[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:01] Board meeting, I hear about call to order the regular meeting for the lone third groundwater conservation district supported directors. Brenda, can we get another roll call please? President Spiegner, Vice President Boucher, Secretary Thickpin, Treasurer Ernest, Director Trailer, Director Warts, Director Parton. President Spiner, you have a quorum sir. Thank you Brenda, I appreciate it. Public comment.
[0:30] The district received two public comments before this meeting.
[0:34] They're in your packet.
[0:36] One comment from Mr. Nicholas Clark regarding district holiday.
[0:41] And a comment from Mr. Mill requiring payment method accommodation.
[0:46] Reminders, are there anyone present who wishes to make a public comment?
[0:50] If you're joining remotely and wish to speak, you can use the raise hand feature at this time.
[0:55] Public comments are limited to a maximum of three minutes per speaker.
[0:59] we will proceed with in-person comments followed by online comments and we
[1:04] do have two in-person comments today. The first person Mr. Larry Sparks.
[1:18] Thank
[1:18] you for coming sir. Thank you. My name is Larry Sparks and I happened on
[1:24] property and live next to a sand and dirt pit and the reason I'm concerned right
[1:32] now is that I recently had my well pump replaced in my private well and it's a 340 foot well
[1:41] and I could see where the aquifer the water level had dropped since I had the pump the water
[1:49] put the well duct so that kind of brought a concern to me so I know that pump water out of this
[1:56] pick so I went out and I measured the diameter of the pipe and the pipe they're used
[2:04] that runs 24-7 every day and on an 8-inch pipe I thought it was an 8-inch but it wasn't
[2:13] it was a 12-inch and a 12-inch pipe running full flow average flow is 4.06 million gallons
[2:26] per hour. This pump has been running since basically 2012. I want to know is there
[2:35] any kind of restriction on how much where this is not surface water. This
[2:42] water is so clear you can take it out and drink it. It's crystal clear. And I
[2:48] want to know is there a meter that's supposed to be on this big pipe that
[2:54] runs behind my house and it's pumping all this water out and you know
[3:01] environmentally I my grandkids they looked at the pit they thought it was a
[3:07] grand canyon it covers massive amounts of holes in the ground and from what I've
[3:16] read I thought there had to be a meter on how much you're pumping out of
[3:22] ground water out of that hole. So I'm just here to find out.
[3:29] Mr. Sparks? Yes.
[3:31] And I don't mean to interrupt you if you still want to speak. You have more time, I believe.
[3:35] But the board can't discuss anything with you regarding this. But what I can tell you is,
[3:40] I would love for you to reach out to us and give us your address and let us know what this concern is.
[3:45] I'd be more than happy to send our field team out to investigate what you're experiencing out there
[3:50] because it is required to have a permit and we do allow for an annual allocation and
[3:55] you can't go beyond that and depending on how big it is, how fast you're taking it out,
[4:00] all of these things are approved by way of permit. So we can certainly look into that for you.
[4:05] Okay, so you'll get in contact with me or I can talk to you.
[4:09] The other way around, if you would mind, if you would please reach out to the district,
[4:12] we have staff here that can talk to you now and get your information. But in general,
[4:16] You can always reach out to info at lonstargcd.org and if you give us your address and you let us know what your issue is
[4:23] We will more we're more than happy to send someone out to investigate and we appreciate you bringing it to our attention
[4:29] Thank you very much. Thank you
[4:32] The next person initials J.M.
[4:53] Thank you for letting me have this time
[4:55] Thank you. I am the neighbor to mr. Sparks
[5:01] so
[5:01] So this is K&K construction, I don't mind saying their name.
[5:07] They have been doing this if you look at these pictures,
[5:14] this is from 2018 to 2024.
[5:21] Now these pipes you see where I have videos that I was explaining all this about.
[5:28] These pipes here is the pipes he's talking about.
[5:31] but this water has been going like this for years.
[5:36] So when we complained about this before, which I don't have the other pictures because
[5:42] I didn't know I had to do all this, but they buried this pipe so you can't see it anymore.
