Upper Trinity Thumbs Its Nose At Community Forum
By Stephen Webster
Investigative Reporter

On Monday, Feb. 27, the towns of Copper Canyon, Double Oak and Flower Mound met in Double Oak to convene a public forum on the area’s ever-rising water rates. The panel was comprised of Copper Canyon Mayor Sue Tejml, Copper Canyon’s former representative to the Upper Trinity Board of Directors Eric Metzger, John Dondrea and Flower Mound Interim Town Manager Harlan Jefferson.

In spite of the six week notice the Upper Trinity Water District was given by county and city officials, no representatives were present. A statement on their behalf was read by the forum’s moderator, The News Connection Executive Editor Bob Weir.

At the beginning of the presentation, the principal organizer of the event, Denton County Commissioner Jim Carter stood and thanked the 120 or so people in attendance. Although in the middle of a campaign, he insisted his efforts to initiate a dialogue between the water district and the cities is not for political gain. He noted the presence of his opponents in the Republican primary, Andy Eads and Holly Gray-McPherson. District 63 State Representative candidates also in attendance included Anne Lakusta and Ricky Grunden. Neither expressed an opinion, but were thanked by speakers for making the effort to educate themselves on the issue.

The Upper Trinity’s statement claimed the principal reason for ever-rising water costs is state law that requires them to plan additional infrastructure as much as 50 years in advance. “For the first time ever, all communities of Denton County have an adequate drinking water supply,” read the statement. “By state law, Upper Trinity is continuing to plan for the next 50 years, and is developing a diversified portfolio of water resources for the benefit of this region. […] A portfolio that doesn’t put all our eggs in one basket.”

Upper Trinity claimed that Flower Mound has incurred high costs upon itself, having opposed infrastructure diversification in the past. Upper Trinity blames the recent $6 million bill given to the town on legal costs incurred by the district when Flower Mound filed a lawsuit to prevent further construction in the district’s diversification efforts. Flower Mound lost the lawsuit and appealed, twice, but has since been denied.

The News Connection contacted Upper Trinity’s Executive Director Thomas E. Taylor for more information. “That forum was not done in cooperation with Upper Trinity,” said Taylor. “We had nothing to do with it. It was not in any way, shape or form an Upper Trinity forum. We had no say in organizing it, who the speakers would be, where it would be, when, or whatever. In fact, I don’t think they talked about water issues at all. It was all just politics and stuff, from what I understand.”

“ Anyone who has complaints or issues or suggestions is welcome to come to the real water forum at Upper Trinity,” continued Taylor. “That is not a select meeting for select purposes. We discuss the real water issues at the real forum. […] This is a very limited complaining party.”

The towns disagree.

“These are nothing but empire building bureaucrats,” said Flower Mound Mayor Jody Smith. Panelists continually noted Upper Trinity’s debt of $245 million. Copper Canyon Mayor Sue Tejml projects the current debt, when combined with the cost of future capital improvements, will come to over $1 billion. According to materials provided by the panel, Upper Trinity carries more debt than any other water distribution network in the Dallas /Fort Worth metroplex.

“ They are already so far in the red, they will never pay that debt back,” said Mayor Tejml. “But they pay their executives more than any other district. The additions to the infrastructure are unnecessary, and our taxpayers have to settle that cost.”