The Woodlands Water Agency (WWA) provided for publication the following response to the WWA Board of Trustees from the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (LSGCD) Board of Directors regarding the letter sent by WWA to LSGCD on January 12 about Mr. John Yoars and the LSGCD Director Election for Place 7.

Read the response from LSGCD below or see the original LSGCD response letter document in attached PDF here.

LONE STAR Groundwater Conservation District
655 Conroe Park North Drive
Conroe, Texas 77303

January 23, 2023

Mr. Robert M. Lux
Board of Trustees
Woodlands Water Agency
2455 Lake Robbins Drive
The Woodlands, Texas 77380

RE: Response to Woodlands Water Agency Board of Trustees

Dear Mr. Lux:

On behalf of the resident voters we serve and represent, this letter responds to your letter dated January 12, 2023, that you sent on behalf of the Woodlands Water Agency Board of Trustees (“WWA”) (enclosed for reference). Thank you for informing Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District (“Lone Star GCD”) of your thoughts regarding the vacancy on our board. In your letter, you recognize that the election for Place 7 was invalid because your preferred candidate was ineligible.

In your letter you also reference the legislation that created the current elected board structure on Lone Star GCD. I can assure you that the Lone Star GCD Board is well aware of HB 1982 and the intent and purpose behind enactment of the bill. Part of that purpose was to have an elected board that was committed to following the law. The Lone Star GCD Board follows the letter of the law and intends to do so in the appointment of the vacant position. We are following the advice of counsel to be certain that the filling of this board seat and all other board actions comply with Texas law. We are considering multiple candidates, and Mr. Rogers is not under consideration. Our counsel had concerns that your letter could be construed as participation in political activities. While I hope that it was not your intent, as officials in the public trust, we must be diligent to insure our actions are above reproach.

Thank you again for your letter advising of the Woodlands Water Agency Board of Trustees’ thoughts on filling the vacancy on the Lone Star GCD Board. I can assure you that your letter will be shared with the full board and given the consideration it deserves.

Sincerely,

James “Jim” Spigener
Board President

Enclosure: WWA’s January 12, 2023 letter
Cc: The Honorable Brandon Creighton, Senator, Texas Senate
The Honorable Lois Kolkhorst, Senator, Texas Senate
The Honorable Paul Bettencourt, Senator, Texas Senate
The Honorable Will Metcalf, Representative, Texas House of Representatives
The Honorable Steve Toth, Representative, Texas House of Representatives
The Honorable Cecil Bell Jr., Representative, Texas House of Representatives
The Honorable Ernest Bailes, Representative, Texas House of Representatives
Board of Directors, Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District