Editing Piney Point Village, Texas (section)

==History==
In 1885 Piney Point Village began as a station on the [[Texas Western Railroad]]. [[German American|German]] farmers settled in the area. According to 1936 state highway maps, the community was near a [[sawmill]].<ref name="PineyHandbook">{{Handbook of Texas|id=hgp06|name=Piney Point Village, Texas}}</ref>

In the mid 1950s, an effort to form a Spring Branch municipality failed.<ref>{{Handbook of Texas|id=hrsrj|name=Spring Branch, Texas}}</ref> Piney Point Village incorporated in 1955 with an [[alderman]] form of government.<ref name="PineyHandbook"/> Because of the 1955 incorporation, Houston did not incorporate Piney Point Village's territory into its city limits, while Houston annexed surrounding areas that were [[unincorporated area|unincorporated]].<!--Print version exclusively has the information cited; the information is ''not'' included in the online edition--><ref name="Annexbitter">Lee, Renée C. "[http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/4243441.html Annexed Kingwood split on effects]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Sunday October 8, 2006. A21. Retrieved on July 6, 2011. "Some of the area communities that incorporated as cities and escaped annexation by Houston:" Print version exclusively has the information cited; the information is ''not'' included in the online edition.</ref> In 1960 the city had 1,790 residents. By 1966 the city had one public school and four churches. In 1990 the city had 3,380 residents.<ref name="PineyHandbook"/>

For a decade ending in 1993 the [[Consulate-General of Japan in Houston]] refused to pay "user fees" billed to the consulate by the City of Piney Point Village (the consul-general residence is in Piney Point Village). The Japanese argued that this was a tax and that diplomatic facilities should not be taxed.<ref>Tolson, Mike. "[https://web.archive.org/web/20110522080629/https://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1154709 Piney Point Village tells Japanese Consulate to pay its way/$14, 000 in user fees, or forget garbage pickup]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Tuesday September 21, 1993. A11. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.</ref> In 1993 Piney Point Village announced that the consulate owed the city around $14,000 [[United States dollar]]s.<ref>"[http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=DM&p_theme=dm&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0ED3D3B4313CF8B8&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM City says Japan owes $14,000 consulate debt]." ''[[Associated Press]]''. September 22, 1993. Retrieved on December 24, 2008.</ref> The Japanese argued that international agreements exempted consulate facilities from taxes, while Piney Point Village said the annual fees were for user services. James Baker, a Piney Point Village alderman, threatened to suspend garbage pickup services and expose the Japanese consulate to ridicule. In September of that year a [[U.S. State Department]] letter stated that consulates should pay legitimate user fees, and that consulates do not have to pay for fire and police services. The consulate paid almost $12,000, including $4,500 in interest, to the city. According to Vice-Consul Takaki Takinami originally the city charged $14,915.52 before changing the invoice and deducting police and fire costs. Shojiro Imanishi, who was the outgoing consul-general, agreed to pay $4,500 annually.<ref>Tolson, Mike. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1171952 Japanese consul coughs up Piney Point's fees]." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Wednesday December 15, 1993. Section A, Page 36. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.</ref> In 1993 the [[Consulate-General of Indonesia in Houston]] and the [[Diplomatic missions of Australia|Consulate-General of Australia in Houston]] had consul-general residences in Piney Point Village; they paid the fees voluntarily and without controversy.<ref>Asin, Stefanie. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1156741 Japan's consul, Piney Point agree on trash, drainage fees] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522080429/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1156741 |date=2011-05-22 }}." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Saturday October 2, 1993. A29. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.</ref><ref>Lenhart, Jennifer. "[http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1156094 No diplomatic solution reached on trash bill] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110522080536/http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/archive.mpl?id=1993_1156094 |date=2011-05-22 }}." ''[[Houston Chronicle]]''. Tuesday September 28, 1993. A11. Retrieved on January 13, 2009.</ref>