Exxon CEO Rex Tillerson doesn't want water tower in his neighborhood

GMS readers go find the Wall Street Journal dated February 20 and read article titled " Exxon CEO Joins Suit Citing Fracking Concerns"    If you can view it online there is an audio of Tillerson making his remarks to the town council.

I don't know what to say after reading it.  Certainly it will be a public relations nightmare.   As the leader of the world's oil&gas  super company  what is he thinking?

One needs a subscription to read it online so I cannot link to it sorry.

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Permalink Reply by Utica watch on February 21, 2014 at 5:32am

He is thinking it is fine for people with homes only in the thousands of dollar investments but for people who spend "multi-million property investments" his words are," the water tower creates a noise nuisance and traffic hazards."   This is in part because it would provide water for hydraulic fracturing, as there are nine shale wells within one mile of his home, the latest of which was drilled by XTO who was then bought by Exxon for 25 Billion.  The tower stands 15 stories high and is adjacent to Tillerson's 83-acre horse ranch and close to his 18 acre homestead.  Four couples in the lawsuit to block the tower, which is mostly built, includes the former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Army and his wife as lead plaintiffs.

Tillerson  said he and his wife settled in Bartonville to enjoy a rural lifestyle and invested millions after satisfying themselves that nothing would be built above his tree line.  "I cannot stay in a place," he said, "where I do not know who to count on and who not to count on.".

0i7okn54zwbdoPermalink Reply by 0i7okn54zwbdo on February 21, 2014 at 5:37am

What a putz.

Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on February 21, 2014 at 6:23am

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702304899704579391...

Some Bartonville residents oppose this mostly built water tower, partly because it could bring fracking-related traffic. Brandon Thibodeaux for The Wall Street Journal

BARTONVILLE, Texas—One evening last November, a tall, white-haired man turned up at a Town Council meeting to protest construction of a water tower near his home in this wealthy community outside Dallas.

The man was Rex Tillerson, chairman and chief executive of Exxon Mobil Corp. XOM +0.06% Exxon Mobil Corp. U.S.: NYSE $95.43 +0.06 +0.06% Feb. 21, 2014 12:13 pm Volume (Delayed 15m) : 4.17M P/E Ratio 12.94 Market Cap $413.43 Billion Dividend Yield 2.64% Rev. per Employee $5,699,020 02/20/14 Exxon CEO Joins Suit Citing Fr... 02/15/14 Berkshire Reports New Position... 02/10/14 Tech Titans Top S&P 500 for Fi... More quote details and news »

He and his neighbors had filed suit to block the tower, saying it is illegal and would create "a noise nuisance and traffic hazards," in part because it would provide water for use in hydraulic fracturing. Fracking, which requires heavy trucks to haul and pump massive amounts of water, unlocks oil and gas from dense rock and has helped touch off a surge in U.S. energy output.

It also is a core part of Exxon's business.

Rex Tillerson

While the lawsuit Mr. Tillerson joined cites the side effects of fracking, a lawyer representing the Exxon CEO said he hadn't complained about such disturbances. "I have other clients who were concerned about the potential for noise and traffic problems, but he's never expressed that to me or anyone else," said Michael Whitten, who runs a small law practice in Denton, Texas. Mr. Whitten said Mr. Tillerson's primary concern is that his property value would be harmed.

An Exxon spokesman said Mr. Tillerson declined to comment. The company "has no involvement in the legal matter" and its directors weren't told of Mr. Tillerson's participation, the spokesman said.

The dispute over the 160-foot water tower goes beyond possible nuisances related to fracking. Among the issues raised: whether a water utility has to obey local zoning ordinances and what are the rights of residents who relied on such laws in making multi-million-dollar property investments. The latter point was the focus of Mr. Tillerson's comments at the November council meeting.

The tower would be almost 15 stories tall, adjacent to the 83-acre horse ranch Mr. Tillerson and his wife own and a short distance from their 18-acre homestead. Mr. Tillerson sat for a three-hour deposition in the lawsuit last May, attended an all-day mediation session in September and has spoken out against the tower during at least two Town Council meetings, according to public records and people involved with the case.

The Exxon chief isn't the most vocal or well-known opponent of the tower. He and his wife are suing under the name of their horse ranch, Bar RR Ranches LLC, along with three other couples. The lead plaintiffs are former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Armey and his wife, who have become fixtures at Town Council meetings.

Mr. Whitten, who also represents the Armeys, said they declined to comment.

The water tower is being built by Cross Timbers Water Supply Corp., a nonprofit utility that has supplied water to the region for half a century. Cross Timbers says that it is required by state law to build enough capacity to serve growing demand.

"We're a high water-usage area," said utility President Patrick McDonald. "People have large lots, lawns, horses, cattle, goats, swimming pools, gardens," he said. Cross Timbers, formerly known as Bartonville Water Supply, said it would sell leftover supplies to energy companies during months when overall demand is low.

