Discuss and Possible Action on Board Directors Compensation

Staff Report & Agenda Item Details

11. Discuss and Possible Action on Board Directors Compensation General Manager Erik Kubinski brought this item forward as a planning discussion ahead of the next budget cycle. He presented a draft resolution that would allow directors to receive up to $250 per day for district-related activities, up to a maximum of $9,000 per year per director. He noted that if all five Directors maxed out, the total cost could reach $45,000 annually. General Counsel Greg Ellis noted that most groundwater conservation districts in Texas do compensate Directors, but cautioned the Board about the difficulty of defining what activities qualify for compensation and the potential for abuse. He cited a recent case in which drainage District Directors were arrested for submitting fraudulent compensation forms. Ron Fieseler, speaking during remaining public comment time, raised additional concerns, including potential IRS reporting obligations and the risk of inadvertently reclassifying directors as employees, as had occurred previously in the District's history. The discussion was informational only. No motion was made, and no action was taken. 12.Discuss and Possible Action on Permit Application 2024078 for an Irrigation Well as it Relates to Rule 3.4.4.4 Requiring an Aquifer Test General Manager Erik Kubinski presented a permit application from Travis Materials Land Company seeking 17+ million gallons per year to irrigate 45 acres of coastal grass for hay production. Because the application involves altering an existing well's pump — which triggers Rule 3.4.4.4 — an expensive hydrogeological test would normally be required. The applicant indicated the project would not proceed if the test were mandated. Staff consultant Neil Deeds reviewed available data from a nearby aquifer test and concluded the project would likely have only a limited impact on neighboring wells. General Counsel Greg Ellis acknowledged that while a strict reading of the rules requires the test, the situation is unusual and unlikely to recur frequently. Board President Jimmy Klepac stated he was not in favor of granting a variance. No motion was made, and no variance was approved.

This motion is scored as RESTRAINS_GOVERNMENT (Impact Weight: 2.3/10). 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.