Category Archives: Opinion & Commentary

The Coupland Times welcomes the opinions of its readers. However, no anonymous postings will be allowed. if you are afraid of what people think of your opinion, you should probably keep it to yourself. Be honest but mind your manners. Make your momma proud!

A Cautionary Tale for Coupland

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Submitted by Jim Huntington:

Coupland survived just fine from the 19th century, when it was founded, through the whole 20th century and now into the 21st century.

I strongly encourage the Coupland City Council to use a fine filter for enacting rules, regulations, ordinances, impediments, intrusions, circumscriptions, etc.

For any actions being considered, simply ask, “If it hasn’t been necessary for well over a century, what justifies it being imposed now?”

Circumscribing people’s privacy/property rights to ostensibly “protect” us from nebulous possible incursions is itself an incursion. To quote the estimable contemporary philosopher, Dirty Harry Eastwood, “We got too much government.”

How do we “Keep Coupland, Coupland” if the political and bureaucratic enactments set as backfires, to prevent becoming any other over regulated municipality, become uncontrollable fires that will putatively destroy us and a way of life as surely as if we had been “annexed” by another municipality ?

Let’s Get Ready to Rumble! — Coupland City Council Meeting Highlights for Sept. 22

The City Council met in a special meeting on Sunday, September 22. The only action item on the agenda was “discussion, reading, and action” on a subdivision ordinance. Five citizens attended the meeting, which was a new record. Two citizens signed up to address the council. Mayor Piper moved that agenda item ahead of the subdivision ordinance item to allow those persons to address the council before they considered the ordinance.

L-R: Susan Garry, Barbara Piper, Jack Piper, Karen Marosko, Eldridge Tidwell, Susan Schmidt (September 12, 2013)

L-R: Susan Garry, Barbara Piper, Jack Piper, Karen Marosko, Eldridge Tidwell, Susan Schmidt (September 12, 2013)

Max Marosko spoke against the adoption of the subdivision ordinance. It was his opinion that there were flaws in the ordinance and that more time was needed to address those flaws before the ordinance was adopted. He said the existing county ordinances and regulations could be adopted in the meantime.

Becky Sutton spoke next and thanked the Council for their work on the subdivision ordinance. She spoke about problems in the past with a manufactured home community near Pflugerville. She attributed those problems to the lack of an ordinance in existence at the time that community was established.

After this, the City Council discussion on the ordinance began. Mayor Piper spoke about the work that had been done on the ordinance by the Concerned Citizens Committee prior to the establishment of the City Council. He said there was not much difference between that ordinance and the one before the Council. Karen Marosko passionately addressed some of the things that she considered to be flaws in the ordinance. She was especially concerned that the ordinance was applicable to all parts of Copeland, not just the areas outside of the immediate town. Ms. Marosko was part of the Concerned Citizens Committee but said that she had not noticed that aspect of the ordinance before. She was also concerned that the ordinance made reference to a City Master Plan that was not yet in existence.

A back-and-forth discussion ensued between Ms. Marosko and Susan Schmidt, at times becoming rather heated. Other Council members made contributions to the discussion. Barbara Piper expressed her concern about a large portion of land on FM 1660 that might be a target for developers. Eldridge Tidwell expressed concerns about how lack of zoning has affected the city of Houston. [Publisher’s Note: the subdivision ordinance does not address the issue of zoning, a discussion of which is on the agenda for the September 26 meeting of the city Council but not as an action item.]

Ms. Marosko wanted to know why there was such a rush to enact this subdivision ordinance. Mayor Piper said that there had not been a rush up until now but that there was credible information that a developer was considering the establishment of a manufactured home community within Coupland city limits. He noted that work had been done on a draft subdivision ordinance for several months prior to the establishment of the City Council. He noted that even though it was not required, public meeting notices were posted and all citizens were invited to participate. [Publisher’s Note: The meetings were also advertised via the community email network. A variety of citizens attended the meetings.] He advocated putting this ordinance in place now to protect the community and then addressing any flaws that might exist via an amendment process.

