[Gary] Key said as a community where newcomers flock to the countryside in search of escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, they need to look toward the future. "After 38 years in real estate, I can say we have to think about what Erath County has to offer. We have to think about the future and quality housing," Key said. "Those moving from more populated metropolitan areas looking for an escape and quality housing will likely not want that in the shadows of the turbines. Let's not hurt our property values" ...Key said transforming the face of Erath to an industrial county, moving away from the rural/residential image people are escaping to, would likely be detrimental to future development and possibly do more harm than good in the long run. "In 20 or 30 years, we would be looking more like an industrial park," Key said. "No longer the community we once were."

Morgan Mill resident Gary Key was present during Monday's meeting of the Erath County Commissioners Court, representing a group of area residents opposed to continued windfarm development in the county.

On the flip side, Lingleville Independent School District Superintendent Dennis Hughes, who was also present, said wind energy has breathed life back into his struggling district and could offer the same help for the Huckabay ISD.

Key said as a community where newcomers flock to the countryside in search of escape from the hustle and bustle of daily life, they need to look toward the future. "After 38 years in real estate, I can say we have to think about what Erath County has to offer. We have to think about the future and quality housing," Key said. "Those moving from more populated metropolitan areas looking for an escape and quality housing will likely not want that in the shadows of the turbines. Let's not hurt our property values"

Hughes explained when the LISD showed support in phase one of the windfarm project, the board of trustees made a decision he felt offered the best benefit for the district and its students.

"I look into things," Hughes said. "Before I made a recommendation (to the board) I did the research and determined for us and our students, it was a win-win situation."

Hughes explained that the district, with its dwindling student body and diminishing fund balance, saw little hope for the future before signing agreements with windpower developers.

"When wind energy came in, we looked at it as a way to keep the ISD going," Hughes said.

There are currently two ways a district can get more state money, one being an increase in student body and the second being an increase in taxes.

Key said an abatement and continued development would offer nothing except profit for local landowners collecting royalties and profit for mega energy producers

"Rural districts need a greater tax base and more students," Key said. "More rooftops mean more kids. More turbines might mean less houses."

Key said transforming the face of Erath to an industrial county, moving away from the rural/residential image people are escaping to, would likely be detrimental to future development and possibly do more harm than good in the long run.

"In 20 or 30 years, we would be looking more like an industrial park," Key said. "No longer the community we once were."

Key also said a number of property owners who have jumped at the opportunity to collect on wind development are absentee property owners who own land in the county but do not reside here.

"They are not on the property," Key said. "They won't look out their windows every morning to see a turbine."

 

Web link: http://www.empiretribune.com/articles/2008/06/10/n...