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Resident urges council to address drought, aquifer stress and local senior housing concerns
Summary
Resident Rita Ward told the council the region faces broad drought and aquifer decline, criticized a proposed Riverwood facility and cited a rent increase example from $6.95 to $13.50, asking council members to visit her apartment to see living conditions.
During the public-comment period, Rita Ward introduced herself and urged the council to consider water resources and housing conditions affecting residents.
"As you know, we're in a drought. A lot of people think it's just a drought here in Texas... Our aquifers are in dire shape," Ward said, warning that springs such as Jacob's Well have been dry and that regional impacts extend across a wide area. She also addressed a proposed Riverwood facility and described it as run by a Missouri corporation that "doesn't give 2 hoots about us," saying she paid $6.95 for an apartment one year and faced a jump to $13.50 the following year.
Ward invited council members to visit her apartment to witness conditions firsthand and offered to provide her phone number so staff or council could set up a visit. Council acknowledged her remarks but did not record an on-the-record response beyond agreeing to follow up.
Her comments raised issues touching on regional water resources and local housing affordability and conditions; the council did not take any action during the meeting on those topics.
