CAFA Updates

2007 Annual Meeting

2006-12-18T13:43:00.000-08:00

2007 Annual Meeting
January 23, 2007 - Tuesday Night at 7 PM
Willow Park Church of Christ
721 Ranch House Road, WIllow Park, TX

7/19 after lake park meeting

2006-08-01T10:08:00.000-07:00

After the Eagle Mountain Lake Park meeting.
Click here for NW Tarrant County Times Record article. Great Photo, pick up the printed back copy. Thanks Art!

help em tpwd park July 06

2006-07-09T20:50:00.000-07:00

important meeting last paragraph 7/13
TO ALL TARRANT COUNTY RESIDENTS:

NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Did you know... ...

A 400-acre parcel of land on Eagle Mountain Lake intended to be a State Park for the enjoyment of YOU, YOUR FAMILY, and all area citizens is about to taken away -- inclusive of which is TWO (2) BEAUTIFUL MILES of unspoiled, pristine lake frontage!!

AS A TAX-PAYING RESIDENT OF TARRANT COUNTY, THIS PARK BELONGS TO YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND THE FAMILIES YET TO COME!!

Here are the facts:

+ There is a 400-acre parcel of land on Eagle Mountain Lake (located on the west side of the intersection of Peden and Morris-Dido Roads) that was purchased by the Texas Parks & Wildlife Commission (TPWC) some 25 years ago which is/was supposed to have been developed into a State Park for the enjoyment of the citizens of Tarrant County. (A portion of this same property was DONATED by a wealthy ranch family with the understanding that it would used for the same purpose). To date, nothing has been done to develop this property as it was intended.

+ The Tarrant Regional Water Board has offered to purchase the property from the TPWC for $10.5 million for the purpose of developing it into the park for which it was intended - an offer more than its current appraised value.

+This amount is $4.5 million more than what the state was previously going to sell it for - with mineral rights -- over two years ago when the sale was stopped by protest of the people and delayed.

* Why does the state want to be greedy now?
* Why has the state been used as a "land bank?"
* Why don't our state leaders want to do the right thing for all the citizens of Texas?
* Is their own personal greed hiding behind the face of morality they wish to project?

+ A top elected government official was recently quoted at the Petroleum Club in Fort Worth as stating, "I'm for selling any underutilized property in the state of Texas." To date, all offers from the Water Board have been rejected!

The fact that this property is underutilized now simply because we have not been able or allowed to use it does not mean that it will be underutilized in the future!

This is priceless and irreplaceable public land! To sell it to real estate developers would be a crime!

Even as the fastest growing area in Texas, Northwest Tarrant County would never be able to purchase land of this size, quality, and beauty! There is nothing comparable to it in the entire DFW Metroplex!
+ A public hearing was held in Plano (NOT a Tarrant County location) in an effort to sell the property, along with all mineral rights, to real estate developers. Had it not been for a few Tarrant County residents who heard about the hearing and appeared to vote AGAINST the sale, this property would, in all likelihood, be bulldozed as you read this!

DON'T BE USED!

DON'T BE FOOLED!

DON'T LET THEM SELL THIS LAND OUT FROM UNDER YOU AND YOUR FAMILY!

LET THEM KNOW HOW YOU FEEL!

Do everything you can to save OUR public land! At the end of this letter are contact names, addresses, e-mail addresses, and fax numbers of the "Powers that Be" who can and will ultimately determine what is done with this land!

CONTACT THEM TODAY!!

Why does this concern you and your family?

1. FAMILY SAFETY.
The Northwest quadrant of Tarrant County is experiencing the highest growth of any other area of the county. As new residents continue to flood the area, the number of boaters will increase. With a limited amount of space available for public boat access, where will those additional boaters dock?

As public access to boat ramps becomes unavailable, and drinking while boating continues, the lake becomes increasingly unsafe – for both boaters and swimmers. We certainly don’t want Eagle Mountain Lake to replicate the incidents and reputation of Lake Lewisville, considered one of the most unsafe lakes in the state!

Additionally, public swimming and picnicking access to the lake has already become extremely limited. Now that Roeser Park is closed, Shady Grove Park is the only park on the lake which allows public access to families without having to pay the price of "admission." The cleanest, largest naturally sandy beach, Twin Points (worth the admission for lifeguards, picnic tables, trees, volleyball, BBQ pits and all) on the South end of the lake, had one family of four generations in charge for 39 years and is scheduled to lose the lease back to TRWD.com for undisclosed reasons - even after the lease agreement says "lease will be negotiated for" another __20__ years. Unless you are a resident of lake property, your free or pay access to the lake is almost non-existent!

2. CIVIL LIABILITY.
Because a portion of the land was donated by a wealthy ranch family at the same time the 400-acre tract was purchased from the State, there is a possibility of civil liability in not utilizing the property as it was originally intended.

3. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS.
As the name implies, Eagle Mountain Lake has been home to the bald eagle, in addition to some rare species of eagles being sited. Selling this property could open up a whole new can of worms with the legal implications of destroying the home to our country’s national symbol of freedom.

What can I do to help?

NOW IS THE TIME TO SPEAK UP AND LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD!

Write, call, fax, {SHOW UP AT TOWNHALL MEETING 7/13} or e-mail the powers that be to let them know that, as tax paying citizens of this county AND its public parks, we do not want this property sold to real estate developers to become more faceless acres of rooftops and asphalt!

