Travis County Commissioners Court
Tuesday, June 15, 2010,
Citizens Communication
>> citizens communication is next, several citizens are signed in. This gives residents to add the court on any matter not on the agenda for up to five minutes. Kenneth snyder is number one, number two us gus pena, number three is steven broberg.
>> i'm kenneth snyder, third word neighborhood, north ridge acres, i went to the city council thursday, the city of austin said they are going to put the paperwork in for the grarchts and everything, grants and everything. I'm going to the state thursday and talk to them a little more. But they should be getting in touch with y'all. They say they're going to call you, call the judge. I told them you know all about it everything. There's no way to fix the septic tanks out there. It's a cesspool, just like you see on my shirt. There's no way to fix the problem. They kind of figured that out, too, i think. Every time you have a septic tank, fill it full of water, that tells you right there the septic tanks will not work. It's a health risk out there, big risk. Urgent need, we need that out there. We don't need to wait no five or six or seven or eight years down the road. That's what i'm telling the water development board. I think they are agreeing with me. I'm getting calls from all over the state since i put it on facebook on the internet. They cannot believe the problem that we've got out there. So close. Seven or eight miles down the road having this kind of a problem. It's getting worser and worser every day. Just go out there and look at that detention pond that tells you a whole lot. It's on my shirt the detention pond. Just like at the 1325. It is a mess. That's got to be fixed before we have an outbreak out there. It's going to be an outbreak if we don't get this problem fixed. I think the city is going to step in and fix the problem. They said they do not want us in the city, which i don't care, it don't make any difference to me. But being out there in the country, i like it out there, that's the reason that i moved out there because i want to be in the country. Once they get the sewer fixed and everything it will be perfect. I hope that you all will take a picture and raise the money for them and everything. I told them dell may put some money up, but they had to call and talk to whoever they talk to. I don't know how they handle that kind of stuff. There is ways to get the money done and everything. Just like i told the state up there and everything, one that told me about it was the -- the governor's office, he said put a moratorium on their grants and everything. If they can't fix the problem seven miles down the road. There's something wrong with the system. And i believe that the system is wrong -- they can't get the grant money and fix the problem right here, when they put so much money out for salamanders, spiders, and you might get a salamander in that cesspool out there. But to have a cesspool like this here right in the front yard of the subdivision they are going to build three or 400 homes right on the other side of that cesspool, i think it's time to fix the problem. It looks like it's getting closer, but i'm not going to wait another 20 years, i want to get it done immediately, it's got to be done immediately. Thank you very much.
>> thank you, mr. Snyder. Gus pena. By the way, i will need the following speakers at the table up here to help us expedite this meeting. Steve broberg, chip bray was that the gentleman here on the other meeting.
>> [indiscernible] eckstein.
>> thank you, judge. Gus pena, native east austin night. Four months ago i brought this issue to y'all regarding the denial of the ability of the senior citizens on mayor kirk on medice the dental clinics at what used to be known as the austin travis county health and dental clinics. Commissioner eckhardt, i believe you told me that you were going to get back with me on that issue. I have not heard anything from anybody. Judge as soon as i'm finished speaking, mrs. Jean, kiki anderson's telephone so you can call her back and let her know personally why they are not able to receive services there anymore. The formerly known hospital district, now maybe community care, i don't care, i was opposed to the establishment of this issue. Another taxing entity burden for the taxpayers which is not acceptable. We would like to know why the senior citizens will pay the way for us for many more years than i have been alive paid taxes diligently in a responsible manner, they are denied these services at the dental clinic, this is a quality of life issue. A lot of people say oh, well, you know, the health care issue, reform, all of this stuff, yes it's very important. But if your dental care is compromised, that's just as worse as having a heart condition. You eat that stuff in the system, it eats up your system, compromises your health. Especially for senior citizens, one of our most precious gifted segments of our population. This is very important, ladies and gentlemen, judge and commissioners. Please, please, i'm going to give you this number, please call mrs. Sanderson, lucio's adopted grandma, i love her like she was my own mom. We demand accountability. There is a petition going around without my permission and i believe they have about 25,000 registered voters already for me to run for city council. I don't want to run, i'm more effective getting people elected. But i will tell you, what if i have to, i will run for office and if i die on the dais of a heart attack because i'm so passionate to care for people for the quality of life for people. I will do so. Changes need to come about and our city council ain't getting it done. Excuse me bad english lucio and kiki. Property values are decreasing, property taxes are increasing. As i told you know, y'all know this very well as i do. We would like for you to have some sort of forum to explain this to the taxpayers. I to go the h.e.b. Whenever i have money to go to the h.e.b. They ask me gus can you do anything about it? I can't do, talk to your commissioner or councilmember or maybe if they care about that. There are quality of issues, people are being taxed out of their home, senior citizens are not able to buy their food, they can't pay for their medication for crying out loud. These are our senior citizens that pave the way for us. Last and foremost, no cuts in funding for summer job programs. I appreciate y'all starting the budgetary process early, very important. No cuts in summer job programs for the youth or senior citizens programs. A society's worth is measured by its treatment of the less fortunate. I want a response for ms. Sanderson for the dental and health care clinic. Thank you very much.
