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District Parents Ask for Royalty

Posted on: Friday, 25 November 2005, 21:00 CST

By Adrienne Nettles, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

Nov. 25--WATAUGA -- Some Birdville district parents and a teacher are asking the city to donate a portion of any gas drilling royalties it might receive to the public schools.

The Harding Co., which has offices in Dallas and Fort Worth, recently approached the City Council about drilling for natural gas in Watauga. Harding would lease property from its owners, including the city, in exchange for royalties, signing bonuses and property-damage fees.

Michelle Miller, whose daughter attends Grace Hardeman Elementary School in Watauga, and Holly Webb, whose son is in first grade at Watauga Elementary School, have asked the council to donate between 2 percent and 5 percent of any money received to the schools. South Birdville Elementary School teacher Richard Carr joined parents in requesting that the city make a contribution.

"Most of the kids in my neighborhood are not from wealthy families," said Webb, who lives in Haltom City. "The better we can make their school day, the better off they will be."

At Grace Hardeman, students lack updated playground equipment, computers and textbooks, Miller said. The air-conditioning system is outdated, she said.

"When I heard the council was considering gas drilling in the city, I figured it was worth a shot to ask if some of the profits could go to schools," she said. "There are so many kids that need so many things I know at Grace Hardeman."

Some of the problems at the school, such as the air-conditioning system, are scheduled to be addressed as part of a school bond voters approved on Sept. 10, district spokesman Mark Thomas said.

Harding Co. President Rick Harding said the company would consider giving schools a portion of any revenue generated.

"We are always open to discussions about anything that would help a city or school organization in any way," Harding said.

"But it is a little premature to discuss it at this point because we don't know if we're going to get the bid to drill gas in Watauga."

Several North Texas cities and school districts have drafted ordinances to regulate drilling in the Barnett shale, a rocky underground formation in the region that contains one of the country's richest sources of natural gas.

Residents have often frowned on gas drilling, complaining of noise, pollution and foul odors.

Watauga staffers have drafted a gas-drilling ordinance that could be presented to the council within the next few months, Public Works Director Johnnie Reagan said.

But it is unlikely that the city, which has not estimated how much it could gross from gas drilling, could meet the parents' request, he said.

"In my opinion, what these parents are asking for can't be done," Reagan said. "It's giving away the city taxpayers' money."

Gas drilling can also be done on school property if room exists, Reagan said.

Several area school districts allow gas drilling, including Keller and Birdville, or are considering proposals, such as the Fort Worth school district.

Still, Councilman Mike Steele said the Watauga council should entertain parents' request.

"I haven't researched it, but it doesn't seem out of the ordinary," he said. "It's something worth looking into."

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Copyright (c) 2005, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas

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Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)

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