October 21, 2024
Candidates Q&A - Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District
The Bandera Prophet invited the candidates for the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District to participate in a Q&A. Each candidate's response is published in alphabetical order by their last name.
The questions and answers were as follows:
1. What in your background qualifies you to serve as a director of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District?
John Benedict: Being a landowner in Pipe Creek for 27 years has provided experience with key issues. As an owner of a small business associated with land improvement, the preservation and conservation of resources helps me understand issues facing BCRAGD.
Senior management experience in public and private utilities, directing major projects with multi-functional teams, working with regulatory bodies, and managing large budgets to achieve service and financial results. This provided experience in policy development, financial controls and customer dynamics.
I’ve also served on task forces and community boards in multiple states to improve the communities and assist the people living in them.
Ernest DeWinne: I have lived in Bandera County for 22 years. I served as the secretary/treasurer for the Bandera River Ranch Water Supply Corp. for 11.5 years which has allowed me to understand the water needs of my community and Bandera County. I have attended multiple seminars and classes on hydrology and water management. I have almost 33 years of experience in business affairs activities in higher education within the UT System (governmental accounting). My work experience has allowed me to provide assistance in the preparation of the district’s financial reporting and budgeting.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
2. What are the most pressing water issues facing the county, and how do you hope/plan to address them?
Benedict: Bandera County is at the epicenter of Texas’ extreme drought area, we must “keep the water flowing” for all our diverse customer needs – including residential, commercial, agricultural and ranching.
We are also in San Antonio’s metropolitan area, and the city’s growth has made portions of Bandera County extended suburbs. While providing tourism and recreational value, population increases present challenges to infrastructure and water availability that must be jointly addressed by government, utilities and state resources.
Managing this increased activity and maintaining existing customer demands in this environment requires vigilance by management and the board to provide all our customers with reliable, quality water.
DeWinne: a. The ongoing struggle to limit the amount of water production being requested by developers and other entities in Bandera County.
b. The need to educate the citizens of Bandera County in the decreasing water availability in our county.
I have supported the educational programs of the district.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
3. What do you feel are the strengths at the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District and how do you hope/plan to support that success? Likewise, do you feel there are weaknesses, and if so, how to you hope/plan to improve them?
Benedict: BCRAGD management has a strong technical team on water issues, has established good working relationships with peers in the area to offer innovative options in our local area, and has dedicated team members to communicate with our customers.
As board directors, we provide oversight on key policy decisions and ensure financial performance meets approved budgets. Directors establish effective controls and processes to meet business standards, and review progress toward achieving strategic goals.
The board, with diverse backgrounds and experience, work together on each of these issues. Along with management, we work to get pertinent input from all stakeholders and achieve the most reasonable decisions for our customers. The board and BCRAGD management work to achieve consistent performance for our customers and meet financial expectations, keeping costs low for our customers.
DeWinne: The strength of the district is the staff. We have quality and highly educated employees. The employees have the technical training that can deal with the quality of both our groundwater and surface water. I have been supportive of increasing the salary level in the budget process so that we are competitive with the neighboring GDs. Presently I am not aware of any serious weakness at the BCRAGD.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
4. What are the needs and concerns you’ve heard expressed by citizens of Bandera County?
Benedict: Extreme drought affects residential users, farmers and ranchers and businesses. Most express concern about having enough water to maintain their homesteads and livelihoods.
Users tell us development, while important, needs to be managed to prevent water shortages affecting existing and new users. Some wells are running dry, affecting availability and quality of water, and people want to know what can be done. Residents want to know about ways to conserve water and collect groundwater to use for irrigation and livestock.
DeWinne: The citizens are very concerned with the availability of water in our county and the use of water by developers and camp OTX.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
~ Early voting for the Nov. 5 Election begins Monday, Oct. 21, and continues through Friday, Nov. 1.
The mail ballot application deadline is Friday, Oct. 25.
Early voting locations are at the:
* Ray Mauer Courthouse Annex, 403 12th Street, Bandera: Monday through Friday, Oct. 21-25, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 26: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 27, 1 - 7 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Lakehills Area Library, 7200 FM 1283, Lakehills: Monday through Friday, Oct. 21-25, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Medina Annex, 161 E. Parker Street, Medina: Monday through Friday, Oct. 21-25, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Election Day by precinct is Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please see more election information at https://www.banderacounty.org/page/elections.current.elections
The questions and answers were as follows:
1. What in your background qualifies you to serve as a director of the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District?
