News and notes from public meetings Dec. 12-16

Gonzales City Council Dec. 12

• On behalf of the Edwards Association, Rev. Charles Roaches requested the city close streets for the group’s annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade in January. Due to the request not being on the agenda, no further action was taken by council.
• Clint Hille elaborated on his interest in serving on the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation board and stated his qualifications to city council. Mayor Connie Kacir was selected by council for the position over Hille.
• Main Street Administrator Barbara Friedrich thanked the Main Street board, volunteers, city employees and council for their help throughout the year.
• Derrick Smith formally introduced himself to council as the city’s new building official.
• All the consent agenda items were approved.
• The Gonzales Economic Development Corporation project was pulled out of consent agenda for first reading but still approved.
• The council amended the fiscal and budgetary policy included within the 2019-20 budget.
• The November 2019 financial report was approved.
• City manager Tim Patek said the hydroelectric project hopes to have a ribbon cutting in the beginning of 2020.

Gonzales County Commissioners Court Dec. 16

• Judge Pat Davis informed the court of a letter received from State Rep. Mayes Middleton (R-Wallisville) regarding using tax funds to contract lobbyists. Davis said the letter was sent to all 254 counties in Texas and the issue will be addressed in more depth at a later court meeting.
• Minutes from the Dec. 9 meeting were approved.
• Constable Pct. 3 monthly report was received.
• The Tax Assessor-Collector’s monthly report was read and accepted.
• The treasurer’s monthly report was accepted and an affidavit stating the treasurer has fulfilled the requirements pursuant to local government code was approved.
• An update on Gonzales County revolving loans was provided to the court.
• The court approved a bid in the amount $24,032 for a resale property.
• Discussions on replacing the voicemail system at the Gonzales Courthouse were tabled to gather more information.
• The court approved a final plat for the Cost subdivision in Pct. 1.
• The court approved a subdivision exception in Pct. 3.
• The court ratified the purchase for CRS-2 emulsion not purchased from contract vendor.
• County Auditor Becky Weston was authorized to manage the cafeteria plan through Proficient Benefit Solutions.
• The court approved paying dispatchers in the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office overtime in lieu of earning compensatory time effective date Jan. 1, 2020.
• The court approved restructuring a part-time clerk position in the Gonzales County Sheriff’s Office into a full-time position effective Dec. 27, 2019.
• A notice of compliance from Texas Commission on Environmental Quality was received. Visit gonzalesinquirer.com to view all documents related to the county’s alleged TCEQ violation.
• A budget amendment in the amount of $550 for the creation of a new line for copy machine maintenance for Justice of the Peace Pct. 1 was approved.
• Bills were read and approved.