This morning Williams launched a new website to put information out to the public on what it's operational intentions and plans are. We have been asking for something like this for quite some time now and apparently they have been listening. The following link will take you to the site. You can also find it in "Link" on this blog.
http://www.williamsinthebarnett.com/
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
Flower Mound's Future is On the Line!
As many of you know, the upcoming local elections are just around the corner. This election cycle includes the Mayor's seat, and places 2 and 4. If you have not registered you can go to the Texas Secretary of State’s website at this link: http://www.sos.state.tx.us/elections/voter/reqvr.shtml or you can click on the link of Gerald Robinson and they will get a registration card to you.
Mayor Jody Smith is running for re-election. Mayor Smith was first elected mayor in 2004. She has been instrumental in projects like the Presbyterian Hospital of Flower Mound currently under construction. She has also been a strong conservative voice at Town Hall by holding the line on no tax increases, balancing the budgets, and keeping high quality services to the residence of Flower Mound. While she has been in office, hundreds of millions of dollars in investment dollars have poured into Flower Mound at a time when the country has been experiencing one of the worst economies of all time. I strongly support her bid for re-election.
Running for Place 2 is Gerald Robinson. He is the former Chairman of the Flower Mound Environmental Conservation Commission and his many years of local government service make him the “GREEN” choice for Place 2. His years as a Certified Financial Planner, coupled with his chairmanships in local government, make him highly qualified to be the Place 2 Councilmember.
Running for Place 4 is Bryan Webb who is serving on Flower Mound's Planning and Zoning Commission. Bryan has 15 years of service in local government. Has worked for the same company for 19 years and manages their Credit Risk Management Department. Based on experience and responsibility, Bryan is the most qualified candidate running for Place 4.
The direction Flower Mound takes is dependent upon the outcome of this election. You can do something about it and vote for conservatives Mayor Smith, Bryan Webb, and Gerald Robinson, and defeat the "Liberals", Northern, Lyda, and "Liberal Leaning" Filidoro.
We need citizen volunteers to walk neighborhoods, post signs, and other jobs that are going to be required to defeat Filidoro,Lyda, and "Northern's" "Liberal machine". So please, click on the links to the candidate’s websites, and email them and let them know you are willing to help.
Re-Elect Mayor Jody Smith
http://www.electgeraldrobinson.com/
http://www.electwebb.com/
Mayor Jody Smith is running for re-election. Mayor Smith was first elected mayor in 2004. She has been instrumental in projects like the Presbyterian Hospital of Flower Mound currently under construction. She has also been a strong conservative voice at Town Hall by holding the line on no tax increases, balancing the budgets, and keeping high quality services to the residence of Flower Mound. While she has been in office, hundreds of millions of dollars in investment dollars have poured into Flower Mound at a time when the country has been experiencing one of the worst economies of all time. I strongly support her bid for re-election.
Running for Place 2 is Gerald Robinson. He is the former Chairman of the Flower Mound Environmental Conservation Commission and his many years of local government service make him the “GREEN” choice for Place 2. His years as a Certified Financial Planner, coupled with his chairmanships in local government, make him highly qualified to be the Place 2 Councilmember.
Running for Place 4 is Bryan Webb who is serving on Flower Mound's Planning and Zoning Commission. Bryan has 15 years of service in local government. Has worked for the same company for 19 years and manages their Credit Risk Management Department. Based on experience and responsibility, Bryan is the most qualified candidate running for Place 4.
The direction Flower Mound takes is dependent upon the outcome of this election. You can do something about it and vote for conservatives Mayor Smith, Bryan Webb, and Gerald Robinson, and defeat the "Liberals", Northern, Lyda, and "Liberal Leaning" Filidoro.
We need citizen volunteers to walk neighborhoods, post signs, and other jobs that are going to be required to defeat Filidoro,Lyda, and "Northern's" "Liberal machine". So please, click on the links to the candidate’s websites, and email them and let them know you are willing to help.
Re-Elect Mayor Jody Smith
http://www.electgeraldrobinson.com/
http://www.electwebb.com/
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Sunday Afternoon with Some RoughNecks
Sunday afternoon March 21, 2010, the wind was blowing cold and hard, but that didn't stop the boys at Felderhoff brothers drilling. I again, was very lucky to be able to hang around a bunch of highly trained and experienced oilfield workers. They took me in as if I was one of their own. These operations run 24 seven in three different shifts, doesn't matter if it's raining, sleeting or snowing, the work goes on. You could say these guys are real men. They do their jobs exactly as trained, no whining, no crying about it, just head down and get it done. My hat goes off to these hard working men.
