NEWS
Manager’s report to
council filled with good news
By William Hoover
Anvil Herald Correspondent
After opening the May 5 city council meeting,
Hondo Mayor Jim Danner asked City Manager Robert Herrera if he had
anything to report to council. The city manager began with news that
Crane Plumbing is again extending its shutdown date. He reported on the
status of city projects, like the covered pavilion being built at the
request of residents on the city’s north side, and ended with news
about the early voting turnout and a reminder for residents to cast
their valuable vote to select three council members on Saturday.
In his report, Herrera gave council updates regarding citywide projects,
which he said spoke highly of council’s effort to improve
infrastructure throughout the city and increase the quality of life for
all citizens.
Crane Plumbing
“I do have a couple of items I’d like to
report on tonight,” said Herrera. “First and foremost, the city has
received a letter from Crane Plumbing’s Director of Human Resources,
Mr. Lee Wingert, saying the plant (will remain open) until July 1, 2008.
So they continue to keep the plant open on a month to month basis.”
The letter from Wingert, titled, Fourth
Extension—Worker Adjustment Retraining Notification Act (WARN) notice,
stated, “It has been determined that shipping cannot be completed on
client orders in sufficient time to warrant a permanent shutdown of the
Distribution Center’s Operations by May 23, 2008.”
Wingert said the fourth WARN notice was for 60
days, from May 1 until July 1, with a shutdown of the plant to begin no
sooner than July 1. The first WARN notice was issued on Nov. 16, 2007.
Elm Slough
The City Manager reported on the improvements
to Elm Slough which was graded on both sides of Highway 90 to improve
drainage. A concrete drainage channel is also being built north of Hwy
90 to prevent water from standing on streets in the floodway.
He said the city’s concern that thrill-seekers might try to enter the
slough, from 15th or 16th Streets on the north side or from 22nd Street
on the south side, has become a reality.
“Regarding the Elm Slough Drainage Project,
we are at the 90% completion mark,” Herrera said. “It needs a good
test with some good rain, and we all need rain in the Hondo area. We ask
the community members who live along the slough to please help us police
the slough because last week we had someone (north of Hwy 90) with
either a motorcycle or four-wheeler. We really need to protect this
improvement and, if a citizen were to recognize someone out there, we
ask they please call the police department.”
“What about the posts and retaining wire?”
asked Danner of the barrier meant to keep people from entering the
slough and damaging the drainage improvements.
“That is in place now and it was in place
last week, but they still got in (the slough),” said Herrera.
After the meeting, the city manager said
whoever vandalized the slough by driving in it did not cause as much
damage as the driver of the car who accidentally lost control of his
vehicle, became stuck in the slough and had to be towed out. The city
manager said the ruts in the slough indicate someone entered it from
15th Street, which crosses the floodway.
Veterans Blvd
“The Veterans Boulevard Project is currently
under review by Union Pacific Railroad,” Herrera told council. “Our
engineers, Jacobs Carter & Burgess, have submitted our proposal,
which is 90% complete, to UP for review. We purposefully submitted it at
the 90% mark so that if UP has any problems, they can return the plans
with any suggestions for improvements.”
Youth Sports Complex
The Sports Complex has reached the substantial
com-pletion stage, according to the City Manager. “We still have
several small issues that still need to be addressed, but the ball
fields are fully operational,” he said. “The grass is starting to
grow in nicely and the sprinkler system is working as designed. The
parking lot is being built using city resources and city staff. After
the final grading, we are hoping to move in base material the latter
part of this week or early next week.”
“Are we planning a dedication of the Sports
Complex once the parking lot is complete?” Danner asked.
“Yes, sir,” said Herrera. “That is
something I’m going to ask City Secretary Yolanda Benitez to work on
with us.”
“Good,” said the mayor. “We need to
recognize the special committees who have been working on that.”
Hondo Municipal Airport
The airport terminal building is five days
ahead of schedule, according to Her-rera. “The foundation site has
been excavated and base material has been brought in,” he said. “One
of the good things about this project is the contractor is trying to
solicit and provide as much work to local contractors as possible.
Cuatro T, a local construction company, is performing the site work.”
22nd Street
Herrera told council the 22nd Street Extension
Project is a little behind schedule, but work on the project is
proceeding. “We are currently meeting with (engineer) John Rothe. We
are looking at some additional utilities that have been, or are being
relocated,” he said. “We hope to have all our plans complete by May
14. Then, we can visit with the project’s engineering firm, KSA, to
have them look at it, and hopefully sign off on it so we can go out for
bids soon.”
