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Why We Oppose a Bridge Over
Lake Lavon
Poor
Communication Prior to the 2007 Bond Vote
The single blue
line became the core of the HNTB study area, yet Mr.
Delgado stated that this single blue line “was drawn without the
benefit of detailed engineering” because they thought it was in
the best place.
Collin County Engineering submitted
this single blue line study location to a bond vote without proper citizen
involvement:
Collin County
published two brochures prior to the vote.
One had no mention of the bridge study the other had
5 words. If this bridge study goes forward it will
account for MILLIONS of dollars of Collin County bond debt.
This bridge study should have been given more attention and media than a one
line mention in one brochure.
Voters
Admit They Were Not Aware the Study Money Was in the 2007 Bond Package:
Collin County
has repeatedly told us that the reason they began the Lavon Lake
Bridge Study was because the citizens said they wanted it when they
passed the 2007 Bond Package.
Our surveys show that 95% of the citizens
did not know the $500,0000 for the study money was part of the
bond package. When they find out about it, they feel duped.
Those few that knew the $500 thousand was there thought it had something to
do with the replacement of the old Lavon Lake bridges on East Lucas
Road, a worthwhile expenditure. NONE knew that it was money
that might go toward a study for a toll road.
It is clear
that Collin County wants the citizens to be responsible for not
knowing the study expenditure was in the bond package and not being
involved, and we accept our mistake. We will be more involved
and watch them closely. We will NOT let this happen again.
Still, we have to wonder, if citizen involvement is the answer, why
did Collin County choose to continue the study after the October 7,
2009 Public Meeting? We filled the room and clearly told them we do not
want a bridge.
(FYI: The HNTB
contract was written so that Collin County could have given a 30 day
notice of cancellation and paid only for work completed without any
penalty, yet Mr. Hoagland did not make a motion to stop the study
October 7, 2009 after the first public outcry. He also
chose not to make a motion to stop the study after he found the bridge cost was estimated at $470 million
and admitted that the bridge was too expensive and would never be built.)
Transportation Committee Did Not Include One Person from the Bridge
Area:
The 2007 Transportation Committee was the origin of the $500,000
earmark for the Lavon Lake Bridge Study. Commissioners each
appoint members to the Transportation Committee. At that time,
Jerry Hoagland and Joe Jaynes were the Commissioners with Precincts
that surrounded the lake. They knew the citizens they
appointed, so they also had to know that there was not one
individual appointed to that committee that was in the area of the
bridge.
Don Dillard was appointed on this Transportation Committee this
committee (page 11). He worked for a Hunt real-estate
company at this time. He did not live in the area near the
lake but Mr. Dillard had been promoting the Lavon Bridge since 2005
while working for the Hunt company.
The citizens
of the lake area, not being represented, could not defend themselves
from any recommendations made by Mr. Dillard or any other member of
the committee.
Engineering
states 100% of the citizens on the
transportation sub-committee recommend this project to the
Commissioner's Court.
(Page 5) We ask Collin County Engineering to show
us a record of a vote that proves this to be true. Our
investigation reveals that they cannot produce a record of a vote,
because there WAS NO VOTE on the subject of the Lavon Bridge Study.
Summary:
The residents were left out when choosing a study area for the
potential bridge routes.
Voters were not adequately informed prior to the bond vote.
95%
of the voters were not aware of the bridge study money in the bond
package.
March
2009 statements that show
Collin County Officials were of touch with the citizens:
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There are no plans for public meetings to
discuss this proposed bridge route because the bridge is such a
popular plan.
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There is no real opposition
to the bridge.
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We never hear
complaints against State Hwy 78.
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Growth is coming and
the bridge is coming. There is nothing you can do about it.
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