Zone of Deception

"Ordinance providing for a moratorium on the conducting of any natural gas drilling and fracturing activities within 3,000 feet of any dams and other water retention structures owned and/or operated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)."

See the stories about this here, here, here and here.

See the City of Grand Prairie Agenda for today, Tuesday, November 15, 2011, Page 3. The Agenda wasn't available for viewing online until MONDAY afternoon. Surely that wasn't on purpose. We don't want to think that.

Clearly, there's a disconnect here. We expected that the City of Grand Prairie would not even be considering a gas gathering pipeline construction out to the Corn Valley Pad site due to the Moratorium. The site is under review and study by the United States Army Corps of Engineers.

It begs the question ~ Does USACE know about this??? Do they care?

Was the Moratorium Ordinance simply a stunt? Or maybe the City Manager is just feeling really good right now since he just received a strong endorsement via a BIG raise from the City (the motion was seconded by our own City Councilman Shaleionaire Ron Jensen at the last City Council Meeting).

November 1, 2011 Minutes Page 5

Renewal of City Manager's Contract

Mayor Pro Tem Swafford moved, seconded by Council Member Jensen, to extend the City Manager's contract to October 31, 2012, increase the City Manager's base salary 3%, and to provide the City Manager with a 5-year CEO Retention Plan with a $30,000/year incentive, both effective October 1, 2011.  The motion carried unanimously.

Ayes:

Mayor Charles England; Mayor Pro Tem Jim Swafford; Deputy Mayor Pro Tem Ruthe Jackson; Council Member Richard Fregoe; Council Member Greg Giessner; Council Member Mark Hepworth; Council Member Ron Jensen and Council Member Bill Thorn

 Wow! That's a BIG raise.

But we're more shocked by this latest development for a vote on the Gas Gathering Pipeline to Corn Valley. But then, this is gasland. Nothing is real. Nothing is honest. And sadly, nothing will ever be the same again. 

From the Agenda Packet:

Analysis

 DFW Midstream Services, LLC has requested permission to place gas transmission pipelines along and across portions of Lakeridge Parkway, Matthew Road, Prairie Lane, Polo Road, Robinson Road, Barn Owl Trail, High Hawk Boulevard and tracts of City owned land in the High Hawk at Martins Meadow Addition.
 
A license from the City is needed to allow DFW Midstream Services, LLC to extend gas gathering pipelines from an existing line at the Barnes Assembly well pad site near Matthew Road and Fish Creek to the Crystal Paradise well pad site near Lakeridge Parkway and Great Southwest Parkway; and to the Corn Valley well pad site near Camp Wisdom Road and Carrier Parkway.
 
The license agreement is for a term of twenty (20) years with a nine (9) year renewal option. The fee during the renewal option period is to be adjusted by the increase in the Consumer Price Index.

DFW Midstream Pipeline Map to be Voted On Tuesday Night, November 15, 2011.