Mayor Chris Riley

Bandera Road groundwater plume superfund site

On July 23, the EPA held its quarterly public meeting to keep the citizens and businesses informed of the effort to find and eliminate the source of the contamination plume. The plume is about one mile long and one and one-half miles wide in the area of Poss, Grissom and El Verde Roads, southwest of Bandera Road. The public water supply wells are tested quarterly and our water is safe to drink. To date, six private wells have detected PCE or PERC (used as a degreaser, spot remover, and in dry cleaning) over the MCL level of 5 parts per billion. The private well owners have either had a carbon filtration system installed or have been hooked up to the city’s water supply to prevent any additional exposure to toxic chemicals. A health assessment has been conducted by the Texas Department of State Health Services and a copy is available at the Leon Valley Library or from the DSHS Web site, http://www.dshs.state.tx.us/epitox/ posted.shtm.

The public comment period will be July 24 through Aug. 24. Additionally, the Leon Valley City Council has established a citizen’s advisory group that will meet quarterly to provide a public forum for community members to present and discuss the needs and concerns related to the Superfund process. The next meeting Oct. 23 at 7 p.m. at the Leon Valley Conference Center.

Parks in Leon Valley:

Rimkus Park, on Evers near Huebner, has a big pavilion, numerous tables and barbeque pits, basketball, tennis and volleyball courts, as well as soccer fields, a baseball diamond, a three-quarter mile walking and jogging trail, and a community garden. Thanks to funding from a Community Development Block Grant, a handicapped accessible playground is currently being built (rain permitting) and the dedication of this new playground is scheduled for Saturday, Aug. 18 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be lots of festivities for all to enjoy at this free event! Thanks to the Leon Valley Park Commission for organizing this event as well as to our Public Works department for their help in building the structures.

Adjacent to Rimkus Park, and also free and open to the public, is our 36 acre Leon Valley Huebner-Onion Natural Area, with two walking trails. It is operated by volunteers of the nonprofit Historical Society of Leon Valley.

We are pleased to announce another major natural area on Huebner Creek, to be opened soon, in cooperation with the City of San Antonio. This 50-acre tract is located at the end of Shadow Mist near Grissom. Special thanks to former San Antonio City Councilwoman Elena Guajardo who worked closely with us for this donation of parkland.

Green Bin Instant Win program:

Congratulations to the 11 Leon Valley families who have been $50, $75, or $100 winners in our weekly drawing for participation in the Expanded Curbside Recycling Program. Waste Management’s monetary incentive for this program has ended, but the city council will address whether to continue this program, with the proceeds from the recyclables funding this educational effort. If you need more information about this program or need a recycling bin, please call Valerie Siat, Public Works, at 681-1232. The more we as a community recycle, the more resources we save and more revenue we collect for the city (we share in the sale of the recycled items 50-50 with Waste Management). Happy Recycling!