County residents urge 'no action alternative' on TTC
By BARRY HALVORSON bhalvorson@journal-spectator.com

Staff Photo by Chris Barbee Garland Berry shares his concerns on the Trans-Texas Corridor during a public hearing in El Campo on Thursday. See Page A2 for additional coverage.

Offered the option of doing nothing or building the proposed I-69/Trans- Texas Corridor following the preferred Draft Environmental Impact Statement, the overwhelming answer coming from El Campo Thursday night was for no action.

"I've been to every meeting in Wharton County and heard everyone speak against it," Louise ISD teacher Brenda Dornak said. "If (the Texas Department of Transportation) is listening, they should stop. I'm for the no action alternative."

During her three minutes to speak, Dornak was concise in her criticism, saying the proposed roadway would cut through farms meaning less profits and the end to many people's livelihoods, would destroy homes and land inheritance, destroy wildlife habitat and force area schools to discontinue certain programs due to lost property tax revenues resulting from taking the highway property off the tax roles.

Wharton resident Rosemary Rust also encouraged area residents to write to their elected officials and TxDOT in support of the no action alternative. She added those elected leaders backing the project should not be allowed to continue to represent the people.

"In Texas, property rights are sacrosanct," she said. "Elected leaders can't support the project and get re-elected. There is right and wrong in the universe and this is wrong."

Not all of those attending chose to speak but rather used the option of submitting written comments. Among those were Wade David of El Campo and Ron Wittig of Wharton.

"My big concern is how this is going to impact agriculture production and ag-related businesses," Wittig said. "They are going to destroy farms that have been in production for years to the point we won't have any land left to farm. And this is one of the richest ag production areas in the world."

While Dornak and Rust were among the speakers stressing the impact on agriculture and wildlife habitat, several others spoke on the potential loss of historical sites and locations, including several members of the Glen Flora- Spanish Camp Historical Society.

"The historical significance of this area is the same as the history of Texas," society member Garland Berry said.

"Spanish Camp gets its name from the Mexican Army camping there. Egypt is representative of the old plantation system and then the freed slaves who stayed there believing in hope and inspiration.

"And Glen Flora was a community built up by working class whites."

TxDOT Yoakum District Engineer Lonnie J. Gregorcyk said groups like the GFSC Society were doing an important job as well as any private citizens attending the meetings.

"There has been a lot of consistency in comments being made at the meeting," he said. "A lot of those speaking have done some good research and all the comments are valuable and have merit.

"The meetings have shown a high degree of civility and professionalism and the message of the people so far has been loud and clear with the biggest of those being the desire to make themselves heard.

"Particularly helpful have been some of the historic societies who have developed specific data regarding cemeteries, historical issues and extended ownership of various parcels that don't appear in any existing data bases. When you're doing a project that covers three counties, you already know or are told about these kinds of issues pretty early on. When you're talking about a project of this magnitude, a lot of the local knowledge isn't going to be included anywhere outside the area."

In the prepared program shown before comments were taken, it was pointed out what was being presented is the Tier One DEIS and only considers new construction or no action and the Tier Two study will also consider improving existing transportation routes, both road and rail, as a third alternative.

A few people speaking during the public hearing said they realized that some improvements were needed and even desired if they used existing right of ways. TxDOT Yoakum Office Information Spokesman Bryan Ellis said that is something that is being called for in other areas.

"The Edna Meeting (Wednesday night) was a little different in tone in that they didn't mind work being done as long as it was kept to the U.S. 59 footprint."

While most speakers concentrated on property rights, historic preservation and environmental and economic losses, some raised the specter of Sept. 11 and illegal immigration saying the route could be used to traffic drugs, people and terrorism. Public comments can also be submitted online at www. keeptexasmoving.com or mailed to I-69/TTC at P.O. Box 14428, Austin TX, 78761. All comments must be received by March 19.