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I enjoyed being included in the panel discussion on water resources that was held at the public library on July 11.1 learned a lot and hope that I was able to share some information pertaining to citizen stewardship opportunities.
Unfortunately it seems that I either misspoke or was misunderstood at one point and some potentially misinformation came out in your article.
It was reported that I stated that the Allen administration had recently replaced the highest echelon of the DEQ with their own political appointees.
I want to make clear that this is not the case. The director of the DEQ and his deputies are political appointees but not new to the job.
The most recent reorganization of the DEQ involved the abrupt lay off of 29 program managers or specialists starting at about June 3. It is my understanding that, as of the last week of July, 28 of the 29 have been rehired (albeit many in new and unfamiliar fields).
Apparently only one long time DEQ employee is packing his bags and unfortunately he was the “heart” of the water program.
I personally feel that the current management of the DEQ has much room for improvement but I did not mean to imply that political appointees were being injected at any level other than the top and that is customary.
JAY GILLIAM
Raphine
95.8%