Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Buyer’s remorse?
These comments were presented during Citizens’ Comments at the Bastrop County Commissioners Court on August 22. Due to time constraints, the quotations from the 381 Agreement were truncated but are presented here in their entirety. It is quite encouraging that the last few weeks there has been a better turnout for the citizen’s comments. Let’s keep the momentum going!!
I doubt that many Bastrop County citizens, even those present in this courtroom today, have actually read the infamous 381 Agreement between Bastrop County and the Central Texas Airport. Most of it is rather uninteresting but don’t let that fool you. This document contains some jaw-dropping nuggets.
Today, I want to acquaint you with Section 10 titled Mutual Assistance: County Cooperation and Assistance. Keep in mind that the wording is nearly identical to the original draft submitted by the CTA’s attorneys in September 2009.
There are only two sub-sections but they are real doozies. Sub-section (a) cements the relationship between the County and the Company:
But the real meat is in Sub-section (b):
Why not just offer up your first-born while you’re at it! Basically, all Carpenter has to do is ask and the County, “at its sole discretion”, will grease the necessary wheels. I can only imagine the litigation that would ensue if the County actually refused to comply!!
A comparison with the Mutual Assistance language used in the 381 Agreement for Burleson Crossing, puts the magnitude of the County’s airport give-away into perspective:
Why all the special perks for the CTA? Was the County that desperate? Now, the morning after the con, in the cold light of day, is this Court possibly experiencing a case of well-deserved buyer’s remorse? And if so just what is this Court going to do to remedy the situation? Inquiring minds would really like to know.