Susan Garry said that the city attorney had expressed his concern as well and advised the City Council to get something in place quickly and then go back and make revisions as needed. Ms. Garry said, “I feel like we were all elected to keep less desirable developments away from the community as a whole and if we’re going to have a new neighborhood, to try to have a nice neighborhood rather than the one like Becky was talking about.” She said that the Richland area was not incorporated and that they had even hired an attorney to try to do something about it but that they had no power.  She said that we could not count on the county to enforce its own regulations because they are too busy with other issues. She said that the city would be able to effectively focus on such issues.

Ms. Garry spoke about an area just over the Travis County line where people could put anything up and that many homes had no septic systems and relied upon open sewers. She said she knew somebody that kept calling the county to report it but that Travis County did nothing about it. She went on to say that preventing things like that was why the community incorporated and that we don’t need to stand by and let something come in that we were trying to prevent. Mr. Tidwell confirmed her statement and said that the subdivision was out on Wolf Lane in Travis County. Mayor Piper said that the Concerned Citizen’s Committee considered shorter, less comprehensive ordinances but that they felt that the ordinance should cover most contingencies and that it could be fine-tuned later according to experience.

Finally, Ms. Garry made a motion to vote to adopt the draft ordinance. Ms. Schmidt seconded her motion. Parliamentary procedure required that action be taken upon the motion and since there was no further discussion the ordinance was put to a vote. Voting in favor of adopting the ordinance were Susan Garry, Barbara Piper, Eldridge Tidwell, and Susan Schmidt. Voting against adopting the ordinance was Karen Marosko.

About a minute after the meeting was adjourned, an altercation erupted between two of the men attending the meeting, apparently over things that were said after the meeting was adjourned. This reporter stepped in between the two men in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Since no one else was willing to assist in separating the two men and neither one was walking away from the situation, I decided to let it go. The two men eventually took their dispute outside.

˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜ ˜

COMMENTARY: I don’t recall who it was but at some point after I walked away from the two adversaries, someone said to me, “Welcome to Coupland.”

This is the second public meeting I have been to where harsh words were exchanged. The other was a recent meeting of the Coupland Water Supply Corporation.

Effective consultation is an art and a skill that can and must be learned. I don’t accept that the kind of behavior I witnessed at both of these meetings is indicative of the general attitude of most of my fellow Couplanders. However, it is obvious that long-standing schisms within the community have festered just beneath the surface. If we are to move forward as a united community, those old wounds must be acknowledged and eventually healed. 

Many times in my life I have experienced first hand just how thin the veneer of civilization can be and I am not exempt from the influence of my more primitive instincts. Therefore, it is not my intention to criticize any specific individuals for their actions . . . or lack of actions, as the case may be. I understand that sometimes people are provoked beyond their limits, that sometimes people get what they deserve, that sometimes a man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do, that sometimes you have to fight back, that everyone has the right to defend themselves, and that when faced with an unexpected situation people react in different ways. 

We should be passionate about the things that are important to us. Nevertheless, I applaud the members of the City Council who, like Susan Garry, spoke calmly and clearly, sharing their opinions and concerns in a level-headed manner. It doesn’t matter whether we agree or disagree. What matters is that everyone be heard and that wise counsel be given due consideration. Sometimes, what is right is clear. Sometimes, even though we may be in the right, wisdom dictates another approach. In the end, if we are going to govern ourselves, we must first govern our baser emotions.

In his first inaugural address in 1861, just prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln, addressing the Southern States, closed with these words*:

I am loth to close. We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory, stre[t]ching from every battle-field, and patriot grave, to every living heart and hearthstone, all over this broad land, will yet swell the chorus of the Union, when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.

*Retrieved from the Library of Congress website: http://loc.gov/exhibits/treasures/trt039.html

Stewart Dale Spencer

City Council Meeting Highlights – September 12, 2013

The real highlight of this meeting was a custom gavel made and donated by Eldridge Tidwell to Mayor Jack Piper.

L-R: Susan Garry, Barbara Piper, Jack Piper, Karen Marosko, Eldridge Tidwell, Susan Schmidt

L-R: Susan Garry, Barbara Piper, Jack Piper, Karen Marosko, Eldridge Tidwell, Susan Schmidt

The entire City Council was present along with the City Secretary. One citizen attended the meeting.

