Spring is almost here, with redbuds bursting into bloom around the city of Blanco. Unfortunately, some yards are filled with unsightly refuse. Blanco Police Chief Mike Ritchey hopes to remedy that situation with a campaign led by Officer Dale Bennett, who has already issued five citations for violations of Ordinance 332 (unsanitary, unsightly, and unsafe conditions) to property owners. Those cited have a 30-day window to clean up, or they may face penalties in municipal court, including liens on their property. Chief Ritchey made his report at the March meeting of the governing body of Blanco. He added that some of the same property owners were cited in 2008.
Another way citizens can clean up their property as well as roadsides and the Blanco River is the upcoming Trash-Off on April 13 from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. The city yard will be open the week before the Trash-Off for residents to bring yard waste. Anyone wishing to bring trash needs to get a voucher from City Hall to show before entering the yard. Pamela Prescott Capps provided this information to council members. Groups who wish to participate and get a volunteer T-shirt should contact Retta Martin at 210-722-4799. As usual, the Boy Scouts will be participating, and a lunch of hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be served on the courthouse grounds beginning at 11 a.m. for participants. Sponsorships are available for $300 and memberships for $100 and $75 to have one’s name or organization name on the back of the T-shirt. A countywide Trash-Off will be held two weeks later, on April 27.
In his Comments at the beginning of the meeting, Mayor Homan thanked the citizens of Blanco for their confidence in him and council members Danny Ray and Maria Guerrero, who ran unopposed and will be serving additional two-year terms. Council voted to approve an order to cancel the May city council election since all three candidates are unopposed. Mayor Homan used his comments to inform the public that he has been diagnosed with cancer and may need to take some time off. He expressed confidence in Mayor pro Tempore Bobby McClung, who can fill in for him as needed. “I’ll do the best I can for as long as I can,” he concluded, adding that he is undergoing an experimental treatment.
Mark McMain asked and received approval for a street closure of a portion of 5th Street on April 6 from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. for the annual VFW Fish Fry. The department will place a large trailer at the corner of 5th and Pecan Streets for take-out orders so drivers can pick up their food without getting out of their vehicles. Fifth Street will be closed between 281 and Pecan Street. The fish fry will start around 4 p.m.
Chief Ritchey also asked for approval of a street closure April 6 for the Wild Woman Weekend 5K and 10K races. He provided council with a map of the race route, which will include portions of Pecan Street, 4th Street, and 2nd Street. The race will start at 6 a.m. and will finish by 10:30 a.m. Council granted his request. He asked for the support of council for the Wild Woman Weekend, which he called “a good event” for the city. The Weekend will benefit Friends of the Blanco State Park, the Blanco Library, the Old Blanco County Courthouse Society, and Gem of the Hills Senior Center. In his regular monthly report, Chief Ritchey informed council members that additional charges have been filed against the three young men who burglarized Strickland’s Drug Store—unrelated felony, burglary, and assault charges. He said there has only been one complaint concerning a dog running at large, showing that people have started to keep their animals contained. Chief Ritchey also notified council that the annual Racial Profiling Report, which is required by state law, shows no evidence of racial profiling. “It shows how officers treat people we stop,” he explained. The cameras carried on patrol cars allow all traffic stops to be taped and recorded, and “We are very good in compliance,” he concluded. Finally, Chief Ritchey addressed the recent power failure in Blanco, which cut power to signal lights at the intersection of 4th Street and 281. He called the situation “very dangerous” because people did not treat the intersection as a 4-way stop, as they should have. He asked for TxDOT for portable stop signs but was told there were none. Therefore he has ordered seven portable signs at a cost of approximately $1,000 to prevent future accidents. “We cannot accept the liability if someone is hurt,” he asserted.
Council continued their discussion of the proper placement of an electronic variable message sign to be paid for by PEC to replace the banners which the power co-op will no longer hang on their poles for localities. PEC employee and council member Martin Sauceda said PEC will extend their April deadline if the city has a plan in place. Locations such as Security State Bank, Lowe’s, and the Blanco Library were discussed. Mayor Homan said he would speak to librarian Crystal Spybuck about using the existing sign outside the library on 281 north of the square. A decision was delayed for another month until more information was available.
Finally council approved allowing the removal of city records by a company which will copy them onto disks. This codification process will allow individuals to access city records electronically through the city’s website. City secretary Bobbie Mowery said the records have never left city hall before and she would feel more comfortable if council approved their temporary removal. Following Executive Session, the meeting was adjourned.
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