Corpusfishing.com

[Gib]

This is being sent to Mr. Cazalas requesting answers to decisions made and questions asked to bring attention regarding BHP.

I would appreciate any advice you all may have to aid in this matter. Please be mindful some of this information, such as article from CC, was previously posted on another thread.

April 22, 2008

Dear Mr. Cazalas,

I spoke with you in the past in parking lots, email, and meetings regarding Bob Hall Pier. As you are aware, considerable efforts were made to make changes at the pier regarding security, lighting, and maintenance last year.

A survey was conducted by users of the pier and submitted to the commissioners for possible actions that could be pursued. Some of the decisions made were responses to people’s request. Others were not all there such as an annual pass for BHP and Horace Caldwell that included rods, but we got annual pass only for BHP or HC and it does not include rods.

We were told the fee increase amount would be put into a dormant fund for a year, and then that money would be used for security, lighting, and maintenance. An article in the paper suggests otherwise, and I would like to know why?

Here is the article for your viewing:

Extra $140k/ year to go toward beach cleanup.

$2 pier access fee is reallocated

by Jamie Powell

Nueces County beach crews will get $140,000 more a year to help with beach maintenance efforts.

Nueces County Commissioners unanimously agreed Wednesday to devote the $2 fee users pay to get n BHP and HC piers to the cleanup efforts.

The fees, which had been going into the general island parks budget, generate island parks budget, generate approximately $70,000 at each pier annually, county parks director Blake Pettis said.

"We are constantly fighting the condition of the beaches from trash and seaweed," said County Judge Loyd Neal. "It becomes a real problem for tourists and you never have enough money to do what you would like to do to maintain the beaches, so this money will help."

From September to November 2007, the county spent $338,593 keeping up its share of some 28 miles of local beaches. The General Land Office will reimburse $209,320 of that, Pettis said.


I am not against beach clean-up, but I am against leaders lying to us by telling us fee increases would be for security, lights, and maintenance only to now be told monies will be used for beach clean-up. Now it maybe that the reallocated funds account does include these things for BHP, but notice the article quotes Loyd Neal addressing the trash and seaweed issues and Mr. Pettis stating the responsibility of 28 miles of beach.

I have been told the guy at HC has packed up and left; therefore, there is no one there collecting anything. Can this be verified?

According to article numbers, that leaves just $70,000 and not $140,000. The $70k that is collected from users of BHP will not even go to the pier. In my attendance of some of last year's meetings, I was told how short they already are on money for the pier. In addition, the article misrepresents the facts because percentages of that income are already destined for other accounts.

I am not against clean-up for the beach, but I was under impression that my tax dollars and beach parking permit were allocated to this effort and not my admittance fees onto BHP.

There are some very serious issues such as mistrust, lying, misinformation, etc. Perhaps the paper did not correctly report, but the comments from the two gentlemen suggest otherwise seeing it is there job to be mindful and take care of these things.

Why were we told one thing and something else done?

Why is it that the money for upkeep and security of the pier, which is desperately needed, go to fund other projects?

Are we, as citizens, to assume now that we will never have the proper security, maintenance, and safety issues addressed concerning BHP while the price continues to go up?

Is it always our leaders’ policy to pretend in listening to the public and then follow their own course?

Rest assured, I do not speak just for myself, and we will be attuned to anything in the future as questionable at best until a sense of propriety can be restored.

Thank you for your time and help in these matters.

[chuck]

wow

[landlocked beachbum]

Gib, sad to say but same as it ever was. Spending money to "clean up" sea weed, the only thing besides dead fish [etc] that adds nutrients which hopefully maintains and grows more sea oats and other island flora which keeps the island there in the first place, makes as much sense as spending millions each year to pump sand onto a beach that is eroding. Also, by spending the money on "beach clean up" they can then use the same old excuse of "lacking funds" when it comes down to improvement and rules enforcement at Bob Hall and other piers. I would bet that the county employees who drive the "clean up" equipment are paid MUCH less and have fewer job benefits than the park police and/ or wardens, so it's a win/win for the politicians who are only interested in living up to tourists expectations of what a beach is "supposed" to look like!!!!!

Who keeps electing these people anyway???????
_________________
Dave


"The difference between genius and stupidity is that genius has it's limits". Albert Einstein

[ladyfish]

Way to go gib,Think about this $338,000.00 first there is no weed on the beach in sept. oct or nov. Second they could hire 11 full time employee @$30,000 per year. The beach would be a show piece. And remember it's all about the Jobs lol

[BlueWaveEd]

Hmmmmm after reading the Caller rag this week, we need to transfer the Beach and Bob Hall to the Sheriff's department. He gave the county money back.

[Gib]

The email address I have for Mr. Cazalas is no longer valid.

Do any of you have an email for him?

The one I have is CCazala@citgo.com

If not, I should be able to get it within the next week or so.

Thanks for your help.