Your Viewpoint Letters to the Editor
Here are facts to city-BETCO issue

By WAYNE STEPHENSON Jasper

In reference to Mr. Greg Johnson's letter to the editor of Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2007, regarding, "Greedy People trying to get City tax dollars for their own pockets," and "A local Realtor - wants the city tax payers to pay to lay a pipe that will only serve property that he plans to develop," I offer the following information.

I am apparently the local Realtor to whom Mr. Johnson makes references and here are the facts that I presented to the Jasper city council at its Nov. 13, 2007 regular monthly meeting.

(1) The city of Jasper is needing an addition 10-foot wide utility easement fronting land owned by Mr. Robert Hall (of whom I represent as his Realtor) extending a distance of approximately 800 feet along Premier Drive to a property owned by the BETCO Company of Austin.

Mr. Hall is agreeable to granting the easement to the city of Jasper, however, the city manager wanted the 10-foot wide easement to be granted not only to the city (a governmental municipality), but also to the BETCO company (a private investor).

This posed a concern to Mr. Hall because at such at time that he or a subsequent purchaser/user of his land may need sewer service, it would be necessary to attain approval from the city, and also from a private investor.

This would set an unheard of precedent for the city of Jasper and one that I perceive will lead to much controversy and confusion in the future. (I am pleased to report that the city manager has since rescinded his requirement of a joint conveyance and the easement will now go into the city of Jasper only).

(2) The second point that I presented to the council was that not only was the city manager requiring the BETCO Company to pay for the installation of approximately one mile of required sewer line from BETCO's apartment construction site to the city's waste water (sewer) treatment plant (which BETCO agreed to do), but he also wants BETCO to be responsible for the maintenance of the approximate one mile of sewer line.

This again would set a precedent for the city of Jasper and, in my opinion, lead to future controversy and confusion.

For example, let's say that there are two or three other designated sewer lines within the same 10-foot wide utility easement, any one of which may require future maintenance.

Does a private property owner have the right to dig into a city utility easement?

What happens if one private property owner disrupts another private property owner's sewer line?

Should not the maintenance of sewer lines within the city utility easements rightly be the responsibility of the city itself?

These are the facts that I presented to the council. I have no connection financially or otherwise with the BETCO Company and I certainly have no future plans to develop the adjoining land owned by Hall.

I am however, on behalf of Mr. Hall, offering the land for sale should another potential investor, including Mr. Johnson, be interested.

Letters criteria announced

The Jasper Newsboy would like to publish your thoughts and concerns about issues that are important to you.

All Letters to the Editor should be accompanied with the writer's name and daytime telephone number for verification purposes.

Phone numbers will not be published, but the author's name will be.

Under no circumstances will the author's name be withheld.

All letters are subject to editing for newspaper style and clarity, without changing the meaning of the content. Letters should be limited to 300 words. Letters endorsing or opposing political candidates are considered political advertising and will be forwarded to the advertising department.

Deadline for letters is 10 a.m. Monday to be published in the following Wednesday's publication.

Mail letters to:

The Jasper Newsboy P.O. Box 1419 Jasper, Texas 75951-1419 or e-mail to:

jgalvan@jaspernewsboy.com