[5:48] But I have video where it's coming out and it's going out to somebody else's property.
[5:54] But this has been going on since about 2014 or somewhere in there.
[6:01] And this, like I was explaining in this first room where you see it's dark, I went out
[6:06] there at midnight and videoted and you can see the water flowing.
[6:13] So that water is being pumped like you see it.
[6:16] If you see the little ditch they dug before I started, we started complaining.
[6:22] meaning this is how they were pumping the water out and they did this for like two years.
[6:29] And I don't understand that how we have a water shortage and these people are allowed
[6:36] to waste this water like this.
[6:38] And like I said, these pictures are from 2018 to 2024 and they started before this.
[6:46] Yes. So I don't know who we need to talk to, but I think something needs to be done
[6:53] about this.
[6:56] Again, the board are not able to go into dialogue with you on this, but I would love to get
[7:01] your information, and I appreciate you providing this to us. It's kind of hard to tell what
[7:05] we're looking at whether or not this is discharged or a TCEQ permit possibly. I don't know the specifics
[7:12] until we can get that and send out a certain I sure if you look at the bottom the
[7:20] second picture from the left that is their pit and this was several years ago
[7:27] and that water is coming out of what you see right there that's where they're
[7:31] pumping it from so they hit the aquifer because that water is beautiful it's
[7:37] crystal clear. That's not runoff water. It's not rainwater. So that is where that water is coming from. You see coming out of these pipes.
[7:48] Thank you. Please make sure that you give that address and a Mr. Sparks is as well to our team, but we'll certainly send out field to investigate.
[7:56] Thank you, sir. Thank you.
[8:03] Thank you, gentlemen, for coming.
[8:04] Okay,
[8:09] agenda items four and five, executive session, we're going to move that to the end
[8:14] of the meeting to respect
[8:17] people's time.
[8:19] Agenda item number six, meeting minutes, there are five meeting minutes for review and
[8:23] approval.
[8:24] All of which are in your board packet of directors August 11th was the 2026 show cause hearing
[8:31] on enforcement matters. August 11, 2026 hearing on contested enforcement matter. August 11,
[8:38] 2026 public hearing on proposed DFCs. In August 11, 2026 public hearing on permit and permit
[8:46] amendment applications. And of course our regular board meeting on August 11. Do I hear
[8:52] a motion to approve the meetings as listed?
[8:58] Can I get a second? Second. All in favor?
[9:02] motion
[9:06] approved.
[9:10] Okay agenda item number seven committee reports. The executive
[9:17] committee met on August 21st to discuss the employee handbook feedback and
[9:24] that item will be considered on the agenda for the district's October meeting.
[9:33] agenda item seven B is budget committee. Janice can you? We have not met. We have
[9:39] I'm not met.
[9:39] You have not met.
[9:40] Okay.
[9:41] So the budget committee, there's no update at this time.
[9:46] Sarah, can you provide the financial summary for the month of August 26th, 26th, please?
[9:51] Sarah?
[9:55] Excuse me.
[9:55] Income statement, cash basis.
[9:58] Monies received for the month of August 20th, 26th, $109,592.21, expenses paid in the month
[10:06] of August, 2026, $245,953.99, which is a net change of cash position for August, 2026, of $136,361.78 in deficit and our account summary, balance as of August 31st, 2026 in money market, $8,556,286.64, balances of August 31st, 2026 in operating company,
[10:36] $220,000, $250,000, $123.96.
[10:40] Balance as of August 31st, 2026 in text pool account, $56,000, $216,000, $48,000,
[10:48] which is a total checking and savings as of August 31st, 2026, of $8,862,000, $627,000, and $8,000.
[11:00] Thank you, sir.
[11:06] We are meeting monthly discussed public relations and conservation initiatives for the
[11:12] district.
[11:13] And the district is continuing to maintain ongoing engagement with local Chambers and Commerce
[11:19] community events, neighboring GCD events, statewide water agencies, direct or attendance at all
[11:26] All kinds of meetings and conferences and luncheon presentations and whatever.
