{"id":1794,"date":"2018-04-04T12:10:58","date_gmt":"2018-04-04T17:10:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1794"},"modified":"2018-04-04T12:11:40","modified_gmt":"2018-04-04T17:11:40","slug":"1794-2","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"http:\/\/truthinaddison.com\/?page_id=1794","title":{"rendered":"Talking TRUTH About The Farmers Branch Creek Dispute"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a0Talking TRUTH About The<\/strong>
\nFarmers Branch Creek Dispute<\/strong>
\nBy Susan M. Halpern<\/strong>
\nFormer Addison Councilmember (1992-1999)<\/strong><\/h3>\n

Farmers Branch has decided to take the creek dispute in an unfortunate direction, terminating a number of longstanding, unrelated agreements with Addison. I guess there is a contingent in Farmers Branch that believes that using libraries and access to senior centers as pawns will somehow cause Addison to capitulate to Farmers Branch\u2019s demands.\u00a0 Addison has reacted by staying above the fray and sticking to its guns.\u00a0 As well it should.<\/p>\n

The dispute involves a creek that flows through a neighborhood south of the Vitruvian development. Addison takes water in from Farmers Branch on the east side of the Vitruvian pond, and ultimately sends water downstream to the south on the west side of the pond, back into the creek at issue.\u00a0 One of the requirements of Addison\u2019s TCEQ permit for the Vitruvian development is that Addison must send downstream to Farmers Branch substantially the same amount of water that it takes in on the east side.\u00a0 This includes replacing water that evaporates as it sits in the Vitruvian pond.<\/p>\n

To meet this requirement, the TCEQ permit authorized Addison to drill a well into the Trinity Aquifer. Addison\u2019s initial plan was to also use this water for irrigation.\u00a0 When Addison\u2019s irrigation plans changed, Addison sought permission to drill its well into the Woodbine Aquifer.\u00a0 The change was inconsequential, so it was no surprise that the TCEQ told Addison that this would be fine.\u00a0 Significantly, the TCEQ also told Addison that it did not need to amend its permit in connection with this change.<\/p>\n

Then the TCEQ changed its mind. Told Addison it would need to amend its permit.\u00a0 Told Addison that it should have amended its permit.\u00a0 Even though the TCEQ had previously told Addison the exact opposite.\u00a0 And, even though the TCEQ readily acknowledges that it told Addison the exact opposite.\u00a0 You read all that correctly.\u00a0 It is completely unfair to Addison.\u00a0 Nonetheless, Addison filed an application to amend its permit and has pursued the amendment ever since.<\/p>\n

Looking back, the consultant receiving the direction about drilling into the Woodbine Aquifer should not have believed the TCEQ. Nor should the lawyers have believed the TCEQ.\u00a0 They should all have assumed that the TCEQ would later change its mind.\u00a0 They should have incurred the expenses associated with amending the permit, even though they had been told that it was unnecessary to do so by none other than the TCEQ itself.<\/p>\n

Oh wait. That all sounds crazy.\u00a0 Who would needlessly spend taxpayer money that way?\u00a0 No one, of course.\u00a0 The fact is that Addison had no way to anticipate the turn of events that has now brought it to its present circumstances, most notably the TCEQ\u2019s complete change in position regarding the need for Addison to amend the permit.\u00a0 Anyone who claims otherwise is ignoring reality.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, those who seek to divide our community are now characterizing the issue by saying that Addison \u201cdug in the wrong aquifer.\u201d That is a clearly incorrect and misleading statement, including because the TCEQ was informed of and approved Addison\u2019s plan to drill into the Woodbine Aquifer.<\/p>\n

So, what is Farmers Branch\u2019s part in all this? Well, Farmers Branch is opposing Addison\u2019s efforts to amend its permit.\u00a0 If Farmers Branch is successful, that will force Addison to drill a new well into the Trinity Aquifer, at significant expense to Addison.\u00a0 So, with that possibility dangling over Addison\u2019s head, Farmers Branch is making demands, presumably in exchange for withdrawing its opposition to Addison\u2019s efforts to amend its permit.\u00a0 Farmers Branch\u2019s opposition relies on its claim (without support) that the quality of the water drawn from the Woodbine Aquifer is inadequate.\u00a0 Addison disagrees, and the fact remains that the water that is sent downstream into Farmer\u2019s Branch meets all the requirements of the TCEQ permit.<\/p>\n

Farmers Branch has now escalated the matter. Last week they sent a series of letters to Addison (one per day for dramatic effect) terminating longstanding agreements relating to libraries and senior centers and other matters totally unrelated to the creek. And, for good measure, they have falsely told Farmers Branch residents that Addison is polluting their creek despite an \u201cofficial ruling.\u201d\u00a0 Both propositions are patently false.\u00a0 Misinforming citizens for perceived political gain does nothing to help either community.\u00a0 Trust Addison on this, it endured this tactic for six years at the hands of our ex-mayor and every last bit of it was unhelpful, divisive and toxic.\u00a0 It is disappointing at best to think that a neighboring community would employ such tactics.<\/p>\n

Inexplicably, the negative spinners claim that this is all news to them. If it is, they haven\u2019t been paying attention.\u00a0 This issue arose during the tenure of their own ex-mayor, and it has been discussed countless times by Addison\u2019s council since then.\u00a0 In executive session.\u00a0 The present council inherited the situation and has continued to meet about it, in exactly the same manner as the councils before them met: in executive session.\u00a0 So, the efforts to cast aspersions on the current council based on clearly authorized, proper executive sessions are inappropriate and without any basis in reality.<\/p>\n

The negative spinners have also taken their usual pot shot at former City Manager Ron Whitehead. These attacks are utterly unjustified and they disrespect the history of our town.\u00a0 Ron Whitehead\u2019s dedication to Addison for 32 years is responsible for almost all of the beauty and amenities that make Addison so special.\u00a0 Look around you and admire the parks, the trails, the health club, the conference and theater center, the airport, the restaurants, the special events, and\u2026\u00a0 I could go on for a long time.\u00a0 Ron Whitehead and his staff are responsible for all of it.\u00a0 Their vision, their innovative thinking and their hard work MADE ADDISON.\u00a0 It is beyond disgraceful that these people \u2013 bent on misinforming and dividing Addison \u2013 continue such inappropriate efforts to try to besmirch all that Ron Whitehead accomplished for Addison.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a shame that the creek matter wasn\u2019t resolved when the chance was there. But that\u2019s the past, and we must deal with the present.\u00a0 If Farmers Branch sees fit to employ the tactics we\u2019ve just witnessed, then perhaps it\u2019s time to take their leverage out of the equation.\u00a0 If Addison has to drill into the Trinity Aquifer because the TCEQ changed its position and Farmers Branch won\u2019t join Addison in finding a reasonable solution, then so be it.\u00a0 It\u2019s completely unfair, but that\u2019s where we are with it.\u00a0 Addison needs to move forward.<\/p>\n

And in moving forward, Addison needs to present a united front. That is the Addison Way.<\/p>\n

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