History of WCID#89 and Info on Election 5/8/2010

This is the first in a series of postings that I will devote to understanding more about our MUD or Water District, Water Control and Improvement District #89. WCID #89 serves the relatively new developments built on the north side of Beltway 8 between Furman St and Cullen Blvd. Brunwick Lakes, Brunswick Meadows, and Brunswick Place. The other two major neighborhoods served by WCID #89 are Morningside Place I and Morningside Place II which are on the south side of Beltway 8, bounded by Cullen Blvd and Fellows Road which runs along Tom Bass Park.

WCID #89 was created March 6, 1964 and was converted to a municipal utility district (MUD) on April 11, 1984 and according to chapters 49 and 54 of the Texas Water Code, WCID #89 is empowered to purchase, operate & maintain all facilities necessary to provide water, sanitary sewer service, storm sewer drainage, irrigation, solid waste collection & disposal, including recycling, parks and recreational facilities for the residents of the District. In addition, WCID#89 can contract for or employ its own peace officers with power to make arrests and to establish, operate and maintain a fire department to perform all fire-fighting activities within the District. On April 4, 2000 WCID #89 entered into a water supply agreement with the City of Houston, which has supplemented the District's water supply from wells.

WCID #89 is governed by 5 Board members who serve 4 year terms of office. These positions were held by Sharyn Smalls (President) Arthur G. Washington (VP) Victoria Lastee (Secretary) Danny Perkins (Director) and Claudell Bradby (Director). Claudell Bradby was not qualified to sit on the Board because she had not maintained a residence within the District since 2007, yet she had continued to serve as Director. She was replaced by Byron Keith Watson, Sr. - appointed to office by the Board in April 2009.

Interesting isn't it that there was no attempt by the current Board to include a representative from any of the Brunswick neighborhoods when given the opportunity to appoint a new Board member? Especially since many of these new residents had attended meetings and voiced their concerns with various issues related to the District. AK Babers, who resides in Brunswick Meadows, had a personal meeting with Sharyn Smalls back in 2008. During that meeting, he expressed an interest in serving on the Board. He was told at that time by President Smalls that there was no need for him to serve because she was content with the current makeup of the Board, including the unqualified Director presumably.

Elections are only held when an incumbent has a challenger petition to be on the ballot. No elections have been held for any Board position since any of the Brunswick neighborhoods came into existence; therefore, all Board members are from Morningside neighborhoods. That has now changed. AK Babers and I (Dr. Jeraine Root) have requested to be on the ballot. We will be vying for the 2 positions currently held by Victoria Lastee and Danny Perkins. The candidates who receive the most votes will win the positions - there is no runoff.

The election will be held on Saturday, May 8, 2010 from 7AM-7PM at the home of Election Judge Cynthia Woolridge, who lives in Morningside - the neighborhood adjacent to Tom Bass Park off Cullen - at 14719 Teck Ct. Early voting is from 9AM-5PM April 26-30 and May 3-4 and election day is Saturday, May 8 from 7AM-7PM.

We will be using voting machines rented from the County. You have to be registered with the address in the neighborhood showing on your registration card. In other words, you can't just be registered to vote in Harris County and still qualify to vote in this particular election. If you need to get registered with your Brunswick address, please let me know. I have the registration form.

The best news? I, Jeraine Root, will appear first on the ballot and AK Babers will be 2nd. We drew for places on the ballot at the lawyer's office where the District's meetings are held. And everyone will be allowed to vote for two candidates, so we won't run the risk of splitting the vote. Please vote once for Root and once for Babers if you want the Brunswick neighborhoods to have representation on the Board.