>> steve broberg, ms. Eckstein please come forward, jo anne howard, is howard here?
>>
>> [indiscernible]
>> he she's been here already. Morris priest, please come forward.
>> ready, judge?
>> yes, sir.
>> good morning judge around commissioners, i'm steven broberg, director of communication resources at travis county. We at tctv would like to take the time to honor the passing bolin, if anyone does not recognize the name we would like to show you a short clip.
>> i'm often asked by people i meet to describe tctv. I will usually begin --
>> whatever you are comfortable doing. People.
>> thank you, media.
>> when asked to describe tctv, i will often begin with a description of commissioners court and their proceedings. And with due respect to the court, some people don't get it. They won't know their commissioners's names even sometimes. But at last resort to explain tctv, i will simply say seniorcise with ruth and wave my arms like this and the light bulb goes off. For 20 years, tctv has hosted seniorcise with ruth. It's a nearly unheard of run in the world of television in the realm of meet the press or soap operas. Sadly, ruth passed away last week at age 88 around that noise we all heard were the gates of heaven opening wide. Ruth's story is compelling, i'll not sell it all since we would like to further honor her with a proclamation from commissioners court. But just to say that few people have made a more positive impact to the health of our community and not just through her efforts on television. Her voluntary work at community centers was a precursor to modern wellness programs. True story last week at my local coffee shop, the manager came up to me and said you know my daughter and i were watching channel 17 morning. My little girl loves to exercise with ruth and her daughter is three years old. So for kids of all ages, we're going to miss her and we at tctv among them. Thank you.
>> thank you.
>> thank you. Mr. Eckstein is next followed by morris priest, followed by ronnie reeferseed.
>> thank you judge, biscoe, commissioners, it is my pleasure this morning to introduce senator mein wa from the great state of minnesota visiting austin and took the time out to come by and visit. She represents the saint paul area in the minnesota senate. She was first selected to the senate in 2002 in a special election, reelected again that year and then reelected again in 2006. She is currently the chair of the judiciary committee of the minnesota senate and also serves on the senate's finance committee, taxes committee, and transportation committees, which means that we really wish we had her working for us on travis county's legislative agenda. But i'll move on. The senator is a graduate of brown university and of the university of minnesota school of law, perhaps most importantly and relevantly, also a graduate of the l.b.j. School of public affairs here at the university of texas at austin.
>> woo-hoo.
>> she's visiting town, really glad to have her here. He we just wanted to give her the opportunity to say hello to the commissioners court.
>> how are you doing?
>> judge and commissioners, thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to -- to have a hello. I'm pleased and honored to be back in austin. I have many friends here and -- and i'm just excited to be here. You know, 35 e goes straight from austin right through to st. Paul, y'all feel free to come up and visit me any time. Incidentally this morning it is 62 degrees in st. Paul.
>> [laughter]
>> thanks for coming by.
>> enjoy your stay.
>> glad to have you.
>> enjoy your stay, thank you. He has a huge expense account by the way, make sure he treats you to lunch.
