The most welcome news at the Kenedy City Council meeting October 9 was the decision to lift the Stage 4 water restrictions.

According to Veolia Water Project Manager Ray Borroum, "Water is online, pumping and mixing well."

Bob King, Veolia representative, suggested that when the 5 year review workshop of the Veolia contract takes place, he "advises the city to have a new component that will monitor additional operational issues of the plant." He also stated that other services could be included such as "leak detector devices." He said many of these items could be "bundled together."

Councilman Ken Reiley suggested to the council that rather than have a committee appointed for the review, the council members could themselves act in that capacity.

Reiley said, "the city is just about out of the hole," with the water treatment working and once the water meters have been updated, "let’s see how we can improve on saving money," due to leaks and wasted water.

Councilman Bob Patton asked if the council would still be able to review the vendors interested in replacing the meters. Borroum assured them that they certainly could. A motion to have the council members meet in three weeks on October 30 at 6 p.m. to move forward on these matters was approved.

Resale of two properties located in the city of Kenedy was discussed. One was listed as the East half of Lot 5, Block 45 and part of Lot 6; the other was Lot 2, Block 2, Allen addition. The resale was approved. At that time, Councilman Patton spoke to the council about his concerns of members of the Building Standards Committee being allowed to purchase such properties. He said this could raise questions about the "appropriateness of condemning and then buying" those offered for resale. He was made aware that some of the council members are on that committee and have indeed bought some of the property. Patton made a motion that the ability to purchase such properties be disallowed for Building Standards Committee members "as this seems to cross the line." After discussion about the possible legal matters involved, the council voted to table the issue until such time as the city’s attorney Craig McAda can be consulted.

Another concern brought to the meeting by Councilman Patton was the decision previously made to not go forward with the request by the airport board for an engagement letter for an attorney to act on behalf of the board to negotiate a proposed acquisition of the Paul Covey property.

"Wouldn’t this be another opportunity to grow?" Patton asked.

The reasons for not doing so were presented by other members of the council and Mayor Garza stating that he had been informed by Mr. Covey "that he had no intention of selling." Councilman Reiley suggested that there could be future "opportunities to look at other property," and since this "had already been acted upon," the discussion was ended.

The question of what to do about a home owned by Joe Tijerina that included an extension to the house built on city easement property was next up for discussion. The property’s city easement area actually is part of an unimproved road. Therefore the council felt the best option would be to declare the road abandoned and offer it for sale. The sale of the road would be available for Mr. Tijerina and the other landowners on the road. If the others do not care to buy the part next to their property, then Mr. Tijerina would be required to buy the entire road up for sale. That was the motion that was made and approved by the council.

The council then finalized approval for the adoption of the ordinance to create a neighborhood empowerment zone on lots 1-4 of the Wal-Mart Supercenter. Also approved was the adoption of The Countywide as the official newspaper to run policy notices for the city. And they approved the selection of a particular style of street lights for the installation on Main Street.

The selection of an engineering firm to do a street survey was tabled until the council has at least three firms to consider for a choice. They did make a choice for a person to fill the vacancy left by the resignation of Walter "Butch" Head from the Karnes County Economic Development Corporation Board. The replacement will be Walter Hill, Jr.

In a request by Mayor Randy Garza for a review of the Junked/Abandoned vehicle ordinance, council members discussed the progress being made and some possible revisions that may be needed. After much discussion, the council heard from City Attorney Craig McAda on the latest revisions, mostly in the wording, of the present criteria and procedures sent to him by the Texas department responsible for the update. The recommendation was to change the wording of the existing ordinance to be in accordance with that recently received in the updates. The measure was approved.