My first visit to a Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce monthly luncheon last week was a special program titled Lake Travis Economic Forecast. It was a longer than most luncheons, but the speakers certainly provided food for thought.

Although most of the speakers delivered bleak forecasts for any relief in in the prolonged drought and low lake level that is fast approaching an all-time low, the overwhelming majority of the 200 people in attendance likely came away feeling that it was time well spent.

All of the speakers raised good points about the drought and how to cope with it by conserving water, recapturing rain water and moving toward more drought-tolerant landscaping (see story on Page A1).

One excellent point made during the presentations involved the opportunities for businesses to actually profit from the drought by offering innovative ideas at reasonable prices. There are opportunities available. It is just a matter of doing a little research, marketing and testing the waters, so to speak.

There are no easy solutions for what experts are predicting this year, and neither Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce leaders nor the public officials on hand for the event sugarcoated the serious issues on the horizon for the local business community, which relies so heavily on lake traffic. Even if the epic all-time low in the level of Lake Travis does come about as many experts are predicting this year, the community appears to have leaders to help us survive and thrive once again.

As a newcomer, it was refreshing to meet so many local leaders who are clearly dedicated to making the best of the situation facing us. Hats off to the Lake Travis Chamber of Commerce for bringing the issues to the forefront.

The U.S. Supreme Court on Jan. 20 struck down the interim redistricting plans for the state of Texas authored by a three-judge panel of the San Antonio-based U.S. District Court, Western District of Texas.

Last year, the panel was tasked with drawing state House, Senate and congressional district boundaries after the 82nd Texas Legislature’s enacted redistricting plans failed to be pre-cleared by D.C. Circuit Court. Texas’ maps must earn preclearance as required under Section 5 of the U.S. Voting Rights Act, a law meant to cure a list of states and other jurisdictions from their historical record of discriminatory practices in election processes. Texas gained four congressional seats largely due to a huge increase in the Hispanic population, as tabulated in the 2010 U.S. Census. On Jan. 20, the U.S. Supreme Court directed the U.S. District Court in San Antonio to follow the Texas Legislature’s intent but did not elaborate on a methodology to use moving forward.

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott reacted, saying, “The (U.S. Supreme) Court made clear in a strongly worded opinion that the district court must give deference to elected leaders of this state, and it’s clear by the Supreme Court ruling that the district court abandoned these guiding principles.”

In any case, a new set of redistricting plans, once drawn, must be submitted for preclearance. Meanwhile, the San Antonio District Court, in response to the U.S. Supreme Court striking down the court-drawn interim redistricting maps, set a scheduling order calling for a hearing on Feb. 1.

But Abbott’s office filed a motion to reconsider because, Abbott said, the court’s schedule appears to delay when Texas primary elections could take place. The primaries are currently set for April 3. Abbott’s office said it wants all legal matters settled in time for new maps to be issued by the end of this month.

Perry ends presidential bid

Gov. Rick Perry on Jan. 19 publicly announced the decision he made to end his presidential campaign.

Perry, who was polling in single digits in South Carolina two days before that state’s Jan. 21 Republican primary, immediately endorsed rival Newt Gingrich, an author, political consultant and former speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives (January 1995-January 1999).

With Perry’s departure, the GOP field of presidential aspirants is reduced to four: Gingrich, U.S. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney and former U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum of Pennsylvania.

While Perry outperformed the field on fundraising, his performance in live, televised debates proved to be his weak suit. The Paint Creek native is in the second year of his third four-year term as governor. So far, he has served more than 11 years as Texas’ chief executive.

Jobless rate drops in December

The Texas Workforce Commission on Jan. 20 reported Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7.8 percent in December, down from 8.1 percent in November and down from 8.3 percent in December 2010.

Also in its monthly report, the agency stated the civilian labor force grew by more than 17,000 in December, and now stands at more than 12.3 million Texans.

According to statistics published by the U.S. Department of Labor, the national unemployment rate is 8.5 percent.

Patterson at front of opposition

Earlier this month, the state’s General Land Office announced Texas Land Commissioner Jerry Patterson is leading an effort to unite 23 western states to oppose the federal government’s process for adding “birds, bugs, lizards and other critters to the list of protected endangered species.”

