By Mary Drennon

Darrell Brownlow, a regional water planner, was the guest speaker June 14 at a Floresville Chamber of Commerce luncheon held at the Promised Land Restaurant.

Chamber President Jason Talley updated members on the latest happenings, including the progress of a possible $5 million apartment complex in town.

The development hinges on approval of federal tax credits, Talley said. The Chamber supported developer Mike Gilbert at the state level.

The apartment complex would combine low-income units with traditional “market rate” housing, which includes standard rental rates of about $675 for a 1 1/2-bath unit (April 19 Wilson County News).

Brownlow, however, was the main focus of the meeting. He spoke on the implications of regional water planning for the future of Wilson County.

“I’m not here to tell you how to think,” said Brownlow, a geologist and local resident and landowner.

Instead, he wanted to make sure Wilson County residents understood the issues facing the county.

He did, however, state his opinion: that of the five “alternative” plans now under consideration by the South Central Texas Regional Water Planning Group, at least three contain “options” (possible projects) that would be detrimental to Wilson County.

Each involves large-scale pumping of the Carrizo Aquifer.

The five alternative plans are based on estimated water usage through the year 2050 in the 20 1/2 counties in Region L, which includes Wilson, Karnes, Atacosa, Frio, and Bexar counties.

By 2050, the population in this region is expected to reach to more than 3 million people, substantially increasing water use, Brownlow said.

The main user of mass-scale pumping would be Bexar County. It needs to increase production of water and is eyeing Wilson County as an additional source.

As it stands now, “Wilson County has enough [aquifer] water to grow at a comfortable pace,” he said.

That would not be the case if Bexar County’s water entities pump water from the Carrizo Aquifer.

He urged Chamber members to become involved and show support at the regional water- planning group’s July 6 meeting in Cuero.

In other matters, Talley remarked on the substantial increase in the Chamber’s membership.

That includes the unanimous acceptance of 10 new members, including La Vernia businesses South Texas Steak House and Rose Properties, Chet Eastin, D.D.S., of La Vernia, and Floresville entities Lube Works, Juniors, the White House Cafe, Sacred Heart School, and Scott Gleeson, Ed Kadlecek, and Glynda Merritt.

The Chamber has seen a 46-percent membership growth since the beginning of the year, Talley said.