>> thank you, judge, commissioners, morris priest speaking on my own behalf. I guess everyone saw the classified ads in the sunday paper by the ctrma starting this 290 project. If you didn't get a chance it's in the legal notices there i believe in the classified ads. But we have some transportation issues. Of course last night's meeting we had carlos, joe, bob, michael, doug, seemed like the good old days. But there is an effort going on with this e.p.a. Lawsuit and an effort to defend the state's legal rights and challenge improper overreach by our federal government. The e.p.a. Rejected the texas rule, but the -- and now they have no comment. But i did and that's -- i spoke to them earlier, i told them that's what i thought you said. The rules set in the mid 90s, they had a year's time to-- to discuss this. But they didn't. And now since -- since i think the obama administration is going come to an understanding of how this is going to affect employment. They are already changing their mind and they are now re-reviewing this article that you saw on the front page of the statesman. It was much like the item 68 hearing on 10-6-10 at the city council. Basically any time that you see your federal government, state government, county or city government talking about something like hamilton pool this morning, basically it's that your government has failed you. Just as we saw with txi and the colorado river banks being breached, everyone that i talked to from ken salazar all the way down to the state level, they all said that this is a problem with your city and county government. Not doing their -- toeing their responsibilities of protecting the environment. Any time someone tells you big business or a developer messed things up, the realanswer is that our government failed us in protecting our environment. I did want to bring that up. Also with this -- with this situation with our transportation, we basically have just a very simple -- i have showed this on an access show recently. I don't know if it can be seen on this screen. But we basically deal with the law, the state house bill, senate bills, txdot minutes and the plan is basically always pretty much intact. The plan goes through the federal highway administration, the federal transit administration, ttc, this process is broken down in the categories and sometimes funding situations such as
>> [indiscernible] or stimulus projects come into play. These projects are going to be built in phases. So basically when you see these situations like we had with 290, taking almost until october of last year to get the stimulus funding, to build those ramps, now just putting it in the paper to go out to bid
>> [buzzer sounding] shows when you work real hard you can at least slow down this government. Thank you.
>> thank you, mr. Priest. Mr. Reeferseed.
>> thank you, mayor and yes, i'm ronnie reeferseed screaming hey kids love your life. Now, never better. Because the second you start imitating us grownups, that's what this first shift cigarette or joints or first swig of alcohol, it's over. No more carefree days, only problems. Kids tell your parents you don't want to die early from the toxic sludge in the water. For your information the mayor and the entire city council of criminals have taken enough bribes, kick backs, special deals from other criminals to steal your precious taxpayer dollars so as to diabol ially make us all pay for the poison they never drink tap poison themselves. The toxic sludge of at least 500 chemicals, aluminum, et cetera, they shove down our throats. Call the mayor 974-2250. Ask him to please stop poisoning us with toxic sludge, please, now, we voters must do whatever take its to get rid of all of those criminals so we can once again have safe water for our children and gardens, call 974-2210 for the city council of criminals numbers, all of them. Also call the president, ask him what about all of those dead black babies. What is so-called president barry sataro doing to truly lessen the ongoing genocide against black babies or is he continually following the trail of death and real world genocide of black babies from this first criminals mrs.
>> [indiscernible] beyond canceling reagan's mexico city words about no taxpayer money for abortions, former president phil predator clintontradeer, formerly speculated that ron paul enthusiasts from me or somehow going to cause violence somehow. Somewhere. Huh? That's total hog wash, as you all know me and dr. Paul are long time peace activists, to learn more call toll free 1-888-322-1414 for weekly updates from dr. Paul or www.ronpaul.org. Also randpaul2010.com. Imagine two doctors in washington, d.c. Obama trons do you believe in death panels, last night p.b.s. Broadcast a debate about it. One side, we all have limited resources we must make hard choices, ie death panels. On the other side there's life and death decisions should be made at the bedside by family, friends and doctors, hum. By the way, big party republican party big wigs have recently horrified to see me because, you know, when they got together i stand out. I'm hey ronnie reeferseed. True wise party leadership understands that inclusion, not ex-exclusion is the key to party expansion. Info wars.com is a great source of info, check it out.
>> thank you, mr. Reeferseed. That does it for citizens communication.
The Closed Caption log for this Commissioners Court agenda item is provided by Travis County Internet Services. Since this file is derived from the Closed Captions created during live cablecasts, there are occasional spelling and grammatical errors. This Closed Caption log is not an official record the Commissioners Court Meeting and cannot be relied on for official purposes. For official records please contact the County Clerk at (512) 854-4722.
Last Modified:
Tuesday, June 15, 2010 2:35 PM