According to a Land Office news release, the Western States Land Commissioners Association, whose members manage about half a billion acres of public land and mineral rights for public education, passed a resolution urging Congress to alter the Endangered Species Act at its annual winter conference in Austin.

Flu vaccinations still urged

The Texas Department of State Health Services recently reminded citizens to get vaccinated against flu and said the flu season is near its typical peak.

“We usually see a significant increase in influenza in Texas in January and February, so this is the time to protect yourself,” State Health Commissioner Dr. David Lakey said.

Photo by Devin Monk

At a Jan. 17 ceremony, from left, Bee Cave Mayor Caroline Murphy, West Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 3 president Robert Salgo, attorney Randy Wilburn, Lower Colorado River Authority general manager Becky Motal and West Travis County MUD No. 5 president Larry Fox sign the purchase agreement that transfers West Travis County Regional Water and Wastewater systems to the West Travis County Public Utility Agency. Free at last: Public utilities acquire LCRA systems

Larry Fox

Special to the View

What is the feeling of restoring ownership of a water and wastewater system after 12 years of Lower Colorado River Authority ownership? Great.

In a letter to customers under a monopolistic LCRA water and, in some cases, a wastewater utility, dated June 11, 2007, customers were informed of a proposed two years of 25 percent annual rate increases in water and wastewater services.

Despite customer objections, the first increase was implemented Sept. 11, 2007.

At the next meeting of the West Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 5 in Lake Pointe subdivision, it was decided to launch a petition drive for a rate case suit to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.

It was implemented Oct. 3, 2007, under the logo, “We’re Getting Soaked.” TCEQ has oversight for water and wastewater utility rates and operations in Texas. MUD No. 5 was soon joined by Lake Pointe MUD No. 3 and through the adjacent Uplands subdivision, by its municipality, the city of Bee Cave.

A suit was soon filed. Partially in response, LCRA proposed spreading the two-year rate increases over three years.

It was two years until a Texas Administrative Law Judge was appointed to hear testimony for the rate case suit. An early decision of the judge froze the rates at the 2008-09 rate increase known as the Phase 2 rate.

Testimony and filings were conducted during the next two years with the plaintiffs usually winning their points.

The LCRA board soon tired of the ongoing legal proceedings and expenses. In November 2010, LCRA officials decided to put the authority’s water and wastewater retail businesses up for sale.

In January 2011 communities up and down the lower Colorado River began to organize. An LCRA coalition was created. To provide liability protection, the Coalition of Central Texas Utilities Development Corp. was formed, and Pix Howell emerged as the president.

Pix was a former LCRA board member who advocated getting into the retail business in the mid-1990s but was disturbed by what had evolved and was working for the city of Leander to purchase their system from LCRA.

During the 82nd Legislature, WTC MUD No. 5 received authorities to own and operate the WTC Regional Water and Wastewater System in western Travis County and northern Hays counties, a system that was largely stand alone.

In May 2011, with the Bank of Montreal, LCRA conducted a bidder qualification round. It took the UDC some advanced dialog to get on the accepted list. Then in August 2011, bids were due. Initially, the UDC bid was felt to be too low.

State Sen. Kirk Watson and his office manager and attorney, Susan Nold, arranged a meeting between LCRA board chairman Tim Timmerman and General Manager Becky Motal and UDC founders Pix Howell, Commissioner Ray Whisenant, Bee Cave City Administrator Frank Salvato and UDC lawyer Lauren Kalisek. The purpose was to explain how and why the UDC bid would make LCRA whole. These meetings took place during October and November 2011.

At the Nov. 21, 2011 LCRA board of directors meeting, a resolution was passed by the LCRA board authorizing the general manager and staff to negotiate a sale document for signature by Dec. 15, 2011. Negotiations continued into early 2012.

LCRA insisted on the termination of the rate case as a condition of sale. Both sides were left to absorb their own costs. The freezing of the rates at Phase 2 during the case saved customers approximately $5 million, compared to the legal fees of $1.3 million.

In the meantime, the West Travis County Public Utility Agency was duly constituted and accepted by the secretary of state.

While negotiations continued until the last day, a purchase agreement was executed by the chair of the WTCPUA, WTC MUDs Nos. 3 and 5, the cty of Bee Cave, District 4 of Hays County and LCRA board chairman and general manager.

