along that stretch of Randol Mill. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">This is how City of Fort Worth staff and elected officials responded to their citizens over the last 5 years. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The drainage ditches along parts of Randol Mill were cleaned out a couple of times over the last 5 years. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">We learned the City's minimum standards factor in velocity of stormwater runoff but not volume of stormwater runoff when issuing permits. While City of Fort Worth staff now recognizes volume as pretty important, City of Fort Worth staff is still studying whether their minimum standards should include considering volume of stormwater runoff when issuing permits. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Since the LGI development on Randol Mill and Cooks Lane, City of Fort Worth staff now recognizes all development permits are not one-size-fits-all and should be considered on an individual basis. No changes have been made though, the City of Fort Worth is still studying this too.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">We learned the City of Fort Worth does not have an adequate number of city inspectors to ensure compliance by developers.</span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">We learned the City of Fort Worth justifies a certain amount of stormwater pollution by developers and refers to this as "interim conditions". Interim conditions are expected to exist on most construction sites until the project is ultimately built out. These interim conditions can last for years. <span face="Roboto, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #111111; font-size: 18px;"> </span></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">We learned developers love to build in Fort Worth because once they receive their permit, developers know they can do whatever they want to their original design because no one in the City of Fort Worth is watching. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The City of Fort Worth is using a Stormwater Criteria Manual from September 29, 2015. <a href="https://apps.fortworthtexas.gov/ProjectResources/ResourcesP/10%20-%20Design%20Guidelines/Storm%20Water%20Design%20Manual/CFW%20Stormwater%20Criteria%20Manual/2015%20CFW%20Stormwater%20Criteria%20Manual.pdf?_gl=1*12848m8*_ga*NjExODU4NjA1LjE2NjI1NzY2Njc.*_ga_R90X60M8G9*MTY2MjY3NjI5OS40LjEuMTY2MjY3NjI5OS4wLjAuMA.." style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;">2015 CFW Stormwater Criteria Manual.pdf (fortworthtexas.gov)</a></span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The City of Fort Worth is using a Stormwater Master Plan from April 17, 2018. </span><a href="https://www.fortworthtexas.gov/departments/tpw/stormwater/stormwatermasterplanupdate">Stormwater Management Program Master Plan Update – Welcome to the City of Fort Worth (fortworthtexas.gov)</a> </span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The City of Fort Worth is using Stormwater Management Ordinances from 2010.</span> </span><a href="https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/ftworth/latest/ftworth_tx/0-0-0-29508">§ 31-105 STORMWATER MANAGEMENT. (amlegal.com)</a></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The City of Fort Worth and LGI put in a stormwater drain under Cooks Lane and Randol Mill which drains stormwater to the Trinity River. The design is inadequate. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">The City of Fort Worth realized their Urban Forestry Ordinances were lacking after DR Horton clear cut 50 acres of post oak trees at their Trinity Oaks subdivision. The City of Fort Worth is still studying their Urban Forestry Ordinances too. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Developer LGI clear cut 100-acre forest on the second highest point in Tarrant County on Randol Mill and Cooks Lane for their Oak Ridge subdivision.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">Developer Benchmark removed almost all of the 100s of years old post oak trees on Randol Mill for their Randol Mill Valley Estates subdivision.</span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Developer Huffines clear cut their Mockingbird Estates subdivision on Randol Mill. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Developer David Weekly clear cut their Highwoods Village subdivision on Randol Mill. </span></span></li><li><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">After years of gross sediment pollution, Code Compliance finally made a decision to fine developer LGI for their sediment pollution but someone above staff level is allowing LGI the opportunity to come into compliance before actually fining them. </span></span></li></ul><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The City of Fort W</span><span style="font-family: times;"><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">orth knows the existing infrastructure for stormwater runoff on the east side is inadequate, </span></span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">yet the City of Fort Worth </span><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;">continues to permit development on the east side at a staggering rate knowing full well this development will only add to the existing problem!</span><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Adding insult to injury is Fort Worth City staff readily admitting in the article referenced below that they can't fix the problems they created because they don't have the money. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><a href="https://fortworthreport.org/2022/08/25/following-historic-rain-heres-what-fort-worth-can-and-cannot-do-to-respond-to-damage-and-future-flooding-events%ef%bf%bc/" style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;">https://fortworthreport.org/2022/08/25/following-historic-rain-heres-what-fort-worth-can-and-cannot-do-to-respond-to-damage-and-future-flooding-events%ef%bf%bc/</a><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 14pt;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">A friend of mine likes to say, "If you're in a hole, quit digging!"</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt;">Quit digging, Fort Worth! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">The City of Fort Worth isn't the only city suffering similar growing pains. Maybe the City of Fort Worth will consider learning from other cities experiencing similar problems. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Baton Rouge, Louisiana had similar issues and last year their City Council put a 12-month moratorium on development in place due to stormwater and flooding concerns. Baton Rouge took input from subject matter experts, developers, and property owners and updated their stormwater master plan and building codes. </span><a href="https://www.wbrz.com/news/storm-water-master-plan-implementation-means-end-of-development-moratorium">Storm water master plan implementation means end of development moratorium (wbrz.com)</a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt;">This is Fort Worth, Cowtown, Texas! Take the bull by the horns and stop permitting development on the east side of Fort Worth until our outdated Stormwater Management Ordinances, Stormwater Management Program Master Plan, Stormwater Criteria Manual, Urban Forestry Ordinances, and pitiful minimum standards are updated and steps are taken to ensure responsible development in Fort Worth. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;">Home ownership is the realization of the American Dream. It's the biggest investment in ourselves and our families and is the cornerstone of a strong community. At no time should local government compromise our dreams to increase tax revenue through permitting development the existing infrastructure cannot support. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;">Mayor Mattie Parker and City Council.....represent us!! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: times; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 19.9733px;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: medium; text-align: justify;"><br /></p></span></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 18.6667px;"><br /></span></p><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><div><p></p></div></div></div>Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-8299429128794633702020-01-16T14:10:00.001-08:002020-01-16T14:14:24.154-08:00Fort Worth Fails the East Side Again! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGyuEqqjYF_4zVCVe3Igl7cr_zW1GcUJaUTS1ZH_YR7g08R0Iv5QsH0ya9kckZHCwEs3_0pIHAOLbbj_2oIxcqQwzVDttgHFRYEk3PIYFFxQROcGi9XCQ5Xo1XC5IAN77K84_SBfIAzub/s1600/fw+construction+sign+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="666" data-original-width="500" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNGyuEqqjYF_4zVCVe3Igl7cr_zW1GcUJaUTS1ZH_YR7g08R0Iv5QsH0ya9kckZHCwEs3_0pIHAOLbbj_2oIxcqQwzVDttgHFRYEk3PIYFFxQROcGi9XCQ5Xo1XC5IAN77K84_SBfIAzub/s640/fw+construction+sign+2.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
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Why does Fort Worth disrespect the east side so much? For about 10 years, our neighborhoods told the City of Fort Worth we didn't want a roundabout, but they forced one on us anyway, even after Fort Worth cancelled the construction of any more roundabouts in the City. <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Most of us wanted 2 simple turn lanes to deal with the out of control traffic. Instead, Fort Worth chose a million dollar roundabout, a temporary fix for our outdated, failing infrastructure.<span style="background-color: transparent;"> We told them it would flood. City staff told us the area would drain better than ever. </span></span> </div>
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Guess who was right? </div>
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This is a photo taken by a neighbor who got stranded in her car in the roundabout. Stormwater run-off became trapped in the roundabout and our neighbor couldn't see the road. Thankfully, she and her 2 and a half year old son were rescued without injury. Her car sustained $3700 in damages. Hopefully, Fort Worth's Risk Management will step up and pay for the damages. Maybe Fort Worth will consider turning the new street lights on at the roundabout or providing some type of light for this very dark area.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp6y5vlgxuHRfK4IPp6a5ytpK4d8bjonRRbO7GttPGNHSa8kZ90FLjr2mBeuznK-v6fJ08tDh-MdoDhyphenhyphenxonkCgfPoTacozjzAzFZKPCCw03ZLZhg27ALQpCeyLnpcdSNjvQMbeMDuNDmT/s1600/flooded+roundabout+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXp6y5vlgxuHRfK4IPp6a5ytpK4d8bjonRRbO7GttPGNHSa8kZ90FLjr2mBeuznK-v6fJ08tDh-MdoDhyphenhyphenxonkCgfPoTacozjzAzFZKPCCw03ZLZhg27ALQpCeyLnpcdSNjvQMbeMDuNDmT/s640/flooded+roundabout+2.JPG" width="480" /></a></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Uninformed people are commenting on social media that our neighborhood should be used to this since we're in flood plain by the Trinity River. This flooding has NOTHING to do with the Trinity River. ALL of this water is stormwater run-off. Areas on Randol Mill which historically did not flood are now flooding. The reason.....development and the clearing of hundreds of acres in our area, which by the way, happen to be on the hill above our farm on Randol Mill. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Pictured below outlined in yellow is the 100 acres cleared by LGI for the Oak Ridge housing development. The smaller yellow circle is the typical size of our stock pond, about 2.5 acres.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKR1MV2kaafRdj43uD57DHsjvEUjEiiIxuKqySIq2rmfGo1CeoATW37Tn3WGo86TeJLk__AM1hyZ9kQ9vsRrPUr-XvSOqDC7VsXtt1179Nv8T3j1ZAwZ6-orKFeIuJmqQN1V95PaoTAEC/s1600/aeriel+view+of+farm+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKR1MV2kaafRdj43uD57DHsjvEUjEiiIxuKqySIq2rmfGo1CeoATW37Tn3WGo86TeJLk__AM1hyZ9kQ9vsRrPUr-XvSOqDC7VsXtt1179Nv8T3j1ZAwZ6-orKFeIuJmqQN1V95PaoTAEC/s320/aeriel+view+of+farm+2.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Here's another picture of our farm underwater.....NOT from the Trinity River getting out of its banks either.....this is ALL stormwater run-off. The specks on the right side of the picture are our cows.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a791piB3esigwmlEOD2bfH83UglklLUC4zXNdknBez4VRy8O912V68hRb6Uvm3fV02Bnf9csKXhvwfI7wLmcrn0jtJUEwE1e2PuhYA-6gBuaEGk-CKBB6HN6EMIDWwK2Wa37V-ahowKD/s1600/aerial+view+of+farm.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9a791piB3esigwmlEOD2bfH83UglklLUC4zXNdknBez4VRy8O912V68hRb6Uvm3fV02Bnf9csKXhvwfI7wLmcrn0jtJUEwE1e2PuhYA-6gBuaEGk-CKBB6HN6EMIDWwK2Wa37V-ahowKD/s1600/aerial+view+of+farm.JPG" /></a></div>
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The City of Fort Worth permitted this nightmare.....knowing there is no stormwater infrastructure other than bar ditches. Notice the reddish-brown stormwater run-off on the left side of Cooks Lane and the absence of stormwater run-off on the right side of Cooks Lane. Guess which side of Cooks Lane LGI is developing? </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JC8LrlHcUdN0Z2CsvggATaDOGSzSjkFvDeEcZv3_IvCm1yZx9YiMGRI0cyKJQI6W74GrAw9k-uQoT7TTSM62t7MY6eav0z3Q0fQrjIp5eEkgAewSUpUNWXOYXz0ZZgxEkZ605VEwNEQN/s1600/2+sides+of+cooks+lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-JC8LrlHcUdN0Z2CsvggATaDOGSzSjkFvDeEcZv3_IvCm1yZx9YiMGRI0cyKJQI6W74GrAw9k-uQoT7TTSM62t7MY6eav0z3Q0fQrjIp5eEkgAewSUpUNWXOYXz0ZZgxEkZ605VEwNEQN/s400/2+sides+of+cooks+lane.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The stormwater run-off was so swift that is actually swept this railroad tie onto Randol Mill. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXes099TK7FI7XZnvOFNqMrvUgChq87xTa-sC7xZu6OeCvD0fkeVc_Kpqq3HI9wfWTJTNE8yQaI6G1XN9BN5atCDMXOnJCM0uRLAkbkGw07fEXlSjhmhCnhEc5JyDRg7WTwUhyphenhyphenjzwRGpmd/s1600/runoff+debris.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXes099TK7FI7XZnvOFNqMrvUgChq87xTa-sC7xZu6OeCvD0fkeVc_Kpqq3HI9wfWTJTNE8yQaI6G1XN9BN5atCDMXOnJCM0uRLAkbkGw07fEXlSjhmhCnhEc5JyDRg7WTwUhyphenhyphenjzwRGpmd/s400/runoff+debris.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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This drainage pipe couldn't handle the amount of stormwater run-off. LGI's contract engineer Pape-Dawson has been planning for over a year now to put a drainage pipe along Cooks Lane to carry their stormwater run-off to the Trinity River. If it ever happens, it would benefit some of our neighbors, but not all of us.</div>