WE WANT OUR PARK!!

As a citizen of Tarrant County, do your part to ensure that we can keep what has already been deemed "OURS!"

PLEASE FORWARD THIS MESSAGE TO EVERYONE IN YOUR E-MAIL ADDRESS BOOK!

PRINT THIS MESSAGE AND CALL, FAX, WRITE, OR E-MAIL AS MANY ELECTED OFFICIALS AS POSSIBLE!

MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD TO PROTECT OUR LAKE AND LAND FOR MANY FUTURE YEARS OF ENJOYMENT TO COME!! DO IT NOW BEFORE WE LOSE IT!!

YOUR VOICE COULD BE THE FINAL, DETERMINING FACTOR!

TAKE THE TIME TO FOLLOW THROUGH!

YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND THE ENTIRE TARRANT COUNTY COMMUNITY WILL BE REWARDED FOR YEARS TO COME!

CALL NOW!!

* Office of the Governor, Rick Perry http://www.governor.state.tx.us/contact (200 word limit)
P. O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
(512) 463-2000 Phone
(512) 463-1849 Fax

* Office of the Lieutenant Governor, President of the Senate,
David Dewhurst
http://www.ltgov.state.tx.us/contact
P. O. Box 12068
Austin, TX 78711-2068
(800) 441-0373 Phone
(512) 463-0001 Phone
(512) 936-6700 Fax

*Office of the Texas Attorney General, Greg Abbott
http://www.oag.state.tx.us/agency/contacts.shtml
P. O. Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
(512) 463-2191 Phone
(512) 463-2063 Fax

*Office of the Commissioner of the General Land Office,
Jerry Patterson
jerry.patterson@glo.state.ts.us
http://wwwdb.glo.state.tx.us/agency/comments/index.cfm
1700 North Congress Ave., Ste. 940
Austin, TX 78711-2428
(800) 998-4456 Phone
(512) 463-5256 Phone
(512) 475-1558 Fax

*BUDGET ADVISOR TO THE GOVERNOR AND TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE,
ZAK COVAR
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
P. O. Box 12428
Austin, TX 78711-2428
(512) 463-1778 Phone

*TEXAS PARKS & WILDLIFE
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/business/feedback/webcomment
4200 Smith School Rd.
Austin, TX 78749

*EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, ROBERT L. COOK
(800) 792-1112 Phone
(512) 389-4802 Phone
(512) 389-4814 Fax

*DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS, SCOTT BORUFF
(512) 389-8575 Phone

*DEPUTY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ADMINISTRATION, GENE MCCARTY
(512) 389-4651 Phone

*CHAIRMAN EMERITUS, LEE M. BASS
Lee M. Bass Inc.
201 Main Street
Fort Worth, TX 76102
(817) 390-8400

Forwarded: from: brendadsilcox@aol.com
Darlia and Bobby Hobbs knew you would like to know, and ACT!
questions for Darlia, rahobbsj@charter.net we use aol to send
because the cut and paste charter didn't have all the great font
and color. Thanks ALL!
NOW NW TARRANT Please attend a townhall meeting
regarding this 400 acre park THIS THURS 7/13/06
AT 6PM check papers for confirmation
AT BOSWELL HIGH SCHOOL on Bailey-Boswell Rd.,
Saginaw, Texas 76179 in the Fine Arts Building

Good Meet Cand

2006-04-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

Short version of the EMANO
Eagle Mountain Alliance of Neighborhood Organizations
"Meet the Candidates for
Tarrant Regional Water District
Board of Directors."
EMANO is a non-profit, non-partisan organization
to help Eagle Mountain Lake developments' owners
and residents become more informed and educated
about neighborhood concerns.
EMANO does NOT endorse any one candidate,
but provides a forum for candidates
to speak for themselves
and let the concerned voter decide.

There are two seats in this hotly-contested,
13-candidate race. Many candidates learned
as much about the voters concerns
as the voting public learned
about the 11 candidates who attended.
Look in the NW Tarrant Co. Times-Record
or Azle News for more information on these candidates.

J.R. Kimball
Clyde Picht (retired FW City Council, against Forced Annexation)
Gary R. Alexander
Marty Martinez
Tom Waltz (NE Eagle Mt. Lake)
Mike Utt
Howard Stone
Timothy Nold (AZLE resident)
Tracey Smith
Gina Puente-Brancato (sent Husband appointed to TRWD, but not elected after running for seat 2004)
Ben Boothe
Jim Lane NOT at Meet the Cand. (retired FW City Council)
Ms. Marty Leonard NOT at Meet the Cand. (of FW downtown store)

We appreciate Nick's Restaurant. Nick's, on Boat Club Road, will donate all proceeeds of Thurs. 4/13/06 to an EM/S ISD school.

