At a Public Hearing preceding the January meeting of the governing body of Blanco, Mayor Pro Tem Bobby McClung announced that the city has decided “to stop and start over” with the proposed annexation of properties in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction.
The city will meet with representatives from The Landing on Highway 281 North, which is a wildlife management area and therefore cannot be annexed. The Sunset Ridge area has another issue, in that residents own and maintain their road. McClung said the city plans “to step carefully and move in a friendly manner. The inclination is not to control how people use and enjoy their property,” he asserted. In answer to a question about what steps the city will take, McClung said there will be an internal workshop to develop a service plan creating templates for areas that are similar. The list of properties which were sent notices last November will be re-examined, with some properties possibly removed. The timeline for the process will be 60-90 days, McClung estimated, with new notices sent out and March a likely time for another hearing. Landing resident Brad Bayliff said the POA has retained an attorney, to which McClung responded that he would hate to see money spent on attorney fees if it is not necessary. He reiterated comments made at last month’s meeting, that the goal of annexation is protection for the city of Blanco from development over which it has no control, both on Highway 281 and near the Blanco River.
In the Public Comments portion of the meeting, Blanco Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau president Curtis Knutson asked for clarification on recent developments with Blanco’s fire department, specifically the board and fire chief resigning. He said rumors are flying and questioned whether Blanco has fire protection. After Knutson was assured that the city does have fire protection, City Attorney Ed Rogers suggested that someone from the Emergency Services District could come to city council to answer questions. ESD Treasurer Mary Ann Millard recommended that interested citizens attend the next ESD meeting January 26 at 6:30 p.m. at the Blanco Ambulance Corps station. Council member Al Turner affirmed, “There are a lot of issues with the fire department and the ESD that need to be ironed out—it will take a cool head.” In the Mayor’s Comments, Bobby McClung, sitting in for Mayor Chuck Homan, encouraged everyone to attend the ESD meeting and also recommended making the issue an agenda item at next month’s city council meeting.
Council members voted to approve the submission of a Texas Community Block Grant Program application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for improvements to the city’s sewer system. Public Works Director Nathan Cantrell explained that the city’s application was not accepted last year so the application is being re-submitted. Council also approved the appointment of City Secretary Amy Van Pelt as the city’s Records Management Officer and approved Policy Model 4 with the Texas Library and Archives Commission in regards to records management.
The city is considering switching to a new credit card system for the payment of bills by residents. The current company charges $3 per $100 for bills paid by credit card, but as Amy Van Pelt explained, the Govpaynet credit card company charges the city only $1.75 for charges under $75. Council approved the change of company.
Nathan Cantrell explained the latest TCEQ violation notice on the city’s water, saying that there is a narrow margin between not adding enough chlorine to the city water system to kill microorganisms in it and adding too much, causing high levels of TTHMs, a carcinogen. The plan to retrofit a water storage tank with aerators was to have been submitted January 13 by city engineer Marvin Reavis. The plan would take 30-60 days to approve and close to a year for the aerators to be installed. Cost of installation, according to Cantrell, would be $200K.
Cantrell would also like the city to apply for a Texas Parks and Wildlife grant to create a play space on city-owned property on the corner of Jones and Blanco Avenue, where, he said, a lot of kids live who have nothing to do and need a recreational space. He urged the city to form a committee to study the issue and apply for the $150K grant, of which the city would have to pay half. Bobby McClung added his support to the proposal, saying he lobbied for a rec center years ago. Cantrell added that any water from a water park would be recycled for other city purposes. The space could also house picnic tables and pavilions. Retta Martin added that providing recreational opportunities for young people is part of Blanco’s Comprehensive Master Plan.
Blanco Historic Preservation Commission spokesperson Retta Martin reported that the commission is having “a lot of activity” and will have a written report to present next month. She said the Streetscape project to beautify the entrance to Blanco National Bank and other businesses on the north side of the square is progressing, although no plan has yet been submitted for the sidewalk area from the bank to the corner of Pecan Street. Speaking for Keep Blanco Beautiful, she continued that the Christmas lights in Bindseil Park “received rave reviews” and expressed the hope that utilities will be buried by next year to get rid of all the extension cords that have been used to light the displays and trees. She said $1302.47 was spent on lights for December’s display. KBB member Martha Gosnell added, “God bless the police department for turning out the lights” each night so that KBB members didn’t have to. Curt Knutson thanked the city for the prompt payment of the electric bill for the lights. Martin said she hopes that Blanco will get back on the Hill Country Trail of Lights for next Christmas.
Police Chief Mike Ritchey presented council with yearly statistics for 2014, explaining that the department’s implementation of the COPSYNC program in March 2014 has really helped the department in management of information. He also reported income to the city of over $13K since July due to payments from TxDOT for the use of police vehicles in highway construction zones.
The meeting was adjourned after no action was taken on Executive Session items dealing with water storage and filtration.
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