Felderhoff brothers’ drilling is a Texas company with 2 yards, one in Gainesville, and one in Jacksboro. Several years ago they completely modernized all of their equipment. They are the only drilling contractor that was awarded the Energy Star Rating by the US Department of Energy. Six months ago that has really paid off because the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy will be subsidizing any drilling that is done with an Energy Star Rating. You can click on the link to read the full “Energy Digital” article. http://www.energydigital.com/Felderhoff-Brothers-Drilling--A--new-direction_41506.aspx
From Left to Right, Jacob "Jake"Melton, Chris Tyler, Mark Edington, Reynaldo Garza, Kent Rogers, Beauford "Wayne" Cameron, Joe Jones. I also want to point out what these men's jobs are: again from Left to Right, Jake, Derrickman, Chris Tyler, Driller, Mark, Floor Hand, Reynaldo, Floor Hand, Kent Rogers, Tool Pusher, Wayne, Motorman, Joe Jones, Asst Driller
I can tell you one thing; this group of guys is one of the nicest hardest working bunch of roughnecks that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. These guys keep that rig clean running, the area around it clean, and the way it's supposed to be. I have never been more impressed by anything in my life, maybe a few exceptions (birth of my kids).
My hope is that all of the people in the community of flower mound will have the dignity to respect the work that these fine men do for us every day. It's because of them that our lights come on, that we can take a nice hot shower, and when it's cold outside like today, we can turn our heat on. So just think about it for a second, all of these men have families and children and in your opinion does it look like any of them are dying from toxins? This is how these fine hard working men put a roof over their family’s heads, and put dinner on the table. All I ask is please have some respect.
Felderhoff brothers’ drilling is a Texas company with 2 yards, one in Gainesville, and one in Jacksboro. Several years ago they completely modernized all of their equipment. They are the only drilling contractor that was awarded the Energy Star Rating by the US Department of Energy. Six months ago that has really paid off because the US Environmental Protection Agency and the US Department of Energy will be subsidizing any drilling that is done with an Energy Star Rating. You can click on the link to read the full “Energy Digital” article. http://www.energydigital.com/Felderhoff-Brothers-Drilling--A--new-direction_41506.aspx
I can tell you one thing; this group of guys is one of the nicest hardest working bunch of roughnecks that I have ever had the pleasure of meeting. These guys keep that rig clean running, the area around it clean, and the way it's supposed to be. I have never been more impressed by anything in my life, maybe a few exceptions (birth of my kids).
My hope is that all of the people in the community of flower mound will have the dignity to respect the work that these fine men do for us every day. It's because of them that our lights come on, that we can take a nice hot shower, and when it's cold outside like today, we can turn our heat on. So just think about it for a second, all of these men have families and children and in your opinion does it look like any of them are dying from toxins? This is how these fine hard working men put a roof over their family’s heads, and put dinner on the table. All I ask is please have some respect.
Saturday, March 20, 2010
An Afternoon at Cummings C-West Gas Well Flower Mound, Texas
On Friday afternoon, March 19, 2010, I went out to the Cummins C-West gas well pad site in West flower mound. I wanted to see for myself, what if any damage was caused by the spill. By the time I arrived the cleanup crew had already removed all of the contaminated dirt. The crew's had already put down new dirt and gravel and shored up the retainer berms.
While no one wants any type of the spill or emission, the safety systems built around the pad site worked to prevent the spill from leaving the site. Again, proving that natural gas drilling and production can be done safely without causing harm to the community or the environment.
To put the spill in perspective, consider 3360 gallons would fill a 12 foot diameter child's backyard plastic swimming pool 1 foot deep. The majority of the fluid was flow back which is fresh water but it did contain a small percentage of produced water witch is predominately saltwater.
The best part of the day was meeting Canaan Swearingin of Archer Flow Back Services out of Mineral Wells Texas. Canaan is a production well technician and he knows how to make that natural gas flow out of that well head. He cranks up his massive pumps and puts the nitrogen in the hole until the gas starts to flow.
So the next time you turn on your lights, take a warm shower, or turn on your heat when it's cold outside thank Canaan Swearingen for doing his job. We all take it for granted, these conveniences that make our lives very very comfortable. It's because of guys like Canaan working on the frontlines bringing this energy to the surface for our use.
A few of you out in the community might want to quit being a bunch of cry babies and whiners, and might want to try and grow a pair and act like men.
