Southeast Bexar County Awareness: Aug 1, 2014- A date that will be remembered in ESD#6 history

ESD#6 was established to help offset costs for the local volunteer fire departments. To help them concentrate on fire safety and spend less time fundraising.

The concept worked in the onset, then like thieves in the night, the board members were removed and replaced with Ms. Sylvia Ruiz Mendelsohn. Who quickly completed her board with all "yes" votes and Commissioner Chico Rodriguez's blessing.

Quickly the ESD#6 board used every underhanded technique they could come up with to get rid of the 3 volunteer fire departments that had been in the area, some dating back 30 plus years. Sandy Oaks Volunteer Fire Department, AtaBexar and South Bexar Fire & Rescue would be no more.

Since Ms. Mendelsohn and her group were known quite well for grandstanding, people in the area were still wondering if this was true or just another ploy by Ms. Mendelsohn. She had originally scheduled the meeting for July 29, 2014; the same night as the Southside ISD board meeting, so she chose to reschedule theirs to Aug 1, 2014.

The consensus was that, while they were excited that she would finally be gone, it didn't help the sorrow of knowing that it was pretty much to little to late. The ESD#6 is in shambles and financial ruin.

The ESD#2 is providing service in the ESD#6 area and with the establishment of the City of Sandy Oaks, the ESD#6 which averaged around $500,000 a year in tax revenue, could now lose all the tax revenue from Waterwood Subdivision and South Oaks Subdivison.

While members of the community fought the hard fight, in the end it was proven that Ms. Mendelsohn was a paid supporter of Commissioner Rodriguez and all the board members were placed on the board to vote her way.

The community lost faith in their political leaders and grew to distrust Ms. Mendelsohn and her "team". And while Ms. Mendelsohn may be leaving, the remaining members are still her supporters and friends and Commissioner Rodriguez still appoints the seat.