Thursday, May 28, 2009

The Butler Longhorn museum

After last night’s discussion about the future of the museum I am interested in what you all think. It is my understanding that $ 300,000 was requested for this year and $ 500,000 was requested for each year for the next few years. Do you think the museum should be turned over to an independent group who does not have to answer to the city council? If you believe it should be turned over to the independent group should our city tax dollars continue to “supplement” the museum? Or should they lease the property and pay for the salaries and work that needs to be done with their own funds? Or should the city maintain control, hire someone else and open the doors to the public using the admissions and donations as funding to finish the museum over a period of time?

Discussion anyone?

Sunday, May 24, 2009

Memorial Day

I located this commentary On Memorial day and thought it said a lot. Both my mother and father served in World War II. God bless those that served so that we may be a free country. God Bless America and God Bless League City.

The League City Memorial Day Ceremony will be at 9:30 AM May 25, 2009 at the League City Sportsplex.


A Commentary by Terry Plowman

Memorial Day now suffers the same secular fate as Christmas -- its commercial value has far outstripped its original meaning.That fact is especially evident here in a resort area, where Memorial Day weekend is considered the kickoff to the busy summer season. Although there is nothing terribly wrong with that, and we couldn't change it anyway, we hope readers will give a few moments thought to the real meaning of Memorial Day this weekend.

The trouble with evoking memories from past military conflicts is that it is like looking at a grainy black-and-white photograph or newsreel (an outdated term in itself).For many Americans who can barely remember life without color photography, looking at these black-and-white images has little impact. They represent another time, one that is hard to connect with today. But for those who lived through the past few wars, there is color in the memories, and for many of those who served in the military, the color is blood red.

For them Memorial Day is not a history lesson, quickly forgotten like other lessons from our school days. For them it is the father, the brother, the son, the husband, the pal who never came home. And for those of us living today, the war dead are our vivid connection to Memorial Day -- because it is an eerie fact that many of us would not be here today were it not for a quirk of fate that allowed our fathers to survive a war.

How many of the more than 400,000 World War II dead would have fathered the geniuses, the creators, the liberators of today's generations? How many of the 116,000 World War I dead, the 54,000 Korean War dead, or the 58,000 Vietnam War dead? How many of the 500,000 Civil War dead would have fathered children whose impact would still be felt in our lives today? Actually, many of these dead patriots were themselves only 18 or 19 years old, so they were robbed of the chance to leave us any legacy other than the memory of their sacrifice.

A wounded seaman who was taken aboard a rescue vessel during the D-Day invasion was quoted in Life Magazine about the fundamental mystery of war:

"(The ship) was loaded with the bodies of sailors, soldiers, airmen; the wounded and survivors. And on board was the body of my friend Pete Petersen. He was going to be 21 on June 22. One thing you always wonder is, who makes that decision: Who dies and who doesn't?"

On this holiday weekend, let's not forget the meaning, the mystery and the tragedy behind Memorial Day.

Monday, May 18, 2009

Canvassing votes & swearing in

Tuesday May 19th in the council chambers at 6 PM the votes from the last election will be canvassed and made official. Then newly elected council members, Mick Phalen and Mike Lee will be sworn in as well as our Re-Elected Mayor pro-tem Phyllis Sanborn. It will be a GREAT night for our city. Please come and join the festivities that celebrate the citizens overwhelming victory.

Sunday, May 17, 2009

Storm Stories part 2 (the Aftermath)

I received this email and was asked to place it on the blog. I thought that I would put up a thread to see if others would like to comment on this situation.


This was League City's chance to shine. Local rains produced local flooding at multiple sites throughout the city. This happened twice during the month of April 2009. April 18th was the worst for the Landing subdivision. Two 911 calls I know were made to the League City Fire Dept. (LCPD) for assistance due to flooding. More than 25 homes in the landing flooded, some had 3 inches some had 3 feet. When I went to speak to the city engineer, Mr. Murphy, on May 11th he showed me a color coded map of flooding in the Landing based on a call in log he was given. He was aware of water in the streets but not of water in peoples' homes, despite the two 911 calls that LCFD responded to.

This indicates to me a fundamental breakdown in communication between LCFD, Emergency management and the city engineer. I blame Emergency management. They failed to make the 2 known 911 calls available to the City Engineer so he can make an improved flood plan. They failed to actively gather data in order to get an accurate picture of what happened in the Landing subdiv. I was told by a representative of Emergency management that they went out and drove around after the flood on April 18th to look for damage. I asked her if she got out of the car and asked citizens about the flood damage in various neighborhoods she said no. She said she and the others just looked for trash and debris curbside. How she missed the huge volumes of trash on Knoxville and Traveller that appeared on April 19th and that Ameriwaste, the city garbage collector, still refuses to pick up, is beyond my understanding.

