FB Star Reports On Blue Ridge Landfill Settlement Talks--click the title link for the full story--

Residents’ group opposed to landfill expansion
continues negotiations with trash company on landfill

By Cheryl Skinner

The city of Pearland and the three Houston television stations who were attempting to stop the issuance of an expansion permit for a landfill operation in Fort Bend County, have reportedly come to a settlement agreement with Republic Services. However, the grassroots group, Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion, continues “a good faith negotiation” with the company and no settlement has been reached, says Richard Morrison, the attorney representing the group.

The negotiations between the Coalition Against Blue Ridge Landfill Expansion and Republic Services Inc., is ongoing, Morrison says but no terms have been reached. The company reportedly came to a compromise with the three Houston television stations— KTRK (Channel 13), KRIV (Fox 26) and KHOU (Channel 11) and the city of Pearland during recent weeks. . .

MCC comment: This is the landfill company that has made contributions to Missouri City council members and some county commissioners along with signing a contract not to oppose this landfill planned for near 20 stories by giving these governmental entities "tipping fees" often called in the press "legal" bribes. Some of the key political players in supporting landfill expansion have been Bob Hebert, Allen Owen, Greater Fort Bend Economic Development Council, Oberg PAC...

Reiter Beats Hasty Exit Off Council Leaving District A Open To Challengers!

Reiter Decides To Vacate District A Position After Very Narrow Win In 2007!

MCC Exclusive:

Incumbent council member Eunice Reiter of district A made it official tonight and has decided not to seek re-election. After narrowly defeating her opponent in 2007 by just 3 votes, Rodney Griffin, she was reported to have said enough is enough.

The district A council woman was involved in several highly controversial votes over the last 3 years including supporting more apartments in the city and higher taxes on several occasions.

She took a great deal of criticism from the community during her 2007 run for accepting campaign contributions from Houston development companies and then voting on their projects when they came before council. Some credit her comments during 2005 & 2006 sessions and voting approval of up to 2700 apartments in the ETJ community of Sienna Plantation along with ex-council members Don Smith, Bob Burton and current mayor Allen Owen along with Buddy Jimerson as leading to one of her first challenges for her seat in the many years she sat on city council.

MCC endorsed her opponent in 2007 and wishes her well in retirement. The district A seat currently has two challengers with rumors of a third waiting in the wings. Filing closes soon for council and school board positions.

Pinnock Outlines Positions For Council Run In This FBN Piece

From FBN:

“It is far time for our city council to take a proactive interest in the quality of life of Missouri City residents because it is our local government that has a ‘direct’ impact on the quality of life that we are able to live,” said Pinnock. “It affects not only what we can do but also how we can do it. So much has been neglected in our city over the years, ranging from fleeting businesses, medical facilities, crumbling sidewalks, poor schools to increased taxes, crime, and home foreclosures.”

Pinnock, 34-years-old, is a resident of Quail Valley, along with his wife, Tiffany Pinnock, and his 10-year-old son, Noel Pinnock II. He has a master’s degree in public administration, with a focus on city planning and urban development, and is the e-TRAIN director, professional development services, at the Houston independent School District Hattie Mae White Educational Support Center.

“I have attended many meetings throughout Missouri City and have had the fortunate opportunity to hear from citizens that have a since of uncertainty regarding our city’s future and its inability to compete among neighboring cities,” said Pinnock. “Many of these voices are dissatisfied with how our ‘elected’ city officials respond to concerns that residents bring before council. Some who possessed the courage to go before the council left with negative perceptions and a lost sense of hope. Our city employees are also feeling the pain, especially when one incumbent on the dais diagnosed them with having an ‘entitlement mentality,’ regarding their much-needed salary increases. Their morale is down and that is not fair to them or the residents that rely on them to provide city services.”

--Follow the title link above for the full story!

Missouri City, After Decades, Finally Considers A Tax Reinvestment Zone For Cartwright & Texas Parkway!!!

MCC OP/ED:

"Charges that the city has neglected Cartwright Road and Texas Parkway, which runs past City Hall, became an issue in recent council elections. Candidates said the city was focusing its attention on the development of Texas 6, near affluent new subdivisions, at the expense of these once-vibrant commercial and residential corridors.

Pictures of empty commercial buildings, potholed parking lots and other eyesores were part of Monday's presentation.

"After a year of talking about it, it's something we've finally done something about," Mayor Allen Owen said just before Monday's vote. "I think it's a great deal." Houston Chronicle Report


This position is in stark contrast to April of 2007 when the mayor and other, now former council members, said that TIRZs couldn't be used in this corridor. See this release from Ap. 18th 2007 (local media at: http://www.fortbendnow.com/opinion/2801/the-politics-of-land-development-and-tax-breaks). My concern as always is how this particular mayor and his diminishing council supporters are reactive rather than proactive on growth issues. They pushed and fully supported the TIRZs (reinvestment zones) on the hwy 6 corridor for large Houston development companies (many with executives and mgmt employees on campaign disclosure lists for those directly benefitting from these tax abatements) in prime commercial areas, which is not what they are supposed to be used for. Then after nearly two decades in office he is finally supporting a TIRZ where it belongs.

"Tunstall said he’d been prompted to study up on the concept of a TIRZ, after two other Missouri City residents – one a past political candidate and the other a current council candidate – had approached council at consecutive recent meetings to suggest a TIRZ should be used to attract business and development along Texas Parkway and Cartwright Road. Council members suggested the two citizens were short on facts about TIRZs and how they operate." FortBendNow.com


Who were these citizens pushing for proper use of the TIRZs within the city? They were Lou Hunter, Rodney Griffin, Greyling Poats, Kevin Tunstall, Cynthia Gary and many other reform minded citizens and volunteers. Finally, after decades of neglect, Owen sees this as a "good thing".

We need new, fresh and more proactive people on this council, starting with a NEW mayor with vision. One who will represent all the people of the community and NOT just the special interests!

MCC Exclusive: Poats Confronts Council On Possible Misuse Of Reinvestment Zones In Prime Commercial Areas--

At the December 3rd city council session on item 7a the council was taking the second and final vote on a new taxing zone that may increase the ad valorem taxes coming from Missouri City and county taxpayers. Mr. Poats expressed his concern about setting up such a tax zone in a prime commercial area rather than using them to rehabilitate older areas of Missouri City, as is the intention according to chapter 311 of the Texas Tax Code.

When Greyling engaged the mayor on the misuses of reinvestment zones in this manner, a somewhat heated exchange took place between Owen and Poats, which lead to the district B council member, Cynthia Gary, asking for a return to civil debate. Repeatedly, throughout the evening, council member Jerry Wyatt and mayor Allen Owen grilled resident after opposition resident speaker in an attempt to defend the project.

One of the opposition speakers pointed out the potential for conflicts if Owen and two other council members continue to participate in this vote based on their campaign disclosure reports, which links the mayor and two others on council with some of the principle corporations that will be benefitting from their overt support and vote on the establishment of this zone (TIRZ #3).

This piece will be updated at intervals. Currently 3 TIRZs are either proposed or confirmed for this 2 to 3 mile stretch of prime commercial land along highway 6 in Missouri City.