Ian McCann responded to my discussion of his article on the North Texas Municipal Water District's presentation on the Lookout Transfer Station. He discusses the three points I say were left out.

Ian McCann's response is here.

One of McCann's disadvantages is that the Dallas Morning News is a print publication and so a writer can sometimes be limited in the detail that he or she gives due to space constraints.

The three points I noticed were missing seemed germaine to the NTMWD's case.

McCann starts by saying, "One thing is missing from Laska's look at my story: What he really thought about it. He says I '[did] a job again of telling the story.' Good, bad or otherwise, I suppose." To answer that question, McCann did a good job of telling the story. I didn't spend the time to spell out the story so it's not as if I am trying to tell it again. My point was to expand on the three issues I thought needed to be included. I don't think I said McCann was wrong about any particular point. There simply were missing details in my opinion.

About staggered capacity McCann says, "People who know the garbage industry better than I do say they doubt TCEQ will approve such a plan." That may be but the staggered capacity was central to their presentation. Saying that they proposed lower capacity doesn't tell the full story. Is NTMWD full of hot air? If allegedly they are then a staggered plan which might not be approved is worthy of mention.

About the flooplain issue McCann says, "This isn't a settled issue." Stankiewicz's main thrust was that if the operation is in the floodplain the TCEQ would not approve the permit. It would be DOA, according to Stankiewicz. All the business about affecting the golf course and federal issues were side issues. If Stankiewicz is wrong or right it is worth mentioning because of the potential DOA status.

About the truck issue McCann said, "But the trucks bringing the trash TO the transfer station stay the same size. Sure, you might see fewer 18-wheelers in the early years. But you'll have more of the smaller trucks the minute volumes increase." Certainly. That is worth mentioning again because of precisely the analysis McCann describes. Less trucks in the beginning, and probably ramping up to more trucks later on... assuming the picture presented was accurate.

McCann closes by saying he wishes he knew about a meeting of HOA/NA representatives Tuesay morning in which the neighborhood got to present their view. I was there. While other bloggers have written about it, I choose not to because I was involved in the meeting as president of a different neighborhood association. As other bloggers have noted it was generally positive. I choose not to write about it because it would be too hard not to get my own opinion involved on what should be a neutral description of the meeting.