Karen Koonsman LTE

When are we, as Americans, going to stop big government from taking over our country? When

is the greed going to stop? When are going to take a stand? Stop the apathy? Stop the

complacency? When are we going to get back to realizing the American Dream? It is time to

stand up and fight for what we believe in………and that is not “Big Government” or “Big

Business” against the “Little Man” or “Small Business”.

It starts when it becomes personal. Otherwise it is only “someone else’s problem”……today. It

might not be your fight today, but tomorrow, it could easily become yours. The saying, “It takes

a village to raise a child,” applies in so many ways in our lives. It‘s just about being a good,

honest person; Keeping your word. Doing what you need to do because it is the right thing to

do………not because “I’m going to get something out of it” attitude; Doing it because it makes

you feel good inside.

My father used to say, “If a man will lie, he will cheat. If he’ll cheat, he’ll steal. If he’ll steal, he’ll

kill.” As a child, I asked why. He said because they have to keep covering up the lesser wrong.

Well, folks, Lone Star Transmission [LST] fall into this category. LST is a company given

imminent domain to run a high voltage electric line to carry wind power through the state of

Texas by the Public Utilities Commission of Texas [PUCT]. We have tried to negotiate [using the

term loosely here] with them for over a year. However, what they tell you today will not be the

same the next day, week, or month. [On 4/17/12, in the Stephenville Empire-Tribune, LST

stated that the line would also carry other sources of generated power. When asked this

question in an appointed commissioners hearing on March 14, 2012, they said only wind

power.]

PUCT granted this endeavor but does not seem to be regulating or monitoring LST very closely.

Originally, they were to take the shorter route that affected the fewest landowners, the fewest

habitable structures and had the least change in elevation. They showed this in their initial

contact with us. Problem: It was to go through Flat Top Ranch. Now, it is not. The new route is

longer [costing you more] and affects many more landowners. Why? Ask Governor Rick Perry.

It seems that the owners of Flat Top Ranch are big contributors and supporters of the

Governor.

So, now, we are dealing with LST. We are not alone in this fight, but we seem to be the most

vocal publically. We are trying to get them to go around a 250+ year old live oak ‘The BIG

TREE’ that has stood as a part of our family heritage as this home place passes from generation

to generation. [One of their routes showed that it would go around and miss the BIG TREE and

then they took it off the table.] The BIG TREE has stood as a symbol of the love we have for

the land, its history of what was here before us. It is also the cemetery for our pets. If taking

out the tree isn’t bad enough, they are GRINDING down everything in their path and leaving it!

What about the water ways? Are these tree remnants going to end up in our tanks and ponds?

Get into our streams and creeks? We will not be able to use the wood from any of these trees

for fire wood. But most importantly, we will not be able to save the BIG TREE’s wood……… will

not be able to make anything out of it as a keepsake for the family.

LST – “leaving it in good condition”, “cleaning up after we leave” – are these just words of

appeasement? You have represented so many untruths in this whole process. We don’t get

replies from e-mails. We call and get an answering machine. You never call us back. How can

you ever be trusted? Man is only as good as his word.

Karen Koonsman