Sucher sworn in as new mayor of Gonzales

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During a packed council meeting Tuesday afternoon officials for the city of Gonzales, along with members of the community, gathered for the swearing in of new Mayor S.H. “Steve” Sucher, who won the June 14 mayoral run-off with 544 votes (over Isaac Anzaldua who received 493 votes).

Municipal Judge Deidra Voigt swore Sucher in as the new mayor of Gonzales, replacing former mayor, Connie Kacir, who served the city for six years.

After being sworn in, for one of the first acts in his official capacity for the city of Gonzales, Sucher awarded Kacir with a plaque to honor and thank her for many dedicated years of service.

“It was my greatest honor to serve the citizens of Gonzales.” Kacir said.

Mayor Sucher took his seat alongside the council to adopt and discuss agenda items, including the 2021 Sidewalk Improvement project, discussing solutions for the sidewalks at Texas Hero Square. Engineer Keith Schauer, along with City Manager Tim Patek, discussed communications with the grant writer regarding recalculations for this project.

“If the council would like to take the sidewalks out of Texas Hero Square that would save around $75,000.” Patek said. “And I just found out today that we did get approval and environmental we had an email that was sent out so that's good to go.”

Councilwoman Ronda Miller addressed the city manager regarding other solutions, and Patek reported that he could verify alternative solutions with the grant writer. Miller, after personally visiting the side walk in question indicated her position that a re-bid would be a “smart| move on the part of the council.

The councilwoman introduced several pictures suggesting the possibility of repairing the sidewalks versus a total replacement of the entire structure.

“I cannot understand why you want to pull that all up an redo….there are some patch areas that definitely need to patch it but I cannot fathom why you want to tear up the side walk and spend all that money. It doesn’t seem we should be doing that in today’s economy.” Miller said, requesting that the city manager specify bids regarding repairs instead of a full replacement.

The council unanimously approved the rebid on the 2021 Sidewalk Improvement Project, agreeing to wait on the pricing of the project before taking any further action.

The council continued with the approval of the following agenda items:

• approved the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation, A Type B Economic Development Corporation and a Texas Non-Profit Corporation, to execute a commercial real estate sales contract and any and all documents necessary to acquire Block 33, Lot Pt 2, Gonzales Blocks Addition, an addition to the City of Gonzales, Gonzales County, Texas, and generally located at 510 Saint Paul Street, Gonzales, Texas. This is for the historic Lynn Theatre, which has been shuttered since 2020.

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