On Jan. 20, 2012, the MUD’s lawyer, Randall Wilburn, and the City of Bee Cave lawyer, James Mathews, signed the request to the TCEQ to terminate the rate case.

Negotiations are nearing a contract for a private company operator to handle all day-to-day operations, billing and more. LCRA bonds will be paid off in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2019 by the issuance of bonds for the WTCPUA. Operating expenses and bond payments will be offset substantially by savings so that rates are expected to rise by no more than 3 percent per year, instead of the 50 percent – 75 percent increases that alternatives would have created.

Are we happy? Oh, yes.

Larry Fox is chairman of the board of directors of West Travis County Public Utility Agency and president of West Travis County Municipal Utility District No. 5.

Charles McClure penned his last column for the Lake Travis View two weeks ago titled “Farewell and thanks for six wonderful years.” It was clearly done with the same passion he had in serving the community that he clearly loved. His passion was fueled by a desire to give readers the coverage they deserve. We join the Lake Travis community in wishing him well.
Those who had the pleasure of getting to know McClure know that he will bring the same outstanding work ethic to his position with his current community newspaper chain as he had throughout his tenure at the View.
McClure stated in his farewell column that he logged 200,000 miles driving during his tenure at the View and that his main reason for leaving to accept the new job was to be closer to his home.
Many readers may have assumed that McClure was a resident of the Lake Travis community because he approached the job with such fervor, and most residents viewed him like he was one of their good neighbors right up until his final day on Dec. 30.
As the community grows, the View must grow to ensure we can serve it effectively. We began filling vacated positions in recent weeks. Managing editor Devin Monk and I will do our best to ensure that happens. The View recently filled the position of sports editor with  the hiring of Habeab Kurdi, who comes to us from both the Leander Ledger and Cedar Park Citizen, where he served as as our sports editor for both newspapers. We are in the process of adding a new position – another full-time writer will soon join our staff.
Fortunately, McClure laid the groundwork and set a standard that we are now challenged to uphold. It likely will not happen overnight, but we are committed to doing everything necessary to not only meet this challenge. We ask readers to help us by giving us ideas for how we can improve the newspaper. We sincerely want Lake Travis residents to feel that the View is their community newspaper.
Any community newspaper is only as good as its partnership with its readership, so we welcome ideas about everything from news coverage to feature stories. Challenge us. Contact us by calling 263-1100 or by email at news@ltview.com.

Special to the View

As your state representative, I’d like to pass along some information on how you can reduce your heating costs in the coming winter months.

As temperatures begin to drop, these simple measures can produce big energy savings.

• Thermostat. Set your thermostat for heating at 68 degrees Fahrenheit or lower during the day. Proper thermostat settings can help you conserve up to 20 percent of your energy costs. Thermostats for heat pumps can be lowered to 63 degrees Fahrenheit at night or adjusted by no more than five degrees.
• Fireplace. Close the flue to your fireplace when not in use to prevent heat in your home from escaping.
• Curtains and shades. On days where sunlight is available, open your curtains and shades on eastern and southern windows during the day to allow the sun to help heat up your home. Close them at night.
• Filters. Change or clean filters once a month or as required to keep the furnace running efficiently.
• Ceiling fans. Switch the setting on ceiling fans to run counter-clockwise to help push warm air back down. Turn fans off when not in the room.
• Windows and doors. Caulk and weatherstrip windows and doors to prevent drafts.
• Water heater and pipes. Insulate electric water heaters and hot water pipes to avoid wasting energy.
• Ducts. Energy and heat loss often occurs due to leaking ducts. Sealing or repairing leaking ducts is a cost-effective measure that produces immediate savings.
• Attic insulation. The average 20-year-old home has only 3 to 4 inches of attic insulation. Austin Energy recommends 12 to 13 inches or R-38. Adding attic insulation is a cost-effective measure that can help retain heat in your home. Make sure the duct work is sealed prior to investing in insulation.

Visit www.austinenergy.com for more energy-efficiency tips and information about available rebates and low-interest loans to help make improvements.

Rep. Paul Workman is the current state representative for House District 47.

Special to the View

With a new year dawning, we need to keep those in service in our thoughts.