For questions, Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972 EMANO Vice-President

VOTE for CPicht WB

2006-04-10T18:26:00.000-07:00

Letter to the Editor: April 10,2006

KAY GRANGER'S PUDDLE LEAVES BITTER TASTE
It's a shame, but what the city of Fort Worth, the Water Board
Tarrant Regional Water District), and the County officials are not
explaining is that extra tax dollars generated by the Trinity Uptown
project will NOT go to the city's general fund to help the neighborhoods
in all of the other districts. They created a TIF there, so those
dollars go right back into that ONE little area.
It WILL NOT benefit our northwest side at all. Nor will it benefit
Azle, River Oaks, Hurst, Euless, Bedford, Richland Hills, Arlington,
Haltom City, etc. But it WILL use OUR federal dollars, our Water Board
tax dollars, and Fort Worth city tax dollars to literally make the
developers filthy rich.
Clyde Picht is a conservative, honorable, intelligent man, blessed
with common sense. He is one of the 13 candidates running for the
Water Board in the May 13th election. In his eight years on the
Fort Worth City Council, he fought FOR citizens' rights,
AGAINST forced annexation,
AGAINST the city hotel, and
AGAINST excessive tax abatements for large corporations
that overburden the individual taxpayers in the long run, just to name a few.
In his own words, he "tells it like it is." Following taken from
HIS letter to AZLE News editor March 2006:
"Trinity Uptown doesn't meet the test of vital flood protection
even though that has been one of its selling points. As a city
council member, I alone opposed the bond program that contained funds
for Uptown.
My objections to Uptown are that it is being falsely promoted as a
flood control project; that it will cause dislocation of more than
80 businesses, some by eminent domain; it will cause loss of jobs in
the near term; funding is insufficient for what has been proposed; and
that it continues to focus resources downtown while suburban needs are ignored.
As council member for an entirely suburban district, I frankly became
very tired of continued tax breaks and economic development in select
areas of town while the city as a whole experienced over $1.5 B in unfunded
infrastructure repair.
As a member of the TRWD board I would like to help the district re-focus
on taking even better care of the lakes and rivers in its 10-county jurisdiction,
enhancing recreation, and most importantly, reevaluating future water sources
to assure ample supplies to satisfy the unanticipated growth of our area.
Thank you for letting me set the record straight." Clyde Picht

Please vote for Integrity and Accountability in the Water Board
- VOTE for Clyde Picht.
Bobby & Darlia Hobbs, Northwest Tarrant County
817-237-7972

EMANO meet cand 4-12

2006-03-27T18:52:00.000-08:00

Meet the Candidates
Wednesday, April 12th
7P.M. at Nick's Restaurant
7255 Boat Club Road
EMANO
( Eagle Mountain Alliance of Neighborhood Organizations )
invites the Community to :

1) Meet the Waterboard Candidates
*There are 13 candidates for May 13th election.
Click Here for TRWD web page
Find out if you are eligible to vote.
Then,
2) Meet the School Board Candidates
for Place 1 in EM-S ISD.

For INFO - Darlia Hobbs 817-237-7972
"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who don't vote."
Both Elections are May 13, 2006
Early Voting Begins May 1st

opening 2006 letter

2006-03-15T16:02:00.000-08:00

CAFA * Successful Meeting of Officers, Member & Guest
It was March 07, 2006 Tuesday 7:00 PM

Held at Cracker Barrel Old Country Store @ Benbrook
8010 SW Loop 820 Fort Worth, TX 817-249-3360

I would like to formally introduce myself. I am Kathleen D. Wood and have been a member of CAFA for several legislature sessions and came on board with the Fort Worth 55 square mile land grab. I was recently elected president and would like to establish a rapport with Officers and members who would like to be involved on a more formal level. We held an establishing a meeting on Tuesday, March 07, 2006.

My main objective in this next year is to encourage membership in CAFA. Forced annexation is a statewide problem not a Fort Worth problem. With this said,
a direction I would like to strive for is to have each County in Texas be represented with a County Chairperson. This should also assist with the amount of time each person puts in. Discussed this more at the meeting. Your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.

My intentions for this meeting were to set an agenda for the next year so that we all are heading in the same direction with our mutual cause. Please email me with subjects that you would like to cover. snitches@msn.com - please put your subject heading as CAFA Meeting: This is so I can tell the difference between junk mail and y'all.

Another area to address is getting a formal packet together to handout to persons being annexed to give them some direction. The cost of this could be covered with various law firms that deal with land issues or businesses advertising or providing the information for the packets. Possibly politicians that support the right to vote on land issues may want to take or place information in the packet for a cost. Will discussed this more at the meeting. Your thoughts are welcomed and appreciated.

We are interested in any strategies y'all may have to make CAFA stronger so that we may address the next legislation with some numbers and representation from their areas.

I look forward to meeting with you all and hearing your ideas. If you know of someone that can not attend but has ideas/stategies , please have them submit them in writing. Please forward this to interested persons.

Sincerely,
Kathleen D. Wood
President CAFA

March 7, 2006 Meeting @ 7pm

2006-03-07T11:19:00.000-08:00

CAFA Meeting of Officers, Member & Guest

CAFA
Citizens Against Forced Annexation
Members Meeting March 07, 2006

Officers for 2005-2006

Kathleen Wood CAFA President 2006
Darlia Hobbs Vice President Legislative Affairs
Larry Osborne Vice-President Treasurer

Wayne Myrick Vice-President Treasurer
Ilene Pope Vice-President Membership

Clyde Melton Vice-President Events
Greg Kauffman Secretary

County Chairpersons

Proactive vs Reactive

Number of Counties in Texas

Political Influence
Formal Information Packet
Annexation Information
Dis-annexation Information
Legislative Information
Legal Information
Political Information

Cost
Informative Advertising
Committee
Membership

Increase Membership – Increase Clout

Open for Discussion

Mission Statement

The mission of Citizens Against Forced Annexation (CAFA) is to seek remedies to the unfair, un-American practice of involuntary, forced annexation in the State of Texas. CAFA will oppose such actions at the local level and will support development of state legislation that eliminates or severely limits the practice of involuntary, forced annexation.

