A Holiday Turkey Courtesy of our Commissioners (click the title link for this FBN article)-

From FBN:

A Holiday Turkey At Blue Ridge (Landfill Controversy Brewing)

At this time of year we get warm and cozy thoughts about the coming holidays. Special memories of family and friends cuddled around the fireplace (ok not in South Texas) sharing stories of events that helped shape our relationships and broader community. Food, family, friends and sometimes football are the centerpieces of this season of joy and hope! A place called home serves as the focal point for most of us.

This year is no different. Our family is just like many others rushing around trying to fill the gift list and pick up last minute food and supplies for this yearly event. Some things are different though this year and have tainted the fuzzy feelings, and will forever scar our memories of this season of ’06. I don’t speak of the protracted SLAPP-suit here in our community by Houston’s Johnson Development Corp. in Pedro Ruiz’s courtroom, but of the brewing controversy at the BFI Blue Ridge Landfill.

Recently several local papers have been reporting on the pending TCEQ Contested Hearing to be held December 7th at 7pm on the Blue Ridge Elementary campus off McHard Road. The proposed plan, that is supported by some of our Missouri City council members, the FBEDC via Herb Appel & Tom Stavinhoa, our misguided county commissioner who just a few years ago fought against a landfill proposal near his home, are supporting this project that would more than double the size of this already behemoth Blue Ridge Waste Treatment Center and triple its current mountain size height. The contemporary terminology for these herculean, super-sized landfills is “mega-landfills” (not like super-sizing your drink at McDonalds though). These are the crowning jewel in any waste management’s investment portfolio. According to the reports, it will last up to 40 years and seemingly handle all our garbage needs in and out of the county!

On the flip side, a dozen neighborhoods and thousands of homeowners, taxpayers & residents of the area from Shadow Creek Ranch over to Sienna Plantation, Teal Run, Vicksburg, Quail Valley and many, many other developing and more established subdivisions are speaking up. This group is lead and supported by District 17 State Representative Dora Olivo who is actively representing her constituents in the area. The concerns range from current and future water conditions, which are already a problem in this section of the county, to air and other quality of life indicators, as well as the negative economic impact such a facility will have on the burgeoning retail & residential growth being brought by the Houston development companies now flourishing here in this post-rural part of the county (many of these companies are active members of the FBEDC). Apparently our county already ranks among the top 10 for actual numbers of landfills (active and inactive). Do we really need this project?

In this classic David versus Goliath debate, where the residents are facing a nationally known billion dollar corporation, one may ask why even bother? It doesn’t seem to be a question stopping these concerned voters and taxpayers. The question that I would like to ask is why are some of our local elected officials not on board with this fight that will shape this community for many holidays to come?

How’s that for a holiday Turkey. . . ?