The League City Butler Longhorn Museum is once again being thrown like a political football! It appears that Butler Museum Board Members and the City Council continue to flounder on the decision-making processes to bring this project to conclusion and preserve a significant portion of the League City History.

The Museum was scheduled for completion in 2004 during the Super Bowl held in Houston. I believe there has been a lack of leadership on the City appointed Volunteer Butler Board and two League City Councils. This puts the project today in a vicarious position, wondering if it will ever be done. Millions have been spent up to this point to no avail. I wonder, if League City cannot conclude the small projects, what in the world are we going to do about the big ones, like traffic and growth?

Excuses and finger pointing and just bad manners by members of City Council have not been productive. I certainly hope the leadership each City Council members pounds their chest they are providing is not demonstrated by the brow beating of employees in public forums? I always remembered leadership as the quality of having the vision and determination of how to accomplish on the public’s behalf, not destroy.

I think its time for new leadership on the City appointed Butler Longhorn Museum Board? Johanna Sharp, chairperson of the Board has been well meaning, but totally ineffective. I believe its time for her to step down and let someone more determined take the reigns of the Board. I also believe Councilman Jon Keeney; Council Liaison to the Museum Board should step down as well. If he does not support the project then he becomes a hindrance to the progress of the project.

As for the Mayor and City Council, I say the buck stops on your plate. You are now generating a pretty good list of incomplete projects, mass exits of top staff, which leaves me to conclude something is terribly wrong at City Hall. I am sure that this will be reflected when election time comes around and your opponents begin pulling your public records and reminding what you have not done.

We all should be aware that League City has exploded with growth over the past 30 years. Progress has come with a down side and for League City it is a loss of a sense of community and identity. The History of League City is eroding away amidst the antagonistic portions of growth. Our Future is highlighted with inefficient government, endless traffic and ever-increasing costs.

Mr. Mayor and Council Members it’s a good thing the old families of League City didn’t have the same narrow focus of this communities past and future that you appear to have. If they had you more than likely would not be a Citizen today.

The Butler Family was the first settlers of what is now League City, Texas some 150 years ago! They put the community on the map! League City deserves better, lets get this project done!


Pat Hallisey