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At least LGI seems to be trying...unlike DR Horton.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvsmK5M43GbKa08n7rvbnJ4jTBSUCEekVV9XHnGapCc8_D78K6thNRpDL6bZtrJHpvewfHLGUg1eq3cVLrQ__vHSK_ZGizYH8mLBq9eeSYFbdvukhe6T1hMeMy5FUi-HCLC_tRka9916d/s1600/inadequate+drainage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXvsmK5M43GbKa08n7rvbnJ4jTBSUCEekVV9XHnGapCc8_D78K6thNRpDL6bZtrJHpvewfHLGUg1eq3cVLrQ__vHSK_ZGizYH8mLBq9eeSYFbdvukhe6T1hMeMy5FUi-HCLC_tRka9916d/s400/inadequate+drainage.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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LGI /Pape-Dawson is aware their stormwater run-off is going east under Cooks Lane and running down the hill onto Randol Mill, but we know of no plans to address this. Actually, the majority of the water trapped in the roundabout came from the LGI site.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dBTJ5tXJiGQYYINFRpnRPlPEOHzjh6FEjEj-VOJeRdkXKZSuUlzNnEeMd3nwsbfZUSrk8GbT2Shb6NjGdNWy_o1k7d-RXehHvslWAaRGica0gEg6pZjBMEMk6-4bWowP3MiKebvhZXxb/s1600/LGI+run+off+on+east+side+of+cooks+lane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_dBTJ5tXJiGQYYINFRpnRPlPEOHzjh6FEjEj-VOJeRdkXKZSuUlzNnEeMd3nwsbfZUSrk8GbT2Shb6NjGdNWy_o1k7d-RXehHvslWAaRGica0gEg6pZjBMEMk6-4bWowP3MiKebvhZXxb/s400/LGI+run+off+on+east+side+of+cooks+lane.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Here's a photo of the LGI stormwater run-off coming off the hill and crossing Randol Mill by our home where it continues east towards the roundabout. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv2bXOJgwAPwsfYRju0-Y-Vfps0gvDhQp0aJIP48NMvRbb7Hx1SJsAmaRuP8EjzyPP8-30JtTizz_25NSJY1bd7aMU8YOqSZ-CA41DX7taReHnznIVpYszV3d2Tfpnpooz7FjKSYpovdb/s1600/LGI+run+off+by+our+home.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiv2bXOJgwAPwsfYRju0-Y-Vfps0gvDhQp0aJIP48NMvRbb7Hx1SJsAmaRuP8EjzyPP8-30JtTizz_25NSJY1bd7aMU8YOqSZ-CA41DX7taReHnznIVpYszV3d2Tfpnpooz7FjKSYpovdb/s400/LGI+run+off+by+our+home.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Here's a photo of LGI stormwater run-off traveling on both sides of Randol Mill Road headed to the roundabout. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Zp-XzYXYUeic_V3BPrDv2Wd2kKiaJz1S62rxbHkQsQpJUztIpU-tMTEYkR9USiPzzVlKPU-hZ8txyeygPNaNLgvxo8eXPIgeUzHLcUTSoUF_dRuhKtNZmXxxND5U02xOvC153rJ1Tgk/s1600/LGI+run+off.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga7Zp-XzYXYUeic_V3BPrDv2Wd2kKiaJz1S62rxbHkQsQpJUztIpU-tMTEYkR9USiPzzVlKPU-hZ8txyeygPNaNLgvxo8eXPIgeUzHLcUTSoUF_dRuhKtNZmXxxND5U02xOvC153rJ1Tgk/s400/LGI+run+off.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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LGI stormwater run-off at the roundabout.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1uBnWyIW25kBrqYbdhK4rpWbRPNvUMAqdlOUsKM35qaEdIyBuFGtXQLOUuTeGgUJ4fJMIIW-MaiqM3UsDlujOgIOriqMz_eL7AUoWVLr8jarqRPgJRGRpLL6li2LnW2jXHe_ogn_ziYf/s1600/roundabout+flooded+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1uBnWyIW25kBrqYbdhK4rpWbRPNvUMAqdlOUsKM35qaEdIyBuFGtXQLOUuTeGgUJ4fJMIIW-MaiqM3UsDlujOgIOriqMz_eL7AUoWVLr8jarqRPgJRGRpLL6li2LnW2jXHe_ogn_ziYf/s640/roundabout+flooded+.jpg" width="480" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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It's bad enough that our neighbors have to deal with all the unwanted water, but we also have to deal with debris and silt and whatever else the stormwater run-off picks up along the way. Storm water run-off is actually considered a point source of pollution and subject to federal permit requirements under Section 402 of the Clean Water Act. LGI knows it.....that's why there are construction workers on site after every rain. Here's a photo of the construction workers trying to shovel the silt that came off the hill.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPMY3xulnvzwMij0BJeABsC2N-xaMa21rf8_ouB8seMTd1KwazZxNP4Ifh9_ApMEfSM7x9MZBgIHuyvefmZ6w5CM7p4mARoZ0NalTpcGvYfRjWQOJx5_HJL5ghFPeXKV-MRSdRfo3iG0l/s1600/LGI+cleaning+up+their+silt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinPMY3xulnvzwMij0BJeABsC2N-xaMa21rf8_ouB8seMTd1KwazZxNP4Ifh9_ApMEfSM7x9MZBgIHuyvefmZ6w5CM7p4mARoZ0NalTpcGvYfRjWQOJx5_HJL5ghFPeXKV-MRSdRfo3iG0l/s400/LGI+cleaning+up+their+silt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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There was too much of it though so they brought in some equipment. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha97U1LH78eD5L-tF_0062GldIluW4WROZ33Npj0Pu2sqjZXOj1_OofVthyphenhyphenvWrMc0M1TDNHbClJOycPzpo24sYTVJoidoYUPNaN4PEOx82YE_Q0x66Ah_JJcx-JCTy-0I3ipVJGHsSG8P/s1600/LGI+machine+to+clean+silt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiha97U1LH78eD5L-tF_0062GldIluW4WROZ33Npj0Pu2sqjZXOj1_OofVthyphenhyphenvWrMc0M1TDNHbClJOycPzpo24sYTVJoidoYUPNaN4PEOx82YE_Q0x66Ah_JJcx-JCTy-0I3ipVJGHsSG8P/s400/LGI+machine+to+clean+silt.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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They forgot some of their slippery silt though and left it for us on Randol Mill at an already dangerous curve. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkkg7RZHsQAJNmnqVJ5Uuwouf9VovM5KhFUZE7MiBLfJJn_udF1Ys8qO_bTHOtTrvGHoOMMRZslubwbHp6JPlB7-3RSgVk07SFRTspVkdao1S7Oz41xMmQaLOI7kqbFAxtgHQmW3l2xSJ/s1600/LGI+silt+on+Randol+Mill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdkkg7RZHsQAJNmnqVJ5Uuwouf9VovM5KhFUZE7MiBLfJJn_udF1Ys8qO_bTHOtTrvGHoOMMRZslubwbHp6JPlB7-3RSgVk07SFRTspVkdao1S7Oz41xMmQaLOI7kqbFAxtgHQmW3l2xSJ/s400/LGI+silt+on+Randol+Mill.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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LGI's stormwater run-off, a point source of pollution, empties into our stock pond after any measurable rain. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iJ0hkrWlBQ1mytwz-JKPkf_eEPxvfRdFidLTiWM4JghxlVnVN0Jrb9tCgvjon1TyHTn-0f3aNIV1Ut3uS_D2b6YWZaXu0RwmKq4BKe7x8zSHeSmqbY7GQRn_3pXPokDmsbsya2eBupBw/s1600/LGI+water+in+our+stock+pond.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9iJ0hkrWlBQ1mytwz-JKPkf_eEPxvfRdFidLTiWM4JghxlVnVN0Jrb9tCgvjon1TyHTn-0f3aNIV1Ut3uS_D2b6YWZaXu0RwmKq4BKe7x8zSHeSmqbY7GQRn_3pXPokDmsbsya2eBupBw/s400/LGI+water+in+our+stock+pond.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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It also empties into the Trinity River.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSchy8K-Q2bzb_nSvpFP8ADDcIspVwDXy5TyICeqGm911TA3NUJzKkrWNHUJk22jQ_qmRsGMN5DhurNpBfOTpl6ee1Po8iRbrdY5I6YzQKATVm-GzJiLckwnguk8Y2Mtp-lxrmHAtp62kL/s1600/LGI+run-off+to+the+trinity.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSchy8K-Q2bzb_nSvpFP8ADDcIspVwDXy5TyICeqGm911TA3NUJzKkrWNHUJk22jQ_qmRsGMN5DhurNpBfOTpl6ee1Po8iRbrdY5I6YzQKATVm-GzJiLckwnguk8Y2Mtp-lxrmHAtp62kL/s400/LGI+run-off+to+the+trinity.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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Fort Worth City leaders brag about Fort Worth being the 13th largest city in the US, but it comes with a hefty price for existing Fort Worth residents; our quality of living. Fort Worth City leaders are intentionally allowing more developments with full knowledge the City lacks the infrastructure to support current loads! This must stop! And unfortunately, the only way to change this is to change most of our City leaders and that can only happen if you vote. Here in District 5, we are blessed to have City Councilwoman Gyna Bivens who represents her people, but even she couldn't stop all of the development in our area. What's it going to take for Fort Worth City leaders to stop this madness?!</div>
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-78383470180103736972019-07-29T19:04:00.000-07:002019-07-29T19:04:24.742-07:00Fort Worth History Buffs....You Make the Call....Public Road or Private<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last week our tenant called to tell us a large fence was being put up across the front of the property blocking access to the property where my husband was born and raised. The property is located on Trammel Davis Road, which was originally a county road and then annexed by the City of Fort Worth in later years. Trammel Davis originates at Precinct Line Road, intersects at Norwood Drive, and then ends at Greenbelt Road. <span style="text-align: left;"> Here's a picture of the area. My husband's property is in the yellow box. The red line indicates where the fence is being erected. </span></div>
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My husband and I drove to the house and sure enough, an 8 foot high game fence, the type one would use to keep game on their property was being erected. I called the City of Fort Worth's Call Center and asked if Trammel Davis was still a public road. I explained our situation and was instructed to call Code Compliance. I called our Code Compliance officer who explained that she was very busy and wouldn't be able to get out to the property until next week. I explained we had a tenant on the property that was being blocked access. I explained that our tenant is terminally ill and needed access to the property. She stated I would get a faster response if I submitted a complaint online. I submitted my complaint online and received a call back this morning. The Code Compliance officer explained she had tried to go out to our property but was blocked by a barricade. She recommended I call Fort Worth Transportation and Public Works. I must've called 10 numbers before I called my City Councilwoman who helped me find a number. Meanwhile, our tenant called and reported that he was fenced in on the property and had no way to get out. I explained our situation to TPW city staff and was finally called later this afternoon to let me know someone would be out tomorrow. I explained that our tenant was terminally ill and was fenced in without a way to get out or any emergency vehicle to get in. The city staffer stated that I hadn't indicated earlier that our tenant was terminally ill, and that it would be tomorrow before I was contacted. </div>
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So, with my nervous energy, I'm blogging about yet another horrible experience courtesy of the City of Fort Worth. Our tenant is a kind, hard-working man who doesn't deserve this inconvenience and threat to his safety and well-being. He won't be able to get to work until we either cut down the fence or Fort Worth actually helps us. We have the bolt cutters ready!</div>
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-23121433806643363442019-07-18T19:38:00.002-07:002019-07-18T19:39:54.207-07:00Another Tree Massacre by Developer (Benchmark Development, Inc.) in East Fort Worth<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Tuesday morning, as I drove to work on what really used to be scenic Randol Mill Road on the east side of Fort Worth, a chill went down my spine when I saw the heavy equipment at 7429 Randol Mill Road. The developer, Benchmark Development, Inc., out of Frisco, Texas, <span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">purchased 20+ acres of beautiful, huge pecan tree-lined green space for the purpose of building even more houses along Randol Mill Road. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"> I tried to talk myself into having some faith that the developer would keep their word as they had promised the neighbors they would keep the pecan trees. I tried to believe the City of Fort Worth wouldn't let this happen again, especially after the DR Horton tree massacre. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">I was disappointed, yet again, as I drove home from work and saw the destruction of the hundreds of years old pecan trees sacrificed by for the developer to squeeze a few more lots onto their property. I'm waiting for a return call from Fort Worth's Urban Forestry to see if this was a permitted act of destruction or another wanton act by developers who know they will have no consequence by the City of Fort Worth. </span></div>
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Please think twice before considering buying a home from this developer (Benchmark Development, Inc.) as they have proven to not be men of their words. Think twice before living in the City of Fort Worth too, especially the east side of Fort Worth, as for the love of tax money, the City allows developers' to build in areas that can't support the current infrastructure. </div>
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Shame on Benchmark Development, Inc. and the City of Fort Worth. </div>
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Benchmark's lack of respect for hundreds of years old pecan trees.</div>
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The beautiful area before Benchmark.</div>
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-16211180066223313262019-05-12T15:59:00.002-07:002019-05-12T15:59:58.341-07:00Fort Worth Flooding Can Be Prevented!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">Areas of the east side of FW went underwater again this week
and the City of Fort Worth, developers DR Horton and LGI Homes, and the
engineering firm Pape Dawson knew it was going to happen.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri;">FW had City trucks with flashing lights in
the flooded areas, DR Horton had staff out in the area taking pictures of the
LGI stormwater run-off to make their run-off not look
so bad, and LGI/Pape Dawson had equipment on site to clean up the torrential flood
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">came barreling down their hill.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">It’s a shame these “professionals” are having to go to such lengths
now when all of this could have been prevented during the permitting
process.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Believe it or not, the City of
Fort Worth permitted both developments knowing they were located on hills above
existing property owners and knowing the current infrastructure, or lack
thereof, could not handle existing loads. Our neighborhood learned Fort Worth
only considers velocity of run-off, not volume of run-off, when permitting new development. DR Horton's development is 50 acres, clear-cut of trees and LGI Homes is 100 acres cleared of trees on one of the highest points in Tarrant County. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7n7bsLcYW6_5_NFm5HGfhuxCuGNIr0hKKGrYenDj_ZqbJOnzVOarOgIHYztr53EHAu0Y_IiyzvGV5Qn9UsvDTSYj3uPLrajNyofAia3HIXmPb2YQ01nCgFTRJHfng46qC3AoIxOUWMAqE/s1600/DR+Horton+before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1024" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7n7bsLcYW6_5_NFm5HGfhuxCuGNIr0hKKGrYenDj_ZqbJOnzVOarOgIHYztr53EHAu0Y_IiyzvGV5Qn9UsvDTSYj3uPLrajNyofAia3HIXmPb2YQ01nCgFTRJHfng46qC3AoIxOUWMAqE/s320/DR+Horton+before.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DR Horton's 50 acres....BEFORE.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjnGanfaMRHVamk-p3o42B_PDvX0epxDCOZZlwr3rcd3Yd2i1xXFvvsvWWpqZq5zNEzqKux55SHVxyAevGcZ6WkrKSvpdMJwZoKnjsyD_wziPqUSra91WIVGScsapuBm0AhV5UrpmQVVt/s1600/DR+Horton+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1024" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtjnGanfaMRHVamk-p3o42B_PDvX0epxDCOZZlwr3rcd3Yd2i1xXFvvsvWWpqZq5zNEzqKux55SHVxyAevGcZ6WkrKSvpdMJwZoKnjsyD_wziPqUSra91WIVGScsapuBm0AhV5UrpmQVVt/s320/DR+Horton+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">DR Horton's 50 acres....AFTER.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1XXN_eFQuOh49KK5JTdBhby7l-hcsDd00i-Nwk83dB-PJBlBdYy4dJefuBHZ8PSAJ92JaZAl_YKnQa4HmLcUnJziYene_6LDM5i7Gworfy5ERUqKy22rN8OHdNZhBQ8VhM6CyrJ7zS-1/s1600/drone+pic+Oak+Ridge+2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD1XXN_eFQuOh49KK5JTdBhby7l-hcsDd00i-Nwk83dB-PJBlBdYy4dJefuBHZ8PSAJ92JaZAl_YKnQa4HmLcUnJziYene_6LDM5i7Gworfy5ERUqKy22rN8OHdNZhBQ8VhM6CyrJ7zS-1/s320/drone+pic+Oak+Ridge+2.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">LGI's pillaging of 100 acres....the run-off water in my backyard as a result. It's been like this for more than a year now!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">DR Horton has been flooding us with their run-off since
February 2016.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri;">LGI has been flooding us
with their run-off since March 2018. Three years later and our situation worsens
with every rooftop and inch of concrete poured.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: calibri;">What changes have been made to the permitting process to prevent this
from happening to other neighborhoods?</span><span style="font-family: calibri;">
</span><span style="font-family: calibri;">NONE!</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Are we any safer now then
we were three years ago?</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> </span><span style="font-family: calibri;">Fort Worth