Whether it is because of an overseas deployment or assignment to a duty station thousands of miles away, especially this time of year, we should remember these families and the brave men and women who serve to keep us safe.

Honoring those who served

One of the privileges I have is working to honor our veterans. For example, a few days before Independence Day this year, I met Benjamin Mendoza, an Austinite who served in World War II. He was wounded in an explosion during a battle at Philippine Lake in Manila. Only this year – more than 50 years after he was injured – did he contact my office for help and finally receive the full recognition that he earned when I preserved him with the Bronze Star and almost a dozen other medals. Last year, I presented a Purple Heart to Linda Hutson whose father survived the Bataan Death March and three years as a Japanese POW. I did the same for Denise Rogers, the Bastrop daughter, who was determined that her still-living Marine father, receive the Purple Heart he had never secured, though badly injured on the very same Iwo Jima mountain near the time of that famous photograph of our flag being raised there. I also recently worked with a veteran who couldn’t seem to convince either Social Security or the VA that he was still alive and deserved to have his disability benefits continued. We convinced them my constituent was very much alive. I urge other veterans who may need help navigating red tape to contact my Austin office by calling 916-5921.

Creating jobs, preserving benefits for our veterans

Our leaders in battle can also become leaders in the boardroom. Let’s give them the educational support they need. I met with an impressive young returning Iraq war veteran, Matthew, who would not have been able to attend Texas State but for our G.I. Bill for the 21st Century, which covers the full cost of his tuition for four years, as well as a monthly stipend for books and housing. And a few months ago, we expanded this GI Bill to cover college tuition for children of service members killed since the 9/11 terrorism. I truly believe that investing in education is an investment in our freedom.

Having served our nation, our veterans are well-trained and highly skilled to enter the workforce. But with more than 850,000 veterans unemployed in October – and the jobless rate for post – 9/11 veterans at 11.1 percent, it is clear that there is still much to be done. As we end the war in Iraq and wind down the war in Afghanistan, more than one million servicemembers are projected to leave the military between 2011 and 2016. Ensuring that they are able to find jobs when they return home is critical. I am supportive of new initiatives that will help create jobs and strengthen the economy.

Two new initiatives in Congress

I have been working recently on two new proposals that will impact our veterans and active-duty servicemembers. The first would create an independent Commission to review the military bases that we have worldwide. As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan are winding down and Congress seeks cost savings, I firmly believe that such a Commission could identify significant long-term savings opportunities. By recommending areas to realign and improve our overseas base structure and investments, the Overseas Basing Commission, which will be made up of national security and defense experts, will be poised to provide DOD with concrete steps to effectively reduce the cost of our overseas bases and still maintain the necessary troop readiness to ensure our nation’s safety and security. The second initiative will ensure that Vietnam Veterans who served in the waters off the coast of Vietnam and are suffering from diseases that are related to their exposure to Agent Orange are able to collect the government benefits they are owed.

Special to the View

It’s hard to believe a year has passed since Republicans took leadership of the House and I became Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

Late last year, I outlined my legislative priorities as the new Chairman of the Judiciary Committee, which included introducing legislation to free up millions of jobs for unemployed American workers, protect patents and copyrights, and keep children safe from Internet sex predators.

The Judiciary Committee has advanced those priorities and many other important pieces of legislation that address the top concerns of the American people – strengthening our economy and creating more jobs.

After working for more than six years on patent reform legislation, my bill, the America Invents Act, was signed into law this fall.

The enactment of this legislation is a victory for America’s innovators and job creators who rely on our patent system to develop new products. This bill brings our patent system into the 21st century, reduces frivolous litigation and streamlines the approval of patents. These reforms will help the innovators and job creators of today launch the products and businesses of tomorrow.

I was recently named Policymaker of the Year by POLITICO, a national publication covering Capitol Hill, for my work on patent reform legislation. The America Invents Act was the only major tech legislation signed into law in 2011 and I was one of only two House members to receive this honor.

To help protect jobs for Americans and legal workers I introduced the Legal Workforce Act, a bill to require all U.S. employers to use E-Verify.

