5. Public Hearing for the 2026 Desired Future Conditions for Regional Planning Purposes The public hearing was opened at 1:35 pm. Additional public comments were received regarding the proposed McCar quarry, including concerns about contaminated runoff into the Little Blanco River and downstream waterways. General Manager Erik Kubinski clarified that the district's primary regulatory concern regarding quarry operations centers on the risk of breaching the water table, as deep excavation can compromise local aquifer integrity and contaminate groundwater supplies. He noted that under current Texas law, the district has no jurisdiction over water that floods into a quarry pit below the water table, as it is reclassified as surface water. At that point, the jurisdiction moves to the TCEQ. However, the District is proactively sampling nearby monitoring wells to establish a baseline before quarry operations begin for water quality. General Manager Kubinski also reported that he has been working with state legislators to close this regulatory gap. The public hearing was closed at 1:56 pm.

Bastiat Liberty & Property Rights Analysis

This motion is scored as RESTRAINS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 2.5/10). Under the Bastiat Liberty Watchdog Index, voting YES on measures that cap or reduce ad valorem tax burdens, expand taxpayer exemptions, retire debt early, enforce competitive bidding caps, or remove regulatory/zoning barriers to private property rights earns a positive Pro-Liberty score.