Update for May 8, 2008

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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.


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