Prior to the regular meeting, a public hearing was conducted on the proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2014, which begins on October 1. Mayor Piper reviewed the budget (see the story from September 3 for details on the budget). The only question from the public was related to road maintenance. Becky Sutton wanted to know whether or not Williamson County will take over maintenance on Pflugerville-Berkman Road (CR 459). Barbara Piper said that the council has not yet heard back from the county on this matter. There were no other questions or comments from the public. The budget will be formally adopted at the next regular meeting.

After the public hearing was closed, the regular meeting of the City Council began. Here are the highlights:

  • Mayor Piper presented a financial report to the Aldermen.  The beginning bank balance was $1,935.64 on June 26. Income was $1,415.93 (Liquor Tax Allocation). Expenses totaled $583.33 (checks, office supplies & equipment, Texas Municipal League Risk Pool). The ending balance as of August 30 was $2,768.24.
  • Oncor expects to provide the information needed to establish an agreement for franchise fee revenue by October.
  • Mayor Piper provided information on expected sales tax revenue in the event that the sales tax propositions are passed by the voters in November. Based on figures provided by the State Comptroller’s office, average state taxable sales within the City of Coupland during the period of July 2012 – June 2013 were $51,358 per month. This would result in general sales tax revenue of $629 per month ($503 for regular sales tax, $126 for road maintenance tax).
  • During the Citizen Communication portion of the meeting, Becky Sutton asked a general question about how many readings are required for ordinances before they can be adopted. Mayor Piper responded that it depends upon the type of ordinance. He also noted that an extensive ordinance would not have to be read in it’s entirety but would be summarized and copies would be available to the public in advance. Ms. Sutton also asked how much Oncor will pay in franchise fee per meter. Mayor Piper that this figure is not yet known but that it will be in the contract with Oncor.
  • Another citizen, Stewart Dale Spencer (City Secretary and yours truly) read a prepared statement. He advised the City Council that considering his position as City Secretary, the best way for him to express his opinion on City Council matters was during the Citizen Communication portion of the meeting. He spoke about the issue of zoning, reminding the Aldermen that they had all run on a platform of “Keeping Coupland, Coupland.” He noted that Coupland has never had zoning and that he felt that existing state and county laws and regulations were sufficient to ensure the safety and well-being of the general community. Click here to see the full text of his comments.*

The next regular meeting of the City Council will be on September 26. However, Mayor Piper has set a special work session for the Council to review and possibly revise a draft of a subdivision ordinance. This meeting will be on September 18 and will be open to the public.

*[Publisher’s Note: It is admittedly somewhat uncomfortable to be in the position of serving the community as City Secretary while also reporting on City Council activities and decisions and then, as in this story, reporting on my concerns about the same. It’s a small community and many Couplanders serve in multiple functions. It can’t be avoided and, in my opinion, should not result in the loss of anyone’s rights to express their opinions. Nevertheless, I wish to make it clear to our readers that it is the policy of the Coupland Times to clearly separate objective reports upon City Council meetings from opinions and/or concerns that I or others may have about the activities and decisions of the City Council. As City Secretary, I am the servant of the City Council. As private citizen and publisher of the Coupland Times, I am a watchman who stands ready to praise and admonish the City Council as circumstances warrant. This is the essence of a democratic republic and I encourage all Couplanders to attend City Council meetings and be involved in the process of governing this wonderful community. This forum will be equally available to all respectful expressions of personal opinions about city government and other community matters.]

Salamanders Bring New Federal Powers into Williamson County

[Publisher’s Note: This doesn’t affect Coupland directly but since it is relevant to the larger community of which Coupland is a part, I thought our readers might be interested. I also have a personal interest. I saw this happen in San Marcos and now everything that happens in the San Marcos River requires Federal approval. I want clean water. I want rivers and springs to flow. I want natural areas to be protected within reason. I do not want to put the needs of what I call “micro-species” over the needs of everything and everyone else. I believe that proper stewardship of natural resources can best be effected at a local level. The farther away the decision making process is, the less likely it is to represent our interests. Whether you agree with me or not, you have until September 19 to submit comments to the US Fish and Wildlife Service.]

