Road bond funding breakdown[/caption]For the second time in six months, Montgomery County voters will weigh in on a controversial road bond referendum. The election is scheduled for Nov. 3.
The $280 million planned for road improvements in the November bond is divided among the four precincts: Precinct 1 will receive $64 million, Precinct 2 will receive $64 million, Precinct 3 will receive $84 million and Precinct 4 will receive $68 million. Portions of the cities of Conroe and Montgomery are located within Precinct 1, 2 and 4.
The most significant project planned for Precinct 1 is a widening of FM 1097 from two to four lanes between I-45 and Blueberry Hill Drive, Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador said. The precinct will use about $18 million in bond funds for the project, which is estimated to cost about $50 million.
“FM 1097 is my lead project,” Meador said. “With Proposition 7 funds, the state is looking for shovel-ready projects and this one is almost shovel-ready.”
The new $280 million referendum sparked criticism after details emerged of a collaboration between Precinct 2 Commissioner Charlie Riley and County Judge Craig Doyal with The Woodlands-based Texas Patriots Political Action Committee—a vocal opponent to the $350 million referendum in May.
The collaboration with the Patriots PAC led to the approval of a memorandum of understanding outlining certain conditions for the bond proposal, including the distribution breakdown of bond funds and the removal of the Woodlands Parkway extension from FM 2978 to Hwy. 249. Commissioners Court subsequently came under review for possible package violation of the Texas Open Meetings Act because of opposition over how the bond proposal was brought back to life, Meador said.
Criminal defense attorney Christopher Downey said he is researching the Texas Open Meetings Act to determine if the court violated open meeting laws.
“We are compiling a collection of all of the relevant documents and will then speak with the involved parties,” Downey said. “We will evaluate our information to determine whether the circumstances warrant bringing the matter before a grand jury for review.”
On Sept. 25, Montgomery County Attorney J.D. Lambright submitted an official opinion letter to Doyal stating he believed the court complied with the rules set out by the TOMA, and allegations about its violation would not void the referendum.
“We find no basis or in fact (including the furnished emails) that would provide for the Commissioners Court’s action setting the election to be voided or subject to either mandamus or injunction,” Lambright said.
For nonpartisan election information from the League of Women Voters visit http://lwvaustin.org/voter-guide/.
