Public funding of beach cleaning stirs dispute in Galveston

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GALVESTON — The Galveston Park Board is spending public funds to clean beaches declared private under a recent Texas Supreme Court decision, riling some local residents who say the board is providing a free service to property owners.

"Frankly, I'm amazed at Galveston's decision to ignore Supreme Court findings, state and local law and the leadership of the State of Texas' land commissioner," said Galveston resident Bill Broussard, who has complained to city officials.

Broussard and others say the board should not be spending public money on what is now private property following a Nov. 5 Supreme Court decision.

"I certainly am not in favor of the park board picking up trash on private property, period," said Alice Anne O'Donnell, who, like Broussard, lives on the west end of the island where most private beaches are located.

$700,000 for maintenance
The board has stopped raking seaweed and beach maintenance but continues to pick up trash on beaches accessible to the public, officials said.

Carla Cotropia, the board's attorney, said none of the property owners put up fences or denied the public access. If that happens, the board would reconsider its policy, she said.

About $700,000 is budgeted this year for west island beach maintenance, but that includes raking seaweed, maintaining public access points and other maintenance halted after the Supreme Court ruling, park board spokeswoman Leah Boyd said.

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/headline/metro/7491064.html

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1. GOP=

"Bob Bullock is spinning in his grave at the way this whole mess has played out. I sure do miss him and Lt Gov Hobby instead of the amateur hour/den of thieves we have going on in Austin now.":rofl: