HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 84-231 2
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Hurricane Allen in 1980, and Hurricane Alicia in
1983 substantially destroyed State Highway 87 , the only coastal
route between the major cities of Port Arthur and Galveston, making
said Highway unsafe for travel; and,
WHEREAS, the State Department of Highways and Public
Transportation, pressed for funds necessary to provide highways for
the second largest state of the union, has learned that an
objection has been raised by the Fish and Wildlife Service as to
the funding from .federal funds of the reconstruction of Highway
87; and,
WHEREAS, State Highway 87 is an integral part of the "Hug
the Coast" network of highways running from Canada to Mexico that
has played an important role in making the great American coast
visible to its citizenry; and,
WHEREAS, although the Fish and Wildlife Service may be
correct that relatively few permanent residents reside along the
closed portion of State Highway 87, the census data does not reveal
the reality that many citizens of Beaumont and Jefferson County, of
all income brackets, own, rent and enjoy summer vacation houses at
such locations as High Island, Gilchrist, and Crystal Beach, and
that such citizens of the City of Beaumont, and Jefferson County
are greatly inconvenienced by the closure of State Highway 87;
and,
WHEREAS, census data further does not reflect that many
restaurants and other businesses in Sabine Pass, which is now
incorporated into the City of Port Arthur in Jefferson County,
have, for many years, drawn a substantial portion of their income
from permanent and vacationing residents of High Island, Gilchrist,
Crystal Beach and even Galveston, and that these businesses are
substantially damaged by the closure of State Highway 87 ; and,
WHEREAS, the closing of State Highway 87 has had a
substantial impact upon recreation in South Jefferson County, and
has already resulted in the loss of airboat service in Sea Rim
State Park , thus depriving the citizenry of Beaumont and Jefferson
County and elsewhere the opportunity to see marshland life in its
natural habitat; and,
WHEREAS, there is an economic and recreational
relationship between Beaumont/Port Arthur and Galveston that is
dependent upon Highway 87 and the points in between connected by
Highway 87 ; and,
WHEREAS, the emergency created by the foregoing factors
is a real and present danger to the health, economy , and recreation
of the aforesaid citizens of Beaumont and Jefferson County that is
not diminished by the passage of time, because the citizens who
rely upon State Highway 87 for transportation to and from Galveston
and areas in between are innocent victims of the closing of State
Highway 87 and the danger and alarm caused to the economy , health,
and recreation of these citizens continues to grow with each day
said Highway remains closed;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BEAUMONT:
THAT in light of the points cited above, the City Council of the
City of Beaumont is supporting the State Department of Highways and
Public Transportation in its efforts to get the Fish and Wildlife
Service to reconsider and withdraw its objection to the
reconstruction of State Highway 87 on the grounds that a real and
present emergency does exist.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL of the City of Beaumont this
the _.2,g� yday of _ 1984.
Mayor -
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