IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

News and notes from public meetings Jan. 9-14

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Gonzales City Council Jan. 9

  • Mayor Connie Kacir announced a forthcoming “coffee with the mayor” event series. Dates and details will be divulged at a later time.
  • Officers Christopher Rodriguez, Eric A. Long, Caesar Martinez and Darrance James were sworn into the Gonzales Police Department.
  • Minutes from the Dec. 12 meeting were approved.
  • The purchase of two Chevrolet Tahoe police pursuit vehicles for the Gonzales Police Department in an amount not to exceed $81,188 was approved.
  • The tax resale of the 1019 Church St. property was approved.
  • License agreements with the Gonzales Little League and Gonzales Youth Sport League were postponed.
  • A second reading of the GEDC’s project and performance agreement with the Livestock Nutrition Center was approved.
  • The city accepted the proposal from Frontier Waste Solutions for solid waste collection and disposal services.
  • John Coale, James S. (Steve) Dixon II and John Langhoff were appointed to Roger M. Dreyer Memorial Airport Advisory Board to terms expiring Sept. 30, 2020.
  • Alfred O’Donnell, Michael Tuch, John Sample and Commie Hisey were appointed to Roger M. Dreyer Memorial Airport Advisory Board to terms expiring Sept. 30, 2021.
  • Budget amendments, including the Visitor information Center’s funding request, were approved.
  • The December 2019 financial report was received.
  • City Manager Tim Patek said he hopes to have a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Gonzales hydroelectric station next month.
  • Patek also said the city has unofficially been awarded the Community Development Block Grant for its water and sewer line renovation project.
  • No actions were taken after executive session.

Gonzales County Commissioners Court Jan. 13

  • The court approved minutes from the Jan. 7.
  • Monthly reports from Constable Precinct 3 and 4 were received.
  • The accepted the Tax Assessor-Collector’s monthly report.
  • The court approved the USDA’s request to use the meeting/conference room at the Randle Rather Building for its annual meeting Jan. 22 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
  • The court ensured all county employees and department heads will participate in the Texas Association of Counties Cyber Security Training Program.
  • The week of Jan. 26 to Feb. 1 was proclaimed Gonzales County School Choice Week.
  • A technical change to the county’s Flood Damage Prevention Order was approved. According to Emergency Management Coordinator Jimmy Harless, the only changes made were to the dates on the maps.
  • Discussions on election judges and alternates were tabled for the next meeting.
  • The court set the rate of pay for election judges and clerks at $12 per hour for both early voting and Election Day. The state will reimburse the costs on election day.
  • The county will contract an off-duty Gonzales Police Department officer to work security at the Randle Rather Building. The suggested rate of pay is $50 an hour for a minimum of four hours.
  • A request for waiver of local match fund participation requirement on federal off-system bridge program project at County Road 447 in Precinct 2 was approved.
  • A lease agreement between Gonzales County and the Waelder Community Center was approved. The community center will serve as the office space for Justice of the Peace Precinct 3.
  • The court tabled the rules of procedure, conduct and decorum at meetings of the Gonzales County Commissioners Court to review the proposal in more depth.
  • The court is seeking answers regarding its independent audits from previous years.
  • Bills were read and approved.

Nixon City Council Jan. 13

  • The fire chief report was read.
  • Minutes from the Dec. 4 meeting were approved.
  • Financial statements were read, and bills were paid.
  • The council passed a resolution suspending the Feb. 6, 2020 effective date of Texas Gas Service’s requested increase to permit the city time to study the request and to establish reasonable rates.
  • The council approved spending $1,700 from the parks fund to improve the concession stand at the Nixon Little League Field.
  • The council decided to table discussions on cat overpopulation in town to research the issue and possible solutions further.
  • Mayor Dorothy Riojas, Alderman Justin La Fleur and City Administer Harold Rice were reappointed authorized signors at Heritage Bank. New City Secretary Deborah Bustamente was also added to authorized signor list.
  • The police report was read.
  • City Manager Harold Rice said construction on the city’s forthcoming splash pad has begun. He is also looking into fence builders for the project.

Gonzales ISD Board of Trustees Jan. 13

  • Minutes from the Dec. 9 meeting plus budget amendments were approved in the consent agenda.
  • Order and notice of election for GISD School Board Districts 3, 5 and 6 were approved.
  • The board also approved the early voting clerks and deputies.
  • The board approved the resale bid of Property Suite #6573 Property R25542.
  • The board approved a resolution to join the Central Texas Purchasing Alliance led by Round Rock ISD. “This is, in my opinion, a very good opportunity for us,” Gonzales ISD Chief Financial Officer Amanda Smith said at the meeting. The annual fee for GISD will be $100. “This will not replace agreements that we have with other purchasing cooperatives,” Smith said. “This will just be in addition to.”

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