Council to consider loan amount, flagpole tonight

GONZALES — The Gonzales City Council will meet tonight to consider a loan amendment for a downtown business and where to stick a 130-foot flagpole, among other items.

Last week at the regular Gonzales Economic Development Corporation (GEDC) meeting, a request by Gasper and Nora Lekgega was received to amend a previous loan amount of $127,000. 

Because of some challenges that the Lekgegas have encountered with the construction of the Come and Take It Bar & Grill at 501 St. George Street, an increase to the original loan is being requested. The new amount requested is $160,000 with $72,343.48 to be used to pay off the note on the Lekgega’s other business, La Bella Tavola. The balance would be used for equipment and improvements for the Come and Take It Bar & Grill. The note would be secured by the equipment purchased for both establishments.

The GEDC has another item on the agenda with the pending approval and placement of a 130-foot flagpole as recommended by the Hwy. 183 Beautification Committee. After scrapping a three-flagpole plan, members saluted this single idea, to act to “possibly inspire travelers to visit the community rather than bypass the community.”

The flagpole would fly one of three flags at a time: those being the United States, Texas and Come and Take It banners. The project would not exceed $50,000 and is considered a legal expenditure of 4B sales tax revenues. The pole would be placed on Texas Heroes Square with an aerial survey showing two possible sites north and west of the heroes monument for the pole.

Council will also consider approving:

• A small business incentive grant to Craig Gilham and Tylor Miles in the amount of $15,000 for purchase of new signage and repair and replacement of equipment at Sudz Car wash.

• The interior color scheme for the Expo Center at J.B. Wells Park.

• A called election for position of mayor on May 7.