[11:32] Jim, item 70, DFC Committee,
[11:40] 7D1, the DFC Committee met on August 6th to discuss the
[11:45] curlwu proposal and provide our recommendation which was discussed last board meeting.
[11:51] We will resume meetings regarding the proposed DFCs in mid-September.
[11:59] Sarah, any additional information?
[12:01] No, sir.
[12:01] Not at this time.
[12:03] agenda items 17 number two technical consultants either James Beach or Chris or Mike or Sarah. Do you have anything to add to the DFC report or any technical updates for
[12:15] us?
[12:16] No, sir.
[12:17] No, no.
[12:17] No, no.
[12:20] No, no.
[12:21] No, no.
[12:21] No, no.
[12:21] No, no.
[12:21] No, no.
[12:22] No, no.
[12:23] No, no.
[12:26] No, no.
[12:27] Number three, GMA-14 update, Sara, do you have any updates on GMA-14?
[12:33] Yes, sir. The comment period closed on August 11th, 2026, where a formal hearing was held before the start of our regular report meeting.
[12:40] Report will be put together to present to GMA-14 as part of the proposed DFC protocol.
[12:46] The next GMA-14 joint planning committee meeting has been tentatively scheduled for Monday, November 9th at 10 AM.
[12:53] Again, hosted here in Conrail and our district.
[12:55] Correct.
[12:56] Super.
[12:56] Thank you.
[12:58] Agenda item 70, the Rules Committee is not met.
[13:00] There are no updates for the Board at this time.
[13:03] Sir, do you have anything to add on the rules?
[13:04] Yes, sir.
[13:05] Okay.
[13:09] Agenda item number eight, Election Matters are two listed items for this, for this Agenda
[13:17] item.
[13:17] First item listed is to receive certification of unopposed status from the Election Agent.
[13:24] Sarah, could you provide an update on that?
[13:26] Yes, sir.
[13:26] four positions were up for election this cycle and only one person applied for each position,
[13:31] which means all four positions are unopposed and the election can be canceled for each.
[13:36] We have to go through the cancellation process under the election code, and the first part
[13:39] of that is to receive the certification of unopposed candidates from our election agent,
[13:45] Ms. Tiffany White.
[13:47] The board will need to vote to accept the certification.
[13:50] And we have that?
[13:52] Yes, sir.
[13:53] All right. Can I have a motion to accept the certificate?
[13:58] Do we hear a second?
[13:59] Second.
[14:01] Any discussion?
[14:03] All in favor of accepting the certification?
[14:06] Aye.
[14:07] I approve that we accept it.
[14:12] Let's see. Item number 8B.
[14:17] Now that we've accepted the certification, let's see.
[14:19] Can we have a motion to approve the order of cancellation for uncontested?
[14:28] Can I get a second?
[14:29] Second.
[14:30] All in favor?
[14:31] Aye.
[14:31] All right.
[14:36] Agenda item number seven, discussing consider and take action possible, possible action necessary
[14:44] regarding renewal of the district streaming service with Granicus.
[14:49] I guess that's Swaggett.
[14:51] Swaggett or Harvey pronounce it between the nine.
[14:54] Nine.
[14:54] Do I hear a motion regarding the renewal of the districts?
[14:57] We're excited for this.
[14:58] Oh.
[14:59] We said seven.
[15:00] Item 9, agenda item 9. Oh, I'm sorry, okay, agenda item 9. That's what I meant. Thank you, John. Do I hear a motion regarding renewal of the district streaming service with Grinitius? I hear a second. Any discussion? All in favor?
[15:19] Motion approved. And general manager to report, Sarah.
[15:34] All right. In August, the district's key priorities included working through public comments on the GMA 14 joint planning cycle.
[15:40] proposed DFCs and ensuring that we follow all the proper steps for the next phase of this process.
[15:46] The staff continues preparing action items for the Texas Water Development Board Data and Science Grant Award,
[15:52] planning the district symposium and working with half of our software database consultants to monitor software implementation progress,
[16:02] including permitting team demonstrations and continued testing.