Your thoughts will be welcomed and appreciated.

Sincerely,

Kathleen D. Wood
President CAFA

join now

2006-02-26T19:25:00.000-08:00

Join Now!
click here
link on your computer, print and mail
to PO BOX on bottom of printed page, donation accepted $5.
CAFA
Meeting of Officers,
Members & Guest
March 07, 2006
Tuesday 7:00 PM

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store @ Benbrook
8010 SW Loop 820 for info 817-249-3360

Take the Winscott exit # 429B
South West Fort Worth
Thank You, Kathleen Wood, President
Make a difference in your neighborhood!
Kathleen Wood CAFA President 2006
Darlia Hobbs Vice President Legislative Affairs
Larry Osborne Vice-President Treasurer
Ilene Pope Vice-President Membership

Early voting NOW 2/21 to 3/3 for Republican & Democrat Primaries
choose and be heard this week, March 7 general Primary and CAFA meeting.

Mar 7 meeting

2006-02-26T19:16:00.000-08:00

CAFA
Meeting of Officers,
Members & Guest
March 07, 2006
Tuesday 7:00 PM

Cracker Barrel Old Country Store @ Benbrook
8010 SW Loop 820 for info 817-249-3360

Take the Winscott exit # 429B
South West Fort Worth
Thank You, Kathleen Wood, President

2006-02-20T11:34:00.000-08:00

Help re-elect Rep. Anna Mowery work 2-10-06

2006-02-08T19:06:00.000-08:00

Representative Anna Mowery needs our help!
Time is the best gift YOU can give - right now!
Representative Anna Mowery of Fort Worth, District 97, has helped the citizens of Texas over a decade by trying to get legislation enacted to
STOP FORCED ANNEXATION.
We NEED Anna Mowery!
Please join us for a mailing party
at Anna's home this Friday, Feb. 10 from 10am - 4pm.
Come and go. Call 817-237-7972
for directions. Darlia Hobbs CAFA Vice-Pres.
2006 CAFA President Kathleen Wood 817-239-3494
All volunteer army for Anna Mowery for State Rep.
One to 3 hours would be greatly appreciated! THANKS!

Public Forum Candidates 2-9-06

2006-02-06T18:54:00.000-08:00

Thank you to all CAFA Members who attended to learn more about your candidates.
Please continue going to Public Forums and let us know your thoughts.
Come one - Come all! Hear from your Cadidates
for Public Office.The new (2/8) complete list of who have RSVP'd to attend the EMANO Public Forum
on Thur. 2/9/06 at Boswell High School on Baily-Boswell Road, Saginaw, TX 76179,
in the Lecture Hall is as follows:
Brad McClellen representing Carole Strayhorn for Governor
Rashad Jafer for Governor
Larry Kilgore for Governor

Chris Hatley for Dist 99 Texas Rep (R)
Colby Brown for Dist 99 Texas Rep (R)
Sheila Ford for Dist 99 Texas Rep (D)

Paul Enlow for 324 Family Court (R)
Jerry Hennigan for 324 Family Court (R)
John White for 324 Family Court (R)

Kirk Claunch for District Attorney ( )
Tim Curry incumbent District Attorney (R)
Terri Moore for District Attorney (D)

Joyce Stevens for County Judge (R)
Glen Whitley for County Judge (R)

Suzanne Henderson incumbent County Clerk (R)

J.D. Johnson incumbent Pct. 4 County Commissioner (R)
Steve Lerma for Pct. 4 County Commissioner (D)

Robert Petrie for Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace (R)
Jacqueline Wright incumbent Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace

Clyde Picht for TRWD Waterboard (election on 5/13/06)
J.R. Kimball for TRWD Waterboard (election on 5/13/06)
The top two candidates for Waterboard who win the most votes take the two available seats. No requirement 5/13/06 on how many votes to cast, 0, 1, or 2.
Vote for only the one you want takes a vote away the other two.

Invitations in mail and e-mail have been extended to every known (some independent or liberatarian we may not have had information) candidate for races above. Unsure or no reply:
Chris Bell for Governor, Bob Gammage for Governor, Star Locke for governor, Rhett Smith for Governor, Brian Salvant for County Judge, (and Felix Alvarado out of race due to improper filing for candidacy.)
NO from Governor Rick Perry Campaign - unavailable as of 2/6/06, Charlie Geren Dist. 99 Texas Rep., Mary DeSantiago for County Clerk, Danny Anderson for Pct. 4 Justice of the Peace, Gina Puente-Brancato for TRWD Waterboard -currently appointed (election on 5/13/06) - prior obligation

Directions: 817-237-7972 Darlia Hobbs, CAFA Vice-President,
EMANO Vice-President - Public Forum
2006 CAFA President Kathleen Wood

