By LYNETTE SOWELL-STEVENS
Cove Leader-Press
The citizens forum during the Aug. 18 city council meeting had a lineup of speakers addressing the council on various topics.
Brian Hawkins addressed the council regarding Cove House’s application for non-governmental agencies funding from the City of Copperas Cove. He remarked that it has been said that if The Hop doesn’t get the full funds they request, they would need to reduce services. He said that is true for everyone.
He said that although he understands that the council cannot give answers during citizens forum, and he understands that The Hop does provide services, he asked that at some point that it could be explained if The Hop is a non-negotiable agency that must be paid, why they are receiving the lion’s share of the funds and why they are listed with non-governmental agencies.
“When you look at who is supporting this town directly, you have places like the shelter. We do many things for the community besides just provide shelter. I’m sure most of you saw that recently we had an opportunity, through one of our agencies that we get materials and supplies from, to provide over 10,000 pounds of food, dog food and cat food, to the (Copperas Cove Animal Care Center) for them to use and for them to give to people who are adopting animals. You don’t see The Hop doing those kinds of things.”
He said The Hop has an opportunity to generate income via advertising on its vehicles. He thinks The Hop could make money that way and not have to come to cities and asking to get into a pool of money for local nonprofits “to support their for-profit business.”
Clarence Enochs wanted to thank the City and some of its workers who aren’t normally recognized.
“I am involved in a lot regionally and statewide, and I don’t think in a long time I’ve seen such an example of community and people coming together to take care of their people, their citizens, and we have such humble leadership because that example was demonstrated today when you saw our city manager helping, not directing, but helping to offload water from the truck. I have never seen that, and I will stand here and tell you that I’ve visited, and I know every city manager in this region, and I’ve never seen one physically lift water or any resource, and that was just very amazing to see the spoke very well of our leadership, and I just wanted to tell you thank you and a great job that everybody did come together.”
Siggy Loe addressed the water situation as an excellent example to make us all realize how important and precious water is, and how most of us take it for granted. She is concerned that this could possibly be more trouble in the future for Copperas Cove and the surrounding communities if more data centers are built in this area.
“A data center uses 5 million gallons of water a day. Copperas Cove, just to give you an idea, uses 3.8 (million). I ask you to please join forces with the other city governments to help prevent data centers from coming here.”
She said it does not take long for lake levels to go down from their current 100 percent, and she said when a few years ago the lakes were at 58%, she wrote to the Brazos River Authority and asked how low lake levels will go before we cannot get any more water from them. She said she never received an answer.
Next up was Felipe Sanchez, who addressed a myriad of things, starting with the city’s infrastructure, as well as the two new positions included in the proposed budget for the next fiscal year. He emphasized the need to replace aging pipes that are 50 to 60 years old. He said that the issues are not due to ground shifting but rather neglect of infrastructure.
He criticized the current council members for not addressing these issues immediately upon taking office, suggesting they should have known the infrastructure needed fixing.
Sanchez also questioned the need for spending money on surveys, and he said the council was not being transparent about the condition of the pipes and other infrastructure issues. Sanchez questioned why Copperas Cove is raising utility rates while Belton is not. He asked for the rates to stay the way they are.
Sanchez likewise questioned spending the $276,000 for an assistant city manager position and $119,000 on a developmental position in the next fiscal year.
“That money could be used for more piping. We could buy this piping with that money.” He compared Copperas Cove’s issues to those of other cities like Killeen and Corpus Christi.
Sanchez, a combat veteran, questioned the council’s commitment to veterans and the disability exemption, that if the disabled veterans’ exemption wasn’t mandatory, the city would not do it. He also called for a detailed investigation into the city’s spending and decisions, urging the council to prioritize the needs of citizens over bureaucratic expenses. He called for a recall of some councilmembers if they do not address the issues.
Andrew Waters then addressed the council as he held his phone pointed toward the dais, live-streaming into a community Facebook group that he administrates.
“I would implore all of you today to understand that the citizenry of Copperas Cove is not impressed… I think on social media we get a lot of exacerbated voices. Certainly, I’m one of them more often than not, in many cases. But I will share this with you: the custody of care for the issues of Copperas Cove, as they are right now, does not appear to be in good hands. We cannot have a citizenry that’s expected to understand what’s going on for their betterment if we in fact don’t have accountability at the action end of our dollars,” Water said. “So, with all due respect, I think the citizenry of Copperas Cove have been clear. Some of them more tactful than others. That it’s time for the council, individuals who have run for these positions, to bring accountability to the forefront of running the city.”
He compared Copperas Cove with Lampasas, and how it appears that Lampasas is able to solve many of the same problems by working together.
“Right now, the city government in Copperas Cove, amongst its citizenry, is not popular. It’s not a popular place to be right now. And what I would implore you is to consider that immediately. To be frank with you, I would implore you to consider the employment of the current city manager.”
Jonathan Brown introduced himself as a long-time commenter on social media and focused on the recent water issues in Copperas Cove. He said he has lived in Copperas Cove since 2015. He likewise criticized the lack of foresight and planning by previous administrations, noting the city’s water issues and the inadequate infrastructure. He expressed frustration with the city’s failure to attract businesses.
He called for a change in leadership, citing what he said was the current administration’s inability to improve the quality of life in Copperas Cove over the past five years.
“It was always the talk of Fort Hood that if you could live somewhere around Fort Hood, live here in Copperas Cove. I do like Copperas Cove because it’s quiet and it’s safe. But you don’t make it attractive for good business.”
He said raising water rates is alienating people, and as people move away, the pool gets smaller and smaller, and the crunch becomes bigger and bigger.
Brown said that councilmember Rita Hogan is the only one that he ever sees commenting on social media.
“I don’t see any of you guys. It’s almost like you don’t care. Personally, in my opinion, you need to go in a different direction, and that guy - he needs to be gone. That’s my personal opinion,” he said.
Brown added that all that he has seen since Haverlah’s leadership has been “degradation” and that “the benefits to living here just go down.”
Also during Citizens Forum, Anthony Martinez, founder, president, and executive director of American Veterans Mission, presented certificates of appreciation to Mayor Pro Tem Vonya Hart and Councilman Dale Treadway for their participation in AVM’s back-to-school brigade event, which served 400 military-connected children with free backpacks and school supplies.
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