The paper talks about how disappointing the Tim Love Woodshed dealings are as well as suspicions and backroom deals and how the TRVA has a short attention span and spends our money like water, gives good ol’ boys such as JD Granger and Bryan Eppstein all the jobs and contracts they want, then mentions the TRV detractors and basically says (as usual) “On with the show”. What is the kickback rate for blind support of TRV?
Has the paper read the 70+ comments from THE PEOPLE? The citizens and taxpayers of Tarrant County, otherwise known as “the persistent cadre of TRV detractors”, on their own site?
Some of that persistent cadre helped save Fort Worth taxpayers from buying a hotel. What did the paper call them then?
If the paper asked more questions, and helped THE PEOPLE of Tarrant County have a say in the TRV process (we’re not talking about the BS meetings from years gone by) maybe they would come out smelling like a rose and be the champion of THE PEOPLE. Wouldn’t sharing real information increase their sales and reputation? Or they could simply plod along “reporting” what they are told to and hope they don’t end up like the Dallas paper, having to admit they were misled by their “leaders” and therefore mislead THE PEOPLE on their Trinity River Vision project. How many readers does that cost YOU?
Fort Worth restaurant deal has folks talking
A hip gathering spot where cyclists, joggers and hikers can grab a tasty meal at a popular Trinity River trailhead sounds like the kind of amenity Fort Worth residents could embrace with enthusiasm.
It's unfortunate that revelations about who owns the Woodshed Smokehouse and how it came into being have some people scratching their heads and murmuring suspicions about "another good ol' boy deal."
It seems that either memories are short at the Trinity River Vision Authority -- or that officials do recall the public backlash over a proposed city-owned hotel and decided to keep the specifics of the Waggoner Trailhead restaurant deal quiet until they were completed.
In late 2002, large crowds showed up to protest at City Hall when Fort Worth proposed financing a convention center hotel by issuing $160 million in debt without getting voter approval. Eventually, more than 15,000 people joined a petition effort spearheaded by downtown hoteliers -- who weren't keen on the notion of competing with a government-owned hotel for convention business -- to force the project to a public vote.
Ultimately, the city's newest downtown hotel was built by a private company, although considerable public dollars were spent on a parking garage to serve both the hotel and the convention center.
The big-picture lesson was that when taxpayer money is to be used for commercial enterprises, the public wants a transparent process and a say in the endeavor.
The public money used to build the $970,000 structure that the Tarrant Regional Water District is leasing to chef/restaurateur Tim Love is a fraction of the amount that triggered the hotel outrage. But it's understandable that other restaurant operators were chafed over the process of setting up a riverfront eatery: the decision on who would receive the lease was made solely by Trinity River Vision Authority Executive Director J.D. Granger.
What's so disappointing is that had this process been handled with more transparency, folks might be cheering the project. Love's "global taqueria" on Riverfront Drive near Rogers Road has been the subject of numerous news reports and blog posts since early summer. The building is architecturally interesting, and the extended craft brew menu should be a draw for athletic types who don't mind a little carb-loading after a run or ride on the adjacent trail.
The persistent cadre of Trinity River Vision detractors probably still would pounce on the idea as conniving. But one would think after the various criticisms of the authority through the years, its officials and water board members would have learned to appreciate the value of being aboveboard with everything connected to this project.
The district hired Granger to manage the agency without advertising the opening or conducting an executive search. Granger selected political consultant Bryan Eppstein to handle PR and minority contracting (not a posted opening), and the water district gave Eppstein's firm a separate contract -- with no competitive bidding -- to represent the agency in Austin during the legislative session.
Under state law, the water district is not required to take competitive bids on professional services. But each time the board chooses to follow the letter of that law, instead of trying openness, it gets slammed in the court of public opinion.
Board member Jim Lane told the Star-Telegram reporter Barry Shlachter that the water board approved the lease. Not exactly, records show.
The board approved the concept of having concessions at the trailhead, according to board minutes. Granger took it from there, giving Land Committee members Hal Sparks and Lane project updates. The final lease was drafted and approved by the board's general counsel.
Trail-side concessions make sense for a community that is working to develop vibrant riverfront amenities. Love has a track record of operating quality eating establishments.
Could have been a win-win. Might still be. But the Trinity River Vision takes another hit.
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