This web-based program quickly identifies individuals working illegally in the United States by checking the Social Security numbers of new hires. It’s free, quick and easy to use – individuals eligible to work here are immediately confirmed 99.5 percent of the time. According to a recent Rasmussen poll, 82 percent of likely voters support requiring all U.S. employers to use E-Verify.

The House Judiciary Committee recently approved the Legal Workforce Act. This legislation could open up millions of jobs for unemployed Americans by requiring all U.S. employers to use E-Verify.

We need to free up employers so they can create jobs for American workers. I sponsored two bills, The Regulatory Flexibility Improvements Act of 2011 and the Regulatory Accountability Act, which would provide urgently needed help to small businesses and reduce unnecessary burdens on job creators.

Federal regulations cost our economy $1.75 trillion each year, and regulatory compliance costs small businesses an estimated $10,500 per employee annually.

These bills are currently two of the 27 job creation bills that have passed the House but have not been considered by the Senate.

Another one of my priorities as Chairman of the Judiciary Committee is to put people who are involved in the child pornography industry out of business. I introduced legislation, the Protecting Children from Internet Pornographers Act, which enables law enforcement officials to successfully locate and prosecute those who want to hurt our children.

The House Judiciary Committee has approved this bill and Congress will vote on it soon.

In 2012, the Judiciary Committee will continue to advance legislation to create more jobs for Americans and help improve our economy.

By Thomas Jones, Westlake Picayune

Lake Travis is the best thing to happen to Texas high school football since Kenneth Hall. But don’t take my word for it. Just travel down Bee Cave Road and head to Lakeway, where anyone will gladly tell you. And you don’t even have to ask

But as Dizzy Dean would say, “It ain’t braggin’ if you can back it up.” And Lake Travis has risen with such alacrity that it would make any football historian dizzy. After all, this is a program that had a 69-128-1 overall record before Jeff Dicus led the team around the corner in 2006.

Now? The Cavs have won 69 of their past 75 games and four consecutive Class 4A state championships. This season, Lake Travis can become the first 11-man football team to win five straight titles.

A skeptic would point out that Lake Travis plays in a class below Westlake, speaking both figuratively and literally. The Cavs regularly beat playoff teams from the least competitive region in Texas. Take last season’s regional run as an example: Lake Travis beat Austin McCallum, Kerrville Tivy, Victoria East and Cedar Park. That slate sounds like Westlake’s district schedule in the 1990s, when the Chaps won 71 consecutive district games.

And the Cavaliers’ title triumphs have come against programs that don’t exactly have the tradition that makes foes tremble. In fact, Highland Park, Longview and Denton Ryan – the three teams that Lake Travis has vanquished in the past four years – have combined for three state titles in the past 50 years.

Compare that to some of the teams Westlake has faced in state championship games. Midland Lee, Southlake Carroll and Euless Trinity have each won at least three state championships since 1998. You can’t duck big-boy ball clubs in Class 5A, Cav Fan.

But such observations just appear cynical. Lake Travis is the best.

Football followers and demographers alike have made comparisons between the Westlake and Lake Travis communities, and similarities do abound. Both schools enjoy stellar academic reputations, although one chooses to spend a little more of its hard-earned funds in the classroom  (Westlake has given its upperclassmen iPads to facilitate learning), while the other dips into its coffers for a covered practice facility.

Both communities boast scenic lake views and cozy neighborhoods nestled amongst the canyons. And both communities share the desire to live in Westlake.

Both communities prove an attractive draw to real-estate agents and fanatical football dads alike, although San Antonio apparently trumps Lakeway when it comes to football recruits, er, transfers.

But something about Lake Travis must rub coaches the wrong way. At Westlake, former coaches Derek Long and Ron Schroeder spent their careers in a community that opened its arms and became a second home.

At Lake Travis, coaches apparently spend their days devising ways to escape from the community’s clutches. Dicus left after five years because of divisive internal politics, and Chad Morris fled following two seasons for Tulsa. Morris may be the only Texan not enticed by Barry Switzer’s pocketbook to ever leave for Oklahoma.

But such remarks are just sarcastic. The Cavaliers are the best. Don’t believe me? Ask the 15,000 Lake Travis followers that will pour into Darrell K. Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. They’ll be the ones dressed up like Texas Tech fans.

To read the Lake Travis View’s rebuttal by Max Thompson, click here.