2006 Meeting

2005-12-03T18:40:00.000-08:00

* * Jan. 20, 2006 - CAFA Meeting -
BE THERE - all of Texas is invited. * *

7 PM at 721 Ranch House Rd. Willow Park, TX
Willow Park Church of Christ
off I-20 E of Weatherford

West of Fort Worth where I-20 and I-30 merge

after 10/11/05 meeting

2005-10-12T12:35:00.000-07:00

The Star Telegram report this morning was not very positive. It did not include many of the comments which were made from last nights meeting by our citizens group. It seems the Mayor asked the planning department if we would have proper services and was told after the meeting that adequate services will be provided. He stated that he planned to proceed with the full annexation on November 8th. As we suspected, they did not hear anything that was stated in our presentations and are refusing to negotiate reasonably or in good faith.
Additionally, Burdette, our future representative, refused to listen to our concerns. His remarks are an indication of the representation we can expect in the future. The message from 100+ citizens did not make it loud enough for these folks ears and hearts. The City Council appears to be bent on taking us into their city at the November meeting. It appears that nothing we do seems to make any difference.

Burdette has been extremely ugly with his remarks. He wasn't on the City Council at that time so his statements appear to be nothing less than arrogant noise.

Keep writing to these people, call them everyday, and possibly they might change their minds.

If anyone can find their home phone numbers, addresses, cell phone numbers, or pager, please publish them to the web site. I will call them everyday and leave a message for them everyday. It might not make any difference in their decision to annex us but it will bother them to know were are going to be the "watch dog group" for their current and future terms in office.

People with these characteristics of ethical and moral behaviors usually have much to hide. Hopefully, we can find something of interest for the Attorney General.

God Bless,
Stephen Ruten

Nature of the case

2005-10-09T19:15:00.001-07:00

Nature of the Case Hughes V. City of Rockwall, Texas
This case involves the application of a statute that expressly provides for arbitration between a landowner and a city when the city, upon the petition of a landowner, fails to act to include the landowner's property in a three year annexation plan.

fight 287 let to council

2005-10-09T19:15:00.000-07:00

Sent: Sunday, October 09, 2005 12:58 AM
Subject: Involuntary Annexation of Willow Springs Ranch Area

Dear Mayor and City Council,

As elected officials serving the public's interest it is extremely important for you all to listen to our concerns. The planning department management, Bob Riley, appears to not be telling you everything that happened nor even the correct timeline that occurred for notification. He apparently has a skewed agenda and has not listened to us on any level of reason nor has he reported our concerns to the City Council as promised during any of our previous meetings. I am personally upset that Mr. Riley made NO effort to report to Council as promised from our previous meeting last month. However, I am even more upset that the City Council appears unwilling to listen to the property owners concerns from the Willow Springs Ranch area.

The current peace officer availability effort is 7 officers from the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office patrol this area on a 7x24 basis and are on site within 5 to 7 minutes from any call. The city has proposed only one officer and a much larger geographical territory to patrol leaving us in an unsafe condition and a minimal waiting time of 45 minutes or longer even in a life threatening situation. The wait time could be much longer for normal police call incident reports ! If this was your family waiting for a policeman to arrive how would you vote ?

Our current fire department services arrive within 5 to 7 minutes after a call from both Saginaw and Haslet and have proven to contain any fire within a few minutes from their arrival. The City of Fort Worth has proposed one small fire truck with less than 5 minutes of on-board water ! The truck is to be located in a rented building approximately 45 minutes from our location (if no trains are blocking the crossings). Please understand, two homes have already been destroyed in Sandera Ranch because of the inadequate response time from the nearest Fort Worth Fire department. How many additional homes and lives must be ruined before the City of Fort Worth provides adequate protection services ? Why is this area not being allowed adequate fire protection services and a city owned property with the usual three trucks as in most fire stations ? It seems reasonable in my opinion that renting a temporary building will cost taxpayers much more than building now to service this area. What studies and proof have been completed to indicate paying rent for temporary building is a responsible fiscal decision that will save taxpayers money and protect their assets from destruction by fire ? How long does it take for any wood framed house to be totally engulfed in flames ? Do you think that 45 minutes waiting time is adequate response time for the safety of families ? What if this was your home ?

Additionally, in Sandera Ranch one man has already died from a heart attack while waiting over 45 minutes for ambulance service from the City of Fort Worth. Please understand the current ambulance services from both Saginaw and Haslet arrive in our neighborhood within 5 to 7 minutes when called. Saginaw and Haslet have no formal or informal agreement with the City of Fort Worth. Your City has previously tried to use brute force to control everything instead of using essential ethical management practices of courtesy and providing customer services with its neighbors from both of these communities.

If you mistakenly vote to annex our Willow Springs Ranch neighborhood our lives will be ruined from the criminals which will steal our property while waiting for your already overburdened police department to show up, your fire department to respond before our homes are completely destroyed, or even an ambulance to respond to our aged population with heart problems or stroke. You should have the ethics and morals to ensure this doesn't happen by delaying the annexation decision or vote to remove it from consideration for a few more years.

