February, 2004

Hello Members and Friends,

Thank you to all who helped  with and attended “Meet the Candidate” night February 10. We had a great turn out of voters who came to hear 14 candidates put forth their platforms. The formal part of the meeting was followed by an hour long “meet and greet” session when candidates and public intermingled over coffee and cookies.

Early voting began Feb. 23 and runs through until March 5^th. Primary Election Day is March 9.  Please exercise your right to vote and make your voice heard.

          Now an update on the widening of FM 1488. 

The firm of Cobb, Finley and Associates has been hired to begin acquiring right-of-way from Interstate 45 to FH 2978 according to Assistant County Engineer Mike Beitler. Acquisition could take up to a year but the County is pushing forward quickly. Following the completion of one more environmental study near Jones State Forest, the County will submit a report to the Federal Highway Administration this summer for their final approval.

When the right-of-way and other approvals have been acquired, the County will hold a public hearing, hopefully the end of the summer, to hear and formally reply to all interested parties concerning the widening of FM 1488 from I-45 to FM 2978. (Near completion of environmental studies around Jones State Forest has brought the segment of FM 1488 from I-45 to H 242 back into the picture.)

According to Beitler, the widening of the second segment (from FM 2978 to Magnolia) is progressing well. Environmental studies are underway and final talks are being held concerning the configuration of the intersection near Magnolia High School. Beitler couldn’t be specific about when the County will begin acquiring the right-of-way for the second segment.

“The County has $8 million to spend on acquiring the right-of-way for FM 1488 from the last bond election,” Beitler said. “I wish more people and companies would be like Krogers. They donated the right-of-way in front of their property for the widening of 1488, saving the tax payers thousands of dollars. We need more community-minded businesses like Kogers to help us make the County bond money go further.”

                                           Beavers? Yes. Lots of Them!

Believe it or not, beavers are indigenous to the area around FM 1488 but some areas are experiencing a 300 per cent population increase and are having trees near streams and small lakes demolished at an alarming rate. If you suspect beaver damage (those tooth marks are pretty obvious) look for and note the location of the beavers’ lodge, then call Ryan McCreary of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department. (713-718-3841). Ryan traps and relocates beaver and alligators that are causing problems. He has a month long waiting list, however, so to protect your trees in the meantime, wrap them at the base and for several feet up with chicken wire. Chicken wire can also be used to protect small trees from deer damage caused when they rub their antlers which scrapes away bark.

                                    MCCA to Discuss Animal Issues

You can hear and speak with Ryan McCreary of the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department on March 15 at the next meeting of the Montgomery County Communities Association at 7 pm at the Greater Conroe/Lake Conroe Chamber of Commerce Building, 505 West Davis St. in Conroe. Mr. McCreary’s talk will be on "Wildlife and Urban Conflicts” and deals with how people and animals can live together. A speaker from the Humane Society will also be on hand to discuss and answers questions about domestic animal problems.

Signs

Signs just keep proliferating along FM 1488 and FM 2978. Sign Committee Chairman Cheryl Meyer and her husband Chuck do a wonderful job collecting and notifying illegal (bandit) sign people as well as those who put up illegal larger unpermitted signs. She and Chuck need help.

The Association is looking into setting up a committee to begin a letter writing campaign to let property owners and businesses know how citizens of the area feel about all these signs. If you feel strongly about our quality of life disappearing behind more billboards, send us an e-mail. We’ll start a committee and put you in touch with others who feel as you do. Collecting signatures and writing can be used to further our cause when these issues again come before the State legislature next year.

                                                      March 1

If your subdivision has not yet selected a representative to come to the March 1 drainage meeting, please do so immediately and notify the Association of your choice at e1488communityassoc@charter.net .  This is a meeting for member subdivisions and invited guests only. The Association is facilitating this meeting to allow subdivisions to discuss their drainage issues with their neighbors while having the benefit of advice from County Engineer Dan Wilds. Commissioner Craig Doyal will also attend to explain what the County can and cannot do to help in various situations. Call 936-321-1352 for more information.

Public Service Announcement:

Magnolia High School Project Prom students have the following items for sale from now through March 19th. ( Pick-up or delivery date is March 27th, 7:00 a.m. - NOON.)

1. 50# Bags of Black Hummus Mulch at $3.00 each (which is comparable to local stores).  Order of 10 bags or more and students will deliver and stack it. For orders of 9 bags and under, the mulch must be picked up at the high school March 27th, 7:00 a.m. - NOON.

2. 33 gal trash bags/ 50 bags per roll are $10 per roll.  Trash bags will only be delivered with a mulch order.  Otherwise they may be picked up at the high school March 27th 7:00 a.m. - NOON.

Contacts:    Alan Meeks @ 281-356-3924 or 281-463-4197

                   Marilyn Clay @ 936-447-3839 or 832-435-4148

                   Cassie Hagood @ 281-259-8679 or 713-898-5302

                                            General Meeting May 20

Mark your calendars for the May 20 E1488CA annual meeting for the election of officers for the coming year. Want to be more involved with your community? Contact the Association at 936-321-1352 or by replying to this e-mail to have your name added to the list of nominations.  

The E1488 Community Association is undergoing a re-organization and expansion and will present revised By-laws to members at the May meeting. Member input is greatly appreciated and needed. Please plan to attend the May meeting to help with the re-organization.

Community Partners Committee

A committee to oversee the implementation of the Community Partnership Program (designed to recognize and thank area businesses that maintain and landscape their premises with an eye to retaining and enhancing the beauty of the 1488 area), is now being formed.

Speaking out in support of well-maintained, well-landscaped businesses will help new arrivals and other older businesses to understand residents’ concerns and desires. Understanding can then lead to co-operation. If you’d like to volunteer to be on the committee or want to donate funds to this valuable program, please call 936-321-1352 or e-mail the Association at e1488communityassoc@charter.net  .

Thanks for reading through to the end. I apologize for the length of this newsletter but there’s so much going on, it’s hard to be brief. Please contact us with concerns and ideas. Don’t forget to vote.

Regards,

Ann K Anderson

Thank you Friend of 1488 Communities:               

Universal Natural Gas, Inc