WILLIAMSON COUNTY EXPLORES IMPACT OF SALAMANDERS’ STATUS

WilcoAugust 23, 2013 (Williamson County, TX) – On Tuesday, August 20, 2013, the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) listed the Jollyville Plateau salamander as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.   The Jollyville Plateau salamander lives in springs in southwestern Williamson County and in Travis County.  The USFWS also granted a six month extension on any listing action for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders, also affecting Williamson County.  A 30-day comment period has been opened (closing September 19, 2013) for submission of additional information on the Georgetown and Salado salamanders.

JollyvillePlateauSalamander_MarkSanders_CityOfAustin

“We welcome the “Threatened” listing of the Jollyville salamander as it provides additional flexibility in dealing with conservation efforts for the species and potentially provides a path for future de-listing,” stated Williamson County Conservation Foundation (WCCF) Board President and Precinct 3 Commissioner Valerie Covey.  “We believe our comments provided to the US Fish and Wildlife Service during the previous open comment periods, along with comments from many other interested parties, helped provide a basis for a threatened listing rather than the more restrictive endangered listing of the Jollyville salamander.”

The extension on a decision regarding the Georgetown and Salado salamanders provides additional time for stakeholders to submit to USFWS the latest available science and additional information on the extensive measures already in place that will continue to preserve the salamanders.   Studies and data collection funded by the WCCF indicate that known salamander populations in Williamson County are healthy, flourishing and existing in both heavily-developed and rural areas.   “During this extension period, we look forward to working with the USFWS towards an outcome for the Georgetown and Salado salamanders that provides a reasonable and predictable path forward,” stated WCCF Vice-President and Precinct 2 Commissioner Cynthia Long.

 

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Becoming a Couplander

THE FOLLOWING ARTICLE APPEARED IN THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OF THE COUPLAND HERALD (AUGUST 2013, VOLUME 13, ISSUE 3), PUBLISHED QUARTERLY BY THE COUPLAND CIVIC ORGANIZATION. REPRINTED WITH PERMISION.

Publisher of the Coupland Times

The upgrade to the CCO website is in progress. I think you will like the results. Matt Eiben and I are working together on it. Matt is doing the heavy lifting, with respect to the technical side of the redesign. My contribution is in the area of content, organization, and layout ideas.

In the meantime, I am keeping the existing website updated. Any official news and information from the CCO Board is posted at www.couplandtx.org.

You may have noticed that I am also behind the new online journal found at www.couplandtimes.com. This is something that I began as a way of sharing my journey toward becoming a Couplander. You could say it is my version of President Kennedy’s “Ich bin ein Berliner.” It also allows me to provide services and information that is outside the mission of the civic organization. Yes, it includes some shameless self-promotion and a few ads but hey, I have bills to pay too.

As if that weren’t enough to stave off idle hands syndrome (I thought I just made that up but it’s real . . . sort of), I am putting in a bit of volunteer time with the Coupland Fire Department and I was asked by the new City Council to serve as City Secretary, which is also a volunteer role at this time.

When you add all that to a bit of part-time work with a dash of self-employment — mostly done from home — then mix in being the grandfather and regular caregiver of an absolutely awesome three-year-old, the steward of two dogs, a cat, five chickens, an aquarium, a garden, and finally throw in a little housework . . . well, I’ve stopped telling people that I am semi-retired. Mostly now, I’m semi-tired but I wouldn’t have it any other way. I still find time for leisure reading, some research, an occasional movie, and time with friends and family. I can also indulge my night owl proclivities, except for those nights before I need to get up with my granddaughter, who rises with the sun. Nevertheless, I’ve become the Night Watchman of Northeast Coupland. No train goes by in the middle of the night without me knowing about it (and hoping they hold off on the horn until they are well past our house).

How did I come to this point in my life? Well, my son and his family moved here in April of last year. Almost a year earlier, they had asked me if I would be interested in establishing a multi-generational household so we could pool our resources and buy a nicer home than we could otherwise have afforded separately. I had become an important part of my first grandchild’s life and was very close to all of them. I had a dream that my daughter-in-law was pregnant and told them about it before they had a chance to tell me they were expecting a baby. I was in hearing range when she was delivered by a midwife at a birthing center in Austin and I was her first babysitter.

When we could not find a suitable home close to San Marcos and my daughter-in-law landed a job as a teacher in the Round Rock school district, I agreed to expanding the search for a home to go farther north, even if it meant I would have to leave my job at the San Marcos Housing Authority because I would be outside a reasonable commuting range. They were just about to make an offer on a home near Bastrop when they decided to look at just a few more houses. When we saw this house, we fell in love with it immediately. The information about Coupland on the CCO website clinched the deal.

