Parish
Don't Trust TXI at Face Value
RECEIVED Fri., Jan. 15, 2010
Dear Editor,
Re: “Point Austin: The Army Saves the Day” [News, Jan. 15]: Mr. King's article is accurate, especially in saying, "Let's hope the court doesn't rely only on TXI's version" of their meeting with the Corps of Engineers. The county court and staff have been taking TXI's statements "at face value" all through this permit application process. At first it was a 10-year project, and the property would be returned to the way it was. There would be a conveyor and no giant gravel trucks in the neighborhood. TXI has claimed that those of us with private wells have nothing to worry about with their pit next door. They say that they will water down the roads and dirt piles so that all that dust won't hurt the kids in the schools and playground just downwind. TXI has claimed that our property values won't go down with a 2,000 acre gravel mine next door and 250 trucks a day in our neighborhood. All of these statements the county has taken at face value from TXI. The neighborhood on the other hand has had TXI figured out from the start. Drive on FM 973 or Toll Road 130 north of the airport to FM 969 like many of us do daily and you will see what TXI has been doing to our county and extraterritorial jurisdiction for the last 20 years. TXI has all along been offering Travis County "a deal they can't refuse" on this gravel mine in our residential neighborhood. I'm with Commissioner Karen Huber, "it's time to step up" and stand up to TXI.
Re: “Point Austin: The Army Saves the Day” [News, Jan. 15]: Mr. King's article is accurate, especially in saying, "Let's hope the court doesn't rely only on TXI's version" of their meeting with the Corps of Engineers. The county court and staff have been taking TXI's statements "at face value" all through this permit application process. At first it was a 10-year project, and the property would be returned to the way it was. There would be a conveyor and no giant gravel trucks in the neighborhood. TXI has claimed that those of us with private wells have nothing to worry about with their pit next door. They say that they will water down the roads and dirt piles so that all that dust won't hurt the kids in the schools and playground just downwind. TXI has claimed that our property values won't go down with a 2,000 acre gravel mine next door and 250 trucks a day in our neighborhood. All of these statements the county has taken at face value from TXI. The neighborhood on the other hand has had TXI figured out from the start. Drive on FM 973 or Toll Road 130 north of the airport to FM 969 like many of us do daily and you will see what TXI has been doing to our county and extraterritorial jurisdiction for the last 20 years. TXI has all along been offering Travis County "a deal they can't refuse" on this gravel mine in our residential neighborhood. I'm with Commissioner Karen Huber, "it's time to step up" and stand up to TXI.
Richard Macdonald
