This past week I had some out of state visitors at my house. They were in Flower Mound because of all the hysteria coming from a group of anti-drilling citizens. Their interest was to find out why this group of people was so anti-drilling, when in the rest of the Barnett Shale there is not this level of anti-drilling sentiment.
For one thing both of my guest were fascinated by the fact that they had driven past ten (10) gas wells as they turned onto my street on their way to my house. To their surprise, they didn't notice them. I explained to them where they were sitting in my front yard, was less than 2,200 ft. from the ten (10) gas wells. They couldn't believe it.
They were also surprised by the small size of the Sam Wilson proposed Wastewater Central Collection Facility. They were expecting to see something like you would see down on the Texas gulf coast where the refineries are. They told me me they only saw what appeared to be a barn with some wells, and a few tank batteries all within a few acres.
From their view point, it wasn't the industrial disaster they thought it was going to be. Instead, they found that you could drive thru Flower Mound, north to south, east to west, and not really see anything. They were left to ponder if this was a case of "haves" vs the "have nots"? And have the "have nots" deciding that since they will not receive financial benefits directly, they create a false crisis and try and bring the rest of the town in on they hysteria to force the drillers "to go away".
Have they not considered the benefits to everyone in Flower Mound with the increase in tax revenues from the gas wells, and the millions of dollars that have been put in the hands of lease holders to spend in local businesses and the sales tax revenues that it generates? These "new" tax revenues will benefit not only Flower Mound, but the local school district, the state, and the entire country as a whole.
One might begin to see that the actual "greed" is coming from a local small anti-drilling group's petty jealousies, here in Flower Mound who don't want anyone to benefit.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
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4 comments:
Good information for people who are thinking the way your guests did. The real threat to our town is litigation which will tie up the towns resources in a lawsuit. Then everyone looses. Jackie Stanfield
Shiloh Chris, I can assure you of one thing: Whatever it is that you "have," I do NOT want it.
Excellent turnout and a vert positive outcome last night at the O&G Board meeting - Williams' variance requests approved for both Pad B and Pad C. A resounding victory! Congratulations to the mineral owners that are included in the drilling plans for these pad sites and a strong "shout out" to the Williams team for preparing such a detailed development plan and well designed presentation for the Board.
Drilling revenue won't reduce taxes in Flower Mound one penny. Anyone who says different doesn't understand politics. They'll simply find some more useless projects to spend the extra money on. Maybe they'll build two football stadiums for Marcus.
LISD already spends too much money "educating" our kids and does a piss-poor job of it too. Beyond a certain point money becomes more of a distraction to real education than anything else.
Anyhow, widespread drilling revenue would likely be offset by the reduction in property value of the surrounding homes.
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