installed 2 flood warning signals along Randol Mill Road but neither were functioning during the road flooding. Fort Worth has a website that allows citizens to check the real-time flood status of monitored
locations but unfortunately these warnings are linked to the signals lights which weren't working at the time. Randol Mill was over-topped with run-off in
at least 6 locations and motorists had no warning.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> <a href="http://fortworthtexas.gov/floodwarning/">http://fortworthtexas.gov/floodwarning/</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not functioning during the street flooding.<br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">FW website which indicated no flooding at intersection of Cooks and Randol Mill.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randol Mill near Cooks Lane. </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: calibri;">The east side has had three deaths in the last year due to
flooding caused by run-off.</span><span style="font-family: calibri;"> It's a miracle there haven't been more deaths. </span><span style="font-family: calibri;">What’s the
magic number of deaths before Fort Worth provides us with flood protection
caused by run-off?!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "calibri";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "calibri";">This situation isn’t exclusive to the east side of Fort
Worth, it’s happening all over Fort Worth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Areas that historically didn’t flood are now flooding due to
over-development and grossly inadequate infrastructure.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The City knows they are flooding us out of our homes and we are letting them do it. The City's solution thus far is to buy your home or
buy flood insurance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Either option is unacceptable! Our homes are our biggest investments and it's time we come together to put a stop to this madness!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "calibri";">FORT WORTH....you are failing your City! STOP permitting new developments until you fix what you are doing to us!!!</span>Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-51142244024626803552019-02-03T11:14:00.001-08:002019-02-03T11:14:46.014-08:00Update on Stuck Cow<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZiDbO7YEKRLhQopbRHGBLSo1GELo7op-jUdqmeBLKfJJqJD8RZRGRwz1qFlymEDooec5w5b-zlbgIjFHwRJL9gRPq1kvIPyoALwo1H3N3J03SQn7KJo29jz64mf8fTWQDUN9pxJ0OJDm/s1600/thank+you+cow.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCZiDbO7YEKRLhQopbRHGBLSo1GELo7op-jUdqmeBLKfJJqJD8RZRGRwz1qFlymEDooec5w5b-zlbgIjFHwRJL9gRPq1kvIPyoALwo1H3N3J03SQn7KJo29jz64mf8fTWQDUN9pxJ0OJDm/s320/thank+you+cow.png" width="240" /></a></div>
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Thanks again to the Fort Worth Fire Department for saving one of our girls! </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1cXo9N5UPItHGkkICdbLp6OOE1Xxp5LnimSvoYkHhVZJX55VhHB62MXCEXUpZUuEjpdqREgV1AnF5vTVd8O7MVhDYwtoQIvSaWG5DvZu2zs7XtMg1HNxDZ2zBITj8e-hFnK0IiJi4XVA/s1600/caked+cow.png" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 16px; margin-right: 16px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju1cXo9N5UPItHGkkICdbLp6OOE1Xxp5LnimSvoYkHhVZJX55VhHB62MXCEXUpZUuEjpdqREgV1AnF5vTVd8O7MVhDYwtoQIvSaWG5DvZu2zs7XtMg1HNxDZ2zBITj8e-hFnK0IiJi4XVA/s320/caked+cow.png" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
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Amazingly, she does not appear to be injured in any way and is happily grazing with her herd. </div>
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I think the FWFD should give her a name....</div>
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Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-14843572496601216662019-02-02T19:01:00.000-08:002019-02-02T19:01:31.592-08:00Fort Worth Firefighters Respond to Unusual Call<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxuAGtecg3fUpAwnnaVZ0THBQAmzOI0Vw9pu_NHhx2cjdSLLgnU3FGt_wWvSwKJKqGLAi4Gaig8_bA_elIUIQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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You never know what you're going to see on the east side of Fort Worth....but what I saw and experienced today was compassion above and beyond the call of duty by our Fort Worth Firefighters!<br />
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My husband and I run about 100 head of cattle on the east side of Fort Worth in the Trinity River bottoms off Randol Mill and Precinct Line Roads. This area used to be all farmland. Randol Mill is actually named after a mill once owned by a man named Randol. The mill was a hub for farmers who brought their crops to the mill to be ground up into feed. The mill even played a part in Fort Worth being named as the county seat. It was wild and western back in the day!<br />
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Over time, this area has changed. Development keeps coming and has pushed most of the farmers out of the area. We love farming and we love our livestock. It's become a challenge to maintain fence lines when fishermen and people on four-wheelers and dirt bikes cut our fences. <br />
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">We're blessed by the Lakes of River Trails neighborhoods as they are wonderful neighbors who help keep watch of our animals. </span><br />
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Today, as the cows crossed the river, a young heifer and a baby calf found themselves stuck in the mud. I slid down the bank and waded into the waist-high mud losing both my shoes. I was able to free the calf who crossed with his mother who patiently waited for her baby, but I couldn't free the young heifer. <br />
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I called the FWFD non-emergency number and explained our dilemma to the very kind officer. Within minutes Engine 27 was on the scene. I watched as the firemen carried equipment through the briars and brush down to the river where they tried with all of their might to free our heifer. It didn't look good and I believed we would have to put the heifer down. <br />
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My husband and I went home to get what we needed to put our heifer down when I received a call from the fire department that Engine 14, Rescue 14, and Battalion 4 were at the scene and were going back in to try again. Together as a team, the men worked together and freed our heifer from the mud and hoisted her up the steep bank. The video is shortened but what I witnessed warmed my heart and made me proud to live in Fort Worth. <br />
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The heifer got to her feet and crossed the river and reunited with the herd. <br />
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There is no way to thank the FWFD for their compassion, bravery, athleticism, and professionalism! You do Fort Worth proud everyday but today was something many of us will never forget! Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-39059584675064102192018-12-08T15:45:00.000-08:002018-12-08T15:45:49.539-08:00Fort Worth, DR Horton, and LGI....come get your runoff stormwater....we don't want it!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt99FDxezUzzmt4psvIg_Bql6XDpNpiJi7_pE0BmbJ8eVjrIz-Q_2R9Yhy6s0HJ3l0Rca44myKX2WHQKQ6q9FReU49ZoVKkjT2n6yE5pHbRQ-38STJydEpWqL-xzJKjEgCEAMB5CPhiTd/s1600/drone+pic+Oak+Ridge.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="1280" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZt99FDxezUzzmt4psvIg_Bql6XDpNpiJi7_pE0BmbJ8eVjrIz-Q_2R9Yhy6s0HJ3l0Rca44myKX2WHQKQ6q9FReU49ZoVKkjT2n6yE5pHbRQ-38STJydEpWqL-xzJKjEgCEAMB5CPhiTd/s320/drone+pic+Oak+Ridge.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is a current view of our backyard and every rain just adds to this body of water. This water isn't going anywhere either until it's pumped out or evaporates. </div>
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This is a view of our backyard under normal conditions.</div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Part of our property is in </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">flood plain and we expect it to flood when the Trinity River gets out of its banks. The river didn't get out though....this is just from runoff from the construction of the 50-acre DR Horton and 100-acre LGI housing developments uphill from us. And yes, the City of Fort Worth permitted this. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Where did the City of Fort Worth's engineers think the runoff from these 150 acres, stripped of hundreds of hundreds of years old oak and pecan trees, located on a hill above us would go? </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">Well, we asked the City of Fort Worth's engineers this, and believe it or not, they told us what we all already know.....the water is going to run downhill. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">When we asked the City of Fort Worth's engineers why they would permit a project knowing all of that water would be diverted onto the properties downhill, they told us that current code only requires them to consider the velocity of the water coming from a project and that they are not required to look at the volume of the water to be diverted to the property owners downhill. </span><span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: left; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPktXg-sSte2hemzMrv-lmtLmln7quK9grZjuAODpRCIL0lEuu9YNNPqKpFDtWdyI4uBTTenA2pmq7Oxh5A9XQ9lVMn02n5Kb1Qdxdu-xIPewGOk1E30_Pjz6h-7WSha1kNnQmKg2SLiii/s1600/stupidity+certificate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="148" data-original-width="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPktXg-sSte2hemzMrv-lmtLmln7quK9grZjuAODpRCIL0lEuu9YNNPqKpFDtWdyI4uBTTenA2pmq7Oxh5A9XQ9lVMn02n5Kb1Qdxdu-xIPewGOk1E30_Pjz6h-7WSha1kNnQmKg2SLiii/s1600/stupidity+certificate.jpg" /></a></div>
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So, now we know one of the main reasons areas of Fort Worth which historically did not flood are now flooding. We also know our infrastructure is inadequate and the City of Fort Worth has no money to fix it, but the City of Fort Worth sure can prevent more flooding by simply requiring engineers to consider volume of runoff when permitting new development. It's an easy fix City of Fort Worth, and would be much less expensive than a class-action lawsuit from the growing number of Fort Worth property owners devastated by flooding simply because a code needs updating. </div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: black; display: inline !important; float: none; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; orphans: 2; text-align: justify; text-decoration: none; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;">And please, City of Fort Worth, stop patronizing us by continuing to pay Freese & Nichols big money to write reports about why Fort Worth floods and how to fix it! The City of Fort Worth has been doing this since at least 2006 yet flooding is worse than ever. Stop the endless talk and meetings about flooding and do something about it already! And another thing, stop encouraging us to buy flood insurance for properties that didn't flood until the City of Fort Worth permitted construction which now causes our properties to flood! Maybe the City of Fort Worth should pay for our flood insurance if it's going to place our properties in jeopardy of flooding! Maybe FEMA needs to check out Fort Worth's flood management practices!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjOK0_Gh1Wc3vWSdZkJ8cQDzRkwD9QNQiwsiUyjDhf1JreaYq5ZPo611WMzdh1SDwxE-Iz6Eq4N4KE_iwQKM1wmMtdznzg091yFHhCollij9J3A4fRMbBme1jnKa08g6yqkFTxFfzbddL/s1600/Texas+Water+Code.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: transparent; color: #0066cc; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: 12.8px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; letter-spacing: normal; margin-left: 12.8px; margin-right: 12.8px; orphans: 2; text-align: center; text-decoration: underline; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; word-spacing: 0px;"><img border="0" data-original-height="177" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAjOK0_Gh1Wc3vWSdZkJ8cQDzRkwD9QNQiwsiUyjDhf1JreaYq5ZPo611WMzdh1SDwxE-Iz6Eq4N4KE_iwQKM1wmMtdznzg091yFHhCollij9J3A4fRMbBme1jnKa08g6yqkFTxFfzbddL/s1600/Texas+Water+Code.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a><b></b><i></i><u></u><sub></sub><sup></sup><strike></strike></div>
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So, while we wait for the City of Fort Worth, DR Horton, and LGI to come get their runoff from our property, here are pictures of just some of the damages being caused to our property due to the City of Fort Worth's permit to allow and DR Horton's and LGI's diversion of the natural flow of surface waters. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHE8PihPT0KayGO9Oe2NTkDJuNfR1ImMPRWR_V9fSnLD9Y3aOBSV9AT4eKZNZZXyw6EkuTitX5s9h5Rgvt_5Nv1yWsI0ahBjbCYTzyTLz5NaMAIvi2wQ3QOrf4xtyQTFVPPW-7ljSPe9l/s1600/swing+underwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghHE8PihPT0KayGO9Oe2NTkDJuNfR1ImMPRWR_V9fSnLD9Y3aOBSV9AT4eKZNZZXyw6EkuTitX5s9h5Rgvt_5Nv1yWsI0ahBjbCYTzyTLz5NaMAIvi2wQ3QOrf4xtyQTFVPPW-7ljSPe9l/s1600/swing+underwater.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Backyard swing.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkxq4M__MufttQFjaJfmVQv_PZuvl1Shd8ftZj2C6M4NVU_I-USwkkBErTURKTSmdRWaFyR2nY623YbcWQqnGmdh84KATLDa4lUCCYxoarUYx2TxygVyXyMZzeXHVGIqChuQb-A8PPfuX/s1600/IMG_0666%255B739%255D.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtkxq4M__MufttQFjaJfmVQv_PZuvl1Shd8ftZj2C6M4NVU_I-USwkkBErTURKTSmdRWaFyR2nY623YbcWQqnGmdh84KATLDa4lUCCYxoarUYx2TxygVyXyMZzeXHVGIqChuQb-A8PPfuX/s1600/IMG_0666%255B739%255D.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Back gate.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieECjXUOovudcLAqzRjK5I9T9p7qWXykcDlVTIa6ePRoGa5NS9sJOPs5w8tu1Co_k9RHh-50MQbCN9MKDDZMZOK9OinMq3FRFAbliW87DBgXdKYz6ZTk52igcHDnuuyBMmlti91jbE-fQi/s1600/backyard+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieECjXUOovudcLAqzRjK5I9T9p7qWXykcDlVTIa6ePRoGa5NS9sJOPs5w8tu1Co_k9RHh-50MQbCN9MKDDZMZOK9OinMq3FRFAbliW87DBgXdKYz6ZTk52igcHDnuuyBMmlti91jbE-fQi/s1600/backyard+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The barn is now on a peninsula. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0OinEaxvV6fhFWjATHgRc4HQDwCTnKjXH_38xutYYDi5YUQKZkZvZeW1A-8F_7Uc7k9tBXpQNxu_RnWzP7eSOBNW7bIvG5nxT-EURbpjtNHyM2RF-NgtP5MMoCgpYClrp_DhG46Xzx_v/s1600/backyard+livestock+pen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-0OinEaxvV6fhFWjATHgRc4HQDwCTnKjXH_38xutYYDi5YUQKZkZvZeW1A-8F_7Uc7k9tBXpQNxu_RnWzP7eSOBNW7bIvG5nxT-EURbpjtNHyM2RF-NgtP5MMoCgpYClrp_DhG46Xzx_v/s1600/backyard+livestock+pen.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livestock pens. </td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuMC-r3Y65NDECVYBL4ttmFYsLevNe3LZz3pUJDdmGgrZF2XTHXPd_cFi4RkCjfJesWZKm8665FoZIC_3jm-zhsTgqiWx9D6Q64OH_-Rh-fDPqa7zjxUuU2syuYtFdth282QKVBbVr19h/s1600/backyard+cows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="240" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyuMC-r3Y65NDECVYBL4ttmFYsLevNe3LZz3pUJDdmGgrZF2XTHXPd_cFi4RkCjfJesWZKm8665FoZIC_3jm-zhsTgqiWx9D6Q64OH_-Rh-fDPqa7zjxUuU2syuYtFdth282QKVBbVr19h/s1600/backyard+cows.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cows on high ground.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmyKTNcfbSZrgOEo3v0GJHQJCuiOEVSlzkkMimPOT6cvMBNDGclXD_CEY1HJXVQtRAd5CwMgec7xVsRvbfMpUzeguNDO3M3FtoTZzk9dMe5yEDVmz_-WvBRs3wGFxZ3XU9N8YpJaoVpUl/s1600/backyard+calf+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="320" data-original-width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXmyKTNcfbSZrgOEo3v0GJHQJCuiOEVSlzkkMimPOT6cvMBNDGclXD_CEY1HJXVQtRAd5CwMgec7xVsRvbfMpUzeguNDO3M3FtoTZzk9dMe5yEDVmz_-WvBRs3wGFxZ3XU9N8YpJaoVpUl/s1600/backyard+calf+2018.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Calf has to swim to get to its mother. </td></tr>
