As the Bexar Metropolitan Water District was fighting for its life last year in the Texas Legislature, the utility stalled the release of public information that could have shed light on a controversial contract worth an estimated $177 million.

“I want us to delay anything as long as we can,” BexarMet’s spokesman, T.J. Connolly, privately wrote in an e-mail to BexarMet’s lawyer and general manager on April 17, 2007.

“I want to be as uncooperative as possible … without being obvious,” Connolly added.

Our first posts on Bexar Met came over a year and a half ago. The information that has been coming out in the last few weeks isn’t really a surprise, it was obvious they were playing loose and arrogant as hell. Now, I have to say it is a tad surprising these people were arrogant enough to put these things down in writing but that just goes to show how far arrogance can go.

The sad thing is that this isn’t what Gil Olivares was fired for and this isn’t what the indictments cover. This is just business as usual.

PR man said he had secret weapon

“I just want to know what to expect so I can privately prepare,” Connolly wrote to Uresti on May 18, 2007. “Again, your response will be read only by me and deleted immediately. My word.”

You know, this is just sad. T.J. Connolly was supposed to be so very politically savvy shouldn’t he know that the congressman’s emails are on the record. I suppose if nothing else it gives us all a little peek into the way local politics runs.

Technorati Tags: Bexar Met, BexarMet, T.J. Connolly, Gil Olivares,

Atkinson allegedly had money funneled to her from one of Connolly’s employees and an acquaintance of Connolly.

She reacted angrily Friday when asked about the new indictment and whether she had knowledge of its illegality.

“There is no contributions and I don’t want to give no comment,” Atkinson said, before hanging up the telephone.

Another round of indictments came down against T.J. Connolly. I want to focus on Blanche Atkinson’s reaction. You will remember that she was the only member of the Bexar Met board that voted against firing Olivares. I know indictments don’t mean convictions but there has to be some evidence that there were contributions and her reaction is just odd.

Olivares and his lawyer had a chance to present their side of the story at Thursday night’s board meeting, just minutes before the board voted 6-1 to fire Olivares.

They did it. I find it funny that Blanche Atkinson was the one nay vote. If you remember she is one of the candidates that T.J. Connolly is under indictment for funneling money to. I suppose we should brace for the lawsuits he will be filing now.

The board of the Bexar Metropolitan Water District late Tuesday waived its attorney-client privilege for its general counsel, Adolfo Ruiz, to speak to the Bexar County district attorney’s office and a grand jury regarding their investigation into alleged criminal activities at the utility.

Adolfo Ruiz was right there with Victor Villarreal as the biggest Gil Olivares supporters so I can’t imagine this is a good thing for the attorney. I am really looking forward to the 11th but now I am also looking forward to new indictments coming out of the DA’s office towards Bexar Met.

Technorati Tags: Bexar Met, BexarMet

The November elections for four seats on the board of the beleaguered Bexar Metropolitan Water District drew 29 candidates by the filing deadline Tuesday, but current board President Victor Villarreal did not join the incumbents in seeking re-election.

Not a big surprise with all the people out there screaming for his resignation. What is an exciting surprise is how many people have filed to run for the BexarMet board.

Technorati Tags: BexarMet, Bexar Met, Victor Villarreal

As for Olivares, he will be able to make his case to the board at a special hearing set for September 11.

This is not all that surprising really, in fact I would be surprised if he didn’t fight for his job. So, September 11th it is.

Technorati Tags: BexarMet, Gil Olivares, Bexar met

Carr’s motion stopped the meeting for about 20 minutes while the board decided whether to discuss Olivares’ contract in the public. Against the advice of BexarMet’s legal counsel, the motion passed and board members continued to argue with each other throughout the meeting, tossing personal attacks at each other.

I wasn’t there. Man, I am so annoyed by that. I would have loved to see them bickering but finally unanimously firing Olivares. I was certain they would hold their Olivares talks behind closed doors so why bother making the trip. Oops I have to wonder how many of them are having major anxiety problems right now. I know board president Victor Villarreal should be quaking in his boots given that he has been Olivares’s biggest supporter. I think this is my favorite news week ever.

Technorati Tags: BexarMet, Bexar Met, Gil Olivares, Victor Villarreal

The head of BexarMet Water District says he wants out.

BexarMet’s General Manager Gil Olivares told the water district’s board of directors he wants them to buy out the rest of his nearly $250,000 contract.

Are you kidding me???? Of course he wants them to buy out his contract. I want a quarter of a million dollars too. Heck I would settle for lower water bills every month. I tend to think that if the man feels he doesn’t want his job anymore then he should ask to get out of his contract with no payment from Bexar Met, not expect a bonanza because he chose badly within his job. You know, the worst part of it is that I have been writing about this man’s bad choices almost since we started this blog and he will probably get a windfall for being a sleeze. Why is it that lowly little me could see his colors and those who have been elected to be responsible for more money than I will ever see in my life followed him like sheep? I am simply amazed by the idiocy of this being put on the agenda instead of laughed at.

After an emergency meeting, the BexarMet General Manager, who was indicted by a grand jury on nearly 20 counts of criminal charges, has been suspended with pay.

My gosh, what in the world is going on over there? Get indicted for wiretapping and giving your lovers raises and better jobs while firing those who won’t be your lovers and get a paid vacation. I need this job. I really, really need to work for the Bexar Met board.

Technorati Tags: BexarMet

The head of a controversial water utility company is in some big legal trouble. Bexar County District Attorney Susan Reed announced Friday that Gilbert Olivares, General Manager of Bexar Metropolitan Water District, has been indicted for wiretapping, misapplication of funds, and sexual harassment. The indictment includes 12 counts of Illegally Intercepting Oral Communications, 1 count of Misapplication of Fiduciary Property, 1 count Abuse of Official Capacity, and two counts of Official Oppression.

Oh man, this is an interesting development. I always wondered why my bill was so high, I didn’t know buying sex for Olivares was part of his perks package. Hmmmm, how do I get that in my benefits package?

Technorati Tags: BexarMet, Gil Olivares