On April 24th, a delegation of concerned officials from Hays County and the City of Wimberley appeared at the State Capital, along with several citizens, before the House Special Purpose Districts Committee. They addressed their concerns with the bill (HB 3918) sponsored by Rep. Jason Isaac to create a Municipal Utility District across most of the 5,000 acre former O’Quinn Ranch, now renamed the Needmore Ranch by new owner, south Texas businessman Greg LaMantia.
Among those appearing and speaking against the Isaac bill were Commissioner Will Conley, County Judge Bert Cobb, Wimberley Mayor Bob Flocke, and Wimberley Council Members Thurber and McCullough. Several of the House Committee members were blatantly disrespectful of these elected local officials and the citizens who spoke, interrupting them constantly with taunting questions. I wondered if they had been coached in advance of the Public Hearing. I understand that Mr. LaMantia was in the audience at the Public Hearing. He did not speak.
Rep. Isaac closed the Public Hearing before the House committee with a statement that demonstrated his lack of concern for the input from these local elected officials and citizens. His exact statement was, “Thank You Mr. Chairman and Members, I APOLOGIZE ABOUT THE DIRTY LAUNDRY GETTING AIRED FROM WIMBERLEY--”.
Isaac then appeared before the 400+ assembled citizens of Hays County on Thursday at the Town Hall meeting in Wimberley and continued to support his special interest legislation designed to benefit Mr. LaMantia.
I felt this performance by Isaac and others at the Capital on Wednesday was a sad commentary on the leadership exercised by some of our elected State officials. I think Isaac owes our local elected officials and citizens, who sincerely addressed their concerns, a written apology.
Jim McMeans
Wimberley