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-7160273081880704082018-05-01T18:56:00.003-07:002018-05-01T18:57:54.010-07:00Who's Drinking Panther Island Kool-Aid?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFol3UkyNw0rjeRkCx-VGQ43OfdGBmJHQtNnkWwizAqspkhj4qY98iT_7w1sUPnbgAMOjDwxBfYnJ9CCIhCfVXaQyWWBqp0syCwh1ARNL-3v-Nk3Oo7dSeWPgn5oPWnjW1yY-kFjwILbi/s1600/drinking+the+kool+aid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="341" data-original-width="238" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSFol3UkyNw0rjeRkCx-VGQ43OfdGBmJHQtNnkWwizAqspkhj4qY98iT_7w1sUPnbgAMOjDwxBfYnJ9CCIhCfVXaQyWWBqp0syCwh1ARNL-3v-Nk3Oo7dSeWPgn5oPWnjW1yY-kFjwILbi/s320/drinking+the+kool+aid.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
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Campaign finance reports are very informative. The report identifies people/groups who support, and usually have something to benefit from, certain political moves. </div>
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In this case, click on the link below to see who has something to gain from the Panther Island project. Not surprising really...mostly elected officials, engineers, and real estate developers.</div>
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<a href="http://204.65.203.5/public/100705987.pdf">http://204.65.203.5/public/100705987.pdf</a></div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-10762735210995886512018-04-27T19:37:00.000-07:002018-04-27T19:37:33.269-07:00Fort Worth Bonds....We Are Being Played the Fort Worth Way! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3HfpVJFeap58VxBE5bO9euboSsVcHfODUGP0Iyc1ZWAV2rgOWaT1T1pTAnkB1i-1Qm2jAaZQFGybrkEZSy3-yV-mkFhyphenhyphenWxndWElOW5UAd84TVaBvA3womA_3SU8E08zkr7oCYkTvWHlr/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="248" data-original-width="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN3HfpVJFeap58VxBE5bO9euboSsVcHfODUGP0Iyc1ZWAV2rgOWaT1T1pTAnkB1i-1Qm2jAaZQFGybrkEZSy3-yV-mkFhyphenhyphenWxndWElOW5UAd84TVaBvA3womA_3SU8E08zkr7oCYkTvWHlr/s1600/IMG_0152.jpg" /></a></div>
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I'm voting NO to all of the propositions and here's why.</div>
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Look at the sample ballot. Who in their right mind is NOT going to vote for streets improvements, park improvements, public library improvements, fire station improvements, animal shelter improvements, police facility improvements, and flood control and drainage?!</div>
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But how do we know that's what we're actually getting? Does anyone ever read the proposition in its entirety? </div>
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And that, my friends, is just what our politicians are banking on....literally....the un-informed voter. And I have to admit I resemble that remark....but not this time! I have done my homework!</div>
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It was the Tarrant Regional Water District proposition that made me ask questions.</div>
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As a victim of frequent flooding in Fort Worth, I was thrilled to see flood control and drainage on the ballot. I asked which areas would be receiving flood control and drainage improvements and learned none of the areas that currently flood will be receiving any type of flood control. I was informed the $250 million was for the area known as Panther Island which hasn't flooded since 1949. So, why are we being asked to support a $250 million bond for a flood control project for an area that doesn't even flood? </div>
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Because our elected officials know we wouldn't knowingly vote to spend $250 million for an economic development project that benefits a select group of local citizens. </div>
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And just who is this select group of local citizens?</div>
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The answer lies in the fancy political propoganda most of in Fort Worth recently received from the Our Community Our Future group promoting the upcoming Fort Worth and Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) bonds. </div>
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The Our Community Our Future group is none other than the usual Fort Worth Way Good Old Boys and Girls.....Mayor Betsy Price, the Fort Worth Chamber, TRWD Board Member Marty Leonard, and last but not least, Hon. Mike Moncrief. They've been able to raise close to $400,000 to con us into voting for hundreds of millions of dollars in bonds for "improvements" which may not actually be what they claim to be. I'm going to bet US Rep. Kay Granger donated too but I won't be able to confirm this until Texas Ethics Commission publishes their report on Monday. </div>
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So....what's in it for them? Let's make the connections.</div>
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Mayor Betsy Price actually wasn't a Panther Island supporter or at least that's what she told voters when she ran for election in 2011. It's doubtful she has anything financial to gain from Panther Island.....she just does what US Rep. Kay Granger tells her to do.</div>
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Fort Worth Chamber....MONEY! </div>
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TRWD Board Member Marty Leonard's family owns property from the northwest bank of the Trinity River to downtown. I still love Marty Leonard though, she's a class act and I don't think she has a mean bone in her body...I think she's just been brainwashed by her lifelong friends. </div>
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Hon. Mike Moncrief was Mayor of Fort Worth from 2003 to 2011. He is suspected to be one of the dons of Panther Island. It's believed Mike's motivation is as simple as Bruce Springsteen's Glory Days. </div>
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US Rep. Kay Granger has been using her position for personal gain for decades. She secured millions in federal funds in the late 1990s to build a commuter rail from Fort Worth to Dallas after purchasing an old building across from the now Intermodal Transportation Center. There was no consequence for that so why not do it again?! This time she secured more than $50 million for the Panther Island project, then bought a condominium about 1/2 mile from the project with her son JD Granger who just coincidentally is the executive director of the Panther Island project and earns a yearly salary of almost $200,000 despite having no experience in this field (which is probably the reason the project is way over budget and way behind in progress).</div>
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Our Community Our Future......evidently it's about theirs not ours!<br />
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Vote NO on all of these propositions!<br />
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-35105875920671106532018-03-27T18:35:00.000-07:002018-03-27T18:35:52.758-07:00Fort Worth Voters Beware of Proposition Propaganda <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How many voters actually read a proposed proposition from start to finish? </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">I think most voters probably take for granted that the blip we read on our ballots accurately reflects the true use for the money. </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Well...so much for that! I think whoever writes those blips are banking (pun intended) on our trust in their leadership and our ultimate ignorance. These people should be prosecuted for misrepresenting the voters.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;">Case(s) in point</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;">. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;">The ballot in the picture was recently mailed out in anticipation of the vote on May 5th. The proposition is from the Tarrant Regional Water District and claims to be for flood control and drainage facilities. Please refer to the link below which documents that the Tarrant Regional Water District needs the money to fund the Panther Island project north of downtown....AKA Trinity River Vision (TRV), the project is a proposed 800 acres of economic development in downtown Fort Worth. Why doesn't the ballot blip reflect this? </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span></span></div>
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<a href="http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/trwd-calls-for-m-bond-election-for-panther-island-project/article_326933e8-1378-11e8-a1c0-af8a093c38d4.html" style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">http://www.fortworthbusiness.com/news/trwd-calls-for-m-bond-election-for-panther-island-project/article_326933e8-1378-11e8-a1c0-af8a093c38d4.html</span></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">How many voters will be hoodwinked and vote yes to the $250 million thinking they're actually getting flood control and drainage facilities from the Tarrant Regional Water District (TRWD) for this money?! </span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">By the way, this isn't the first time voters in Fort Worth have been duped by these ballot blips relative to Panther Island/Trinity River Vision (TRV).</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We were tricked in 2004 when we voted for a $232 million proposition for street and sewer improvements when the fine print indicated it was actually for the design and construction of the Trinity River Vision project.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We were tricked again in 2008 when we voted for a $150 million proposition for street improvements when the fine print indicated it was actually for the 3 bridges over dry land which still have not been constructed 10 years later.....yet TRWD claims their project is on schedule and on budget.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">Let's try not to let our City "lea</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;">ders" trick us again! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #1d2129; font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">TRWD will be holding a series of public meetings to discuss this bond package. </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">Please attend </span><span style="line-height: 19.32px;">one or more of the public meetings (listed below) being <span style="color: #1d2129;">presented by TRWD and ask some questions before you vote.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">What areas will this money protect from flooding?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where will these "drainage facilities" be located?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Will the areas that flood now still flood after the project is completed?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where can voters see, in writing, what the money will be spent on?</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19.32px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Where can voters find a full accounting of the project up to this point?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="color: #1d2129; line-height: 19.32px;"> </span><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">Is it true the people w</span><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">ere never allowed to vote for or against this project in the first place? Why not?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a fact the Army Corp of Engineers never conducted a cost/benefit analysis of this project at its inception as Congresswoman Kay Granger asked the USACE to waive it and they did. Why was this standard procedure exempted at her request? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.08px;">Before we sink another $250 million more into this project, isn't it the time for the USACE to conduct a cost/benefit analysis to determine if the project is worth $250 million more?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">It's a fact the Congresswoman Kay Granger's son, JD Granger, is the project manager for Panther Island/TRV. What are his qualifications for this billion dollar project?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Ask TRWD about JD Granger's recreational ideas such as FW 4th party, the wake board park, the skating rink, tubing in the Trinity River. Are these money-makers or costing us money? What do these activities have to do with flood control and drainage?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16.08px;">Please ask questions and make an informed decision.....we owe it to our children and their future.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #666666;">T</span>RWD Meeting dates and places:</div>
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March 26, 2018<br />East Fort Worth Regional Library from 6:00-7:00 PM<br />6301 Bridge Street, Fort Worth 76112 (Fort Worth Council District 4)</div>
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March 27, 2018<br />Azle Memorial Library 6:00-7:00 PM<br />333 W. Main Street, Azle 76020 (Azle/Jacksboro Highway area)</div>
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March 29, 2018<br />Hazel Harvey Peace Center from 6:00-7:00 PM<br />818 Missouri Ave., Fort Worth 76104 (Fort Worth Council District 8)</div>
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April 2, 2018<br />Wedgwood Baptist Church from 6:30-7:30 PM<br />5522 Whitman Ave., Fort Worth 76133 (Fort Worth Council District 6)</div>
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April 3, 2018<br />WeWork Clearfork from 6:00-7:00 PM<br />5049 Edwards Ranch Rd., Fort Worth 76109 (Fort Worth Council District 3)</div>
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April 5, 2018<br />UNT Health Science Center (Carl E. Everett Education and Administration Building) from 6:00-7:00 PM<br />3500 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth 76107 (Fort Worth Council District 7)</div>
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April 9, 2018<br />Tarrant Regional Water District from 6:00-7:00 PM<br />600 E. Northside Drive Fort Worth 76102 (Fort Worth Council District 2)</div>
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April 10, 2018<br />Fort Worth Club from 11:30-1:00 PM<br />306 W. 7th Street, Fort Worth 76102 (Joint Presentation to Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber, Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber and Fort Worth Chamber)</div>