After they moved in, I began my own transition from San Marcos to Coupland. For the first two months, I spent my weekends in Coupland but was still living in my home outside San Marcos. I had already trained my replacement on my homeowners association board, where I had been serving as Executive Secretary, but I had to give the San Marcos Housing Authority time to find a worthy successor. I retired at the end of June. For the next two months, I was back and forth from San Marcos to Coupland as I went through a lifetime of memories, pledging to not move any junk I no longer needed or wanted. Finally, in September, I was officially relocated.

As I explored my new community, one thing that impressed me was how welcoming everyone was, both at church and community events. As I got to know people and make new friends, I never once felt as though I was considered an outsider by any of the people I met, many of whom are descended from the original European settlers of Coupland. This means a lot to me because I grew up without any solid, geographical roots. My father was in the Army and we moved every two or three years. My wife and I raised our family in San Marcos so that they would have a real home town.

It was easier for me to leave San Marcos than it was for my son but my granddaughter took to Coupland and our new home right away. She seems to love everything about it: the trains, the church playground, the sculpture garden, lollipops at the bank, treats at the Stock Up, Pooh Sticks on the nearby bridge over Brushy Creek, going for walks and bike rides, catching chickens, trying to touch geckos, and so much more.

I miss my friends and family in San Marcos. I miss the San Marcos River, the Hill Country, and Canyon Lake. I go to San Marcos about once a month and folks come up here to see us from time to time so that helps. Nevertheless, it feels more like home with every month that passes by, especially now that I can reflect back on what was going on in my new life in Coupland at the same time last year.

Unfortunately, last September, the day after I officially changed my address, I was blindsided by a family crisis that caught me completely unawares and which, as of this writing, is not yet resolved. I have shed more than a few tears but they are more than balanced by a sense that I am where the Lord wants me to be and doing what He would have me do.

When I moved here, the three houses closest to us were vacant and unkempt. Now they are occupied and looking good. I have new friends and many new acquaintances and I can match names to familiar faces much more often these days. I take regular walks and can often be seen taking photos, many of which later appear on The Coupland Times. I know all of my immediate neighbors and I often stop just to chat with people who are out in their yards. Our house is surrounded on two sides by cropland and pastures and on Friday and Saturday nights the dancehall music sometimes drifts our way. There is an amazing variety of bird life in the area, including a golden eagle that I have seen more than once, and I often sit outside and just soak in the serenity that surrounds this town.

Nevertheless, after more than 40 years of working in food service, social services, public administration, and adult education — as well as always doing some kind of volunteer work in the community — it was more than a little disconcerting to suddenly have no tasks set before me. I could not return to a regular job because I needed to remain available to help with my granddaughter on very short notice. I am grateful to my many new friends for their support as well as the opportunity to serve. It seems I have found a niche, in terms of both my volunteer work and my paid work that allows me to do the things that I am good at and which I love doing. Ich bin ein Couplander!

Keeping Your Head in the Clouds

IMG_3818As we go about our daily routines, it’s always good to take a moment to marvel at the wonders of nature. I hope you saw this beauty late on Wednesday afternoon but just in case you didn’t,  this image is of an isolated cumulonimbus cloud that developed to the southeast of Coupland.

Since there is so much more rainfall to the east of this area, we are occasionally treated to some amazing light shows from distant thunderstorms, especially this time of year. About two weeks ago, we we saw a wonderful dance of lightning in and around the clouds of a storm near Houston. I would estimate that it was at least 50,000 feet high. Thunderstorms in the tropics have been measured as high at 75,000 feet. That’s over 14 miles straight up.

Airliners fly around 30,000 – 40,000 feet, depending upon various factors, so there’s no going over even moderately-sized storms. For all our accomplishments, we are puny indeed when we come face to face with things like thunderstorms, which Mother Nature builds up and knocks down with regularity . . . like a pre-schooler with a pile of stacking blocks.

Of course, pictures can’t possibly live up to the splendor of the real thing so don’t forget to look up whenever you go outside because if you don’t, you’re missing out on some amazing sights.