November 6, 2004

Hello Everyone,

There's lots happening along the FM1488 corridor, as usual. Here are some of the highlights:

                                         Fish Creek Thoroughfare

Members of the Fish Creek Thoroughfare Committee met with Commissioner Craig Doyal and Assistant County Engineer Mike Beitler to discuss questions put forward by the group in a letter to Mr. Beitler August 3, 2004. (Read the letter under committees on the web site at www.e1488ca.org ). As the road will severely impact Sendera Ranches and part of Montgomery Trace, the major opposition to the project comes from there.  Minutes of the meeting, taken by E. 1488 CA Director Ann Tofft, will be posted on the web site early next week.

Fish Creek Thoroughfare is not yet funded and therefore not in the planning phase, so neither the Commissioner or the Assistant County Engineer were able to answer questions concerning the speed limit or the placement of stop signs/lights or other means of slowing traffic through the subdivisions. Both the Commissioner and the Assistant County Engineer agreed to come back to the committee for input when (if) the roadway is funded and planning begins.

                                                            Drainage

Members of the Drainage Committee continue to meet to discuss drainage issues within individual subdivisions (and how they’ve been dealt with), to exchange ideas on planning and maintaining drainage within each subdivision and to discuss how subdivisions can work together to improve their drainage. The next E1488 Drainage meeting will be Monday, November 8th at 7:00 PM at the OwnerBuilder Network building, 7102 FM 1488.

At the September 13, 2004 meeting, John Fancher with the National Resource Council discussed the various drainage issues that are facing South Montgomery County and the need for updated FEMA Flood plain maps for the County.  Due to the continual cutting of trees (which causes much more water to run-off – forests soak up 85% of the rain that hits them, leaving less than 15% as run-off; concrete and lawns cause 10% of the water to stay and 90% to run-off) flash flooding could become a problem for this area. To that end, we all need to be aware that our homes may be threatened by quick rising floodwaters after sudden heavy rains. New FEMA maps would help project any such problems. The Committee is considering various methods to alert County and State officials about this pressing need and ask for their help in getting started on this long term project.

                                                            Security

Security is becoming more and more of an issue as the area around F1488 continues to be developed. Though Sheriff-elect Tommy Gage has promised to provide more sheriff’s patrols then were previously available, member subdivisions still see the need for extra security. Hiring off-duty Constables (who own their own cars and are able to patrol in them even when off-duty from the County) has been the solution in the past.

Historically, each subdivision has hired a separate Constable to patrol only their subdivision. Through East1488 Community Association sponsored meetings between representatives from our various subdivisions with Precinct 3 Constable Tim Holifield, Precinct 1 Chief Constable Matt Masden and Sheriff-elect Tommy Gage, it is hoped a new plan of action can be instituted.

Constable Holifield agreed (at the September Board meeting) to help design a plan that would allow a Constable to be shared by a variety of subdivisions (and possibly hired through the County, thereby protecting individual subdivisions from liability risks).

(The letter sent to Constable Holifield asking for his help will be posted on the web site early next week). 

Montgomery Trace has already hired “half” a Constable (4 hours a day, 5 days a week). Working together, it’s hoped other member subdivisions may be able to get the benefits of such an arrangement and, in time, expand the plan to include even more subdivisions.

                                    Keep Montgomery County Beautiful

An application to join the newly formed Keep Montgomery County Beautiful is attached to this newsletter. This group has great plans and we can all get involved.  Please have a look at the attached application (or access it through our web site) and join them in the fight to Keep Montgomery County Beautiful!  Former E. 1488 CA Director Kathy Sanders says they'll be needing help from the FM 1488 subdivisions with several upcoming events planned for the spring, so keep watching this spot.

Forest Land Owners/Forest Service Meeting

John Warner, our Urban District Forester sends this message: The Montgomery County Forest Landowners Association is hosting their Annual Meeting - Monday, November 15th starting at 6:30 p.m. at Camp Arnold at Arnold Lodge on the campus of Girls Scouts off Hwy 75 north of Conroe. Bill Kuhn, Texas State Chairman for Tree Farm will be the featured speaker.

The event will be catered with a Cajun seafood theme, cost $10 per person. Please RSVP to the Texas Forest Service by November 9th by calling Robin at 936/273-2261.  Anyone interested in trees and forest preservation is invited.

                                                Christmas Entertainment

Montgomery Trace Director John Thees sings with the Houston Choral Showcase chorus. Their annual holiday show is December 12 at 3 pm at Garden Oaks Baptist Church (on N. Shepherd just north of Loop 610). For more information, check out their web site at www.houstonchoralshowcase.org .  A reduced size group will perform closer to home on December 2 at 11:15 am  at Montgomery College (outside in the fountain area in front of Bldg. D - performing arts center). This performance is paid for by Montgomery College and is free to the public. Anyone attending should bring a folding chair if he or she wishes to sit.

John says anyone interested can contact him by phone (936) 271-3807 or email (ejthees@earthlink.net)  for tickets or more information about booking the group or joining them for the spring season. (They are always on the lookout for new members).

                                                         Rumors

Rumor has it that we may be getting another "box" store along. FM 1488.  Apparently Target is looking at various properties and may be getting near/have already decided to buy one. Does anyone have more concrete information?

                                                Board Meeting

The next E. 1488 Community Association Board meeting is Tuesday, November 23 at 7 pm at the Westwood Landowners' Association Board Room, 406 Macintosh, Magnolia, TX.

Thank you to our business sponsors. They support us and deserve our support.                                    

Universal Natural Gas, Inc.

Regards,

Ann K Anderson,