[16:05] The district has also continued collaboration with Texas A&M University on the development
[16:10] of the intake system for the subsidence monitoring platform for our hardware or equipment
[16:15] to enhance the subsidence monitoring capabilities.
[16:18] Additional planning efforts focused on the district's purple pipe campaign, our commercial
[16:23] system campaign, outdoor tour educational materials, the Water Myard partnership with San Jacino
[16:29] River Authority, the district well-plugging assistance program, and a district exempt
[16:37] We do not have an acronym for that last one yet, but I will work on it.
[16:42] Staff continues to reinforce permit compliance through monitoring and enforcement actions related to the non-submitted of 2025 meter readings, 2026 water use fees and overpumpages, community engagement, educational outreach, participation in legislative committees through the Texas Water Association and the Texas Alliance of Groundwater Districts remains ongoing priorities for me personally at this time.
[17:05] time to assist with the district.
[17:07] Additionally, I would like to bring to the Board's attention recent media and
[17:11] apparent meetings being organized by a former mud director concerning the district in certain district policies.
[17:17] We, of course, welcome constructive feedback and appropriate public discussion.
[17:22] However, several of the issues being raised appear to concern matters that have already been thoroughly investigated and
[17:28] addressed, including matters for which reports bearing official stamps and
[17:32] Seals have been provided, unfortunately, misinformation appears to continue to circulate regarding alleged falsifications of aquifer conditions.
[17:42] I also understand that elected officials may be attending some of these meetings without representatives present from either of the governing Montgomery County agencies that govern water in Montgomery County.
[17:53] The same just in a river authority, nor the Lensar Groundwater Conservation District,
[17:58] to provide any kind of context or clarification regarding these matters.
[18:02] So I just want to bring that to the Board's attention.
[18:05] Regular meetings, technical and legal consultants, the DFC committee, internal departmental meetings,
[18:12] and external affairs committee.
[18:14] These are our regular monthly meetings.
[18:16] And my scheduled travel events since the last Board of Directors meeting were just events
[18:20] in general that I think are worthy of bringing to the board's attention.
[18:24] August 12th, I participated as a speaker for the commercial real estate of Montgomery County luncheon.
[18:31] They called the cream luncheon.
[18:33] I think that was very successful.
[18:34] I appreciate being invited to that and to kind of give a state of groundwater.
[18:38] And I just did general update for the commercial real estate sector.
[18:44] August 14th, attended the Texas Water Association,
[18:47] Groundwater Export-Large Scale Production Legislative Meeting, August 18th.
[18:52] We had an external affairs committee meeting, August 20th.
[18:56] I participated again as a speaker for the Montgomery County Luxury Home Connection, MCLHC.
[19:03] I appreciate them inviting the district to come and speak and help inform the real estate agents on the luxury sector real estate.
[19:12] August 21st, we had an executive committee meeting regarding the district policy
[19:18] handbook. August 24th, I attended the San Jacina River Authority GRP review
[19:23] committee meeting to give an update regarding the district. August 25th, we had
[19:30] staff attend the HARC, the Houston Advanced Research Center headquarters and
[19:34] did an indoor and outdoor tour. We appreciate HARC and the great work that
[19:38] they're doing there. August 26th, we had a stakeholder meeting here with MSCC under the
[19:45] Enroll of Mid-South. August 26th, we had staff attend the Nature and Outdoor Expo at
[19:51] Bonterra. That's the 55-plus section of Wood Forest. August 27th, we had staff and some
[19:59] directors attend the Southwest Montgomery County Chamber monthly luncheon. August 28th,
[20:05] We, myself and some of the staff and some of our directors attended the Leadership Montgomery County Summit.
[20:12] September 1st through 3rd, we had a great bit of staff attend the 2026 Texas Alliance Groundwater District's annual summit in San Antonio, which I think was a very successful event.
[20:24] We always gained a lot from that and it's the one space that we can really pull all of the groundwater districts together and look at policy in general and have good conversation about what we're doing differently.