Bartonville's population has increased almost 50% since 2000, to about 1,600, according to U.S. figures.

Mr. Tillerson, 61 years old, moved to Bartonville in 2001 and became CEO in 2006. Since 2007, companies have fracked at least nine shale wells within a mile of the Tillerson home, according to Texas regulatory and real-estate records.

The last to do so was XTO Energy Inc., in August 2009, according to Texas regulators. Mr. Tillerson had just begun talks for Exxon to acquire XTO. Four months later, Exxon swallowed its smaller rival for $25 billion, becoming America's biggest gas producer.

XTO drills and fracks hundreds of shale wells a year, and the Exxon unit has said it recycles water and ships it on pipelines where feasible, in part to reduce truck traffic.

Tilting at a Water Tower

In 2011, Bartonville denied Cross Timbers a permit to build the water tower, saying the location was reserved for residences. The water company sued, arguing that it is exempt from municipal zoning because of its status as a public utility.

In May 2012, a state district court judge agreed with Cross Timbers and compelled the town to issue a permit. The utility resumed construction as the town appealed the decision.

Later that year, the Armeys, the Tillersons and their co-plaintiffs sued Cross Timbers, saying that the company had promised them it wouldn't build a tower near their properties. They also filed a brief in support of the town's appeal.

Last March, an appellate judge reversed the district judge's decision saying he had overstepped his jurisdiction and sent the case back to the lower court, where it is pending.

Meanwhile, the utility has reached out to Bartonville voters, who in November elected two members to the council who criticized the town's fight against the tower.

"The council is currently evaluating all options," said Bill Scherer, Bartonville's mayor pro tem.

In the wake of the election, Mr. Tillerson was among those who lined up in a windowless hall to address the council. He told officials that he and his wife settled in Bartonville to enjoy a rural lifestyle and invested millions in their property after satisfying themselves that nothing would be built above their tree line, according to the council's audio recording of the meeting.

Allowing the tower in defiance of town ordinances could open the door to runaway development and might prompt him to leave town, Mr. Tillerson told the council. "I cannot stay in a place," he said, "where I do not know who to count on and who not to count on."

Write to Daniel Gilbert at daniel.gilbert@wsj.com

Permalink Reply by Dan on February 22, 2014 at 2:51am
BP should offer to pay to build the tower if they can paint the BP logo on it.
Permalink Reply by Jim Litwinowicz on February 22, 2014 at 2:59am

This is a classic example of how the Left works.  This story has very little to do with fracking, if anything at all. That tower is for domestic water supply, not fracking. But the Left will distort the story to their advantage and the press, since they are like-minded, will report it as told to by the Left. Thats how the game works in the modern USA.

Permalink Reply by Sage59 on February 22, 2014 at 5:34am

Jim, left - right - or middle, this guy is still the adult version of a spoiled brat. He offered a perfect fix when he said he would pick up his toys and leave if the "problem" wasn't resolved to his satisfaction. Good. Leave. Buy your own island. I'm sure the town will survive without him

Permalink Reply by Dan on February 22, 2014 at 6:02am
I agree 100%. There are politics and there is stupid. He doesn't need an island. There is probably lots of wealthy NIMBY areas of NY that they would love to have him. Him and Chip could be best buds.
Permalink Reply by Philip Brutz on February 22, 2014 at 6:32am

Wall Street Journal = Leftist Rag?

Permalink Reply by searcherone on February 22, 2014 at 4:34am

IMHO left, right, or middle of the road the old adage is "know when to pick your battles" and Mr. Tillerson with his abilities and connections just might have been able to find a more subtle way to express his dissatisfaction than having his name in a  public lawsuit which makes it right out there for the world to form its opinions.    And right or wrong the "court of public opinion" is powerful in this media age. CEOs are the "public face" of private and public companies.

Permalink Reply by Tim Tarr on February 22, 2014 at 10:22am

Must think He's a Liberal or something. All for it until it get's into their neighborhood.

Permalink Reply by Sage59 on February 22, 2014 at 11:13am

Tim. Stop. Read the story. Rex is the CEO of Exxon and (just guessing) a conservative like myself and many others on this board. Statements like yours are poorly considered, and do no good. Cheap shots are rarely admired and not necessary. 

Permalink Reply by Tim Tarr on February 22, 2014 at 12:43pm

Sage59

Stop and reread my post. It's about hypocrisy. I said must think He's a liberal, not he is a liberal. Perhaps it was a "cheep shot" but it was aimed at any hypocrite.

Mr. Whitten said Mr. Tillerson's primary concern is that his property value would be harmed.

Now where have we heard that type of concern before. Windmill projects off the NE Coast or Low income housing around certain former politicians property.

I'll also put up my "conservative" credentials against anyone.

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