At the recent meeting of the Kenedy City Council, a large audience along with the city council members heard a report on the request for a freeze on taxes for disabled and 65 or over citizens with homesteads in Karnes County.

Bob Busselman, spokesperson for the group, presented the report and stated that the citizens would like to have the council’s answer to their request one way or another in time for them, if necessary, to get the required number of signatures and have the proposal included on the ballots in the November election. The Council voted to postpone the vote until they could review the numbers on the rolls who would fall into this category and how it would affect the city’s tax base. They said they could have a called meeting and have their votes available soon.

John Michael, of the Naismith Engineering group, updated the council members on the progress toward assessing and repairing the streets of Kenedy. He said that five tasks are of the utmost importance to plan and carry out a thorough and cost effective upgrade and maintenance of the streets. These five tasks are: to gather data, assess with asphalt institute guidelines, label all the streets either bad, good, best, consult for long-range planning, and pave after the initial repairs on a seven-year continuum.

Councilman Bob Patton asked if Naismith will have a supervisor on the job to make sure that the plans are being carried out. Councilman Ken Reiley asked about the infrastructure being assessed as well.

Michael assured council members that because most damage to streets is due to drainage problems, Naismith engineers will thoroughly check on that problem and yes, they will work with an on-the-job supervisor.

The council voted for the engineering company to go forward with the plans.

Renewal of Veolia Water’s contract was approved after discussion. With water meter replacement needed soon, with the possibility of radio readings of the meters and radio towers at the pumping station to monitor water pressure, leaks and other information to be sent directly to the central control, progress would be assured. With grant money for the improvements, the overall cost to administer water efficiently would decrease the cost by 35 to 50 percent. The council will receive final details soon.

Larry Kiesling reported on 4B expenditures and Lucille Matthews asked Council for approval to spend part of funds for the park to add landscaping around a recently completed fence.

Kiesling said that the 4B budget has $100,000 in it and is doing quite well cost-wise.

The council approved Matthews request to use a portion of the funds for the landscaping. The subject then turned to any negotiations about repairs on the Red Holchak Field in cooperation with KISD. Kiesling said that no repairs would be done at this time, noting that "only one light is out." With the transition for the school’s administration still going on, any negotiations will be on hold.

There was no action taken for amending the animal control law regarding pets in the park. However, the council agreed that additional, larger signs will be posted, spot checks will be made on the evidence of licensing of animals on the premises and an ad reminding pet owners of their responsibility may be placed in the newspaper. Councilman Felipe Leal said that he was okay with the outcome at this time, but that several people had hoped more stringent action would be taken.

Council then discussed improvements and repairs to be done at the airport in conjunction with TxDOT. The 40-year-old beacon will be replaced and other runway lights and repairs will be done. The cost will be about $20,000 with TxDOT and the city’s cost about $9,000 or paying 50 percent for the replacement of the beacon and repairs.

Also approved was the hiring of Robert H. Elizondo to be a Police Officer for the Kenedy Police Department to fill a vacancy on the force. And at the request of Reggie Winters, city manager, the okay to purchase two used trucks for the public works department was given. The cost of each truck is not to exceed $7,500.

Councilman Reiley then spoke of the preliminary engineering assessment for the brackish desalination plant that had been sent to the council.

He stated that questions and concerns that the report brought to their attention needed to be addressed before the upcoming meeting with SARA next Tuesday. He was assured by Veolia Water Project Manager Ray Borroum that those concerns can be addressed with items that had been taken care of by the water department. He also shared a letter with the council that said the Kenedy water supply had tested at its best and lowest level of contaminates since the problems had begun.