Gonzales Commissioners Court submits Harvey grant

Gonzales County Commissioners Court voted to submit an application for a revitalization grant to the Texas General Land Office. The court submitted both a housing and infrastructure application. The Gonzales County Judge’s Office will act as the County’s Executive Office in the matter and County Judge Pat Davis was authorized as a representative in all matters pertaining to the county’s participation in the Community Development and Revitalization Project. 

If either application is approved, the money received can be used to rebuild or improve areas that were affected by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Any infrastructure projects must also be focused on community resources in low-to-moderate income areas that were damaged or did not work well during the hurricane. Judy Langford of Langford Community Management Services, the grant writing service hired by the county for this project, said there is no money match required by the county for the projects. 

The court discussed building a new radio tower and generator in the southern region of the county as potential project infrastructure project for the grant. Langford noted she had learned Nixon and Shiner had difficulty communicating during the storm, thus making a radio tower in that area a feasible project. 

Gonzales County Sheriff Matt Atkinson requested if the county were to move forward with the radio tower project, that his office and the other county emergency services organizations be involved. 

“Certainly, the next project meetings would be with yourself (Atkinson) and the emergency management coordinator to make sure everybody is on the same page,” Langford said in response to the sheriff’s request. 

Other news from the meeting: 

• Minutes from the June 24, 2019 were approved.
• Constable Pct. 1 monthly report was received and accepted as is.
• The treasurer’s monthly report was received and accepted as is. Commissioners also approved an affidavit stating the county treasurer has fulfilled the requirements pursuant to Local Government Code. 
• Tax Assessor-Collector’s monthly report was received and accepted as is. 
• Chapter 19 funds budget was received and accepted as is. 
• Vehicle Inventory Tax budget was received and accepted as is.
• Members of Gonzales County 4-H updated the court on improvements in the program. 
• The court approved purchasing a 2018 John Deere motor grader for Precinct 3. 
• The court voted to abandon and vacate County Road 167. The road will be adopted by the City of Nixon and renamed. The decision was made at the behest of Bud Box, who is the only land owner on the soon-to-be-former county road. Box mentioned at the Nixon city council meeting July 1 that he would cover any costs related to the renaming process. The court will post a 20-day notice requesting the closure of said road. 
• A variance request in Precinct 1 was approved. 
• The court will allow the R.I.S.E. (Resources and Information for Survivor Empowerment) program to use the conference room in the basement of the Randle-Rather building evert second Wednesday of the month. The program is an educational class for victims of family violence. 
• The court authorized the purchase of two computers for the district clerk using funds from County and District Court Technology Fund in the amount of $2,500. 
• John Raeke was reappointed to the Bluebonnet Trail Board of Trustees for a two-year term, beginning Sept. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2021. 
• No action was taken on the donation deed in Precinct 1.
• Budget amendments 35-38 were approved.
• Bills were read and approved.