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<span style="line-height: 16.08px;">April 12, 2018</span><br style="line-height: 16.08px;" /><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">Tarrant County College Opportunity Center from 6:30-7:30 PM</span><br style="line-height: 16.08px;" /><span style="line-height: 16.08px;">5901 Fitzhugh Ave., Fort Worth 76119 (Fort Worth Council District 5)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCybyl0jVp71_vASTlO2tEMz_poB5xcRU5VZJIPEgMfmPvfFui_rH3t-2I7Rc7Q2T4h51MIL2z3Qv0xwYUBJCytU7ULs0uCYU1uDkOlo4NDpe3W5BjokvNOe2nDUmjhSe2G4sVXhbyR8Q/s1600/IMG_0133+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkCybyl0jVp71_vASTlO2tEMz_poB5xcRU5VZJIPEgMfmPvfFui_rH3t-2I7Rc7Q2T4h51MIL2z3Qv0xwYUBJCytU7ULs0uCYU1uDkOlo4NDpe3W5BjokvNOe2nDUmjhSe2G4sVXhbyR8Q/s320/IMG_0133+%25281%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-29446801080081410492018-01-19T19:10:00.000-08:002018-01-22T08:41:56.484-08:00Fort Worth: Part 2. DR Horton's Dirty Drainage Deed<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvffx9lkM3BWmmqBmhPCJlr7VtyM7bF43cPccg8O_sqKZkYhH7YkW4GTqMteTHtOUeGnV1AfCgZN_WC4hFQwB3O4q2BffrnEd_XUSLlRCO8wpxGNmJMONTjJ2xX6LMOFL6VFyLbZREQeoe/s1600/DR+Horton+retaining+wall.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvffx9lkM3BWmmqBmhPCJlr7VtyM7bF43cPccg8O_sqKZkYhH7YkW4GTqMteTHtOUeGnV1AfCgZN_WC4hFQwB3O4q2BffrnEd_XUSLlRCO8wpxGNmJMONTjJ2xX6LMOFL6VFyLbZREQeoe/s320/DR+Horton+retaining+wall.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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On December 19, 2017, I took this picture and sent it to the City of Fort Worth's Storm Water Management Division.....if you look at your water bill, we pay some pretty hefty fees for storm water drainage fees.<br />
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This is a photo of one of DR Horton's "retaining" walls located on the same property where DR Horton violated their Urban Forestry permit and destroyed over 100 mature, protected trees. The "retaining" walls are supposedly designed to promote effective drainage of storm water. I think the engineers may have underestimated the power of water.<br />
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Despite the recently cleaned out drainage ditches on Randol Mill Road, the storm water drainage overflowed DR Horton's "detention" pond and covered Randol Mill Road which made it impossible for motorists to tell where the road ended and the drainage ditches began. Very dangerous and a huge liability for the City of Fort Worth.<br />
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This is DR Horton's solution to their silt/sediment control problem. Rocks.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkK6Vhb7fW6OTltRBKgwfh9AwglFsTlnZqd7NUQS1A9rZmaJxIRl-UOAMScRhNRT-Vqhu1Gj7jC9whtZQ4eTa9lzRc17hK7qen-4ngxZd1Pd1RhyjHlYkQD8x0eU1aQNroaafQuqADuy79/s1600/DR+Horton+drainage+solution.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkK6Vhb7fW6OTltRBKgwfh9AwglFsTlnZqd7NUQS1A9rZmaJxIRl-UOAMScRhNRT-Vqhu1Gj7jC9whtZQ4eTa9lzRc17hK7qen-4ngxZd1Pd1RhyjHlYkQD8x0eU1aQNroaafQuqADuy79/s320/DR+Horton+drainage+solution.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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What might be even more disturbing than DR Horton's solution to their storm water drainage problem is Fort Worth Storm Water Management Division's Assistant Director Greg Simmons' responses to my questions.<br />
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Were you aware DR Horton violated their Urban Forestry permit and removed more trees than they were allowed? <span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;"> </span><span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;">"Yes. But, again, my e-mail wasn't about the permit."</span><br />
<span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">How is it even possible for developers to obtai</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">n</span><span style="background-color: white; color: black;"> </span><span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black;">permits AFTER they have already done their dirty deed? Who do I need to speak with about putting a stop to this? </span></span><span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;"> "With regard to drainage issues, situations where a property owner starts work without a permit are handled on a case-by-case basis with the goal of ensuring the ultimate goal of our regulations still is met even though they got ahead of themselves. I am not in a position to comment on how other Departments deal with such situations but I suspect it is similar."</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: black;">Did DR Horton's drainage plan reflect that they would be removing all of the trees they did? </span><span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;">"Our drainage requirements, which are based on the regional standards, don't regulate tree removal and a developer's plan for leaving or removing trees has no bearing on their ability to meet drainage standards. The drainage plan is for us to verify that they have measures to mitigate additional flood or erosion risk regardless of the status of the tree stand, and there are ways to meet those standards with or without trees."</span><br />
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What will the City do to require the developer to reconcile the differences in the plan they submitted to the City but deviated from? <span style="background-color: cyan; color: blue;">"The issues with their Urban Forestry Permit are not under my cognizance but I assume that the proceedings of the upcoming Urban Design Commission regarding this issue will answer this question."</span><br />
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Strike 2 for DR Horton.....but they'll probably get a walk....FW is the umpire. <br />
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-73150842244267253022018-01-16T18:36:00.000-08:002018-01-16T18:36:18.249-08:00Fort Worth: DR Horton's dirty tree deed.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Acres of protected oak trees....</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj092U9OprEnlZR25LhR3ooyJ2mrNnxVh9ovCk15QSLiD4YwD8tDgarbo_wzbZRKwftrBJWm04qMzt48g7V5UIHu6PsdP3cAtd8vGPIl4f9e78OnI8Oz5Uc1dV8_fJQotgrVsnlWd1cD4BW/s1600/DR+Horton+after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="544" data-original-width="1024" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj092U9OprEnlZR25LhR3ooyJ2mrNnxVh9ovCk15QSLiD4YwD8tDgarbo_wzbZRKwftrBJWm04qMzt48g7V5UIHu6PsdP3cAtd8vGPIl4f9e78OnI8Oz5Uc1dV8_fJQotgrVsnlWd1cD4BW/s320/DR+Horton+after.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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destroyed by DR Horton in the race to build more homes in Fort Worth. </div>
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DR Horton is the greedy developer in this case. Ironically, DR Horton named this development Trinity Oaks, perhaps as a memorial to the over 100 trees DR Horton bulldozed down....in violation of their Urban Forestry permit. </div>
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DR Horton destroyed more trees than they were permitted and got busted when a concerned citizen called Urban Forestry and complained (and no, it wasn't me). And in the typical Fort Worth Way fashion, the developer appeared before the Urban Design Commission in November 2017, after-the-fact, asking for a waiver of the requirement to preserve 25% of the existing canopy of trees they already destroyed. </div>
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Fortunately for the citizens of Fort Worth who still value trees, the Urban Design Commission, expressed displeasure with what DR Horton did and asked a lot of questions DR Horton could not answer. The case was passed as a result and is reset for this Thursday, January 18, 2018 at 10 AM. </div>
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What DR Horton did was unacceptable and we need to send a very clear message to DR Horton and other developers that destroying our trees won't be tolerated and there will be a consequence! DR Horton got greedy and cleared that land with the hopes of cramming as many single-family homes as they could on that property. </div>
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If you are able to attend the Urban Design Commission meeting this Thursday at 10 AM, please do. If you cannot attend, please send an email to the Urban Design Commission letting them know you support what they do and share their displeasure with DR Horton. Ask the Urban Design Commission to require DR Horton to plant, at the very least, 5 times the deficiency as an effort to mitigate the loss of those 100s of mature, protected trees. It won't bring the trees back but it might teach DR Horton a valuable lesson by requiring them to give up some of their precious lot space to plant trees. </div>
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Please send your email to <a href="mailto:laura.voltmann@fortworthtexas.gov">laura.voltmann@fortworthtexas.gov</a> and reference case # UFC 16-070.</div>
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Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-33703386893690122222017-09-25T18:52:00.000-07:002019-01-31T07:16:34.740-08:00Flooded Arlington Heights.....Failed by Fort Worth<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
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Arlington Heights, like other areas of Fort Worth are flooding like never before and instead of fixing the flooding problems, Fort Worth is going to try to take the easy way out by buying out some of the very frustrated home owners. Does anyone really believe these home owners will be justly compensated? If Fort Worth gets away with this, Katy bar the door!</div>
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Just for the record, Arlington Heights hasn't always flooded. The beautiful, historic neighborhood was established in the 1920s and only began experiencing flooding about a decade ago. </div>
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So, what's Fort Worth been doing about this over the last decade? </div>
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Well, in <b>2005</b>, Fort Worth city staff estimated the cost to keep several areas of Fort Worth, including Arlington Heights, above water during rains at about $500 million.</div>
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Fast forward <b>12</b> years to 2017 and now that $500 million is a drop in the bucket. City officials now believe the cost could exceed $1 billion and explain the aging storm water infrastructure can't keep up with the growth and development. </div>
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So why is Fort Worth continuing to permit new development at a crazy rate knowing their aging infrastructure can't keep up?! Sounds intentional and reckless to me.</div>
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Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-63567954572663436522016-07-11T18:08:00.000-07:002016-07-11T18:08:52.874-07:00EAST FORT WORTH...NOT JUST DUST IN THE WIND<br />
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Photo of Concrete Recycling Operation off Precinct Line and Norwood </div>
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Got dust in your houses, cars, lungs? <br />
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Do you know what's in that dust? <br />
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<span style="text-align: justify;">We used to have just plain old dirt dust from all the truck traffic and heavy equipment being used in the mining operations off Precinct Line, Norwood, and Trinity Blvd, but now we have silica dust.</span><br />
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Why do we have silica dust?</div>
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Because now we have 2 UNAUTHORIZED concrete recycling operations near our homes. No State-required air quality permits. No City-required zoning. No public hearings. The developer just did it!</div>
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Remember the recent battle between the developer and the White Lake Hills neighborhoods? This is exactly what they were fighting. They didn't want a concrete recycling operation near their neighborhoods. They stuck together and beat it! At least for now. The developer can try again in a year. Or maybe the developer won't bother and will just do it....like this developer did!?</div>
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What's so dangerous about concrete recycling? What's silica dust?</div>
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This is what OSHA says about it: </div>
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"Crystalline silica is an important industrial material found abundantly in the earth's crust. Quartz, the most common form of silica, is a component of sand, stone, rock, concrete, brick, block, and mortar. </div>
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Silica dust is hazardous when very small (respirable) particles are inhaled. These respirable dust particles can penetrate into the lungs and cause disabling and sometimes fatal lung diseases, including silicosis and lung cancer, as well as kidney disease.</div>
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Exposure to respirable silica occurs when cutting, sawing, drilling, and crushing of concrete, ceramic tiles, rock, and stone products." </div>
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The Fort Worth Weekly recently published a short article about these unauthorized industrial operations but said our neighborhoods "aren't bothered". </div>
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<a href="http://www.fwweekly.com/2016/07/06/concrete-war-part-ii/">http://www.fwweekly.com/2016/07/06/concrete-war-part-ii/</a></div>
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I think uninformed is more the case.</div>
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Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-11512844923020023412016-06-10T07:24:00.000-07:002016-06-10T07:24:06.739-07:00Fort Worth: Got Permits?<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Question: What’s worse than developer Wallace Hall trying to put a concrete recycling plant near east side neighborhoods?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Answer: Developer Ken Newell operating two concrete recycling plants near east side neighborhoods without permits or public hearings!</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">That’s exactly what Metroplex Sand & Gravel, owned by developer Ken Newell, is doing. At least Wallace Hall followed the rules. Ken Newell has been developing without permits and expired permits for decades. Sure, he’s been caught a couple of times, but at the very worst, Fort Worth issued him a Notice of Violation and then allowed him to get the permit after the fact. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Do you think the average citizen could get away with putting a concrete recycling plant in their front yard? I don’t think so. We’re issued citations and fined for the heinous acts of leaving our trash cans at the curb too long, building a fence a few inches too high, or worse, being the victim of a house fire. And we’re subjected to an army of city inspectors when building an oh-so-potentially-hazardous storage shed in our backyard. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Meanwhile, Ken Newell is allowed to operate concrete recycling plants without permits, public hearings, and inspections. These are industrial activities which spew carbon dioxide, silica, and dust into the air, into our lungs, and into our homes on the east side of Fort Worth. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the City of Fort Worth’s Environmental Division of Air Quality claim they were unaware of these operations until Wallace Hall’s plans brought attention to concrete recycling activities. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Anyone want to bet what the consequences for developer Ken Newell will be?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: "lustria"; font-size: 18.666666666666664px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">To be continued….. </span></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-af034f42-36a9-c567-7fa3-2de6b2bff16a"><br /></span>Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-42018803630195236432016-04-18T08:27:00.000-07:002016-04-18T09:04:43.934-07:00PLEASE JOIN ME THIS THURSDAY NIGHT!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "californian fb" , serif; font-size: 16pt; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">SAVE THE DATE: THIS THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2016</span></div>
