Published: May 29, 2007 01:54 pm            

Gas well permit draws neighborhood’s ire

Council defers request

Rain fell softly outside Burleson City Hall Thursday night, but a storm was brewing within.

Residents near a proposed gas-well drilling site turned out to protest the proposed access plan.

The site, which would be developed by XTO Energy, would be located on 147 acres east of Hurst Road and north of East Renfro. Access to the site would be gained using Hurst. Four wells would be drilled there.

The property, which is owned by the Neal Family Trust, is also the proposed site for a new Burleson ISD high school. The school would be located on the opposite side of the property from the gas wells.

David Wynn, director of planning and engineering services presented the proposal and reviewed the possible options for gaining access to the site, showing slides of the proposed routes.

One possible way in had been blocked by the Texas Department of Transportation because of its proximity to a residential driveway, and

other access points involved crossing flood plains and would have required improvements and permitting that would delay the project for a year or more, Wynn said.

Councilwoman Claudia Humphrey complained that the traffic on East Renfro was already a nightmare because of construction and said adding tractor-trailers carrying large equipment would only worsen the situation.

Bruce Basden was the first of the area residents to speak. He brought pictures of Hurst Road. One showed a large truck that occupied nearly the width of the road and a child riding a bicycle.

He said the street was not adequate for two-way traffic, and the number of children in the neighborhood made safety issues loom large.

Carol Guzman worried that the increased traffic from drilling activity would slow or prevent access by emergency vehicles. She said a school bus stops on Hurst, and she echoed the concern for children’s safety.

Another resident, Helen Wallace, also brought pictures to show. In animated speech, she said she attended meetings held by XTO and listened to their assurances to protect safety and keep the area neat. Her photos showed pipe and cast-off tires in ditches alongside roads used at other drilling sites.

She echoed the sentiments of other speakers in worrying about damage to Hurst Road and how it would affect residents’ access to their neighborhoods.

“I don’t want to stop XTO from drilling,” she said. “But they need to find an alternate route. We don’t have an alternate.”

Ricky Nugent asked for one of the slides to be shown again, and then guided the council members and audience along the proposed route. He pointed out a house on a turn and said, “That’s my house.”

He said the passing trucks would be a nuisance.

Unlike other speakers, Nugent said he was against the drilling and the access route.

After the residents had their say, Mayor Ken Shetter asked the company to respond.

Robert Manthei, regulatory affairs coordinator for XTO, said the company examined all the possibilities and knew of the safety concerns. He said the company would have control over its contractors and would be able to ensure they would operate safely.

He also said the lease specified access to the site by Hurst, and the company would have to abide by the terms of the lease.

Shetter interrupted to say it bothered him that preferred access was specified by the ones who benefited most from the route and no consideration was given to all the resident who wouldn’t benefit from the lease but would be affected by the drilling activity, a theme he would repeat several more times during the discussion.

Councilman Matt Powell then jumped into the fray, saying he was insulted by the statement that the company would be able to control its contractors.

His voice rising and often choking with emotion, Powell said he had first-hand knowledge that the contractors could not be controlled.

“I’ll tell you now, the only way I’ll vote to approve this is if you find another way in,” Powell said.

Walter Dueease, another regulatory affairs coordinator for XTO, took over speaking for the company.

He reiterated that the company was aware of the concerns and that representatives had driven the route. He said the contractors who would build the high school would have to use the same route, and they would create far more traffic than XTO.

Shetter told him a pattern was developing in the discussion, and he could either close the public hearing and take a vote or continue the hearing until a later date and give the company time to develop alternatives.

Dueease, obviously agitated, again mentioned the lease requirements and said the company had agreed to make any repairs necessary to the roadway because of its activity. He reviewed the difficulties with alternate routes and mentioned the problems with obtaining necessary permits.

City Attorney Allen Taylor entered the discussion, lecturing Dueease about the city’s responsibilities in the matter and indicating the measure probably wouldn’t pass on a vote. He urged Dueease to accept a continuance.

Dueease, in much calmer tones, said the company would be willing to have the hearing continued and would work with city staff to develop alternatives.

The council then voted to continue the hearing until July.

In other action the council:

• Swore in re-elected members Stuart Gillaspie and Matt Powell and new member Dan McClendon

• Approved on final reading an ordinance amending the development plat for the Hidden Vistas addition located sound of Hidden Creek Parkway

• Approved on final reading an ordinance that will require year-round watering restrictions in Burleson. Residents will be prohibited from watering between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. New installations of sprinkler systems will have to be fitted with rain and freeze sensors.

• Approved on final reading a revision to the fiscal 2006-07 budget and reorganizing certain city departments.

• Approved a change in the 2006-07 fee schedule to increase the gas-well permit fee from $3,500 to $5,000 per wellhead.

• Approved four other gas-well drilling permits. No public comments were made during the public hearings, and all were approved unanimously.

• Approved a memorandum of understanding to cooperate with the Federal Emergency Management Agency in preparing digital flood insurance rate maps.

• Approved advanced funding for a traffic signal to be installed at Texas 174 and Southwest Hulen, or Shaffstall Road. The action came near the end of the session, after the council had been meeting for more than four hours. Shetter noted that McClendon had seconded the motion, his first council action, and joked that the media should note that McClendon’s first act was to second another traffic light on a highway that already had several lights.

• Authorized the city manager to enter into an agreement with Polleyco to buy water from Bailey Lake.



Michael O’Connor can be reached at 817-645-2441, ext. 2333,

or reporter3@trcle.com.

        

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