Please help me understand your personal reasoning in this process and I hope you are willing to listen to ours. Why would you ever consider full annexation of our homes at this time instead of taking a more reasonable approach and waiting a few years until the health and welfare infrastructure is available to justify the annexation ? Why the unreasonable timeline of NOW instead of simply waiting a few years ? We simply want to protect our families from harm's way. Allowing us some additional time would make us feel like we need to belong to the Fort Worth community instead of hating the thought of it because we are left in an unsafe condition. If you make the decision to force full annexation on us based upon the skewed misinformation, bad judgment, and false budget projections from your planning staff then you must be ignorant of our concerns and the financial facts. Mr. Riley must have intentionally kept our conversations and information from the City Council even though he has promised to convey our anxiety and concerns about full annexation in such a short time frame. His reported dates are incorrect as the first any of us property owners heard about the Limited Purpose Annexation was after our homes were already built in 2004 and in the spring of 2005 ! MR. Riley claims the limited purpose annexation took place five days after the Plat was made ! This should raise someone's eyebrows on the potential ethical behavior of such an individual. Additionally, the planning department and members of the City Council signed that Plat ! Why sign it if your intentions were to not live up to the agreement ?

Please understand that if you plan to vote for our neighborhood to be fully annexed in November then we have nothing else to lose. It will be a life threatening situation for us homeowners and I just do not understand how you can ignore our voices and sleep at night. We cannot afford to become part of the City of Fort Worth right now but will gladly welcome them as friends and neighbors in a few more years. Why would you want us as an enemy for your future instead of a friend ? Why is this the only home sub-division that is being attacked by Fort Worth at this time ? Is this a retribution response to losing a law suit from this developer in 2002 ? Why will you not listen to reason and is their anything we can do or provide you which will allow you to hear our combined voices ? Our voices have not changed since we first heard about the Limited Propose Annexation last spring (not as Bob Riley stated as 2003). When the Plat was made and when our Title policies were issued it stated "Unincorporated Tarrant County" not "Limited purpose annexed by the City of Fort Worth."

I sincerely hope you are not unreasonable and are willing to discuss this further with our home owners before considering or making such a unfavorable vote. I will be at your City Council meeting to help you better understand our position and our concerns. None of us want to feel unsafe or forced into a life threatening situation and I am sure you can understand how strongly we feel about this issue.

Sincerely,
Stephen Ruten
Haslet, Texas

Hughes v. contact ATTY GENL 10-05

2005-10-09T17:56:00.000-07:00

CAFA Members, Concerned Public

Contact Attorney General Greg Abbott (TEXAS)

remind him of how important this case
Hughes v. Rockwall
is to the rights of property owners, and request he
file a brief in support of Hughes' position.
By U.S. Mail:

Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548

Physical Address:

Office of the Attorney General
300 W. 15th Street
Austin, TX 78701

Consumer Protection Regional Offices
Child Support Field Offices.
By e-mail:

For Public Information & Assistance, E-mail your questions and comments to: cac@oag.state.tx.us click here
Write to Attorney General Greg Abbott

-----Original Message-----
Ventura, Misty
To: rahobbsj@aol.com *NEW* RAHobbsJ@charter.net Darlia Hobbs- Cafa President e-mail RAHobbsJ@charter.net;
TexasPetron@aol.com Sent: Mon, 3 Oct 2005

Please encourage Citizens Against Forced Annexation members to contact the Attorney General, remind him of how important this case is to the rights of property owners, and request he file a brief in support of Hughes' position. Any help you can provide would be appreciated. Contact me with questions or concerns. Misty

-----Original Message-----
Ventura, Misty Monday, October 03, 2005
excerpted from letter to Matt.Stowe@oag.state.tx.us
Subject: Hughes v. Rockwall

Matt is working in the Attorney General Office of Texas oag.state.tx.us -
Hughes v. Rockwall
is an important case affecting property owners rights with respect to municipal annexation now pending before the Texas Supreme Court. Given the impact this case will have on the rights of property owners, we request the Attorney General prepare an amicus brief in support of Hughes' position in this matter. We anticipate oral arguments will be scheduled for November 2005. An amicus brief, to have the most value, would need to be filed before the end of October. If it would increase our chances of gaining AG support for this amicus brief, I am available to answer questions and discuss concerns.

Contact me with questions or concerns or if additional information is required before a decision can be made. Misty

Misty M. Ventura
Hughes & Luce, LLP
Dallas, Texas
214.939.5462 telephone

On the attack

2005-09-09T09:40:00.000-07:00

PLEASE ATTEND THE NO ANNEXATION MEETING ON
WED. SEPT 14. at 6:30 PM at BOSWELL High School
5805 W. Bailey Boswell Rd. Saginaw, TX 76179

Do something or be taxed

2005-09-08T13:03:00.000-07:00

During our annexation fight of 2002,I became convinced Ft. Worth would come back to annex but in a more intelligent manner. One thing they learned in 2002 is:do not try to annex 10000 people all at one time. I felt confident when they returned they would annex small areas or neighborhoods as quietly as possible. The natural selfish nature of us humans is such that if it does not affect us most of the time we really will not care. THEY WILL COUNT ON THIS!
When your neighbor is threatened with involuntary annexation and you look the other way,who will be there for you when they come for your property?The lack of support for the hicks field industrial area could only be described as despicable. You will survive as a group or fail as selfish individuals-your choice.
If CAFA ,as a group,does not react properly to the upcoming challenges,it may cease to exist as a force. My personal advice:it is time to become a PAC,align with other property rights groups and become a voting block that will make the guilty pay. There has been enough begging, pleading, and crying. Organize into a voting block and vote the bastards out! john

Hughes-Luce Law Office - Land Use Seminar
8am - 11am The Fort Worth Club
306 West 7th Street, Fort Worth *click for map*
call NOW : RSVP to Tracee Cole at 214.939.6266

Sept 14 05 6:30 NO annex meeting

2005-09-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

Thank you Jack and Mary Ann !

