OP / ED
As the Commissioner for Hays County Pct. 4, it is important to stand for all of our citizens in protecting their property rights, wells and ability to thrive. SB 1253, which will finally give our Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District the tools it needs to protect our property rights and water resources, does just that. By giving it the exact same authority as every other groundwater district in the state, including the other three which operate in Hays County, it will finally be able to hold accountable those who have chosen profit over our people.
The problem: Wells across Hays County are running dry. The Hays Trinity Groundwater Conservation District has been crippled since its creation, unlike other districts statewide, it lacks authority to collect property taxes or production fees from commercial wells. With only minimal well construction and connection fees (a one time fee of $1000), the district cannot enforce pumping restrictions or fight expensive litigation from out-of-state corporations and commercial abusers that overpump the aquifer by millions of gallons.