[20:35] our challenges and of course everyone in Texas is dealing with challenges right now so I think
[20:40] that was great and a very good use of our funds to bring our staff to that. And September 7th,
[20:47] we closed in observance of Labor Day, September 8th. We had staff attend the Southwest Montgomery
[20:52] County Breakfast Connection on our outreach team and attended that and announcements for upcoming
[20:57] travel. September 9th through 10th I will be that's tomorrow and the next day I'll be attending the
[21:04] Texas Water Leaders Program, September 10th.
[21:07] We've got outreach attending the Conrail Lake Conroad Chamber
[21:10] Morning Mingle, and September 10th.
[21:13] Staff, some staff and I will be attending the Texas Farm Bureau
[21:16] Montgomery County Annual Dinner, September 14th.
[21:20] We have an informational meeting scheduled
[21:22] with Commissioner Riley, September 14th.
[21:25] We hope to have staff attend the Conrail Lake Conroad Chamber
[21:27] Luncheon, September 15th.
[21:30] We have an informational meeting scheduled
[21:31] with Representative Metcalfe,
[21:33] September 15th, we have an external affairs committee meeting, September 16th.
[21:37] We intend to have outreach attend the Woodlands Chamber Breakfast Connection.
[21:42] September 16th, we intend to have staff attend the Greater East Montgomery County Business Networking Breakfast.
[21:48] September 16th, we have an executive committee lunch scheduled.
[21:54] That's Tom Gardner introduction.
[21:57] And September 17th, we have a DFC committee meeting, September 21st.
[22:01] We have the SJRA, GRP, review committee meeting.
[22:05] I will be attending.
[22:06] I take an update from the district, September 22nd.
[22:09] We have the TWA, ARMF, claims, workshop.
[22:13] I'm not going to, I'll just leave that in an acronym.
[22:17] September 29th, we will have staff,
[22:20] and I believe two directors joining us
[22:22] for the 2026 Rainmaker Award Dinner in Austin,
[22:26] October 1st, with the Conor-O-Late Conor-O-Chamber.
[22:29] will be attending, that's the lobster fest, and I think we've got almost the full team
[22:36] scale to are slated to attend that. We really enjoyed that last year, it was great.
[22:41] We appreciate the events that the Conroad Chamber puts on. And then October 7th
[22:46] through 9th, I will be attending the Texas Water Association Fall Conference in
[22:50] San Antonio. And then again, October 13th through 15th, the Texas Water Leaders
[22:55] program in Austin. And I think I missed an event there. I was speaking on a panel for
[22:59] one water, which is hosted by the Hill Country Alliance.
[23:05] Maybe wrong. It may be in November,
[23:06] so I apologize. I'm not. Not so. It's a lot of events.
[23:09] Well, it's not like there were only two things.
[23:11] Yeah, but that's actually kind of special that we got invited to that invite only. It's not
[23:18] open to the public and that agency is asked us to come and speak on our conservation
[23:27] We're getting more and more of those kinds of things and the list of things that we are attending and outreaching on and participating in is getting longer and longer.
[23:38] I mean, I know Sarah must definitely remember this and probably most of you do, the list
[23:46] of things that we attended three years ago, you could put on the head of a match.
[23:53] And now it's three pages of stuff that we're attending on.
[23:59] Did you get the water, what's the annual deal for somebody who does work in water, the
[24:04] recognition?
[24:05] Rainmaker?
[24:06] Rainmaker.
[24:07] Did you put that in there?
[24:08] I did.
[24:08] Yes sir.
[24:09] I was good throughout pretty fast so you just let me know if you have any questions about
[24:14] any of these events.
[24:15] One other comment I want to make is we did a 10 tag and there was a lot of the staff
[24:26] go and I think that's very valuable developmental wise but I really want to do a shout out to Stacey
[24:32] He reached who conducted, I think, the best panel.
[24:36] I've been going to tag now for several years, and I've heard some good panels I really
[24:41] have.
[24:41] I mean, it's all good.
[24:43] This one exceeded good.
[24:45] This was a great panel.
