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County weighs in on YFZ wastewater permit debate

Commissioners elect to take their concerns directly to state officials

Schleicher County Commissioners met Monday, March 14, 2005, and voted to schedule a meeting with officials from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality at which time they intend to express their concerns about a proposed wastewater treatment plant on the YFZ Ranch. The men also plan to travel to Austin where they will meet with State Senator Robert Duncan and State Representative Harvey Hilderbran, as well as TCEQ officials.

The commissioners chose the direct approach rather than joining with the Upper Colorado River Authority, the San Angelo based agency that is already protesting the YFZ’s wastewater permit application.

County Attorney Raymond Loomis advised the commissioners Monday of his concerns about supporting the UCRA with a monetary contribution. Loomis said that since the money hadn’t been budgeted for the purpose, it shouldn’t be spent.

The men agreed that the protection of Schleicher County’s aquifer was a primary concern but concluded that they might better influence TCEQ by appealing directly to the agency.

“Robert Duncan has been good for Schleicher County, “ Judge Johnny Griffin said of the state senator. “You can’t tell me that a consultant will have more influence with TCEQ than he will.”

County Commissioner Bill Clark said he believed YFZ officials should be encouraged to meet with the City of Eldorado and arrange to transport their wastewater to the city’s sewer plant. He noted that the city’s facility is sufficiently large and suggested that a pipeline might be laid from the YFZ to the city plant.

Clark added that the thought the county’s main concern should be the protection of its water. “The one thing we have that nobody around us has is good water,” Clark said. “We need to take care of it.”

At issue is a proposed wastewater treatment plant on the YFZ Ranch, some four miles north of Eldorado, where followers of Warren Jeffs’ and his Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, are building a new community. Preliminary plans for the sewage treatment facility calls for treated effluent to be discharged into Milligan Draw, a normally dry draw that eventually empties into the South Concho River.

David Allred, a Utah businessman and a follower of Warren Jeffs, began acquiring property in Schleicher County in late 2003 and eventually bought a 1,671 ranch on County Road 300 where he told locals he intended to build a corporate hunting retreat.

It was one year ago this week that local authorities first learned of Allred’s association with Jeffs. Since that time at least ten large dormitory-style residences have been documented on the property. A 28,000 square foot meeting hall also has been erected, along with other large residences, including one that encloses more than 29,000 square feet. Now, a massive temple is being built on the YFZ and work has began two weeks ago on a sewage treatment facility.

Opposition to the wastewater plant has been spearheaded by the Upper Colorado River Authority, with support from the Plateau Underground Water District, Tom Green County and the City of San Angelo. Landowners adjacent to and downstream from the YFZ Ranch also have thrown their support behind the UCRA.

Two weeks ago, after it came to light that workers at the YFZ had already begun building the proposed wastewater facility, even before state permits had been issued, TCEQ investigators stepped in and issued a cease and desist order.

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The Eldorado Success invites Warren Jeffs and/or other leaders of the FLDS church to comment on this or any other story surrounding the FLDS and the YFZ Ranch.