So, what's the rest of the story?

  What is up with the Navigation District Financials?   Nearly 5 months into this year and the only ACND Financial information that I or any other member of the public has is the District’s internal Balance Sheet and Income Statement for year-end 2022.   The other Governmental entities RFISD, City of Rockport, Aransas County, Town of Fulton and Aransas County Appraisal District all had their Financials completed within 3 months or less of their respective year-ends.   They also produce interim financials for their Directors and Commissioners; some monthly and others quarterly.   Not the Nav District.   At my meeting with Commissioner Dieckow in March of 2023, he made several commitments regarding reporting.   Among them, Financial Statements would shortly be posted on their website.   Fourteen months hence and they are still not on the website.   In fact, it was not until the first week of August that they produced an internal copy at t...

  Catching up on Navigation District Happenings   I have been quiet about the District for more than a year now; watching and listening.   Now it’s time to write.   Last February 2023, I addressed the meeting in the Citizens to be Heard portion of the Agenda.   I pointed out that in 2022 the District met in Open Session for 20 hours conducting its business.   It met in Executive Session for 26 hours and in 18 of those 26 hours, they came out and took no action.   Can you say “ Transparency”?      I also told them they were not following a GASB (Government Accounting Standards Board) requirement to compare Actuals to Budget monthly.   And that not doing so could jeopardize their Bond rating.    Chairman Dieckow approached me following the meeting; handed me his card with his personal email address on it and invited me to have a cup of coffee and conversation.  We met March 15 th for a little over an hour.  ...

  This blog post is a mixture of my actual address to the District at the Nav District's scheduled meeting November 21st and events since then.   Thank you, Commissioners.   I will be nice and I will fit within your 3 minute time limit.   Malcomb, you recently sent a detailed letter to the Pilot taking me to task.   Unfortunately, none of your comments are accurate.   I will address only 3 of your accusations given the time limit.   The first item is the posting requirements of the Open Meetings Act.   You state that your posting is above reproach, even above the requirements.   Please note the 2 nd page of your Agenda of today’s meeting.   The Agenda was presented to the County Clerk’s office at 3:30 on Thursday, November 17 th .   Once the Agenda is date and time stamped, it is posted on a cork bulletin board outside the County Clerk’s office.   The public does not have access to that bulletin board after 5 p.m. and not ...

  A former resident of Fulton recently recorded a podcast featuring Tommy Moore. The podcaster, who I consider a highly intelligent person, did most of the story telling on Tommy’s behalf. Tommy would occasionally echo the podcaster’s sentiments, add a comment, or answer a question. I want to point out some inaccuracies.   Tommy makes the statement that County Commissioner Pat Rousseau showed up at 4 p.m. on Friday before the Monday Commissioner’s Court meeting in early September. It is a true statement that Commissioner Rousseau showed up hoping to get a copy of the District’s budget, which she had previously requested. Tommy says that Keith Barrett was the only employee there and didn’t have a copy in his drawer. Couldn’t Keith have found time to round up a copy before 9 a.m. Monday morning? You remember Tommy’s ugly comments directed at Commissioner Rousseau at that meeting and an even uglier e-mail the following morning.     In the interview, Tommy calls ...

  Just when I think we know all there is to know about the election shenanigans of the Navigation District, another chapter makes itself known.   On August 26 th , the last day to file for a position on the ballot as far as anyone outside the District knew, Rebecca Johnson was preparing to leave early at 2 p.m. from her job with Calhoun County ISD.   The deadline on the notice to file stated the time of 4 p.m.   Rebecca called the District office to find out if there was a fee for filing.   She was told that the deadline to file for a place on the ballot had already expired.   She argued that the deadline posted online indicated August 26 th and that she was on her way to file.   When she arrived at the office, she argued that the deadline posted was August 26 th , but was told her application for a place on the ballot would not be accepted and that they only way she could file was as a write in candidate.   Only the office clerical staff was...

    I met Rebecca some time ago. She is an educator, wife, mother, and community member with a vested interest in the success of our community for future generations.   Rebecca is a highly educated individual. She has an Associate in Arts degree in Business Administration from Del Mar College, a Bachelor of Science degree in Professional Communications from Pace University, and a Master's degree in Instructional Technology from Texas A&M Texarkana. She has been involved in property management and real estate sales.   She has been a YMCA Committee Member and has chaired the Town of Fulton Planning and Zoning Board. She wants to serve as the next Aransas County Navigation District At Large Commissioner to provide strong leadership to make a difference in our community. She wants to use her knowledge and experience to help achieve our common goals. Among her goals, she wants to change meeting times to evenings to allow for greater citizen participation in Di...