Credit pubic notices for alerting us to solid waste composting facility
If you have not heard yet, SouthWaste Disposal, LLC, based in Houston wants to build a municipal solid waste composting facility just off Interstate 10 east of Sealy between San Felipe and Brazos Country.
Located at the eastern gateway to Austin County, visitors and residents alike will be greeted by the sights and smells of a facility that will process grease trap waste, septic, sewage and sludge, dairy and food including meat and fish, and bulk material like chipped and shredded wood and vegetation, according to a permit application filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Public officials area already lining up to oppose the permit and to battle construction of the facility. Many of them had just learned about it last week when approached by The Sealy News for comment. The only reason they or any of us are aware of it today is because of required public notices they had to publish in this newspaper. The only other public notice was placed in the library in Bellville roughly 18 miles away and out of sight.
Although most people tend to glaze over or completely ignore public notices in the newspaper, they do serve a very important function. This is proof. Had we not known of the proposal by SouthWaste Disposal and its application to the TCEQ, it could have gone on very quietly and without opposition.
Yet newspapers must continuously battle governments to keep publishing these notices. There are continual efforts to try and move the notices online only or to eliminate them altogether. It’s a huge headache each time the state Legislature meets. So far we have been successful, and that is to your benefit.
We encourage you to take the time to read these notices and to stand with us in the fight to keep government open, transparent and honest. And it’s not just the government but big business as well. If you don’t want to see and smell this facility, now is your time to be heard. You can address your comments to: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087, or leave them online (your name and email address will become a part of the public record) at www.tceq.texas.gov/about/comments.html.
For the time being, the permit notice advises any displeased residents to request a public meeting to submit comments and concerns, but warns that it is not a contested case hearing. Anyone who believes they may be affected by the facility can request a contested hearing from the commission, which is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial.
And while you’re at it, be sure to remember where you heard about it first and keep it in mind when your government officials and lawmakers make moves to remove public notices from newspapers. You don’t want that to happen.
Super Bowl 50
For Houston Texans fans, I can only imagine how it felt to watch their former coach and several other former coaches and players hoist the Lombardi Trophy in triumph – wearing Denver Broncos uniforms.
As the undisputed best Broncos fan in the region, I can tell you that it felt great! I had so many fears that this game would go for the Broncos the way five others have gone before, including their last one two years ago against Seattle. Denver has the No. 1 defense in the NFL and as the saying goes, defense wins Super Bowls.
Watching Cam Newton struggle with the Carolina Panthers reminded me so much of watching John Elway in his first three Super Bowls. Elway carried the team to the title game on his arm strength alone. He and the Denver faithful learned the hard way that a powerful offense isn’t enough.
Peyton Manning has struggled to lead the Denver offense all year. He missed games to injury and just hasn’t been the prolific passer of old. Yet he was good enough to move Denver ahead while the defense kept them from ever falling behind. Manning now has a chance to do what Elway did – walk away a champion. I hope he does. I’d hate to see him struggle through a disastrous season and go out injured or benched.
I have to say that this victory isn’t nearly as emotional as the first one in Super Bowl XXXII when the Broncos punched into the win column by beating the Green Bay Packers. There is nothing like getting the monkey of four Super Bowl losses off your back. Still, it feels great and sure beats losing.
I also can’t help but feel Newton and the Panthers will return to the big game. Of course, the same thing was said of Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins. I just hope that Newton will mature and learn lessons in integrity and leadership by then. He was a sore loser and made no bones about it. He sets an awful example for children and fans and doesn’t deserve to win if he can’t handle losing. It’s all part of the game we call life.
Located at the eastern gateway to Austin County, visitors and residents alike will be greeted by the sights and smells of a facility that will process grease trap waste, septic, sewage and sludge, dairy and food including meat and fish, and bulk material like chipped and shredded wood and vegetation, according to a permit application filed with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Public officials area already lining up to oppose the permit and to battle construction of the facility. Many of them had just learned about it last week when approached by The Sealy News for comment. The only reason they or any of us are aware of it today is because of required public notices they had to publish in this newspaper. The only other public notice was placed in the library in Bellville roughly 18 miles away and out of sight.
Although most people tend to glaze over or completely ignore public notices in the newspaper, they do serve a very important function. This is proof. Had we not known of the proposal by SouthWaste Disposal and its application to the TCEQ, it could have gone on very quietly and without opposition.
Yet newspapers must continuously battle governments to keep publishing these notices. There are continual efforts to try and move the notices online only or to eliminate them altogether. It’s a huge headache each time the state Legislature meets. So far we have been successful, and that is to your benefit.
We encourage you to take the time to read these notices and to stand with us in the fight to keep government open, transparent and honest. And it’s not just the government but big business as well. If you don’t want to see and smell this facility, now is your time to be heard. You can address your comments to: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, Office of the Chief Clerk, MC-105, P.O. Box 13087, Austin, TX 78711-3087, or leave them online (your name and email address will become a part of the public record) at www.tceq.texas.gov/about/comments.html.
For the time being, the permit notice advises any displeased residents to request a public meeting to submit comments and concerns, but warns that it is not a contested case hearing. Anyone who believes they may be affected by the facility can request a contested hearing from the commission, which is a legal proceeding similar to a civil trial.
And while you’re at it, be sure to remember where you heard about it first and keep it in mind when your government officials and lawmakers make moves to remove public notices from newspapers. You don’t want that to happen.
Super Bowl 50
For Houston Texans fans, I can only imagine how it felt to watch their former coach and several other former coaches and players hoist the Lombardi Trophy in triumph – wearing Denver Broncos uniforms.
As the undisputed best Broncos fan in the region, I can tell you that it felt great! I had so many fears that this game would go for the Broncos the way five others have gone before, including their last one two years ago against Seattle. Denver has the No. 1 defense in the NFL and as the saying goes, defense wins Super Bowls.
Watching Cam Newton struggle with the Carolina Panthers reminded me so much of watching John Elway in his first three Super Bowls. Elway carried the team to the title game on his arm strength alone. He and the Denver faithful learned the hard way that a powerful offense isn’t enough.
Peyton Manning has struggled to lead the Denver offense all year. He missed games to injury and just hasn’t been the prolific passer of old. Yet he was good enough to move Denver ahead while the defense kept them from ever falling behind. Manning now has a chance to do what Elway did – walk away a champion. I hope he does. I’d hate to see him struggle through a disastrous season and go out injured or benched.
I have to say that this victory isn’t nearly as emotional as the first one in Super Bowl XXXII when the Broncos punched into the win column by beating the Green Bay Packers. There is nothing like getting the monkey of four Super Bowl losses off your back. Still, it feels great and sure beats losing.
I also can’t help but feel Newton and the Panthers will return to the big game. Of course, the same thing was said of Dan Marino and the Miami Dolphins. I just hope that Newton will mature and learn lessons in integrity and leadership by then. He was a sore loser and made no bones about it. He sets an awful example for children and fans and doesn’t deserve to win if he can’t handle losing. It’s all part of the game we call life.
posted by Joe Southern | 3:55 PM
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