Flying L PUD rescinds motion providing Dollar General water

Following nearly two hours of public comment which included input from residents of Flying L Ranch and City Council Member Darcy Hasty, the Flying L Ranch Public Utility District (PUD) Board of Directors voted to rescind a previously passed motion that would provide water to a Dollar General location that would be constructed across from the Flying L Ranch.

The motion, which would also charge a $30,000 impact fee and have a developer pay all expenses from the meter to the store, was originally motioned by Steve Childers during the PUD”s

October 11 meeting and voted in with three votes for and one opposed.

“I believe that the community expressed strong opposition to Dollar General, and the board has rescinded the vote, which is a good thing, but the fight is not over yet,” said Bob Haueter, a Flying L resident who spoke at length during the public comment portion of Monday night’s meeting. Two additional motions made or seconded by Steve Childers were rescinded due to the belief that his appointment to the PUD was a violation of state law.

Additionally, allegations were made by multiple members of the public that discussions between board members regarding the potential Dollar General Sale were in violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act, with Darcy Hasty citing sections of the law during her public comment period.

Childers responded the board was not doing anything purposefully underhanded.

“We were trying to do what was best and publicize it as best as possible. When we were discussing it, we were discussing it in what we thought was an open meeting,” he said.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, Haueter and other members of the community, like Flying L Resort owner Doug Stevens, expressed frustration that the community was given little input or information about the potential sale of water to Dollar General. Board members responded by stating notices had been posted on the bulletin board by the mailboxes.

Stevens echoed a sentiment repeated by attending community members that very little pushback was given to Dollar General, a sale decision was reached too quickly without community input and actions that could be taken to slow down the process and increase the cost for Dollar General were not pursued.

“Give us a chance,” Stevens said. “If we try to stop them from coming and they still come, at least we tried.”

In response, Board Member Judd Ryan said, “It will slow them down, but eventually they will come in.”

With the motion to sell water to Dollar General rescinded, the item will be discussed at a future PUD meeting.

Attending members of the public expressed gratitude to the board for their work, with Haueter saying he was only attacking their stance on Dollar General.

“I want the utility district to be the best it can be,” said Ryan. “You all can slam me, but I’m here to do my job.”