We keep improving our drainage system thinking that this time it will work even though it never has in the past.
We must adopt a system of detention and retention ponds that have been used across the world for centuries. Simply put, the storm water is held in place near where the flooding occurs until the storm water system can safely take the water.
For starters, we need a single storm water management agency covering both counties. The two counties would be divided into sub-districts based on flooding in those districts. Improvements would be funded through an additional property tax dedicated to flood control.
Those funds augmented with city and county flood control funds already approved with a bonding capability should provide the funds necessary to put the program in play.
Once the sub-districts have been engineered to determine the best location for the ponds, the funds could be allocated for the necessary construction.
Developers would be required to pay into the fund probably based on the amount of raw land they are covering. No longer would they be doing these not very successful ponds serving their development. Their construction could only begin once a master plan has been finalized for the sub-district in which they are building. This would solve the problem of who is going to pay for the upkeep of those developer ponds. The properties in the development would be contributing through their drainage property tax.
We are running out of time. As more land is developed it will be more difficult to find the best location for ponds near where the flooding occurs.
Under the current rules, new construction is raised 18-24 inches above grade.
Great, it will not flood but all that water is now flooding the surrounding properties. It is just another solution that did not consider the consequences.
It is time for the Valley to move into the 21st. century. The residents are tired of their property flooding year after year as city and county governments repeat the same mistakes.
Millions of dollars are spent annually repairing flood damage to homes, businesses and even government property.
There is a better way if only our local leaders would be open to new ideas and possibilities.
Bill DeBrooke
Harlingen
God’s image
can’t be sin
I beg to differ with B.A. Wilkinson’s views of homosexuality published July 8, in that he says homosexuality is a sin. He states that he does not stand in judgment but yet, in calling it a sin he judges.
He quotes the Bible a lot. I believe that the Bible also says that God created man in his own image. If you believe in this part of the Bible, then a homosexual person is also created in God’s image. So I ask, how can it be a sin?
You can’t have it both ways.
Richard LePre
Brownsville
Wrong
blame
Could someone please tell me why many letter writers, and now an by the so-called American Action Network (read Republicans), blame the current inflation in gas, groceries and everything else on President Biden/Democrats/Rep. Vicente Gonzales, when these price increases are occurring in literally every country in the world? In some countries it is even worse than here in the U.S.
Are they really suggesting that the above-named are responsible for every country in the world’s economic situation?
Gerard Pahl
Edinburg