I sent the Star-Telegram reporters a complete history about the involuntary annexation by the city of Fort Worth and nothing was published that would be of help to our cause. I've asked each of you to respond to the news media by sending your own version about the potential annexation. Darlia Hobbs has explained that if we want to remain free of the city's taxes then we must take action both individually and as a group. Her area in nearby Eagle Mountain Lake was supposed to be fully annexed three years ago. However, only after the neighborhood property owners pulled together and started making noise at the city hall with picket lines, signs, and attendance at the council's meetings, and voicing their opinions against involuntary annexation did the city council officials vote to grant them freedom for a few more years. Darlia reported that she has saved that money for at least three years (it is in excess of $10,000). We need to take the same actions as a group. If you want to hear suggestions Darlia and her husband they would be willing to talk with us as a group. Their website address if you do not know already is http://www.noannexation.com. Their biggest statement is to not give up the fight against the city planning department. Keep them in the eyes of the media and especially the television media.
As you know by now I will do everything I can to get their attention and keep from paying their taxes for as long as possible. It is not just the taxes they will bite you with. They will try everything they can short of outwardly stealing your property. IF you want to remain free then show up, raise the noise level, and keep it up until the city council votes. The more noise you make the less likely they will decide to annex our property. If you make no noise they will vote to include you just like sheep going to slaughter. Please take ownership and action and possibly with enough of our loud voices to hear the city just might leave us alone.
We need to become the new worthy event of the month and we need to do it quickly.
God Bless,
Stephen Ruten
Willow Ranch Way
Haslet, TX. 76052
- - - - - - - - - - - -
From: Jack Gibson
Subject: annexation
Hello, Neighbors,

I'm assuming all of you received the wonderful letter from the City of Ft. Worth advising us of our upcoming "full annexation" into the city of Ft. Worth. We have talked with them until we were blue in the face & they seem to have their minds made up. We are the only residential area in the 287 Zone that is affected by the annexation & we need to speak up or be ready to pay FW taxes! On Monday, Jack talked with Jessamy Brown from the Star-Telegram after she & another reporter wrote an article that was published in the paper late week. She said that no more articles would be written about the annexation & that we should write letters to the Editor to make our concerns known. If all of us would write to the Editor to explain the situation & the timeline of Danny's concerning Willow Springs Ranch, we might get somebody's attention! Everyone's Title Policy reads "unincorporated Tarrant County", but according to them we were already annexed for limited purposes. Things just don't "balance out" the way they report it.

Please tell your new neighbors who are not on this list & ask all your neighbors if they received this letter. Fill in the new neighbors of our ordeal last spring & also have them send me their email address (or if someone doesn't get this because they have a new address, tell them to send me their new one.)

PLEASE ATTEND THE NO ANNEXATION MEETING ON
WED. SEPT 14. at 6:30 PM at BOSWELL High School
5805 W. Bailey Boswell Rd. Saginaw, TX 76179

Have a wonderful week-end out here in "God's Country!!"

God bless you & your family!
Mary Ann & Jack Gibson

HB-2639 bad bill letter

2005-08-01T16:24:00.000-07:00

We wrote to EVERY State Representative and State Senator:
State Representative Charlie Geren's HB-2639 is written as though a con-man was gearing up to rip-off the public for millions of dollars - and it would be legal!
We should all be kicking and screaming to our (and all) state legislators who voted for this corruption - promoting document.
HB-2639 states that the district (TRWD or Waterboard) may make loans or grants of money for economic development purposes. No wonder greedy developers are so happy about the 5-person elected Waterboard being able to forcibly take away private businesses and private property for the Trinity Vision project.
With the help of Geren's bill - they don't even have to get competitive bids for any of the massive work they plan to have done. How fair is that?
"An economic development program may involve the granting or lending of money, services, or property to a person engaged in an economic development activity."
Well, they don't have to spend your exact tax dollars on that, because after they "steal" property by abusing Eminent Domain, there will be millions of excess cash when they resell the land for huge profits to other private businesses and residents of their choice.
"The board of directors of the district (Waterboard) may by resolution create one or more nonprofit corporations to act of behalf of the district as the district's authority and instrumentality."
"A corporation created under this section may exercise any power of the district, but the corporation may exercise the power of eminent domain and the power to acquire, lease, purchase, or sell real property only on the approval of the board of directors of the district. When exercising a power under this section, a corporation and the corporation's board of directors (appointed by the Waterboard) have the same powers as the district and the district's board of directors, including the power to issue bonds or other obligations or otherwise borrow money on behalf of the district to accomplish any purpose of the corporation."
This terrible bill also states that, "A corporation created under this section
and the district may:
1) share officers, directors, employees, equipment, and facilities; and
2) provide goods and services to each other at cost without the requirement of competitive bidding."
"The district's board of directors (Waterboard) may sell, lease, loan, or otherwise transfer property of the district to a corporation created under this section." So - they can just about make themselves and their friends and relatives
"kings" with no limits.

After seeing and hearing from their victims they are trampling over for the Trinity Vision, I don't think this elected Waterboard should have that much power.
Nobody's property will be safe!

