Travis County Commissioners Court
September 19, 2006
Item 4
Number 4, rather, is a public hearing to receive comments regarding the granting of an exclusive easement submitted by at&t to place an equipment cabinet on the premises of the Travis County windmill run park in precinct 3.
>> move the public hearing be opened.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote.
>> at&t approached Travis County to purchase for $7,500 an easement measured 20-foot by 30-foot, part of its telecommunications equipment. It's at the edge of the park. And because it is a park we are required to have a public hearing of any use or sale of public parkland prior to doing that. We believe we have one objection from an adjoining neighbor to the use of the park for this purpose. And so today's public hearing is to receive any public testimony with regard to the use of the park for this purpose and the sale of this easement.
>> would anyone like to give testimony during this public hearing?
>> I would.
>> if you would give us your full name, we would be happy to get your comments.
>> phillip parker.
>> we need you speaking into the mic, mr. Parker.
>> 7217 scenic brook which I'm probably the one objection to the easement. The easement, as I understand, is proposed to directly boarder my property. And my concerns are based largely in part on that and also the fact that the access to that easement is going to require that the at&t service men and I imagine the people that install the cabinet to cross my property and to regularly cross my property going forward. As I understand, they will be accessing that cabinet once a month and there's no reasonable access to that cabinet without them crossing my property. There's a street which when they were planning this easement they may have expected that it was a city-owned street. It's not. It was abandoned by the city when the neighborhood was planned and it's now part of my property. As well as my neighbors' property. So without them crossing that street, that privately owned street, the service guys would have to make a big hike through that park and I'm not sure if they are planning on doing that or not. I'm also concerned that when they put that in, I'm sure it's going to involve them clearing that area and that's going to invite the kids to use that part of the park as a public access way, which again will involve them crossing my private property, although there is a sign there that says it's not a public entrance. Also I'm concerned about it may be a tart for vandalism. There's already been vandalism in that park. Graffiti. There was a park table set on fire the past two years, I believe. So those are my key concerns. I also am concerned about what their plans are in terms of running the cables to that cabinet. Unless they plan to make some sort of agreement with me which I haven't heard any proposals and I'm not sure if I would even consider it, if they plan to use the easement they already own, I just don't see how the cables could be run without considerable damage to the north side of the greenbelt area of the park. It's pretty densely treed area.
>> do we know the answers to those questions? If not should we get mr. Parker with one of our staff members and a at&t representative between now and next Tuesday? So mr. Parker, we'll complete this public hearing, delay the action item until next week, give you a opportunity to ask those questions directly of the at&t representative who has been working with us. And next week we'll bring this item back and if we still have item issues to discuss, we'll do it then.
>> thank you.
>> a real quick question. Is there actually a road there or not? I got a little confused when you were talking about whether there actually is a road there.
>> there is a road there, but it is a privately own road. It was a road that when they were laying out the subdivision originally, I'm not sure if they intended to continue housing and that's whether they decided to make that a Travis County park, but the road was abandoned by the city. It's no longer maintained by the city. I'm response -- and my neighbors are responsible for the road.
>> so it was legally vacated you believe by the city of Austin?
>> correct.
>> we'll get the attorney --
>> make sure they have your name and phone number. Those are not at&t representatives sitting to your left, those are county people. Would anyone else like to give testimony during this public hearing?
>> move the public hearing be closed.
>> second.
>> all in favor? That passes by unanimous vote. So action number number 31 will be back on the agenda next week, right? And if the issues have been worked out, fairly simple, if not, we'll have an appropriate discussion.
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Last Modified:
Wednesday, September 20, 2006 10:25 AM