IN CASE YOU MISSED IT

News and notes from public meetings Feb. 20-24

Posted

Gonzales Convention and Visitors Bureau Feb. 20

  • Tourism Director Ashley Simper read a public comment from Mayor Connie Kacir regarding the city requesting to use H.O.T. fund to pay for the recently purchased stage. According to Simper, Kacir was ill and unable to attend the meeting.
  • Minutes from the November 2019 and January 2020 meetings were approved.
  • Hotel occupancy was down 8% in January 2020 compared to last year’s figures. Average daily rate for hotels in January 2020 were also down 4% compared to last year.
  • Simper spoke on the Rockport Warriors United Coast 2 Capital Bike Ride. The event is a multiday bicycle ride from Rockport to Austin to bring awareness to veteran suicide. The group will be riding through Gonzales on March 22 and some members will stop for lunch at the Gonzales Memorial Museum.
  • The Texas Independence Relay will return on March 28.
  • The financial report was read and accepted.
  • Simper said she hopes to have the Tour Gonzales website updated by the end of April and she would like to have a commercial photoshoot done before May.
  • The GCVB recommends the reformation of a Beautification Advisory Committee. The recommendation will go before Gonzales City Council for consideration.
  • The GCVB recommended the use H.O.T. funds to pay for half of the $43,500 city stage. The city council previously motioned to purchase the stage at the Feb. 13 council meeting.

Smiley City Council Feb. 20

  • No citizen comments were given.
  • Minutes from the Jan. 16, 2020 meeting were approved.
  • Financial statements were received.
  • The municipal court and marshal reports were approved.
  • City Secretary Rebecca Mejia announced the forthcoming city election between Mayor Michael Mills and his challenger Ellis Villasana.
  • The Smiley Marshal’s racial profiling report was received.
  • Smiley received a grant in the amount of $595,000 for road repairs. The council approved two resolutions: one on agreeing to the grant’s civil rights policies and another authorizing Mayor Michael Mills, City Secretary Rebecca Mejia, Councilwoman Linda Warzecha and Councilwoman Lisa Douglas as authorized signatories for contractual documents and documents requesting funds.
  • Discussions on a proposal from Michael Cancio for water/sewer hookups on 15 acres of undeveloped property out of the city limits near the lift station were tabled.

 

Commissioners Court Feb. 24

  • Minutes from the Feb. 10 meeting were approved. 
  • An exemption from the racial profiling report for the Gonzales County Attorney’s Office was received.
  • The treasurer’s monthly report was approved and an affidavit stating the treasurer has fulfilled government requirements with her report was approved.
  • The principal balances for two county loans for the Hotel Alcalde were refinanced into one and the interest rate was set at 1%.
  • Allison, Bass & Magee, LLP will be contracted to process the loan contract for the Hotel Alcalde. 
  • The court approved a civil rights resolution, an authorized signatory resolution for buyouts, an authorized signatory resolution for infrastructure and declared a fair housing proclamation. These resolutions and proclamations all relate to Texas General Land Office grant received by the county.
  • The court authorized the county to go out for procurement for engineering and grant administrative services for Texas General Land Office grants.
  • The court authorized the county to go out for procurement for engineering and grant administrative services for Texas Department of Transportation grant.
  • The court approved the budget for county attorney state forfeiture funds.
  • The court tabled a discussion on a resolution calling on the Governor Greg Abbott to replace GBRA board members.
  • Two rental contracts, one with the city of Gonzales and one with Gonzales ISD, for elections equipment were approved.
  • Three budget amendments were approved.
  • Bills were read and approved bills.

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