Do nothing and let it happen, or fight and call the following:

Contact: 1) Your State Senator Jane Nelson at 512-463-0109 in Austin
or 9721-724-0066 in Flower Mound,
2) Representative Charlie Geren at 512-463-0610 in Austin
or 817-738-8333 in River Oaks,
3) U.S. Senator Kay Bailey Hutchison at 202-224-5922 in Washington D.C.
or 214-361-3500 in Dallas,
4) Congresswoman Kay Granger at 202-225-5071 in Washington D.C.
or 817-338-0909 in Fort Worth,
5) County Commissioner J.D. Johnson at 817-238-4400 in Lake Worth,
6) U.S. Senator John Cornyn at 202-224-2934 in Washington D.C.
or 512-469-6034 in Austin.

Do you want to be stripped of your property rights in Texas with this abuse of eminent domain? There are many alternative ways to develop around the Trinity River without destroying the lives and livelihood of those 89 businesses and their hundreds of employees and their families. Reality is that the San Antonio River Walk is only a 3' deep concrete waterway that is only 3 -4 blocks long. The proposed Trinity Vision is over 10 times that size with an escalating cost that will be close to a billion dollars before it's done,
IF THE PUBLIC DOESN'T SPEAK UP!

All Tarrant County citizens including Fort Worth Residents should demand a VOTE on whether or not we spend $10 million to beef up the levee system, or 1/2 to a BILLION dollars worth of "improvements" when Fort Worth has a BILLION dollars worth of other flooding and drainage repairs needed, bad bridges and street repairs they have barely touched and haven't been able to afford for years. This money will come from our City tax dollars, County tax dollars, Waterboard District tax dollars, and Federal tax dollars.

A Waterboard is NOT a bank, realtor, or mortgage company and should NOT
be CLONED. The Waterboard's only concern should be clean water supply.

Darlia Hobbs
817-237-7972
President CAFA
Citizens Against Forced Annexation
www.noannexation.com
It's really hard to fight something this bad when no one helps keep you informed.
Any ONE of the Texas Representatives you elected (either by your vote, or by staying out of the voting booth) could have called for a "recorded vote" - none did - no record is available which of the Representatives were included in the majority that voted for this garbage legislation. Why should any bill NOT be a recorded vote?

Public Army Corp info meeting

2005-07-26T10:17:00.000-07:00

Requesting Public Comments
The Army Corps of Engineers are giving an informational meeting on the Upper Trinity River Central City Fort Worth project. "Environmental Impact"
Tuesday 7/26 and Wednesday 7/27
Fort Worth YWCA, 512 W 4th St.
4 - 8 p.m. questions at 7
come before 6pm to ask questions
for directions call 817-332-6191

This project Impacts some our friends and fellow Texans who have been in business in the area they are "condemming" for over 100 years. Four and more generations of a family who have maintained a land, business, or other property should have as many rights as an historic house or tree. Let not the banks overflow into the nearby cemetaries of ancient Fort Worth families, not to mention the garbage dumps.

Early Voting, June 25 Texas Tea Party III

2005-06-20T15:23:00.000-07:00

Everyone Welcome to
3rd Annual
Texas Tea Party
Sat. June 25, 2005went well, missed you

at Fort Worth Trinity Park, off I-30 W and North on University Dr.
BBQ (prepared - no fires)
and bring your favorite side to share.

You're a member of CAFA, right. If not, join now.
Please RSVP so we can know how much BBQ to supply.

Kathleen Wood Vice President Programs & Activities
or Darlia Hobbs CAFA President 817-237-7972

Not done fighting yet

2005-06-20T15:01:00.000-07:00

To all of our members and supporters;

By now you may know State Representative Anna Mowery's HB323 did NOT get out of Callendar Committee and to the House floor.
In reality - that's not uncommon for a bill to be brought back more than once before it makes it to the House floor for debate and vote. We may be discouraged, but we will NOT GIVE UP until it does make it, and IT WILL!
We will continue to fight the injustice of FORCED ANNEXATION for many reasons - especially because it's the RIGHT THING TO DO!
Please come to the Texas Tea Party
Reunion Picnic on Sat. June 25 - 11amat Trinity Park in Fort Worth
on University Drive just North of I-30. Bring your family. There are many new areas joining our team efforts!
Keene (again), Kauffman, Waxahachie, Celina, our Copperas Cove friends, Austin, Dirpping Springs, Athens, Lubock, Flower Mound, etc.
Like most of us, once they've been "attacked" by a city - they'll never forget.
So, let's channel this frustration into determination as our numbers continue to increase across the state.
Our friend and supporter - Dr. Byron Sousa - lost his runoff election for Fort Worth City Council by only 60 votes. Like us - he's a strong man with a strong heart and mind, and will winn in 2 short years. as will our friends and supporters Louis McBee and Joe Waller. They will help change city policy.
Be proud of what we've accomplished as a group and encourage those that may not have had time before, to find a little time to help fight forced annexation.
THERE IS STRENGTH IN NUMBERS, and many more city citizens are joining us from Tarrant County and all around Texas.
God Bless Y'all! We know God's on our side.

Darlia Hobbs
President

P.S. See you Sat. June 25, 2005 11am Trinity Park
*Be in our Group Photo! **817-237-7972 for more info