The College Station City Council and Citizens For Wellborn spent two hours over a barbeque lunch venting some frustrations and generating some emotions.
At the end of Thursday’s first-time gathering the city council agreed to hold another meeting. Only two of the seven council members announced their support for letting Wellborn residents vote whether to incorporate. Joining Jess Fields was Katy-Marie Lyles.
Several times, Mayor Nancy Berry talked about a win-win for both College Station and Wellborn without a vote. The last time she said that, Mike Downing of Citizens for Wellborn asked the Mayor how that could be accomplished, suggesting Wellborn doesn’t pursue incorporation if College Station never pursues annexation.
Gary Park was among eight at the table asking the council but the only one pointing out a vote for incorporation was not a guarantee the issue would pass.
Councilmen Dave Ruesnik and Larry Stewart said their greatest concern with Wellborn incorporating was blocking College Station’s ability to grow south. Gary Park believed the city had enough land to take care of future growth.
Emotions ran high enough that the Mayor on at least two occasions asked some around the table to calm down. The first time, Berry and Jane Cohen of Citizens For Wellborn decided to take a ten-minute break for dessert.
In the end, all agreed to meet again to continue the dialogue.
The picture below shows members of the College Station City Council looking at Councilman Larry Stewart and Karen Severin of Citizens for Wellborn.