T.A. Lopez Park
The T. A. Lopez Park pavilion is a project
council asked be moved up on the city’s infrastructure improvement
agenda because area residents have wanted a shaded place to play or
socialize for years, according to the city manager. “We ordered the
steel girders and the pavilion cover today,” Herrera told council. “The
building materials are expected to be delivered by June 18 of this year.
In the time we are waiting for it, we will be negotiating with a company
to actually construct the covered pavilion for us. That project is
moving forward and our estimated completion date is Sept. 15.”
Water Meters
The water meter replacement project, which was
expanded, is on schedule, according to Herrera. The project is intended
to update old meters to modern ones which more accurately gauge the
amount of water being used by customers. The new meters can be read
electronically, which will save money and eliminate the need for
employees to walk the streets to read meters every month.
“Over the past 90 days, the Water Department
has installed another 650 new residential water meters, bringing this
project back on schedule to be completed before the end of the fiscal
year (Sept. 30),” he said. “About 19 months ago, our initial goal
was to replace water meters which were ten or more years old. About a
year later, we decided it would be a good idea to fund replacement of
meters in the rest of the city. The Water Department is to be commended
for the work they’ve performed in the last 90 days. According to our
staff, we have less than 400 meters to replace before we obtain our
goal.”
TCEQ
The city has been working with the Texas
Commission on Environmental Quality to come into compliance with
environmental standards at the airport, according to the city manager.
The area was found to have used engine gaskets strewn along a creek bed
on the airport property.
“The unnamed tributary to the Elm Slough,
located just east of Castro Ave, is now complete as required by the TCEQ
Plan of Action,” said Herrera. “The TCEQ has reviewed all the
related testing and disposal documentation and they have declared the
site fully remediated.”
The second project the TCEQ is working on with
the city, including Tim Fousse as well as Alamo 1, is located on airport
property in the north ramp area, according to Herrera’s report. “The
site contained spent bead blast material (used in sandblasting) and has
been fully cleaned. It was regraded with tested clean fill material,”
said the City Manager. “The waste materials removed are scheduled to
be shipped to a certified waste disposal site this week. We anticipate a
final closing on this project from the TCEQ within three to four weeks.”
When the city completes work on a cited
violation, the TCEQ is required to return to the location, examine the
work performed, provide an inspection report of their findings, and then
sign off on it if the necessary clean up tasks were completed
satisfactorily, according to the city manager. “We are awaiting that
report,” he said. “That is two projects we’ve knocked out at the
airport.”
Relay for Life
Noting there were a lot of city staff members
present, Herrera reported on the city team’s performance at the
American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life fundraiser, held May 2-3 at
Devine High School’s Warhorse Stadium.
“The City of Hondo’s team set a goal of
raising $1,500 and, as of today, they have raised $3,228,” said
Herrera to a resounding applause from everyone. “Out of 52 teams, our
Hondo team placed 9th in fundraising. The team captain was Sandy Silva.”
Herrera asked Silva and any other members of
Hondo’s Relay for Life team present to stand up and be recognized. The
city manager named the walkers who participated on behalf of the City of
Hondo: “In addition to Sandy we had, in alphabetical order, Yolanda
Benitez, Abby DeLeon, Jackie Jimenez, Megan Johnson, our Police Chief
Johnny Martinez who stayed the whole night and walked the entire event,
Erica Rios, Dorothy Saathoff, Terry Torres, Anastacio Vosquez and other
family members and friends of the city team.”
Robert Byerly, who was the Co-Chairman of the
Medina County Relay for Life program, told Herrera earlier in the
afternoon that the entire county had raised $117,000. “I don’t know
how that compares to the prior year’s total, but we are going to find
out,” said Herrera.
Danner said $130,000 was raised last year but
noted the $117,000 number would likely be increasing as other donations
are still coming in.
City Elections
The City Manager reported 725 voters had cast
their ballots as of Monday night during the early voting period and the
city received over 200 mail-in ballots. He reminded everyone the city
elections are Saturday, May 10 and if they want to voice their opinion
on how the city has been run, they needed to vote.
Herrera wrapped up by saying to candidates
present, “Good luck to all of you.”
The next regular meeting of the Hondo City
Council will be Monday, May 19, at 6 p.m. in City Hall. The meeting is
open to the public.
Back to Anvil News
