Kevin O’Connor Kommentary September 16

City Of College Station Files A Lawsuit Against The Texas Public Utility Commission

The city of College Station files a lawsuit against the Texas Public Utility Commission (PUC). The lawsuit, filed in Travis County, seeks to reverse a PUC order for the city of College Station to refund over $26 million dollars in electric transmission revenue. City officials say the revenue, dating back to 1996, was approved by prior PUC board members. And city officials say the current PUC board ignored most of the recommendations made in an opinion by an administrative judge from the state office of administrative hearings (SOAH). Click HERE to read and download the city of College Station lawsuit against the PUC, provided by the city of College Station. Click HERE to read and download the SOAH judge opinion, provided by the city of College Station. Click HERE to read and download a city of College Station statement regarding the PUC order that was provided to local reporters on September 19, 2024. At the next College Station city council meeting (September 26), the agenda will include approve paying the refund ordered by the PUC. City officials say that is to avoid paying an additional $7 million dollars in interest and to allow their lawsuit against the PUC to proceed. The refund, while ordered by the PUC, will go to 34 other electric companies. City officials also say this will not change current electric rates. If the city loses the lawsuit, then it will have an impact on future electric department projects. College Station mayor John Nichols and city manager Bryan Woods says College Station is the first of what could be multiple city owned electric companies who could face similar monetary penalties from the public utility commission. PUC members are appointed by the governor. Woods says the PUC order being contested in court has been communicated to the governor’s office, the state senator representing Brazos County who chairs a committee that oversees the PUC, and those running for the two Texas House seats representing Brazos County. As of September 20, the PUC has not filed a response to the city of College Station’s lawsuit. Click below to hear comments from College Station councilman Dennis Maloney, mayor John Nichols, and city manager Bryan Woods: Listen to “City Of College Station files a lawsuit against the Texas Public Utility Commission” on Spreaker.

September’s College Station ISD School Board Meeting Included Comments To Support Teachers

September’s meeting of the College Station ISD school board included comments to support teachers. The first speaker was CSISD board member Darin Paine. After announcing he would be absent for the next six to seven months while he is deployed with the Texas Air National Guard, Paine called on residents to support teachers by contacting state school board members and state lawmakers to increase basic state aid for the first time in five years. That was followed by three residents who called on CSISD administrators to reverse decisions which are making teacher’s daily work more difficult. Click below to hear comments from the September 17, 2024 College Station ISD school board meeting. Listen to “September's College Station ISD school board meeting included comments to support teachers” on Spreaker.  

Local Arrests Following Road Rage Incidents

Texas A&M police (UPD) arrest a Bryan man on a charge of intentionally ramming his pickup into the rear of another vehicle. The incident Thursday morning (September 19) happened just after 6:30 in front of Kyle Field on Joe Routt Boulevard. The UPD arrest report says 41 year old Thomas Ray intentionally followed the victim after he says she cut him off at Wellborn Road and George Bush Drive. Ray is also accused of getting out of his truck after the collision and starting a verbal altercation with the other driver. Ray was arrested for aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and assaulting the victim by making a threat. As of Friday afternoon (September 20), Ray remained in jail in lieu of bonds totaling $31,500 dollars. An apparent road rage incident Wednesday afternoon (September 18) ended in the parking lot of a College Station office building along the freeway south of the Academy store. Multiple witness calls to College Station police of one man pointing a gun at another man led to a response by seven officers…five in patrol SUV’s and two on bicycle. The CSPD arrest report said the suspect drew his gun because he was afraid for his life. That is after a trucker stopping his semi on the northbound freeway frontage road and approached the suspect. The trucker told officers he wanted to confront the suspect about an undisclosed incident on the road. The man with the gun, 52 year old Kevin Walberg from Coldspring, was arrested for disorderly conduct by displaying a weapon, is out of jail after posting a $3,000 dollar bond.