It would be logical to me after a flood to send someone to the home of a person and ask the simple question how much water got in your home and ask who else flooded. This person should also ask, at a minimum, the resident of the home on the right and left of the house in question, the house across the street and the house behind them. Hardly ever just one house floods. One unpaid citizen spent 4 hours covering a 6 block area and came up with approximately 25 addresses of flooded homes. A paid professional from Emergency Management came up with zero. This "professional" could not even capture the 911 calls from LCFD. I do not expect the city to knock on the door of every single house after a flood and interview. I do however, expect somebody to get out of the car and interview the immediate area of every 911 call involving flooding or any other disaster.

I have been told by Mayor Randell the city will do better next time. Chris Reed, the city Administrator, was let down by Emergency Management in my opinion. I assume Mr. Reed will locate the personnel who did such a poor job of data collection and make sure this does not happen again.

Forrest Sory
Landing Homeowner

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

The Butler Longhorn Museum

As we all know by now Butler Longhorn Museum curator Ms. Jennifer Wycoff-Van der Wal submitted her resignation April 30th . It appears there are many differing opinions as to what should happen next. It was stated in today’s Galveston County Daily news that she has been accused of shredding four records from her personnel file.

The City ( I guess they mean Chris Reed) said Ms. Wycoff-Van-der Wal was not forced to resign.

Ms. Wycoff-Van der Wal, has denied destroying the records and has declined to comment on her resignation.

On the agenda for tonight’s city council meeting the council will meet in executive session on what to do. Word around City Hall is her replacement has already been chosen.

What do you make of this situation and what do you think should be done?

Sunday, May 10, 2009

Can you hear the citizens now?

With an overwhelming majority (69-70%) the voters of League City said NO to the wide open developer deals that has placed our city in the position we are in today.

The Unoffical returns
Council Position 3
Thomas Cones ...... 1171 (31.44%)
Mick Phalen .......... 2553 (68.56%)

Council Position 4
Mike Lee................ 2626 (70.46%)
Pat Hallisey............ 1101 (29.54%)

Council Position 5
Phyllis Sanborn...... 2571 (69.28%)
Ed Stations............ 892 (24.04%)
Dustin Gooding........ 248 ( 6.68%)

This election says a lot about many things. One states very loudly that Mr. Baron and his friends could not muster the “troops” they thought they could. It also says that not one newly elected council member received any votes from Mr. Baron or his friends. Any type of discussion to the contrary is not factually based and is only an attempt to hide the truth.

One last thought go to Mallios.com and look at the citizens polls and you will see what the citizens think. It has been very accurate over the last few years in showing what the citizens think and how they have voted.

What did this election say to you?

Friday, May 8, 2009

Election Day in League city

Tomorrow is Election Day in League City. You all know where I stand. I support Phyllis Sanborn, Mike Lee and Mick Phalen. I believe they will do what is best for our city and we, the people. Who are you supporting and why? If you did not vote early then you need to go and vote in the city and School Board elections. Exercise that right to vote. Support your candidate and get involved in the process.

The polling places for qualified and registered voters residing in the City of League City will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Election Day, May 9, 2009, and are as follows:

L. C. Pct #1 - Galveston Cty Pcts 263, 286, 455, 464, 487 and Harris Cty Pct 655 which lie within the corporate boundaries of the City – Fire Station No. 4, 175 Bay Area Boulevard

L. C. Pct #2 - Galveston Cty Pcts 455, 487, and 488 which lie within the corporate boundaries of the City – Old Fire Station No. 2, 411 Newport Boulevard

L. C. Pct #3 - Galveston Cty Pcts 220, 340, 389, 402, 453, 454, 471, 482, and 487 which lie within the corporate boundaries of the City – Johnnie Arolfo Civic Center, 400 West Walker Street

L. C. Pct #4 - Galveston Cty Pcts 398, 452, 453, 454, 467, 471, and 490 which lie within the corporate boundaries of the City - Fire Station #1, 601 Second Street

L. C. Pct #5 – Galveston Cty Pcts 165, 452, 466, 467, 470, 490, 491,492, and 493 which lie within the corporate boundaries of the City – Ferguson Elementary School, 1910 South Compass Rose Blvd., South Shore Harbour.

