I can sympathize with Tom Harris' feeling that the city of Boerne is being overly influenced by local individuals who do not pay city property taxes.

However, I disagree with Boerne Forward (BF) and its organization as a political action committee (PAC).  By definition, the PAC will advocate for its donors' positions and not for the best interests of the community at large. 

Digging deeper, the only reason Boerne Forward exists is because Boerne Together (BT) has failed its original mission and degenerated from a pro-community organization into a power-obsessed group bent on punishing its political opponents. Having spent 14 months with one of the "BT working 5" on Kendall County's Thoroughfare Planning Citizen's Committee (TPCC), I can tell you from personal experience that this person's basic belief is that residents are too ignorant to decide what is best for (them)selves and only an out-of-state consultant is smart enough to tell local residents how to plan for our future.

Further, this person was quick to reject fellow citizens' ideas, but only offered "do nothing" or "hire a consultant" as an alternative. There was no true dialogue, only stonewalling. 

If Boerne Together is about citizen involvement and promoting dialogue, why was this representative always opposed to citizen ideas, unless "no-growth" was the real objective?

Further, Boerne Together's cadre of letter writers seems to have no end of complaints and is quick to respond en mass to anyone with an opposing viewpoint but fails to offer specific solutions to any particular issue.  BT says citizens need to be involved, but when local citizens do step up and offer opinions or get involved, they become targets and are given labels of "developer" "real estate agent," "property owner," "local official," or imply that the "right citizens" are not involved.  If local residents are not the "right citizens," then who are? The bigger question,: If there is so much wrong with Boerne, why did you move here in the first place?

BT and BF are extremists.  With BF, at least fellow citizens can track names of donors by their campaign filings. With BT, how do fellow citizens know who is a member and who isn't, or who is secretly colluding with whom at public meetings?  For the good of the community, both groups need to go jump in the lake. Maybe the cool swim will clear their heads and they might actually start talking to one another about how best to manage Boerne's future.

Folks, we need solutions, not problems.

Now, how does the community get out of this power struggle?  By individual citizens speaking up themselves with specific solutions and fellow citizens consider the merits of those solutions.  By telling local officials how a particular issue impacts them personally, and what can be done to solve the underlying issue.  By contacting fellow citizens and informing them of issues and making sure they are aware of their options, but respecting their decisions to speak up or not to speak up.  If you live in the ETJ, speak up on issues that directly impact you, but let city residents make up their own minds on issues that directly impact city residents.  Here are some issues that need specific solutions:

1. Boerne needs increased sewage capacity. Tell fellow citizens and city officials where you think it should go instead of saying "somewhere, just not in my back yard".

2. Kendall County, Boerne, and Fair Oaks have traffic problems.  Tell fellow citizens how this impacts you and how you would specifically solve these problems.

3. The rate of growth in Kendall County and in the city of Boerne is not defined in any policy.  Tell fellow citizens and local officials what is an acceptable growth rate, and suggest ways for them to manage growth to this target rate.

4. Kendall County lacks sufficient parklands for both natural areas and active recreational area such as ball fields. Tell local officials what properties are available and what type of facilities you personally would use.

5. City property tax rates are heavily tilted towards residential properties due to a small commercial property tax base.  Tell local officials how to grow the commercial tax base to where commercial property contributes over 50 percent of ad valorem taxes.

I look forward to seeing the innovative and creative solutions to the challenges before us. 

Douglas Hartzler is a Boerne resident and served as a co-chair of the Kendall County Thoroughfare Planning Citizens’ Committee.