WAELDER

Waelder passes ordinance restricting canvassing

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Waelder City Council unanimously passed an ordinance that establishes registration requirements for peddlers, canvassers, vendors and solicitors.

The ordinance requires canvassers to register their name and affiliation with the city before going door-to-door and limits their time to work to Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If a solicitor is in violation of the ordinance, they may have the police called on them and be asked to stop. The ordinance mostly focuses on protections against door-to-door solicitors but does touch other unconventional salespeople in the city as well.

“The guy that sells stuff on the corner, he’ll be ok,” Waelder City Manager Steve McKay said. “He’ll still have to get a permit, but he’ll be ok.”

McKay said the ordinance proposal was placed on the agenda because of an incident involving a salesman that identified himself as a State of Texas representative, but his identity and affiliation was unconfirmed.

McKay noted canvassers working on behalf of religious or government entities are exempt from the requirements.

Other news from the meeting:

  • Consent agenda items—minutes from July 2, 23 and 30 meetings, payment of bills and acceptance of monthly financial reports—were all approved.
  • Waelder Police Department report was received and accepted as is.
  • Council identified four possible projects for the Texas General Land Office Hurricane Harvey grant: drainage rechanneling, brush clearance, back-up generator, possibly for new water wells, and a new bridge. The city hopes to work with the county commissioners on the funding of the bridge project.
  • Council talked with financial advisors on financing a new water well. They discussed several grants, as well as, loan options. No further action was taken.
  • Waelder’s 2019 appraisal roll was accepted.
  • Council proposed a continuation of last year’s tax rate into the next fiscal year. They will hold a public hearing on the matter on Sept. 3, 2019 before confirming the rate.
  • Councilmember Curtis Hadnot Jr. and Valentino Hernandez were appointed to the Golden Crescent Region Planning Commission General Assembly. Hadnot Jr. was appointed to the Board of Directors for term Sept. 1, 2019 through Aug. 31, 2020.
  • Council approved the creation of a new full-time public works position. With the creation of the new full-time position, all other part-time public works positions will be eliminated.
  • No action was taken on financing and purchasing of new maintenance equipment.
  • The city manager report was received and accepted as is.

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