While no one wants any type of the spill or emission, the safety systems built around the pad site worked to prevent the spill from leaving the site. Again, proving that natural gas drilling and production can be done safely without causing harm to the community or the environment.
To put the spill in perspective, consider 3360 gallons would fill a 12 foot diameter child's backyard plastic swimming pool 1 foot deep. The majority of the fluid was flow back which is fresh water but it did contain a small percentage of produced water witch is predominately saltwater.
The best part of the day was meeting Canaan Swearingin of Archer Flow Back Services out of Mineral Wells Texas. Canaan is a production well technician and he knows how to make that natural gas flow out of that well head. He cranks up his massive pumps and puts the nitrogen in the hole until the gas starts to flow.
So the next time you turn on your lights, take a warm shower, or turn on your heat when it's cold outside thank Canaan Swearingen for doing his job. We all take it for granted, these conveniences that make our lives very very comfortable. It's because of guys like Canaan working on the frontlines bringing this energy to the surface for our use.
A few of you out in the community might want to quit being a bunch of cry babies and whiners, and might want to try and grow a pair and act like men.
Thursday, March 4, 2010
Moratorium Won't Make May 8th Ballot in Flower Mound
Star Local News reporter Chris Roark wrote in his March 2, 2010 piece that those involved with the petition group were hoping their efforts from a petition drive would lead to a special election may have to wait a while.
Virginia Simonson, a co-founder of the Flower Mound Cares petition group, told the Flower Mound Town Council on Monday that the group had collected enough signatures to place the proposal on the ballot for the May 8th general election.
Councilmember Al Filidoro suggested that the town council call a special meeting on Monday March 8, 2010 to discuss calling for a special election. Mayor Jody Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Jean Levenick and Councilmember Mike Wallace spoke against it. Levenick and Wallace said it would conflict with an already scheduled planning and zoning meeting.
Councilmember Tom Hayden suggested finding additional funding to help town Secretary Ms. Paula Paschal's office of four employees to verify the signatures. Levenick said it's not fair to put a burden on the secretary's office to verify that many signatures in four days.
Councilmen Filidoro was clearly pandering to the petition group. From an outsiders view, Mr. Filidoro was trying to make good on a promise to the petition group, as Mr. Hayden also tried a last minute effort to bring the issue to resolution.
This is the same group of people who have been saying that we have to slow things down. But in reality, that only pertains to issues that they object too. If it is their issue they want it passed in less than two weeks, without debate, nor showing the petition to the public, or the council members.
I find it distasteful the insults, and demonizing the Mayor has had to endure the past few months. Not to mention the latest round of insult hurling where she is described as arrogant, unaccountable, and sleazy. These people are blaming their own lack of transparency, and secrecy on the Mayor’s not seeing the petition. I have asked numerous times for a copy of the petition and been refused. A lot of residents have asked them to post a copy of the petition on their web-site and they have refused. People have asked them to publish a copy of the petition in one of the local news papers and again they have refused. I don’t think it’s the mayor’s responsibility to find a petition location just to read the petition. You would think if this group was serious, they would hand deliver one to her office.
I’ve listed the article and paragraphs from the town’s charter that pertain to petitions and “self-rule” if you will. These are the rules, and this is what you have to do if you want to get something on the ballot. And even though you have a couple of politicians on a string, they still have to obey the law. It is as follows:
According to Article VII paragraph 7.03 Town Secretary to Examine Petition. The town secretary's office has 10 day from the date that the petition is filed to verify the signatures. Upon her finding that the petition is sufficient in its requirements, and then she will immediately submit (but not later than 7 working days) the petition to the town council.
Then Article VII paragraph 7.04(1) (2), Council Either Pass Ordinance or Call Election. This section applies to a petition that has 15% of the voter’s signatures. In paragraph 1, town council has 45 days to either pass the ordinance, or 2, call a Special Election.
Article VII paragraph 7.05 applies to a petition that has at least 5% of the required signatures. After the town secretary attaches their certificate of sufficiency then after 30 days, it can be place on a ballot at the next "General Election".
Even if they did agree to a special meeting on Monday, that would not have gotten you on the ballot. Because of the rules for the 5%, you can only go on a ballot at the general election. (November 2010).
It was quite clear to some in the audience, and to those watching on FM-TV, that the petition group, and Mr. Filidoro were trying to pull some political hi-jinks. A clear majority of the council members and the Mayor were not going for that trick.