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<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E24" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E24" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Irresponsible </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E25" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E25" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">industry and two-timing </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E26" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E26" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">politicians and government agencies changed my </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E30" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E30" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">life. </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E31" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E31" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E32" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E32" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">As a Fort Worth citizen devastated by the negative impacts of urban gas drilling, </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E33" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E33" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m excited to announce the Fort Worth premiere of </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E34" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E34" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">the documentary Dear President Obama, The Clean Energy Revolution </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E35" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E35" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Is </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E36" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E36" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; text-align: justify; white-space: pre-wrap;">Now. </span></div>
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<div id="E38" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E38" style="display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E39" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E39" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">The film is produced and directed by National Geographic’s Jon </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E41" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E41" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bowermaster</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E43" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E43" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E44" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E44" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">takes a cross-country look at drilling</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E45" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E45" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E46" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E46" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">highlights stories of its victims, contamination, </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E47" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E47" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">and </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E48" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E48" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the false promise of economic boom, and </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E49" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E49" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">emphasizes </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E50" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E50" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the need for clean energy solutions. Several Fort Worth and area citizens are in this film. </span></div>
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<div id="E52" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E52" style="display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E53" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E53" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">I’m honored to be on the discussion panel with Jon </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E55" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E55" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Bowermaster</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E57" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E57" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E58" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E58" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">noted oceans expert, award-winning journalist, author, filmmaker, and six-time grantee of the National Geographic Expeditions Council; Dr. Bill </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E60" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E60" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Luker</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E62" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E62" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E63" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E63" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Jr., Urban Environmental Economist with a PhD. in Economics from UT-Austin; Mark Miller, Ph.D. in petroleum engineering</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E64" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E64" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, retired professor of petroleum engineering at UT-Austin, and current </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E65" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E65" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">candidate for Texas Railroad Commission</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E66" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E66" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">; and </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E67" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E67" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Calvin Tillman</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E68" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E68" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, former Mayor of DISH, Texas and current Deputy Mayor of Aubrey, Texas</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E69" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E69" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Our panel will be moderated by Reverend </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E71" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E71" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Kyev</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E73" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E73" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Tatum</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E74" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E74" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, minister, civil rights activist</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E75" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E75" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">, former collegiate athlete, and university administrator. </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E76" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E76" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
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<div id="E78" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E78" style="display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4.5pt; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E79" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E79" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">There are only 250 seats available for the Fort Worth viewing and they’re going fast so please reserve your f</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E80" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E80" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">ree tickets at:</span></div>
<div id="E78" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E78" style="display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4.5pt; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E80" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div>
<div id="E78" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E78" style="display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 4.5pt; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: center; text-indent: -4.5pt;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E80" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="http://www.dearpresidentobama.com/">http://www.dearpresidentobama.com</a></span></div>
<div class="hideBullet" id="E87" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E87" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
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<div id="E88" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E88" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E89" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E89" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHEN:</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E90" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E90" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E91" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E91" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> April 21, 2016</span></div>
<div id="E92" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E92" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E93" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E93" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E94" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E94" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 5 PM to 8 PM</span></div>
<div id="E95" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E95" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E96" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E96" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHERE:</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E97" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E97" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth</span></div>
<div id="E98" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E98" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E99" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E99" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E100" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E100" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> 3200 Darnell Street</span></div>
<div id="E101" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E101" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E102" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E102" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E103" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E103" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Fort Worth, Texas 76107</span></div>
<div id="E104" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E104" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: -72pt; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E105" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E105" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">WHAT:</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E106" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E106" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E107" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E107" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Reception </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E108" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E108" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">with cash bar </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E109" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E109" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">begins at 5 PM. Meet </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E110" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E110" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">the director, panel, and locals interviewed for the film.</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E113" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E113" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></div>
<div id="E114" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E114" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E115" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E115" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Discussion panel </span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E116" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E116" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">at 6 PM. </span></div>
<div id="E119" is="qowt-para" qowt-eid="E119" style="-webkit-text-stroke-width: 0px; background-color: white; color: black; display: block; font-family: Calibri, Carlito, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 1.38; list-style-type: none; margin: 0px 0px 0px 72pt; orphans: auto; padding: 0px 0px 0pt; text-align: start; text-indent: 0px; text-transform: none; white-space: normal; widows: 1; word-spacing: 0px;">
<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E120" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E120" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Film premieres at 7 PM</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E121" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E121" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> and is 110 minutes in length. The panel will be available after the film to answer your questions and discuss ways you can help. </span></div>
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<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E123" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E123" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">W</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E124" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E124" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">HY</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E125" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E125" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> YOU SHOULD ATTEND</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E126" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E126" style="background-color: yellow; display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">:</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E127" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E127" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"> Because we're all affected by i</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E128" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E128" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">rresponsible d</span><span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E129" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E129" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">rilling and paid-off politicians and government agencies. </span></div>
