Elect Yantis Green

Yantis Green has spent most of his adult life in public service.  Whether as a School Board member, a reporter, a platelet donor or volunteering through his church, Yantis has dedicated his time to education, economic development and leadership.

Community Leadership

2008: Elected Delegate to the Republican National Convention

2008-2010: Member – Angelo State University Alumni Association

1998-2007: School Board Trustee and Board Secretary, Christoval ISD

1997-1998: President – Christoval Chamber of Commerce

2003-2005: San Angelo Schools Foundation Board Member

2001-2010: Eucharistic Minister, Holy Angels Catholic Church

1992-2010: Member – Knights of Columbus

2001-2010: Platelet donor – United Blood Services

2002-2008: Elected Delegate to the Republican Party of Texas Convention

2003-2010: Member – San Angelo Pachyderm Club

2005-2006: President – Christoval Baptist Church After-School Daycare Program

2001-2005: Member – American Miniature Horse Association

2000-2005: Member – Tom Green County Friends of 4H

2002-2010: Republican Party of Texas Sustaining Member

2006-2008: Republican National Committee Sustaining Member

2000-2007: Member – Texas Association of School Boards

2001-2007: TASB Advocacy Network Member

School Board Service
As a School Board Trustee in Christoval, Yantis was recognized by the Texas Association of School Boards as a leader.  In an interview in the July 2004 issue of Texas Lone Star magazine, Yantis is quoted in an article entitled “Why I Serve.”  There were two questions:  1.  What is the best thing about school board service?  2.  What is the worst thing about school board service?

Yantis said the best thing is: “The satisfaction of watching students grow each year, following their successes and challenges, and seeing programs continue to succeed because the right people and resources are in place.  The ultimate reward is watching students graduate knowing they have the tools to succeed in life and knowing I had a small part in their success.”

Yantis said the worst thing is: “Having to say no to worthwhile programs because the funding is not available.  It’s also having to raise taxes because of unfunded state mandates, putting more and more pressure on local taxpayers while state lawmakers tell the world they balanced a budget without raising taxes.  They leave the dirty work for local governments, and we take the brunt of criticism for raising taxes because the state gives us no other choice. ”

Water Conservation
As the District Manager of the WCID, Yantis accepted the U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner’s 2003 award for efforts in Water Conservation.  In 2004 and 2005, Yantis represented the WCID in accepting awards for Environmental Excellence from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for conservation measures in the 15,000 acre irrigation district in eastern Tom Green County.  Yantis was recognized on behalf of the District by the Texas Senate and the Texas House of Representatives for water conservation efforts in Tom Green County.

It takes an Act of Congress to change any operational aspect of the Federally owned WCID irrigation canal system.  In 2004, Yantis completed an Act of Congress started by his predecessor, (former district manager and former Tom Green County Commissioner Clayton Friend), which was then signed by President George W. Bush that extended the repayment contract between District land owners and the Federal government from 40 to 50 years.

Brush Control
The Water Control Improvement District is the second largest water rights holder in Tom Green County.  Only the City of San Angelo holds the right to more water.  In 2006, Yantis wrote a grant proposal to the federal Bureau of Reclamation for brush control at Twin Buttes reservoir.  The proposal included coordinating efforts among several local, state and federal agencies including the Upper Colorado River Authority, the City of San Angelo, the Texas State Soil and Water Conservation Board, the Texas A&M Extension Service, the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the WCID.  The 2006 grant was not awarded, but in 2009, the City of San Angelo used the grant proposal as a blueprint for securing brush control funding from the State of Texas and the U.S. Bureau  of Reclamation.  Brush control efforts at Twin Buttes are scheduled to begin before the end of 2009.

Waste Water
The WCID uses 100% of the City of San Angelo’s waste water on the 15,000 acres of cropland in eastern Tom Green County.  The WCID contract for the waste water was due to expire in 2011, which put the district’s water supply in jeopardy.  In addition, the original contract for water use from Twin Buttes reservoir gave the City of San Angelo 50,000 acre-feet of water each year for municipal use and the WCID 25,000 acre-feet per year for irrigation use.  A study of the annual yield of the reservoir showed that it only generates approximately 16,000 acre-feet per year.  Representing the WCID in a series of contract negotiations, Yantis successfully negotiated a complex formula with the City of San Angelo to limit the amount of irrigation water the WCID would use each year from the reservoir and extend the contract for waste water from 2011 to 2031.  The result is more water for San Angeloans and a more consistent water supply for farmers in the WCID.

Alternative Water Supply
In 2009, Yantis led negotiations with the federal government through the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Reclamation to secure funding for an alternative water supply study for the WCID.  Recognizing that the demand for fresh water for human consumption will continue to rise over the next 50 to 100 years, Yantis proposed studying brackish groundwater sources for irrigation and industrial use.  The alternative water supply study will determine location, quality and feasibility of brackish groundwater for irrigation use including powering brackish water wells with electricity generated by wind and solar sources.  Other variables proposed by Yantis include brackish water tolerant crops including pomegranates, olives, and pistachios.

Yantis also secured federal funding in 2009 for improvements to the 65-mile long, federally owned irrigation canal system including new technology for automation equipment and repairs that will result in water conservation.