POSSUM KINGDOM LAKE ASSOCIATION NEWSLETTER

P. O. BOX 492 Graford, Texas 76449  www.pklassn.org  January 09’

 

Happy New Year!  09 will be the Year for BRA Divestiture

Efforts Continues on Divestiture

The PK Lake Association Board continues to work on divestiture.  Efforts to accomplish divestiture are moving forward in two ways, BRA is working on a 3rd party Bid Request and the Lake Association is working on a Bill that will be filed in the Legislature that will require BRA to sell the leaseholds.

Working Calendar of Events

·        October 27th- BRA Board approved resolution to post 3rd party Bid and allow sale of residential leases and 19 commercial leases and allow BRA staff to write letter to FERC requesting permission to remove the buffer zone in front of residential lease and allow purchase to 1000’.

·        November 19th- BRA staff and PKLA committee met in Stephenville to talk about aspects of 3rd party Bid.  The meeting was informative but as BRA moved toward 3rd party sale, the Lake Association remained committed to passing a Divestiture Bill in the 81st Legislature.

·        December- Senator Craig Estes files SB372.  This bill is a Divestiture Bill that looks like the bill used in the 07’ legislative effort.

·        January 8th  BRA post Bid Request for 3rd party sale on their web-site, www.brazos.org

                   9th- PKLA directors met via phone conference to review Divestiture Bill.  Directors

unanimously voted to approve the current Bill draft.  Directors also unanimously gave Monte Land the authority to negotiate changes to the Divestiture Bill as meetings are held to work on the draft.  Monte will be allowed to establish a committee to advice in these negotiations.

13th-81st Legislative Session convened and new Speaker Joe Straus was elected in the House.               

14th-A Lake Association committee met with Representative Keffer and Geren along with staff       from other Legislative office to discuss the Divestiture Bill.  This Bill remains a work in progress as changes are suggested.  Representative Keffer’s staff will work with Legal Council to make all language meet legal requirements. The House adjourned until February 1st.

17th- Town Hall meeting to discuss Incorporation drew a large crowd of concerned PK folks.  A lawyer that specializes in incorporation spoke to the group about the process and pros and cons. 

26th-BRA Board should meet for their quarterly meeting.

·        February 1st- The Texas House of Representative will reconvene.  Our hope is that Speaker Straus will be ready to assign committees and name Chairmen. Our Divestiture Bill is expected to be sent to the Natural Resource Committee.  We need to file the Bill so that it will have a House number. After the Bill has a number it will be sent to committee for hearing and once voted out of committee will travel back to the floor of the House of vote.  The Bill will then go to the Senate and the entire process begins again.

 

Just as soon as the Divestiture Bill is assigned a number, we will be calling on membership to approach their Legislators again reminding them to support the Divestiture Bill.  A copy of the Bill will be posted on our web-site when changes are approved by Legal Council.  An e-mail alert will advise membership.

 

We want to encourage our membership to read BRA’s Request for Bid.  Please pay attention to Exhibit H.  The restrictions outlined for the sale of the lease appear to be more restrictive for future landowners than what we currently observe being leaseholders.  If you do not have a computer, members please call BRA and request a copy of this document.