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<span class="qowt-font4-CalifornianFB" id="E133" is="qowt-run" qowt-eid="E133" style="display: inline; font-family: "californian fb" , serif "important"; font-size: 16pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Hope to see you there!</span></div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-15015550053724134082016-03-11T18:15:00.001-08:002016-03-11T18:15:48.216-08:00Permitting Affluenza<div style="text-align: justify;">
On March 9, 2016, our wonderful Fort Worth Zoning Commission voted 7-2 in favor of establishing a larger boundary around the historic Stockyards. I, like many others, are thrilled with their decision and proud of them for representing the people's wishes.</div>
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The developers are acting like spoiled brats! The larger boundary doesn't mean the area can't be developed, it just means more care and consideration will be taken into what is built in the area. Lord knows permitting oversight in Fort Worth is on the endangered species list.</div>
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Just this week, Fort Worth's Asst. City Manager Fernando Costa had to eat some crow regarding permitting problems. This ain't their first rodeo either. Fort Worth is knee-deep in permitting snafus by developers who have an over-developed sense of entitlement and who are way too used to asking forgiveness instead of permission. The developers know all too well that if their permitting problem is ever actually caught, the City won't make them take it down. Below is just one example.<br />
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<a href="http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/03/07/city-admits-building-code-mistakes-but-neighbors-remain-unhappy/">http://dfw.cbslocal.com/2016/03/07/city-admits-building-code-mistakes-but-neighbors-remain-unhappy/</a><br />
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Developers in Fort Worth seem to enjoy permitting privileges the average citizen could only dream of and our Zoning Commissioners, minus the 2 who sold out, sent a message to developers and elected officials that Fort Worth's history is more precious than money.<br />
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By the way, our Zoning Commissioners aren't elected, they are appointed, and I wouldn't be surprised if some of them get booted off the Zoning Commission as a result of their Stockyards-friendly, people-approved, developers-disappointed decision. We need to support our brave Zoning Commissioners and thank them for speaking up for us. </div>
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I think we should pack City Hall on April 5, 2016 and take note of which City Councilperson represents their citizens and which ones represent the developers. The ones that don't represent the people need to be voted off the island!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRdcIeK3rZB1RLlmg-QQ11fnwxVe6CJYHhcqss7C37cFJR2yUDQ81tHjLano6B5k7ANNprPaSzkz1Rt6q2xCOqv7zKEMwqcKghcwlsQNwNSAu83Nq7sRs6aXDBs_ceMHQVTd3TlIdQqaW/s1600/IMG_3009.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLRdcIeK3rZB1RLlmg-QQ11fnwxVe6CJYHhcqss7C37cFJR2yUDQ81tHjLano6B5k7ANNprPaSzkz1Rt6q2xCOqv7zKEMwqcKghcwlsQNwNSAu83Nq7sRs6aXDBs_ceMHQVTd3TlIdQqaW/s320/IMG_3009.JPG" width="247" /></a></div>
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-40956261693102636212015-12-16T18:37:00.000-08:002015-12-16T18:37:18.458-08:00You Have Milk On Your Face Fort Worth<div class="text_exposed_root text_exposed" id="id_5671fe52970887652339413">
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The Fort Worth Way has struck again! Common people continue to be persecuted and prosecuted by the City of Fort Worth while private developers and industry are granted immunity. This time, the victims of the Fort Worth Way are farmers. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh369yQjmnXIyJmNI5qne13ZF24kWNBz2OYCWSVFqkFggB5_AqRkjriHiKCFiY1biJcNUELdo66AS_mdEekJVC2fYd0tNkLyK-BC4K0q3NYHGHNB5m_6RREmBoX5OIcvCAuXaYylejETO9Q/s1600/Hooley+family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh369yQjmnXIyJmNI5qne13ZF24kWNBz2OYCWSVFqkFggB5_AqRkjriHiKCFiY1biJcNUELdo66AS_mdEekJVC2fYd0tNkLyK-BC4K0q3NYHGHNB5m_6RREmBoX5OIcvCAuXaYylejETO9Q/s1600/Hooley+family.jpg" /></a></div>
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What is the heinous crime committed by these people? Believe it or not, providing people with wholesome, hormone-free, raw milk direct from their cows. </div>
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In yet another incredibly embarrassing moment and demonstration of total lack of common sense and good judgment, a Fort Worth jury found Eldon Hooley, the owner of Rosey Ridge Farm, guilty of “Food Establishment Unapproved Source.” </div>
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Mr. Hooley transported milk from his farm to Fort Worth using a van owned by the family farm. Evidently, according to Texas law, the van is considered a “food establishment” because it transported food for the consumption of others. </div>
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I wonder how the Hooleys got caught. Could it have been surveillance by Fort Worth Code Compliance? I doubt it....they couldn't even find the towering concrete batch plant that was constructed without a permit. </div>
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Maybe Mr. Hooley wouldn't have been prosecuted if he said the milk was going to be used for a city-related project...that's the excuse the City of Fort Worth gave for not even citing the private developer who constructed the concrete batch plant without a permit! <br />
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The Hooley's attorney, Gary Cox of Farm to Consumer Legal Defense Fund, reportedly plans to file a motion for a new trial. If his motion is denied, he will reportedly file an appeal.<br />
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I hope they win!</div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-90533621694327493182015-09-29T11:52:00.000-07:002015-09-29T18:17:12.387-07:00OVERDRAWN in Fort Worth....Our Mitigation Banks<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">I have attached a link to a story about mitigation banks on the east side of Fort Worth which was recently reported about in the newspaper….not the Star Telegram, but the Houston Chronicle. I wish the Star Telegram would do mor</span><span id="goog_242170985" style="font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><span id="goog_242170986" style="font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/" style="font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;"></a><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">e investigative reporting. </span></div>
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<a href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Banking-on-Texas-wetlandsSome-6516745.php?t=808a2601f7&cmpid=email-premium" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 14.6666666666667px; line-height: 1.38; white-space: pre-wrap;">http://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Banking-on-Texas-wetlandsSome-6516745.php?t=808a2601f7&cmpid=email-premium</a></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What is mitigation banking?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Mitigation banking is an agreement between a property owner and federal regulatory agencies to preserve, enhance, restore, or create a wetland area for the purpose of compensating for the inevitable destruction caused by construction in another area. Mitigation bank owners sell credits to government agencies and private developers who need permits to destroy other areas of wetland. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I hadn’t heard of mitigation banking until gas drilling became widespread in our neighborhood and I became more aware of the properties around me. I was happy to learn there were two very large mitigation banks near my home. I was comforted by the thought that at least the land would be preserved and safe from the careless gas drilling practices I had personally witnessed in our area. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="line-height: 33.1199989318848px;">But the "preserved" land was drilled anyway! </span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I learned the US Army Corps of Engineers is the primary regulatory agency for mitigation banks and responsible for their oversight. The Corps approves the activities of the mitigation bank, determines how many credits a mitigation bank contains, and decides when there are no more credits available. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also learned that in 2008 the EPA and Corps implemented new guidelines and cited mineral exploration as an “incompatible use” of mitigation banks. So why was the mitigation bank owner in our neighborhood allowed to drill? </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Unfortunately, the 2008 guidelines included a little clause which gave each Corps District Office the authority to approve acceptable uses on a case-by-case basis. It also included a grandfather clause for existing mitigation bank owners. </span></div>
<div dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.3800000000000001; margin-bottom: 10pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Why would the Corps allow the un-preservation of preserved land? Isn’t that why mitigation bank owners are paid millions of dollars, to keep their land as is and not develop it for profit? Maybe a refund is in order by mitigation bank owners who destroy the land they agreed and were paid handsomely to preserve. </span></div>
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<span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: 'Californian FB'; font-size: 24px; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">So what can we do to preserve our wetlands? My suggestion is to shine the light on this practice by contacting the Mitigation Section of the Corps Fort Worth District Office (<a href="tel:817-886-1306" x-apple-data-detectors="true" x-apple-data-detectors-type="telephone" x-apple-data-detectors-result="1">817-886-1306</a>). Let them know you read the Houston Chronicle article and have concerns about how the Corps allows certain mitigation bank owners to change the designated use of preserved wetlands. Ask this regulatory agency to please step up their monitoring of local mitigation banks. </span></div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-17510526880200140582015-09-02T14:56:00.000-07:002015-09-03T08:00:44.401-07:00Those dang east side cops are.....My heroes! Especially these 2 officers!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkgfyKH6bmgI-gWnx0wIsVzWozaXvjIwQWy_oWWX-dgQJXZ-JdjanMD24zs6WTlU9fawkTEfOwuyzPAHx9gMmzOoWwtxNa1J0X23DUgMVV77tOJtp6Kc4kbPZTRN0S5bybaoLu_5PuafM/s1600/blogger-image-770495723.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikkgfyKH6bmgI-gWnx0wIsVzWozaXvjIwQWy_oWWX-dgQJXZ-JdjanMD24zs6WTlU9fawkTEfOwuyzPAHx9gMmzOoWwtxNa1J0X23DUgMVV77tOJtp6Kc4kbPZTRN0S5bybaoLu_5PuafM/s320/blogger-image-770495723.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The police officers on the east side of Fort Worth are the bravest, most patient, and most versatile officers of the Fort Worth Police Department. East side officers never know what they're going to be doing next. The east side of Fort Worth is truly a unique part of town. In a blink of an eye you can go from inner city to wild and western.</div>
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My husband Larry and I run about 35 head of cattle on the east side of Fort Worth on a couple of hundred acres of land in what old timers refer to as the river bottoms. It's a lot of work, but worth every drop of blood, sweat, and tears. Fort Worth is still cow-town after all.</div>
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One of our biggest challenges is maintaining fence lines and keeping gates closed. There are a lot of fence line and gates in a couple of hundred acres and we have to check these regularly. Trees fall on the fence, flooding knocks out stretches of fence, disrespectful fishermen cut our fence in order to get to the river to fish (respectful fisherman place a blanket over the barbed wire and pass through it), disrespectful people on 4-wheelers cut our gate locks so they can ride all over the hay field we keep plowed and sowed with wheat, oats, and hay for our cattle, and gas drilling companies are notorious for leaving gates open while they're working or mowing right-of-ways.</div>
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When you drive down Randol Mill Road, it's not uncommon to see this in our front yard or in the hay field on Precinct Line Road. It's a peaceful sight!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMNOnaMcu4uhggnvY2k0HUEfEuPOjAkDhK2RGK_SxKVvWyY96TCN3PBi2tPQNz4Bh1f9Z4_cFzUcUJ5a1F9y4_iLIM8jicmhPRfHuq59M7G6Bzn68HruS54y8tPnD2yQpjG6XcmTjRLwW/s1600/blogger-image-1827307531.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNMNOnaMcu4uhggnvY2k0HUEfEuPOjAkDhK2RGK_SxKVvWyY96TCN3PBi2tPQNz4Bh1f9Z4_cFzUcUJ5a1F9y4_iLIM8jicmhPRfHuq59M7G6Bzn68HruS54y8tPnD2yQpjG6XcmTjRLwW/s320/blogger-image-1827307531.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="text-align: left;">But at rush hour, at the intersection of Randol Mill and Precinct Line Roads, this is not such peaceful sight!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbPCLuLYVMVBTS6tmk1TSO15TTgVNHYWbttFBuy1848NBXM6jUTSzOW0fMnz0K7aBKiUkSX6fJugtoGlslakuc6i30JvajxiRuHk88c5zbhsyHfoZI8a8tb4tOOsED2mfG5E-BKc5HqF_/s1600/blogger-image--1578969268.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbbPCLuLYVMVBTS6tmk1TSO15TTgVNHYWbttFBuy1848NBXM6jUTSzOW0fMnz0K7aBKiUkSX6fJugtoGlslakuc6i30JvajxiRuHk88c5zbhsyHfoZI8a8tb4tOOsED2mfG5E-BKc5HqF_/s320/blogger-image--1578969268.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The other day, my policemen heroes responded to a call reference a herd of cattle in the road. And while the cows technically weren't in the road, they definitively were a distraction to drivers. </div>
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The policemen were quick to respond and within seconds had the traffic under control while my husband paraded part of the cattle down Randol Mill Road as if it was the Stockyards. The other group of wayward heifers were spooked by all of the attention and suddenly remembered the exact location from which they had made their escape and returned home. The disrespectful fisherman had struck again.....more fence line had been cut by the Precinct Line bridge.</div>
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Here are the girls cooling off in the river after their adventure.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjkzQvfqi6dnAb0kSLjbFc-_0B1B3gIY-Y-d0OkqkwRa8geR6A4IcavmuyCMbhY6Y0IU49e_Qmt9y4sJASSGUiyShG8qpG7nI16KF9-inFwFuxHEBg8CJAdxqGOS1pngfnrALg801nopk/s1600/blogger-image-64483596.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjkzQvfqi6dnAb0kSLjbFc-_0B1B3gIY-Y-d0OkqkwRa8geR6A4IcavmuyCMbhY6Y0IU49e_Qmt9y4sJASSGUiyShG8qpG7nI16KF9-inFwFuxHEBg8CJAdxqGOS1pngfnrALg801nopk/s320/blogger-image-64483596.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I can't thank the officers enough for being so professional, safety-minded, understanding, and helpful. I think we too often take our police for granted. They place their lives on the line every second they're on duty working to serve and protect us; and now their lives are at risk even when they're not on duty because of a few bad cops. I strongly believe that if a cop goes bad and for whatever reason doesn't get what's coming to him on this earth, he sure will get it, and then some, when his time on earth expires. </div>