[24:46] It's the first time I think we had a really one of the most candid, honest discussions of
[24:55] not only the law as it applies to groundwater, but science as it applies to groundwater.
[25:00] And I think we made some really good points that need to be considered not only by TAG but by our legislators and everyone else.
[25:12] You know, Chapter 36 is pretty explicit about a lot of things and we really have to have a lot of data and a lot of things to look at in order to manage the groundwater properly.
[25:25] And I think that Stacey and her panel that she put together, and it was a great panel,
[25:32] by the way, really hammered home some fundamental concepts that need to be paid attention to
[25:40] and they need to be abided by.
[25:42] So Stacey, my hat's off for you for not only a great job picking, getting these folks together.
[25:50] I don't know how you did that, but also in the amount of candor and the way you
[25:57] conducted and facilitated that discussion, I think it was easy for people to
[26:01] understand the points that were made. One of the better ones, like I said, that I'm
[26:06] saying, so I just want to tell you thank you so much for that. I know it, it's a
[26:11] lot of work and it's not your probably highest interest work, maybe, but I think
[26:18] it served the state of Texas well and I know it served ground water well and I
[26:23] know it served us in Montgomery County well and anybody any of our
[26:27] elected officials or anybody who goes and watches I don't know if that's even
[26:31] available to watch or listen to but it would really serve them well to pay
[26:36] attention to what was said on on that panel because that was a no-holds bar straight
[26:41] great up, no sugar coating or any of that, really factual, great information panel, so thank
[26:49] you.
[26:51] Sure, James Beach, your technical consultant was also, he was one of the panelists by
[26:57] the way.
[26:57] So just wanted to make sure that he got a shout out.
[27:00] Guys, all the panelists for us, Paul Terrell I know was, James Beach was, who are the others?
[27:05] Kristen Fancher, who also is y'all selection counsel, and then Meredith Allen, who is a GM
[27:15] for three different GCDs and also the GMA-7 coordinator.
[27:20] And there will be the videos from the summit will be released, it usually takes about
[27:25] a month for them to get them, but there will be a link provided so people can watch the videos.
[27:30] I think it's not they put them on like their YouTube channel or some someplace that's publicly available
[27:36] I would urge everybody to go listen. Who was the general manager from West Texas?
[27:43] Meredith Allen Meredith. She did a fabulous job. Yeah, she's from she's the GM for Minard Kimball and Sutton counties
[27:53] DCD's your hunting country
[27:55] All right
[28:00] Okay
[28:01] Okay, agenda item, we're going back to agenda item number four.
[28:07] The board will recess for a closed executive session.
[28:10] Persuant to Texas government code section 551.071
[28:14] to consult with the district's attorney regarding pending
[28:16] or contemplated litigation settlement offers
[28:20] or on matters in which the duty of the attorney
[28:22] of the governmental body under the Texas disciplinary rules
[28:24] of professional conduct of the state bar of Texas
[28:28] is clearly conflicts with the Texas Open Meetings Act. Chapter 551,
[28:33] government code regarding any agenda item on any of the board meetings are
[28:38] hearings posted for today. No action will be taken in executive.
[28:42] We'll recess it to the back. Thank you.
[28:53] General council's report.
[29:00] She's muted. I've been trying to forget. Let me taste something that's hard to do.
[29:06] Well I can't see all in the boardroom so I don't know if you can see me or hear me
[29:10] but I don't have anything for the open session.
[29:13] I'll see you in the program.
[29:14] Thank you, Stacey.
[29:15] Okay, I can't see you all, so thank you.
[29:18] Sorry, we can see you.
[29:20] Okay, you will, you will on this one.
[29:23] Great.
[29:26] Okay, agenda item number 12, new business,
[29:28] any new business, anybody?
[29:32] Item number 13, adjourned.
[29:34] Would somebody like to call for a motion
[29:36] to adjourn this meeting?
[29:38] I make a motion to adjourn.
[29:39] Can I hear a second?
[29:40] Second.
[29:42] Any discussion on that? All in favor? We're done. Thank you.