John Benedict: Being a landowner in Pipe Creek for 27 years has provided experience with key issues. As an owner of a small business associated with land improvement, the preservation and conservation of resources helps me understand issues facing BCRAGD.
Senior management experience in public and private utilities, directing major projects with multi-functional teams, working with regulatory bodies, and managing large budgets to achieve service and financial results. This provided experience in policy development, financial controls and customer dynamics.
I’ve also served on task forces and community boards in multiple states to improve the communities and assist the people living in them.
Ernest DeWinne: I have lived in Bandera County for 22 years. I served as the secretary/treasurer for the Bandera River Ranch Water Supply Corp. for 11.5 years which has allowed me to understand the water needs of my community and Bandera County. I have attended multiple seminars and classes on hydrology and water management. I have almost 33 years of experience in business affairs activities in higher education within the UT System (governmental accounting). My work experience has allowed me to provide assistance in the preparation of the district’s financial reporting and budgeting.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
2. What are the most pressing water issues facing the county, and how do you hope/plan to address them?
Benedict: Bandera County is at the epicenter of Texas’ extreme drought area, we must “keep the water flowing” for all our diverse customer needs – including residential, commercial, agricultural and ranching.
We are also in San Antonio’s metropolitan area, and the city’s growth has made portions of Bandera County extended suburbs. While providing tourism and recreational value, population increases present challenges to infrastructure and water availability that must be jointly addressed by government, utilities and state resources.
Managing this increased activity and maintaining existing customer demands in this environment requires vigilance by management and the board to provide all our customers with reliable, quality water.
DeWinne: a. The ongoing struggle to limit the amount of water production being requested by developers and other entities in Bandera County.
b. The need to educate the citizens of Bandera County in the decreasing water availability in our county.
I have supported the educational programs of the district.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
3. What do you feel are the strengths at the Bandera County River Authority and Groundwater District and how do you hope/plan to support that success? Likewise, do you feel there are weaknesses, and if so, how to you hope/plan to improve them?
Benedict: BCRAGD management has a strong technical team on water issues, has established good working relationships with peers in the area to offer innovative options in our local area, and has dedicated team members to communicate with our customers.
As board directors, we provide oversight on key policy decisions and ensure financial performance meets approved budgets. Directors establish effective controls and processes to meet business standards, and review progress toward achieving strategic goals.
The board, with diverse backgrounds and experience, work together on each of these issues. Along with management, we work to get pertinent input from all stakeholders and achieve the most reasonable decisions for our customers. The board and BCRAGD management work to achieve consistent performance for our customers and meet financial expectations, keeping costs low for our customers.
DeWinne: The strength of the district is the staff. We have quality and highly educated employees. The employees have the technical training that can deal with the quality of both our groundwater and surface water. I have been supportive of increasing the salary level in the budget process so that we are competitive with the neighboring GDs. Presently I am not aware of any serious weakness at the BCRAGD.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
4. What are the needs and concerns you’ve heard expressed by citizens of Bandera County?
Benedict: Extreme drought affects residential users, farmers and ranchers and businesses. Most express concern about having enough water to maintain their homesteads and livelihoods.
Users tell us development, while important, needs to be managed to prevent water shortages affecting existing and new users. Some wells are running dry, affecting availability and quality of water, and people want to know what can be done. Residents want to know about ways to conserve water and collect groundwater to use for irrigation and livestock.
DeWinne: The citizens are very concerned with the availability of water in our county and the use of water by developers and camp OTX.
Patrick McLean: No response was received.
~ Early voting for the Nov. 5 Election begins Monday, Oct. 21, and continues through Friday, Nov. 1.
The mail ballot application deadline is Friday, Oct. 25.
Early voting locations are at the:
* Ray Mauer Courthouse Annex, 403 12th Street, Bandera: Monday through Friday, Oct. 21-25, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Saturday, Oct. 26: 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday, Oct. 27, 1 - 7 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Lakehills Area Library, 7200 FM 1283, Lakehills: Monday through Friday, Oct. 21-25, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
* Medina Annex, 161 E. Parker Street, Medina: Monday through Friday, Oct. 21-25, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.; Monday through Friday, Oct. 28 to Nov. 1, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Election Day by precinct is Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Please see more election information at https://www.banderacounty.org/page/elections.current.elections