Back in April and May I wrote about the City Manager, David Huseman, dumping the old St. George Street into the Guadalupe River. I wrote that he had authorized the dumping of concrete with the rebar still in it and lead pipe into our river. He was quoted as saying, "I didn't think I needed permission to dump into the Guadalupe." Pictures were put into the Gonzales Cannon showing the rebar and pipe.
Official complaints were filed with the TCEQ and the Corp of Engineers by the water authority and private citizens (myself included).
So now that the Corp of Engineers is coming to town to look at the dumping in the Guadalupe River, the city manager, David Huseman ordered the fire department to use it's resources to go clean up his mess this last Monday.
Our firemen were down on the river removing rebar using the equipment that is suppose to be used to pull people out of cars and fallen buildings. What an abuse of power and resources!
How would you like to of been in the car accident and be told, "Oh, I'm sorry but our fire department is busy cleaning up the cities mess, please call back in a few hours and we'll be glad to help."
Now Mr. Huseman has told us time and again that there was nothing wrong with dumping in the Guadalupe river. That the lead and rebar that was in concrete he dumped was for shoring up the shoreline and he was allowed to do all that. So why now is he using city resources to remove it? Why not just wait till the Corp of Engineers gets here and show them he's done nothing wrong? Why is he scrambling?
Second, why would you put anyone in jeopardy by taking our fire department and put them down by the river with all their equipment in use? I know for a fact that the firemen are not happy at all that they were abused for this purpose. This wasn't an emergency, this was David Huseman covering his rear!!!
I would love to of heard that conversation between the city manager and the fire chief.
"Chief I need your guys to run down to the river, pull out those expensive saws of your and get that stuff out of here before the Corp of Engineers gets her next week."
"But we're not road workers, we're firemen. Call City Parks or Road Department."
"Chief, I'm not asking, I'm telling you, get those guys out of there now! They're not union, so I can have them digging ditches if I want."
I would love to know what the chief thinks about all this, but I can't imagine he's at all happy that his firemen were being used not to save lives, but to save the city managers butt.
So 1) were we lied to before and there IS something wrong with dumping in the Guadalupe? (*DUH*) 2) Was the fire department resources misused and misappropriated to clean up what didn't need to be cleaned up? 3) Were we praying that we wouldn't have another major accident while the fire department were pulled away from the fire department to do this task? I know I wouldn't of wanted that lawsuit if someone wasn't rescued because they were busy doing another departments job.
So what is it Mr. Huseman? Is the rebar OK or not? You admitted you put it there in taped interviews, so are you going back on your word now? Oh wait, that's just status quo for you isn't it? Wouldn't it have been nice if Mr. Huseman would of originally said, "Wow, sorry I messed up, we'll get that right out of the river" instead of all these games we have been playing?
Gonzales, when are you going to get pissed about the lies, the spending of your money to clean up the messes, the abuse of power, the ...deep breath...do I get my point across? Call your councilman, let him know you're pissed and we're not going to take it anymore!
I guess the one good thing in this is the rebar is gone. It should NEVER have been put into the river in the first place. It's a safety hazard, and against the law.
God Bless,
Dennis Nesser
Did you ever think that maybe the fire dept. folks are the most qualified to work in a risky environment? Would you want to put some other city employees at risk of drowning? What other dept. has the resources? How many boats does the parks dept. have? (I'm assuming a boat was used) Yes, it was a mistake to have the re-bar sticking out. One other thought....maybe the city manager is preparing for the dedication of the paddling trail this month? And if you actually went and looked along the river bank, concrete and rebar has been dumped for years, I remember it being there from 30 years ago. No, it's not right, but it is something that has been going on a long time in Gonzales, and all over Texas. Concrete and rebar is in the San Marcos river at Luling at the golf course. It is a common bank supporting material. David Huseman did not think of this all by himself, he was following tradition.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure Mr. Huseman has learned from this rxperience, so let's move forward and get the paddling trail open and attract some support business and visitors to our great resource in the Gaudalupe River.
