Flood info from John P.

Facebook has a whole lot of info on this problem but if you don't do Facebook this should catch you up.

Good morning. I have enough information to write a thesis at this point, but I think it is better to go at this chronologically by important date sequences.

 This Summer, with everyone's help, Karen and Jay were able to get the County to enter SPR(private property) to help with water removal, with their big pumps. That was a significant accomplishment, and was a first step with improving our relationship with Raul Sesin, the general manager(head guy) with the Hidalgo County Drainage Department for our District, #1.

 He toured SPR at the high flood point, and with the adverse publicity we generated, agreed, reluctantly, to help. He verbally said they expect to start in January, with drainage improvements which will help protect SPR in the future, and he estimated it would be an 18 month project.

 I could go into many details on this, but that is not what is important today. What's important today is that everyone fully understands what the meeting tonight at Edinburg's City Hall is all about. This is just one of many SALES MEETINGS the district is currently putting on, all over District #1, to encourage likely voters to vote YES for the $190 Million Bond referendum, which is on the ballot for the 11/6/2018 election. If approved, the County will have more money, if the bonds are sold, to move further ahead with about 34 identified drainage improvement projects throughout Hidalgo County. 

One of these projects is called the Faysville Drain, which conceivably will affect us in a positive way. The estimated amount allocated for this project is $6,902,445. The other projects are spread throughout Hidalgo County.

 Tonight's meeting is NOT A BITCH SESSION for recent flooding! Indeed, if someone from SPR tries to interrupt their presentation and starts complaining, it will only makes things worse for SPR and it's relationship with the County. There is a time, place, and methodology for doing that skillfully and appropriately, and you can rest assured it's being addressed presently. When you have money and politics involved, it's very complicated, and takes some knowledge, patience, and time. And remember, this recent, intense, and continuous flooding is somewhat new to us, and even though we have experienced flooding in the past. However, it has never been like this, involving the whole area, before. So tonight, if you attend, I, LD and many others plead that you just listen and understand what they are attempting to accomplish: a YES vote on the referendum for more money.

IF, I REPEAT, IF there is a question/answer period after their presentation, more detail about the Faysville Drain may logically come up, as this meeting is being held in the City Hall of Edinburg, and this is just about the closest proposed project to City Hall.

 Any other questions, please call either LD or myself, or whoever. LD and I may have the most "hands-on" experience with this type of thing, as a result of our mutual backgrounds and prior experience. We'll talk about the effectiveness, or lack thereof, of what the County is currently doing for SPR in the days ahead.