Mayor Jody Smith saw it for what it was, and wasn't going to have any part of it. Mayor Smith said "We're being played a political game". She was exactly correct, and rightly spoke out saying "We've been accused of working things fast, but this is a slippery eel."
Regardless of which side you come down on this drilling issue in Flower Mound, there are still laws and procedures that have to be followed. Like Mrs. Levenick so eloquently stated earlier in the discussion, "there are 38,000 register Flower Mound voters who didn't sign that petition, someone has to represent them". We don't live in a democracy, we practice democracy, but we live in a "Republic" which for those of you, who have forgotten, is a representative government. We don't vote up or down on ever issue. We vote for our fellow citizens to do that for us. Thank God.
Virginia Simonson, a co-founder of the Flower Mound Cares petition group, told the Flower Mound Town Council on Monday that the group had collected enough signatures to place the proposal on the ballot for the May 8th general election.
Councilmember Al Filidoro suggested that the town council call a special meeting on Monday March 8, 2010 to discuss calling for a special election. Mayor Jody Smith, Mayor Pro Tem Jean Levenick and Councilmember Mike Wallace spoke against it. Levenick and Wallace said it would conflict with an already scheduled planning and zoning meeting.
Councilmember Tom Hayden suggested finding additional funding to help town Secretary Ms. Paula Paschal's office of four employees to verify the signatures. Levenick said it's not fair to put a burden on the secretary's office to verify that many signatures in four days.
Councilmen Filidoro was clearly pandering to the petition group. From an outsiders view, Mr. Filidoro was trying to make good on a promise to the petition group, as Mr. Hayden also tried a last minute effort to bring the issue to resolution.
This is the same group of people who have been saying that we have to slow things down. But in reality, that only pertains to issues that they object too. If it is their issue they want it passed in less than two weeks, without debate, nor showing the petition to the public, or the council members.
I find it distasteful the insults, and demonizing the Mayor has had to endure the past few months. Not to mention the latest round of insult hurling where she is described as arrogant, unaccountable, and sleazy. These people are blaming their own lack of transparency, and secrecy on the Mayor’s not seeing the petition. I have asked numerous times for a copy of the petition and been refused. A lot of residents have asked them to post a copy of the petition on their web-site and they have refused. People have asked them to publish a copy of the petition in one of the local news papers and again they have refused. I don’t think it’s the mayor’s responsibility to find a petition location just to read the petition. You would think if this group was serious, they would hand deliver one to her office.
I’ve listed the article and paragraphs from the town’s charter that pertain to petitions and “self-rule” if you will. These are the rules, and this is what you have to do if you want to get something on the ballot. And even though you have a couple of politicians on a string, they still have to obey the law. It is as follows:
According to Article VII paragraph 7.03 Town Secretary to Examine Petition. The town secretary's office has 10 day from the date that the petition is filed to verify the signatures. Upon her finding that the petition is sufficient in its requirements, and then she will immediately submit (but not later than 7 working days) the petition to the town council.
Then Article VII paragraph 7.04(1) (2), Council Either Pass Ordinance or Call Election. This section applies to a petition that has 15% of the voter’s signatures. In paragraph 1, town council has 45 days to either pass the ordinance, or 2, call a Special Election.
Article VII paragraph 7.05 applies to a petition that has at least 5% of the required signatures. After the town secretary attaches their certificate of sufficiency then after 30 days, it can be place on a ballot at the next "General Election".
Even if they did agree to a special meeting on Monday, that would not have gotten you on the ballot. Because of the rules for the 5%, you can only go on a ballot at the general election. (November 2010).
It was quite clear to some in the audience, and to those watching on FM-TV, that the petition group, and Mr. Filidoro were trying to pull some political hi-jinks. A clear majority of the council members and the Mayor were not going for that trick.
Mayor Jody Smith saw it for what it was, and wasn't going to have any part of it. Mayor Smith said "We're being played a political game". She was exactly correct, and rightly spoke out saying "We've been accused of working things fast, but this is a slippery eel."
Regardless of which side you come down on this drilling issue in Flower Mound, there are still laws and procedures that have to be followed. Like Mrs. Levenick so eloquently stated earlier in the discussion, "there are 38,000 register Flower Mound voters who didn't sign that petition, someone has to represent them". We don't live in a democracy, we practice democracy, but we live in a "Republic" which for those of you, who have forgotten, is a representative government. We don't vote up or down on ever issue. We vote for our fellow citizens to do that for us. Thank God.
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