Report: DRT didn't prioritize preservation

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SAN ANTONIO, Nov. 22 (UPI) -- The Daughters of the Republic of Texas are disputing a report that cites the former Alamo custodians had an "inadequate understanding of historic preservation."

DRT President Karen Thompson said Wednesday the 38-page report produced by the Texas attorney general and delivered Tuesday to the Legislature does not reflect recent changes in DRT leadership, bylaw revisions, external audits and new financial controls, the San Antonio Express-News reported.

"It seems that this report, which includes only interviews with disavowed members and former employees, is not accurate of DRT in 2012," Thompson said, adding the DRT has a "strong working relationship" with the Texas General Land Office, which took over custodianship of the Alamo from the DRT last year.

Thompson said she was "shocked at the outrageously inaccurate conclusions" in the report.

"They really need to take a hard look internally, and be thankful the Legislature didn't remove their presence at the Alamo," said state Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, who sponsored a bill last year then ended the DRT's 106-year stint as custodian of the Alamo.

The report concluded the DRT did not follow up on engineers' reports about a leaky roof and otherwise failed to prioritize preservation, and improperly used state funds for legal fees, among other failures.