Friends of Lakewood still looking for answers, solutions

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GONZALES — The Friends of Lakewood Association met on Valentine's Day at the Elks Lodge in Gonzales to get a report from their lobbyist John Pitts and to hear updates from association members on efforts to get something—anything—happening to restore Lake Wood.

Unfortunately, the lobbyist never showed up, but he did send a short email note to Association president Joe Solansky to update the efforts he is making on the association’s behalf.

According to Pitts’ email, he has met with state representative John Cyrier and state senator Lois Kolkhorst to discuss the Lakewood predicament. Pitt asserts both have made a personal commitment to work with the association towards a resolution of the dam during this legislative session. He also mentioned that both Cyrier and Kolkhorst are open to appropriating state money to fix the dam. In addition, both area legislators have introduced bills that would dedicate sales tax from sporting goods to the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife.

Under this scenario, Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife would adopt the dam infrastructure or divert funds directly to the Guadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA) which is supposed to maintain and repair the dams under its jurisdiction.

And finally, Pitts noted he has discussed with representative Cyrier the possibility of diverting existing property taxes in the community to be used for fixing and maintaining the dam.

Pitts report led to a lot of questions and discussion about the items detailed in his email. Many of the members were unhappy that Pitts, who is receiving $2,000 per month from the association, did not attend the meeting to answer their questions. Even more discussion was held on the merits of Pitts’ plans, with talk on the pros and cons of each side of the issue.

“There are a lot of generalities here we are dealing with,” said Solansky. “I am just hoping we can light a fire under one of these ideas and hopefully it will take.”

Steve Ehrig, a recent appointee to the GBRA Board representing Gonzales County (the seat had been vacant for almost a year) was asked by Solansky’s wife Landra what the GBRA’s real thinking and plan was on restoring the damn.

“We want to know what is going on, and we have a right to know,” she said. “Why is everything such a secret? Can you ask the GBRA staff to give us a monthly update on what they are doing?”

“I know they are trying to get the engineering study done on the dam so we can get an idea what the cost would be for the gate,” Ehrig responded. “Then it will be time to replace it.”

March will mark the third anniversary of the gate breaking at Lake Wood. The next meeting of the Friends of Lakewood will be on the second Thursday of the month, or March 14 at the Elks Lodge.

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