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Residents raise transparency concerns over water-district appointment and a large solar project
Summary
Public commenters told the council they’re worried about outside influence on a water-district board appointment and discrepancies between promotional materials and recorded land documents for a major solar project; the council heard those concerns during public comment but took no direct action on them at the meeting.
Several residents used the public-comment period to press the council for greater transparency on two distinct topics: an upcoming appointment to the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District board and a proposed large-scale solar project.
Dominic Saviera, assistant general manager for the Northeast Texas Municipal Water District, told the council he had reviewed a document tied to an agenda appointment and said an outside organization appeared to be seeking influence over board selections. "There’s an outside organization which is actively looking to interfere and to influence every single one of you," Saviera said, warning that dedicating water rights to "environmental flows" on a perpetual basis could reduce diversion authority and create long-term obligations.
Stacy Cherry said promotional materials for a project marketed as Spring Ridge/Green Ridge Energy differed from recorded land documents, which she said reflect more acreage and more landowners than presentation materials. She asked whether land transactions already completed and tax-abatement discussions had been fully disclosed and urged the city to ensure due diligence given the project’s potential impact on Lake of the Pines and the watershed.
Hunter Bonner (Marion County Republican chairman) also urged the council to adopt formal rules to limit abusive or profane remarks during public comment, saying the council should send a message that fairness and accountability matter.
Council members acknowledged the concerns and asked staff to make information available when possible; no formal council action on the water-district appointment or the solar project was taken during the meeting.
