TCEQ Creates LAKE COUNTRY GROUNDWATER CONSERVATION DISTRICT For Wood County
by Maryann Miller

"It's a great day for Wood County," proclaimed Louis Pyle, President of Save Our Springs of North East Texas (SOSONET). "The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), formerly known as the Texas Natural Resource Conservation Commission (TNRCC), just formally created Lake Country Groundwater Conservation District during their regularly scheduled meeting held in Austin today. This district will provide Wood County with local control over our 'treasure-trove' of groundwater resources versus allowing for the possibility of future control out of Austin. And we all know local control is definitely best for everyone in the county!"

"Lake Country Groundwater Conservation District was created in response to a petition SOSONET filed in April of this year on behalf of 150 Wood County landowners," said Pyle, "and represents over twenty-four months of hard work by the organization's Board of Directors and 550+ members."

Pyle, SOSONET Director, Glenn Morton, and the organization's Austin attorney, Mary Sahs, attended the TCEQ meeting to witness the momentous occasion. In conjunction with creating the district, the TCEQ also appointed Louis Pyle, A. D. Kleinman, Glenn Morton, Jim Armstrong and Ed Bennett, all Wood County landowners, to serve as the district's temporary directors. As such, their primary responsibility is to call a countywide election to (1) confirm the district, (2) approve the district's 1-1/2 cent per $100 valuation maintenance tax and (3) elect the district's permanent directors. "It's the district's five permanent directors that will actually run the district, write its management plan and establish its rules," said Pyle "and they will be elected by the voters of the county on a precinct basis, with one from each precinct and one from the county at-large." Directors (either temporary or permanent) receive no compensation for their work on the district's board.

The temporary directors plan to hold their first meeting at 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 15th, in the Commissioner's Court Room of the County Courthouse in Quitman after being sworn into office by Judge Bill Alexander. Since the district is subject to the Texas Open Meetings and Open Records Acts, anyone may attend, and formal notice of the meeting including agenda items will be printed in at least one local newspaper prior to the meeting.

"Even though our district has been created, SOSONET'S job is not done," said A.D. Kleinman, who serves as Vice President and Chairman of the organization's Education Committee. "We still have a big job in getting everyone who lives in Wood County to understand why we need this district, what services it will provide, and how we will pay for it. We are more than willing to provide this and a lot more information to anyone who will listen - just let me know where and when, and we'll be there." In addition, SOSONET will continue to hold open monthly meetings and special programs. For the times and places, visit the organization's website at www.sosonet.homestead. com.

SOSONET is a Texas non-profit 501corporation. The organization uses funds received from dues and donations to cover the costs of its activities - all of which focus on educating the public about groundwater conservation and groundwater conservation districts. Anyone interested in these important issues is invited to join SOSONET and participate in the organization's meetings and activities. All dues and donations are fully tax deductible to donors as charitable contributions.

Visit LCGCD's website at http://www.lakecountrygcd.org/index.html.

The TNRCC name has changed to TCEQ - Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

The first photo was taken Wednesday morning just before the meeting was called to order.

Photo 1 - The Commission
L/R: Ralph Marquez, Commissioner
Robert Huston, Chairman
Duncan Norton, General Counsel
Kathleen Harnett White, Commissioner

Group Photo taken after the Commission voted to approve Lake Country GCD

L/R: James Sloan, TCEQ Groundwater Planning & Assessment Team
Steve Musick, TCEQ Groundwater Planning & Assessment Team
Mary Sahs, SOSONET Attorney
Louis Pyle, Temporary Director of Lake Country GCD
Glenn Morton, Temporary Director of Lake Country GCD
Kelly Mills, TCEQ Groundwater Planning & Assessment Team