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MAYOR'S MESSAGE 5/13/21
We have been receiving an number of inquiries from concerned citizen about the wastewater treatment proposed by Green Valley SUD. We understand the concerns and in the interest of transparency are providing the following information to clarify some of the misinformation that is going out on social media.
The original location of the proposed waste water treatment plant was on Beyer Path, off of Trainer Hale in Bexar County. The city was not notified of the changed proposed plants location to Stapper Road property prior to the notice of the permit application going out to the public. The City only learned about the new location in the city’s ETJ (Extra Territorial Jurisdiction) when a citizen sent us a copy of the permit application to TCEQ. The City contacted the Project Manager for the plant project and were informed a set of maps with the new location would be delivered to City Hall the following day. Those documents are now available for viewing at City Hall. Anyone interested in viewing those documents may contact City Hall to set up an appointment for viewing. Please be advised that we are still observing public health and social distancing policies. Anyone coming to City Hall must wear a mask and maintain a distance of 6 feet from others. Also remember that there are limited hours when City Hall is open, so you must call first for an appointment to ensure someone will be there. No one is permitted to remove the viewing documents from City Hall.
To answer some questions that have come up:
Why is the City allowing a waste treatment plant in our city?
The proposed waste treatment plant is to be located in our ETJ. The City has no jurisdiction in the ETJ per Texas Law to regulate this type of project, so we have no ability to authorize or not authorize the activities related to this project. The city can no more dictate what is built in the ETJ by Green Valley than we can dictate housing subdivisions like the ones at 1518 and Abbott because they are in the ETJ.
What can the City do about this waste treatment plant?
The City has placed this item on the City Council agenda and we are working with our legal personnel to explore all options available to the city. We welcome citizen comment and that can be done by either contacting a member of the City Council (the names and contact information for your council members are located on the City Website), by attending a City Council meeting to provide your input during citizens to be heard, or by emailing the Mayor at mayor@sainthedwigcity.com and I will pass these concerns to the Council. Contrary to some beliefs, the Mayor does not make policy for the City, the City Council does.
What can citizens do about the waste treatment plant?
Two things. First, get the facts. Do not assume because you read something on a social media website that it is factual. There are only two kinds of information – confirmed and unconfirmed. Make sure that the information you are reading or hearing is valid and confirmed. Secondly, if you have concerns about the plant and feel you need to register a protest, there is a mechanism for doing so with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ), the State agency responsible for ensuring that these types of plants are operated to state environmental standards and rules. https://www14.tceq.texas.gov/epic/eComment/ Use permit number WQ0015917001. You can also contact your local County Commissioner, Mr. Tommy Calvert at
https://www.bexar.org/1840/Contact-Us.
The City will continue to work with our citizens to address these concerns.
Mayor Dee Grimm