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As for our east side neighbors who were inconvenienced by our cattle, please accept our apologies. Y'all really are the best neighbors! Like the police, you are patient and tolerant of the challenges associated with living near a working farm in the city. You call, text, and come by the house to let us know when a cow is out, you slow down as you drive by the farm, and you smile and wave as my husband slows down the traffic on his tractor with his hay equipment. Strangers have become neighbors and neighbors have become friends. </div>
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East side neighbors and police are the best!!!</div>
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Mary Kelleher</div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-86290348045292479612015-08-24T09:07:00.000-07:002015-08-24T09:07:56.023-07:00True or False?In recent discussions with Fort Worth city officials, city inspectors, and code compliance officers, the claim was made that average citizens are treated the same way big business, industry, and private developers are when it comes to having to follow the rules.<br />
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What do you think.....true or false?<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">I'd like to know about your personal experience with FW city officials, city inspectors, and code compliance. You don't have to give your name, just a brief description of why you had contact with the city official, city inspector, or code compliance officer and what the outcome was. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For example: When I was building my house, a city inspector required the stairs be torn out and re-done because they were 1/4" too steep. Yes....this really happened!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Also, if you have any examples of big business, industry, and private developers not following rules and not having a consequence from the city, please share.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">For example: A private developer builds a concrete batch plant without any permits and when caught, claims ignorance. The private developer is allowed to continue to operate his concrete batch plant while attempting to obtain the required permits.</span><br />
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I look forward to hearing your opinions and experiences and will blog the results.<br />
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Remember....if we lose the battle, it'll be because of the people who don't care enough to fight. <br />
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Mary Kelleher<br />
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-69240993986000796932015-06-29T18:38:00.000-07:002015-06-29T18:38:37.731-07:00Croc In The River<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This is a screen shot of Panther Island Pavilion's FB page from June 3rd.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM_EnyIdI6v47P5CrfKy87RdiyGB_-TXVOGY7fSBRuBSUPPVq0rJ0_gWv4P7uvRkguAKw7cAAyjh0w34eWQ-h5nhM5JmobzK_uj0wIzKtZKY7rBHlGXL8zXMLV9QkD_-tSDNMnw_2zETE/s1600/Gator+FB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibM_EnyIdI6v47P5CrfKy87RdiyGB_-TXVOGY7fSBRuBSUPPVq0rJ0_gWv4P7uvRkguAKw7cAAyjh0w34eWQ-h5nhM5JmobzK_uj0wIzKtZKY7rBHlGXL8zXMLV9QkD_-tSDNMnw_2zETE/s320/Gator+FB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A woman asked if there were alligators in the Trinity River.<br />
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She received the above reply. "No, not in the federal flood way which is where we tube."<br />
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Did anyone tell the alligators they're prohibited from federal flood way?<br />
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If so, a certain alligator has some explaining to do. On June 26th, an alligator was sited near Fort Worth's Panther Island Pavilion, where the wild and crazy people go "Rockin the River".<br />
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Maybe the alligator mistakenly heard Croc in the river and wanted to make some new friends. <br />
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NBC 5 interviewed Matt Oliver, spokesman for the TRV Boondoggle. Matt tried to assure the public there was no need to worry and stated, "It's making its way up stream now, and it's kind of making its way where it can get back to where it belongs." Ok Matt, what do you mean by "kind of". Is it gone or not?<br />
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Matt explained, "You know turtles are very docile, keep to themselves, but if you go around a turtle and you start messing with it, that's when it can be harmful.". "So it's kind of one of those things that if you see it you don't mess with it." No "kind of" about it, definitely don't mess with it. <br />
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If Matt's uncle was Troy from Swamp People, perhaps I'd have more confidence in what Matt had to say, but he's not. Matt's uncle is Jim Oliver, the general mis-manager of TRWD. If you're asking yourself if that's nepotism, you're right, but until I came on board there was an exception clause in TRWD's Ethics Policy which allowed the general manager, assistant general manager, and Board to make exceptions to the Ethics Policy at any time. <br />
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Too bad there's not an alligator wrangler in the Oliver family.<br />
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Mary Kelleher<br />
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<br />Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-54146144148896388992015-06-27T19:58:00.000-07:002015-06-29T04:50:30.179-07:00Blame It On The TIF<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Who is more important to the City of Fort Worth, citizens or private developers? </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">And the answer is.....the private developer.....and it came straight from the mouth of a city staffer. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;"><br />At our neighborhood meeting the other night (see blog City of Fort Worth....You Have Failed The East Side), a </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">neighbor asked if perhaps the City could finish one project before starting another. Isn't this what our parents tried to instill in us as children? </span></div>
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">The city staffer's response was no. His reason? He said developer Ken Newell was anxious to get his project started. </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">You could hear the collective gasps of disbelief at what we had just heard and, in what's now considered true form for the formidable folks of the east side, a woman in the group sure did ask if the needs of the private developer were more important to the City than those of the citizens. No one from the City answered her question. </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;">The non-response was our answer.</span><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%; text-align: justify;"> </span><span style="color: black; font-family: Times New Roman; font-size: small;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Developer Ken Newell did respond. He told us the City would never have the money to make the necessary improvements in our area. (How did he know that?) Mr. Newell said he had been trying to get financing for the project for a long time and now he had it and was ready to proceed. He told us there was a public safety issue with Trinity Blvd and then repeated, right in front of FW Assistant City Manager Fernando Costa and Councilwoman Gyna Bivens, that the City of Fort Worth didn't have the money to take care of it. Neither seemed to take offense though. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">We're in pretty bad shape if the City knows an area is a public safety issue and doesn't have the money to keep their citizens safe! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">A handsome gentleman from Lakes of River Trails East then asked Mr. Newell who was going to pay him for doing the project and ventured a guess Mr. Newell wasn't going to do it for free. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Mr. Newell explained that </span></span><span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">in 2011 he went to the City and reported our area's growth and tax revenues. Mr. Newell told the City he had a plan to improve our area. He said he would do the project and front the cost, at his risk. Mr. Newell's cost? $10 million. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Why would Mr. Newell take a $10 million risk? He has 62 million reasons!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Mr. Newell's said his presentation to the City in 2011 resulted in the creation of a $62 million TIF. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Californian FB', serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">What's a TIF?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;">TIF stands for Tax Increment Financing. It's a <span style="background-color: yellow;">public</span> financing method which uses the <span style="background-color: yellow;">increase in property tax revenue that new development would cause to finance the costs of new development. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;">Not much of a risk for Mr. Newell.....it's a pretty sweet deal for him and the City. Not so much for us, we'll pay more property taxes</span></span><span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;"> in order to finance Mr. Newell's business. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;">NOW, we know why the City of Fort Worth places the needs of the private developer above those of the citizens.....the money, of course! </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;">I don't really understand all the ins and outs of TIFs, but I know I'm not too thrilled about the one in our neighborhoods. I think our side of town definitely needs a sit-down restaurant or two, but other than that I think it's great just the way it is (once the roads and bridges and flooding are fixed that is). I think most of us feel that way....that's why we bought our homes here. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;">I'm attaching a link to this TIF 14: Trinity Lakes. Please take a look at it so you know what Mr. Newell has planned for our neighborhoods. Please note the general TIF description says nothing about all of the houses and duplexes Mr. Newell plans to develop off Precinct Line Rd. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Californian FB, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 18.66px; line-height: 21.46px;">So, the next time you find yourself still sitting at the light after several cycles or trying to get out of your street onto the main road or creeping towards the 3-way stop on Randol Mill because there was an accident on 820 and everyone is using Randol Mill and Precinct Line as a cut-through, imagine what it will be like with even more houses and now duplexes in our neighborhoods. </span></span></div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628419293535388914.post-65940376382263573282015-06-25T19:58:00.001-07:002015-06-26T08:57:05.035-07:00CITY OF FORT WORTH.....YOU HAVE FAILED THE EAST SIDE<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 10pt;">
<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">Last night, I attended a meeting with some of our east side neighborhoods to discuss the many projects in their various stages in the Trinity Blvd, Precinct Line Rd, and Randol Mill Rd area. It's quite a mess over here.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">District 5 City Councilwoman Gyna Bivens arranged the meeting at the request of neighborhood leader Bob Horton. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">City Councilwoman Bivens is very responsive to the needs of her constituents and we really appreciate that!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The meeting was a little tense at times as it was very apparent our neighborhoods are frustrated with and disappointed in our City. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">These were some of the main points made by our neighborhoods last night. </span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">1.<span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"> <span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">CITY IS REACTIVE RATHER THAN PROACTIVE</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">2. CITY DOES NOT PLAN WELL</span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size-adjust: none; font-stretch: normal; font: 7pt/normal "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">3. CITY'S DECISIONS PUT US IN DANGER </span></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The east side has flooded forever, it’s nothing new, it’s just worse now with all of the development and unpermitted construction in the flood plain and in the area in general. The City knows this, we have told them many times. But they choose to turn a blind eye and then act surprised every time the Bell Garden Apartments flood, or when motorists become stranded on Trinity Blvd, or when FWFD must perform a high water rescue in our area, or when a flooded motorist and her family get swept into flood waters and drown, or when the bridge on Trinity Blvd near Bell Helicopter collapsed, or when more property owners than ever report increased flood waters, or when the bridge at Trinity Blvd/Precinct Line Rd was closed due to flood damage. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The City’s latest reactive failure is the closure of the Trinity Blvd/Precinct Line Road bridge. The northbound side reportedly has “ bridge scour”. Bridge Scour occurs when the foundation around a bridge’s piers erode due to swiftly moving water which compromises the integrity of the bridge. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">After the recent May rains, engineers discovered our bridge had the scours and closed it. Not a big deal, you can take Norwood instead. Well, no you can't, Norwood is closed too…..it’s under construction. The re-route with no traffic takes at least 30 minutes. At rush hour, you’re doomed! Most of the people in our neighborhoods work so guess what time we usually hit the re-route?</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">The neighborhoods expressed concern. In times of flood, this is often the only way out of our neighborhoods. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: black;">In the event of a medical emergency, this 30 minute re-route could be the difference between life and death!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">At least they allowed us to vent, but ultimately, we left the meeting just as frustrated and disappointed as we were when we arrived. No real answers, just lots of double-talk, dancing around issues, and excuses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Californian FB","serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">City of Fort Worth.....you have failed the east side!</span></div>
Mary Kelleherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08855784845994296991noreply@blogger.com0