School Board election locations

District 1
Bay Elementary School
1502 Bayport
Seabrook, Texas 77586

Clear Creek 9th Grade Center ** Early Voting Location**
2451 E Main Street
League City, Texas 77573

District 2
Nassau Bay City Hall
18100 Upper Bay Road
Nassau Bay, Texas 77058

Space Center Intermediate
17400 Saturn Lane
Houston, Texas 77058

Clear View Education Center
400 South Walnut Street
Webster, TX 77598

District 3
John F. Ward Elementary
1440 Bouldercrest
Houston, Texas 77062

Clear Lake Ninth Grade Center ** Early Voting Location**
2903 Falcon Pass
Houston, Texas 77062

District 4
Clear Brook High School ** Early Voting Location**
4607 FM 2351
Friendswood, Texas 77546

Brookside Intermediate School
3535 E. FM 528
Friendswood, Texas 77546

District 5
Ross Elementary School
2401 W. Main Street
League City, Texas 77573

Hyde Elementary School
3700 FM 518 East
League City, Texas 77573

Saturday, May 2, 2009

Devil in the Deed Tails - Volume 2

Volume I posted by Chris Mallios on the old LC blog in March 2007

On Monday, May 5th, planning and zoning will vote to approve the subdivision plat of Nick Scotto’s Cypress Bay Section 3 (CB3).

With this plat Scotto claims ownership of a property located within the boundary of Glen Cove subdivision. From December 6, 2006 and until the last council meeting Scotto has claimed ownership of the property Seminole Bridge property.

Problem: At Tuesday night’s council meeting (4/28/09) the Glen Cove HOA President and two residents spoke to oppose P & Z plans to approve CB 3. In February 2009 a letter was given to council by the Glen Cove HOA President and the letter quoted City Attorneys Bill Helfand and Dick Gregg as stating the bridge deed from the City to Scotto was unauthorized and void. Undeniable proof of comments was given to council.

On Tuesday night after Jeff Hagen’s closing statements to council there was applause by citizens in the crowded council chambers. Several council members were wide-eyed and had a look of disbelief. Neil Baron, a proponent of the Scotto/Cones Glen Cove plan gave his famous eye-roll and (I smell) cat-poo face.

A priceless moment came after the mayor demanded no applause. A woman yells out “Well then tell Neil Baron to stop making faces!”

The message was clear – How could P & Z approve the Cypress Bay plat that included Glen Cove land Scotto did not own?

____________________

Never Fear Scotto/Cones Fans – The crafty and wise ones always have a back-up plan to deal with pesky Glen Cove folks.

The next day Scotto files a new subdivision plat dated 4/29/09 and provides a new deed to prove his ownership of the Glen Cove property. Planning Department La Shondra Holmes (surely with the help to Tony Allender - Director of Land Management) worked diligently not to delay the P & Z plat approval. After all, time is of the essence, Scotto will not accept any delay.

Problem: The new deed presented by Scotto is WORTHLESS. Ms. Holmes and Mr. Allender are clueless and no due diligence is done to verify the meaning or validity of this Mystery Deed II. Where did this duo go to get legal and real estate advice?

Deed Facts:
Type Deed: Deed WITHOUT Warranty (like a quit claim deed)
Property Conveyed: Defined as “Exhibit A”; Tract 7 a 2.274 acre EASEMENT and Tract 7 II, a .2554 acre property common called the bridge property.
Effective Date: September 15, 2006
Date Signed: April 6, 2009
Grantor: Kevin T. Howell, President NRG Texas Power, LLC
Agreed and Accepted by Nick Scotto, MB Harbour, LTD

Let’s consider the nature of this deed.

1. It is odd to have a signed date of 2 ½ years after effective date.
2. The metes and bounds legal description of the bridge tract is dated November 3, 2006, about six weeks after the “effective??” date of purchase.
3. In September 2006 Scotto purchased three tracts from NRG. This bridge tract was not included as part of the sale.
4. NRG NEVER owned the bridge property. This fact was known by NRG, Nick Scotto, Dick Gregg, and Scotto’s surveyor Steve Williams.
5. Why would Scotto acquire the Chris Reed-signed city deed if he had purchased the property from NRG in September 2006? Are two deeds better than one?

Question: After presented with these facts will P & Z approval of Scotto’s CB3 plat be postponed. Or will the final plat for Tommy Cones pet project be approved in haste and create yet another legal problem for the city. I have heard the cost of litigation of the Cones involved Glen Cove litigation exceeds over $100,000.

Please contact responsible parties and ask them to delay approval of this plat until proper due diligence is preformed by a qualified title attorney.

Nick Scotto – MB Harbour
La Shondra Holmes – Planning Manager 281-554-1079
Tony Allender – Director of Land Management
Chris Hullman – Chairman Planning and Zoning Commission
Members of Planning and Zoning Commission - (info to follow)

Please ask all parties to do what is right. We all should be accountable for our actions.

We rely on P & Z Commision to make well-informed decisions to protect the interests of the City and the citizens. A hasty ill-informed decision does neither. The information presented to P & Z lacks due diligence.

Any help posting contact numbers and email addresses would be appreciated.

Paul Smith