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SUBJECT: Ding Dong the Witch is out, which OLD Witch? Lynn!
Submitted by Hard Head (99.146.242.111) from TEXAS on
County takes new role in grant for Cedar Bayou
By: NORMA MARTINEZ, Managing Editor
Published:
Tuesday, December 1, 2009 4:41 PM CST
The Aransas County commissioners court unanimously approved accepting a letter from Save Cedar Bayou Inc. (SCBI) asking the county to become the applicant on a permit and Coastal Impact Assistance Program (CIAP) grant.
The letter/request was made by Cedar Bayou Inc. president Lynn Edwards.
Edwards explained the Cedar Bayou project has already been knocked out of CEPRA funding.
She also listed in her request, Carlos Swonke, Blanton & Associates, Hugo Bermudez, and Coast and Harbor Engineering, will continue to serve as engineers for the project.
Commissioner Charles Smith pointed to a memorandum of understanding letter which states Aransas County will be the lead agency and questioned what SCBI’s role will be. Edwards said she will continue as project manager and will then, in effect, be helping the county instead of the county helping SCBI.
Smith then asked county attorney Richard Bianchi if the county can subjugate its authority to someone else, (i.e. SCBI, Edwards.) Bianchi said they can not.
Edwards pointed out she has been the project manager since she began fighting to get Cedar Bayou opened 12 years ago.
County Judge Burt Mills pointed out the project has not moved forward in that time, which is why the county is considering taking over as applicant.
Edwards told the court over the last 12 years, there have been different commissioners, judges, and state representatives, some with whom she worked, and others who did not want to help with the SCBI project. She has been the project manager, and allowing her to continue to do so will take the burden off the court.
Smith said Edwards’ input will be invaluable to the court, but emphasized in order for the court to take over as applicant, they must have final authority/approval regarding decisions.
Mills then asked Bianchi for suggestions/recommendations.
The county attorney said if the proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) is going to be accepted, it needs to detail what the county is doing particularly regarding compensation. Edwards role needs to be spelled out, he said and asked if she will be classified as a volunteer.
Questions about what happens if/when funding comes in need to be answered. Will funds go to the county or SBCI?
Edwards explained when earlier grant funding was awarded to SCBI, it remained with the General Land Office and all disbursements went through them.
County auditor Lezlie Kirk said that can not happen with the county, because they are accountable to taxpayers.
Smith brought the subject back to the MOU and asked Bianchi if it is made clear the Edwardses are volunteers, will that be satisfactory?
Bianchi said it needs to be clear they are working at the direction of the commissioners court. Edwards pointed out there is no guarantee the county is going to get the permit, adding she has been working on this project for more than a decade.
Mills explained in discussions with State Rep. Todd Hunter’s office, and the Corps of Engineers, it was determined the permit might have a better change if the county made the application.
At that point, Commissioner Howard Murph made a motion to accept Edwards letter and it was seconded by Commissioner Leslie “Bubba” Casterline.
During discussion, the issue of accepting an MOU was raised because the only thing listed on the agenda is a letter from Edwards.
Bianchi also referred to that letter from Edwards and expressed concern with leaving Edwards listed as project manager because it implies authority. He said that must be reworded.
He said it is appropriate for the county to produce a letter which states they are approving the request to transfer the application to Aransas County. The deadline is Dec. 3 to submit the application.
Smith said if the court accepts becoming the applicant, the rest will fall in place.
At that point he then made a motion to accept Edwards letter (no MOU), and authorize the judge to sign the transfer of the application. It was seconded by Murph.
Before a vote was taken, Edwards explained she has been dealing with politicians unsuccessfully over the last 12 years. She said, “I am reluctant at transferring the permit, but I am going to do it anyway.”
Smith told Edwards the court is not going into this arrangement with an adversarial relationship. He said the court respects what she/SBCI has done, adding taking on this application is something they believe they should do to help the county.
Edwards noted, “It just bothers me I went to a judge and commissioners and no one wanted to do it.”
Mills then stated the point of the meeting is to accept the letter and have the county become the applicant on the permit. He then called for the vote.
The measure passed unanimously by the four members present, Mills, Smith, Casterline and Murph. Commissioner Jack Chaney was not present.
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Octocoral (68.118.126.253) from South Africa says Spamalot
Brave Lynn Edwards ran away Bravely ran away, away Oh, brave Lynn Edwards! When danger reared its ugly head She bravely turned her tail and fled Yes, brave Lynn Edwards turned about And gallantly she chickened out Bravely taking to her feet She beat a very brave retreat Bravest of the brave, Lynn Edwards -
topwater (66.139.19.209) from TEXAS says Bayou
Those folks all know her very well and there is no way they would allow her to be in any kind of position of authority with their arse's on the line. Good job Judge Burt. -
Octocoral (24.178.34.109) from Italy says Cb
The irony is Cedar Bayou would have been opened years ago if not for Lynn. She is her own worst enemy! -
Jimbo (75.58.161.52) from TAXES says I agree,,,
After twelve years as CEO, isn't it ironic and distasteful for her to now show up asking for this compassion for help and relief, with the deadline being Dec 3rd,,,with only about 2 days for paperwork to be enacted? Seems to litterly breed failure. I agree with Octocoral,,,she wears her "own worst enemy" label well. -
ouda (76.31.130.192) from ALABAMA says I had to laugh out loud
Lynn's persistent "but I've been here for over a decade blah blah blah and I want to be project manager" was laughable. If they can keep her out of the picture, talking to only her mirror, staying as far away as possible, maybe, just maybe the project will move forward. Otherwise, the project was a dead as Saddam.Bye Bye Lynn, glad to see you go. lol -
Spooley (74.193.11.39) from TEXAS says Wtf
Such exposure can be condemning.SA