Council studies, muddies Victoria College plan

GONZALES — Higher education led to high drama at Thursday's city council meeting. A capacity crowd was on hand to lend their voices to a discussion that lasted well over two hours — and still had people shaking their heads when it was finished.

On tap was a resolution to execute an interlocal cooperation contract and lease agreement between Victoria College (VC) and the city over the college's campus building, which is city owned.

Gonzales Mayor Connie Kacir began the discussion with a long introduction where she referenced the previous month's meeting that neither her or any council member was in favor of closing the Gonzales VC campus. Rather, the decision by VC to not pay rent on the building or to host a fire academy was what stressed the mayor most. She criticized the college for creating an indirect tax on students, who have to pay an “out-of-county” tuition fee of approximately $600 per semester. Students that live in the college's home of Victoria County do not have to pay the fee because they are in a taxing district that allows the campus to operate there. Gonzales has no such tax to support its college.

“If our citizens are going to pay the tax, I want them to have the in-county benefit,” she said.

The mayor then began the public comments section. First up was VC-Gonzales Center Manager Jackie Mikesh, who used her three minutes of speaking time to list the benefits VC had contributed to the community over the years. She said that she had been an educator here for 37 years and knows the benefits of having a college in a small town, and she urged council to support the lease that the college had presented them in July.

Shortly after, Victoria College President David Hinds rose to speak. He said that he was appreciative of council's deliberations and will go “above and beyond” what is required in their current lease. He said that by adopting the lease, it would allow the college to plan for the coming semesters and allow donors to feel confident in the campus' direction. He also said that he would welcome a third party to lead a fire training course in town.

As Hinds took his seat, Kacir addressed him, saying that she had some papers to present him that would educate him on performance-based funding, saying that the information would make his college more successful. Hinds said that he would get the papers from her afterward, but the mayor insisted and met him at the podium. Amid gasps amongst those in the gallery, Kacir handed over the report, stating again how she wanted his college to be better.

In all, 24 citizens rose to speak. The first half of speakers were staunchly in favor of keeping the college at all costs, with town educators, businessmen, doctors and even past and current students rising to defend VC and stating the various ways the college had helped them. The latter third of speakers wished to see some sort of lease-paying agreement made between the city and the college for the property, the theme being fair negotiations by both sides. Only a couple of citizens were of the mind of “pay up or get out.”

Applause met most of the presenters, who ranged from seasoned speakers to those who admitted a disdain for having to talk in public. Many times, Kacir thanked them for their service to the community.

After an hour of public comments, the mayor announced that she wished to go through each item proposed in VC's lease — as well as terms drawn up by the city — and vote them up or down and put them in one big vote at the end. After a little explaining by the city attorney, all members were on board, although bits of frustration were beginning to show on their faces.

Kacir again spoke of her desire to bring firefighting training to Gonzales. She asked Fire Chief Keith Schmidt to address council as he did last month, again stating how fire training would help the various firefighting departments across the county. As for a young firefighter course at Gonzales High School, he said that he wants to do whatever it takes to get GISD to agree, but that any plans or decisions would have to be run through the superintendent and board of trustees.

Kacir made mentions that the district was in favor of the idea, at which time a loud “no” was heard from the overflow crowd in the lobby. GISD Superintendent Dr. Kim Strozier then appeared at the rear of the chambers, stating that the district had no position on the idea yet. Kacir asked Strozier to address council, in which the superintendent said that she was not properly prepared to do so. Strozier said that she was excited about the idea and that the district was proud of its current partnership with VC, but that she had not spoken to the school board regarding a high school firefighting course, and they would have the final say in such an undertaking.

At this time, a “point-of-order” request was made by a member of the gallery. The man — who was addressed as Rev. Smith by the mayor — asked how any of the previous conversation pertained to VC and the agenda, and why they were talking about a fire school. He said that it felt like the council had moved from one resolution to another without notice. Many in the crowd appeared to agree with the reverend, and the mayor said that indeed it all tied together into what the city wanted via permission from VC to recruit a firefighting academy.

