Did you know that Llano City Manager Finley DeGraffenried and Mayor Reagor gave water access to an RV park OUTSIDE the city, during a stage 4 water restriction? Updated

In secret meetings, an RV park in Llano County requested from City Manager Finley DeGraffenried and Mayor Reagor, access to Llano city water and sewer. This was at a time when newspapers and TV stations across the country were telling the story of our drought and that we were running out of water.

Water-Starved Town May Face Draconian Restrictions Texas Tribune
Drought could dry Llano River by week's end, officials say Austin Statesman
Llano now in Stage 4 water restrictions Water supply from Llano River is drying up KXAN
Drought-hit Texas town uses "witching "to find water Reuters
Sacrifices and Restrictions as Central Texas Town Copes With Drought NY Times
River on verge of drying out WOAI
Exceptional drought dries up Llano drinking water YAHOO! News
'Deer Capital' Of Texas Struggles With Drought NPR
Texas Drought 2011: Town Teeters On Drying Up Huffington Post
Llano water restrictions business impact YouTube
Forecasters: Drought may persist for another year USA Today
Heat Scorches Parched Texas Wall Street Journal

Good thing those meetings were kept secret. Can you imagine the headlines?

At peak, the RV Park could be the largest water user in Llano. Over 100 RV spaces. RVs use as much water as a home. RVs have showers, washer/dryers, dishwashers, tanks to be cleaned and filled, and are usually washed after a dirty trip on the road. The RV Park will could have a pool and laundromat. Also, if they are a big drain on our water supply, they will be a big hit to our sewer system.

Llano does not make money on water and sewer but does on electricity. Sixteen percent of the revenue from electricity goes to pay for city services like the pool and golf course. The RV Park will not be buying electricity from the City so they will be contributing to city services their RV customers use.

Two Freedom of Information Act requests were submitted requesting details on the secret meetings including all documentation, emails, meeting times, attendees and minutes, and work orders - and 9 follow-ups were made. Each said no documents existed. The last follow-up asked if a meeting with Finley would be helpful. However when a meeting was requested, Finley refused to meet. There had to be at least a work order to get the tap. As it turns out, there was a letter not disclosed by the City (an Open Records Violation) that shows secret meetings were held and water access guaranteed while property was outside the city and prior to council approval.

This is the kind of secret, backroom deal that is not acceptable in our town. If it is a good idea, let the citizens know and decide - it is their water and their trees that died in that stage 4 drought.

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