Copy of letter recently sent to Montgomery County Commissioners Court:
On October 18, 2019, The Woodlands Township Board of Directors, by unanimous vote, adopted a motion requesting that the Montgomery County Commissioners Court remove certain projects from the 2016 Montgomery County Thoroughfare Plan. These projects are: (1) The Woodlands Parkway Extension westward to SH 249; (2) the Branch Crossing Drive Extension north of Research Forest Drive to FM 1488; and (3) the Gosling Road Extension north of SH 242 toward the City of Conroe.
Mobility is very important to the residents and businesses of the Township. The Township works extensively with relevant stakeholders such as Montgomery County to ensure that our residents have efficient and safe transportation choices. The roadways in question would not meet these standards but instead could have a negative impact for Township residents. Increased residential and commercial growth in the area has made the proposed corridors for these projects impractical and potentially disruptive to existing Township communities.
Township residents continue to share their concerns with the Board regarding these proposed projects. The Township Board has actively advocated for the removal of these projects from the Thoroughfare Plan since its adoption. We are encouraged by statements from members of the Commissioners Court that the respective county precincts do not intend to construct these projects. However, the only way to assure Township residents that these projects will not be constructed is by removing them from the Thoroughfare Plan. The Township Board respectfully encourages you to do so as quickly as possible.
Sincerely,
Gordy Bunch
I have also been asked whom do I support for the current Township elections as early voting has already started:
Chairman Bunch endorses Sekula-Gibbs, Snyder & Milner for The Woodlands Township Board of Directors
Our Township is at an inflection point with the approach of final residential build out, new property tax laws going into effect, repetitive flooding events, potential incorporation, proposed construction of major thoroughfares, increasing expenses, rising water costs, subsidence, and outside peripheral competition impairing retail and hotel tax collections. Our community needs additional experienced leaders to help guide us through the various challenges listed.
Dr. Sekula-Gibbs has three terms of experience as an at-large city council member in Houston, Texas’ largest city and the fourth most populous in the USA. Shelly’s accomplishments include a voter approved revenue cap of 4.5%, saving Houstonians $700M in property taxes since its approval. Her municipal experience, knowledge of HGAC, and understanding of the differences between being a City and a Township will make her an asset to our Board of Directors and our Hometown.
Dr. Ann Snyder has been a valuable and respected board member serving on the Incorporation Task Force, Economic Development Committee and is the current Secretary for our Township. Ann has been a positive influence ensuring our incorporation study turns over every stone, reviews every raised concern, maintains transparency, insisting we dig deeper when items are in question and ends with a credible plan to present to our residents for consideration. Ann and I do not always agree on every issue, but we are better off having differing opinions, perspectives and board debates that can often lead to better outcomes.
Bob Milner has been engaged for several years as a businessman, entrepreneur, educator and volunteer at a level unmatched in our hometown. Bob and Theresa are pillars in the community volunteering, donating, serving on boards representing a broad spectrum from the arts, health, business, animal rescue and veterans’ groups. Bob is a veteran, entrepreneur, Sam Houston State Professor and friend to all he encounters. Bob will bring a fresh set of independent, qualified and respected eyes to the issues facing our hometown. Everyone who knows Bob knows he’s the right man at the right time to help build our community’s future.
Dr. Sekula-Gibbs, Dr. Snyder and Bob Milner each bring with them a tremendous amount of experience from different backgrounds. The diversity of their experiences, constituencies and proven history of successful service will be a welcome asset to our board. Two Hometown Heroes and an MD are the right prescription for this years Township election.