Sound like the first comment works for the city office. And what about the mess that already went down river? It's the same old thing lets clean house and do what is right for the city. Not the choice few.
ReplyDeleteIf he was preparing for the paddling trail dedication, maybe he shouldn't have dumped it in the river in the first place!!! Then we wouldnt have waste resources to clean up his mess. The "tradition" the first poster referred to is not the best model for the city. Our "tradition" is the good ole boy system and its time it and Mr Huseman GOES!!!
ReplyDeleteTradition or not, dumping concrete chunks full of rebar and lead pipes into the river is NEVER a good idea. There are other ways to build up the river bank. After dumping it, David Huseman said he was going to have the rebar cut eventually, so I guess its coincidence that it is being cut now (months after it was dumped)...while Army Corps of Engineers is investigating the situation and may be visiting town soon to check on it.
ReplyDeleteNikki Maxwell
Gonzales, Tx
How come no one has ever brought this up at a city council meeting?
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure why no councilman has ever brought this up. I know that at least 3 of them are aware of the situation.
ReplyDeleteI also know that David Huseman has been telling them there is no problem there. *rolling eyes* Even 2 weeks ago he told one of the councilmen it was no problem.
But I don't know why they have not brought this up publicly on the open floor. I've questioned several things that I think Mr. Huseman needs to be asked in public so that the taxpaying citizens of Gonzales can get their answers. I think sometimes they forget he works for them, not the other way around.
God Bless,
Dennis
HAHAHA wow it's people like the first person to comment on this issues is why good people leave Gonzales. Be for you open your mouth and talk about how other cities (luling)dump trash in the river look be for you speak. Luling has done a great job at remediating there river banks. You clearly have not been to Luling in the past 5 years or 30 years. I'm happy that you support the mayor but do not support his illegal actions. Gonzales needs to wake up!! The good ol boy system needs to be shut down and until then the great potential Gonzales has will be locked away. 90a guy I like the work that you do. The City needs more like you and Mrs.Maxwell it's people like you that are not afraid to stand up and ask WHY. thanks and keep up the hard work
ReplyDeleteAre you really concerned about the wellbeing of the river? Or is it your dislike of Mr. Huseman? If you were concerned about the river, you would be screaming about the open pit outhouses out at Lake Wood. You would be screaming about the uncontrolled runoff from some industrial sites in Gonzales that goes straight to the river. One in fact was sited by TECQ just last month for runoff and violations of their permit. No, it's not the river, it is a personal agenda against Mr. Huseman.
ReplyDeleteThe city manager's dumping of rebar, lead, and concrete has nothing to do with the 'paddling trail'. The trail is at the dam on the east side and the dumping was about 1/2 mile down river around two bends (south of the dam).
ReplyDeleteThe city has NOT been "dumping trash in the river for decades". Where do you people get this stuff from?! GEEEESSH, I wish you would get off the couch and look for yourself and quit repeating things from people that are clueless.
Thanks 90A sign guy for your thoughtful and informed information. It is apparent that you don't have a dislike for the manager; however unlike him you have a love for Gonzales. He appears to be building his retirement package and the council is helping him. Bell CA only has population on us - but who's checking?
Betsy
Betsy: The paddling trail includes the stretch of river from the dam to the highway 183 bridgr. The gravel bar at the bridge is the takeout point of the trail.
ReplyDeleteMy dislike for Mr. Huseman is that he has mismanaged our tax dollars and appears to work undercover. I don't believe that what he tells me or anyone else is the truth, and the whole truth, not the part of the truth he wants you to hear.
ReplyDeleteThe one thing I promise is I'm rooted in Gonzales for 15 years, and not going anywhere anytime soon. So in my, and my families best interest, I want to see Gonzales to live up to it potential.
We have this great history here. We have these great buildings. We have great people here. Now we have to get them all working at potential.
God Bless,
Dennis