Kacir then asked council for a motion to add to the interlocal agreement a high school firefighting course and career firefighting academy. A motion was made by District 4 Councilman Dan Blakemore to move forward. A long pause followed in which no other council member agreed to offer a second. Kacir explained that she needed a second so they could discuss the matter further, stating that the city needs a firefighting academy. District 3 Councilman Bobby O’Neal broke the silence, agreeing to second the motion for discussion’s sake.

District 2 Councilman Gary Schroeder asked Hinds to clarify the college’s stance toward any potential academy. Hinds said that the college would not stand in the way of Gonzales’ chase for such a school, so long as they did not offer training that VC currently does. This would include EMT training, which VC intends to offer in the fall. Kacir clarified that the course she intends to pursue would be for fire sciences only, in which Hinds said he was good with.

“I personally want a fire academy here,” Kacir said.

When the mayor called for the vote, it failed 2-3 with “no” votes coming from O’Neal, Schroeder, and District 1 Councilman Tommy Schurig. Kacir and Blakemore voted “yes.”

The mayor then asked to vote on the high school academy only. Blakemore offered a motion to proceed with Schurig giving the second. The motion passed with only O’Neal voting against.

Kacir then wanted to vote on a career firefighting academy, in which Blakemore again offered a motion to proceed. After another lengthy pause awaiting a second, the mayor pleaded with council for a motion to proceed into discussion. O’Neal again offered a second. When voting came around, Blakemore voted yes; O’Neal was against, stating that he “doesn’t understand what it has to do with VC;” Schroeder voted yes, stating “but I don’t see why this is really relevant;” and Schurig voted no, saying he agreed with Schroeder. Kacir broke the tie with a yes, and the motion passed.

Next was the matter of the lease agreement, with the options being a five-year agreement from VC and a one-year lease from the city. O’Neal motioned for a five-year deal, with Schroeder giving a second. Blakemore stated that he was for the lease, but preferred a one-year agreement so that council could evaluate progress and not get into anything long-term. The five-year option passed, with Blakemore and Kacir voting against.

The crowd at this point was visibly annoyed, with many comments being traded between discussion items.

The next item was a limit on capital improvements, where VC offered to repair anything up to $5,000 in-house and to go out for gifts and grants for anything over that. The mayor mentioned the building needing a roof repair this year and her ongoing desire to get in-county tuition for local students. After a motion and a second by O’Neal and Schurig, the item passed unanimously.

Next was a city item related to a city-owned billboard that VC uses to advertise. Kacir said that other companies had expressed an interest in purchasing or leasing the billboard. She said that the city could sell the billboard and keep the profit. Blakemore made the motion for the city to dispose of the sign, with Schroeder offering a second for discussion. Schurig mentioned that since VC is established, they should have no need for the sign. The motion passed unanimously.

Kacir said that the city will retain the billboard and could now sell it for the “best interest of the city.”

Council then discussed what amount VC would pay in rent: either $2,500 per month as per city wishes, or $1 per year as in the VC proposal. Kacir said that the city’s offer amounted to little more than five cents per square foot, which she implied was quite a deal. O’Neal motioned to set the lease rate of $1 per year, speaking of the “quality of life” the college has brought to the town these past 11 years. Schurig gave the second.

“I would consider the $1 per year rent if our citizens get the in-county tuition at a minimum,” Kacir said.

Schroeder said that it is unfortunate that Gonzales County students have to pay the out-of-county fee, but “we don’t get everything” we want in life. The main reason he supports everything the college requested, he said, is because that is what his constituents wanted, and that’s what he was giving them.

The motion passed 3-2 with O’Neal, Schroeder, and Schurig voting for and Blakemore and Kacir against.

The final term was a city item to have VC look into the matter of the out-of-county fee and if they could abolish it. Kacir said that the college board had the authority to do so if they wanted, which was met by skepticism in the audience. Kacir also said that she had declined an offer to sit on VC’s advisory committee — as the college had offered — which elicited more groans from the audience. Kacir said that she declined because she did not have enough time to dedicate to that cause. The motion passed unanimously.

When it came to vote on the lease and interlocal agreement, almost two-and-a-half hours had elapsed, but the gallery was still full. Council passed the motion unanimously. Kacir asked, “Are we ready to turn the page?”

And with that, most in attendance left the building, leaving the usual smattering of officials and onlookers that took in a relatively uneventful meeting from that point on.