By Bill Zeeble, KERA reporter
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kera/local-kera-510658.mp3
Fort Worth, TX – Bill Zeeble: About 75 people attended the League of Neighborhood Associations forum that featured 9 of the 13 candidates. Only landscape company owner Tom Waltz stressed water conservation above all else. Every other candidate focused on the 435 million dollar Trinity Uptown plan. They all praised its vision of waterfront development that could rival San Antonio's River Walk. But several, including former council member Clyde Picht, Tim Nold, Mike Utt, Gary Alexander, and Tracey Smith wanted the private sector, not tax payers, to develop it. Otherwise said Smith, there could be trouble
Tracey Smith Water Board candidate: If Congress says we can't pay what we said we could pay, if we start digging a ditch, and they say we don't have the money, who's going to pay for it? City of Fort Worth? County? That's where our taxes are going to go
Zeeble: The federal government says it'll cover half the cost. The rest must come from the Water Board, city, & county. Another former Fort Worth city councilman running for the water board is Jim Lane, who says this position requires someone experienced with public/private partnerships, & someone who understands special project financing.
Jim Lane: This project's on track. Question is who do you want on the board? Do you want to put on people with vision who know how to hold financial agreements? That's the issue here. We've already had a bond issue in Fort Worth on this very issue here.
Zeeble: The incumbent, Gina Puente-Brancato -appointed to the board 3 yrs ago and now running to stay - praised the Uptown project, calling it a win-win. Tax concerns didn't bother her, because she said taxes would only be applied to flood control costs, not private development. She was among the few in the room citing the flood control aspects of the plan
Gina Puente-Brancato: We're getting bypass channels, isolation gates, we'll raise University Drive, extend White Settlement Main Street. These are all things that have to do with the bypass channel, that'll stop flood issues. This is a critical asset. This is something the corps has identified as well as the district and city and county. We have to have the right people to shepherd this project in
Zeeble: That's what resident Lee Frampton wanted to hear. The long-time Fort Worth homeowner said its about time for something like this
Lee Frampton, resident: I've been here since '58. All you heard here was people flooding out. That's when I bought home on the hill. We're getting two for the price of one, beautification and all that, that comes with it.
Zeeble: But others, like Marianna Threpp, weren't so sure about the River project, or which water board candidate she preferred
Marianna Threpp: Our money, our concerns, are streets & sidewalks, that don't exist in central city. and the development of this trinity river vision, which no one denies will be beautiful, but we need basic services before we have something nice a beautiful
Zeeble: In this Tarrant County Water Board race, the two top vote getters win appointments to the 5- person board. Early voting ends next Tuesday. Election day is Saturday, May 13th. For KERA 90.1 I'm Bill Zeeble
My email is bzeeble@kera.org