San Antonio Hearing Highlights!

Here are the photos of the hearings held in San Antonio last Friday, March 3rd and Monday, March 6.  For the most part the excitement occurred on Monday.

Friday's hearings began at 9:00am at the Ramada Inn on 35N (Southbound side).   Despite the conflict with many people's work schedule there were a fair amount of residents present.  A number of letters were presented to the judges, the Honorable Jimmy Broyles and equally Honorable Craig Bennett.

Much of the time I was present the discussion focused on the land use issues around the landfill.  There was great debate as to how much of the area is commercial, industrial, agricultural, and residential.  MEG member Lee Copeland testified though a fair portion of his testimony was not allowed into record.  It was explained that since Mr. Copeland was not a land use expert his testimony on such matters is not allowed.   Friday closed with our eyes focused on Monday's hearings and the presentation of our "Bird expert".  Little did we know what was in store.

Monday's hearing began with more excitement than all of Friday's combined.  The judges informed everyone that they planned to take a site tour of the landfill area.   They were concerned with the community commentary presented earlier in the hearings.  During the weekend the judges took the time to read a great deal of commentary presented.  They made a list of the communities concerns.  It appeared as though it was finally becoming clear that the community of China Grove had more at stake in the landfill expansion than the city of San Antonio.

The judges requested that all parties come together to agree on transportation, route, and representation concerns.  After much debate between all parties it was apparent to the judges that no agreement had been established.  It was then that the judges decided to make their own transportation plans and leave the other parties to transport themselves.

The BFI attorney brought up several concerns with respect to the intended route and date and time of the site inspection.  To everyone's surprise the judges requested the site inspection to occur right after lunch.

Some residents in the audience felt that BFI would scurry to clean-up the area to be inspected by the judges.  MEG's attorney worked with several residents to form an inspection route to be taken by the judges.  The goal of the route was to present the landfill and the surrounding area including China Grove.

Due to conflicts in schedule with the "Bird expert" the site inspection was delayed until late afternoon.

Some MEG members left the hearings to verify if BFI was cleaning-up the area.  As expected there were several never-before-seen workers clearing trash from the roads surrounding the landfill.  It also appeared as though the berms had been re-graded to remove the erosion marks on the face of the berms.

BFI contested the inspection route stating that it was beyond the scope of the one mile radius.  The judges explained that they had concerns with the area outside the one mile radius and that they wanted to view the community of China Grove.

In the late afternoon the judges drove their own vehicle according to the route selected earlier.  They were followed by BFI, MEG, and the TNRCC, each in their own vehicle.

(I will post a map outlining the route taken as soon as I get a copy)

The route taken went through at least the streets of REAL Road, Triple Oaks Road, Triple Tree, Triple Leaf, Triple Bend, 87, Foster Road, I10, and 1516.  A MEG members who took the route stated that as he looked at his community through the eyes of the judges he saw a very nice community with many new homes and well kept yards.  It was apparent that many residents who live in our community and surrounding area take pride in their homes--nomatter the size or type.  From $200,000 homes through to small trailers they all had well kept yards and a sense of respect for their neighbors.   There was the feel of a growing community.  Everything from the new community center at St. Jeromes to the green ranches that dot our horizon to the new businesses along 87 depicted not a community in decline--but a community on the move.

That is until they came upon the remnants of the city of Martinez.  There he saw the deteriorated homes on the streets littered with trash and illegal dumping.  Even the clean-up crew that was still at work hadn't made enough of an impact on the area to diminish the run-down conditions.

The tour ended by the landfill with the judges dismissing everyone until Tuesday, 9:00am.

I am contacting MEG members who were present the last days of the hearings and who took notes.  I understand there were some very interesting developments.  If you have any notes you want to contribute please EMail me and I will arrange to get a copy of them.