The Kenedy City Council unanimously approved the request for a freeze on taxes for homestead property owners disabled or 65 years and older at their Feb. 26 meeting.

The freeze goes into effect beginning in 2009 with 2008 taxes as the rate and going into perpetuity until ownership of the property changes hands or significant improvements are made on the property.

The council then heard the first reading concerning the Kenedy 4B Corporation’s expenditure of funds for a neighborhood empowerment in zone #1. No action was taken at this time as another reading will take place at the next official council meeting in March.

During the closed executive session, the council discussed and approved the duties and renewal of the employment contract for City Manager Reggie Winters.

After reconvening and needing no further business, the meeting adjourned.

The March 11 Kenedy city council meeting opened with a request from a citizen for help with a property concern.

Bobby Shaw said that his mother had been given by the city a 28-foot wide strip of property in the 1960s that abutted the property she already owned at 428 Gulf Street. It was added to her lot that measured 50-feet x 150-feet upon which she owned a trailer home.

Shaw said that the family had paid taxes on it for over 40 years, with documentation of their payments, but that it had never been duly recorded in the city’s minutes or property records at any time to attest to his mother’s ownership.

Reggie Winters, city manager, said that he and Shaw had recently measured the 28-foot x 150-foot section in lieu of having a survey done. Mayor Garza related that the proper procedure still would require to have the section surveyed, presented to the platting and zoning department and provide receipt of a conveyance to present to the council at their next meeting.

Shaw said that the price of a survey was more than he should pay for a 28-foot measurement and since they had paid taxes on the property since the 1960s he felt that he shouldn’t need to do so.

"We are scheduled to have a survey crew out for the city near the property shortly and we could have the city surveyors take care of it," Winters said. The council agreed and that it would be placed on their next meeting’s agenda.

Veolia Water Project Manager Ray Borroum reported on progress of the Veolia Water Capital and its renewal concerning replacement of water meters, recommending the Badger system as the most in line with the budget.

The meters could be read by driving by and downloading the information from each meter without the driver getting out of the vehicle. Discussion brought up the question of upgrading to automatic reading and downloading the information to a central location. Borroum was told by the company that it is possible to do so.

Councilman Bob Patton suggested that would be the most efficient and could eliminate human error reading of the meters.

"We would still like for Mr. Borroum to check with other cities, similar in size to Kenedy, who are using the Badger system and report back to the Council," Mayor Randy Garza said.

This item will be taken up again at the next city council meeting on March 25^.

The second reading of resolution 8-1 for a Kenedy 4B Corporation expenditure of funds for a neighborhood empowerment zone #1, placed on the agenda at the request of City Attorney Craig McAda, was adopted. It is an economic development agreement for the payment of expenditures regarding property in the Wal-Mart limited partnership area for expansion of new businesses.

Police Chief Duane Dubose talked with the council about his request for resolution 8-2 for the submission of a grant application for the 421-Radio Improvement Inter-City Program. He said the proposal is for a $10,000 grant with no matching funds needed. The request to go forward with the grant application process was approved by the council.

The issue of animals at large and roaming sections of the city was discussed. In the absence of Councilman Ken Reiley who had requested it on the agenda, discussion focused on solutions, especially on how to catch these dogs. It seems many of the dogs are savvy enough to stay out of traps set, but using tranquilizer guns may be the answer. This method, though complicated, will be looked into and reported to Councilman Reiley before any further action or decision to proceed.

Councilman Bob Patton asked the council to consider ways to bring into compliance the property at 313 S. Sunset Strip Street that needs cleaning up. The concern is what may be in several barrels and if the barrels should contain hazardous waste and other types of waste, how the city should proceed to bring the owner into compliance. The city manager said they have gone the legal route, assessing fines, but the owner just comes in and pays the fines and does nothing to clean up the property.

"How long should the owner be given to be in compliance?" Councilman Patton asked.

Suggestions included decreasing the time between assessing fines, including fining daily, putting a lien on the property, having the city clean up the property and charging it to the owner. Also, plans to look at code and building standards were determined. The matter will be included on the council’s next meeting agenda for action.

A report prepared by Jaime Albiar updated the progress of removing abandoned vehicles. His statistics showed that good progress is being made. Abandoned vehicles are down from 458 in January 2007 to 94 at the present time. Many of those are still on residents’ property. Hearings are under way on those who have not moved them. Cost of the paperwork to process these through hearings was discussed. It has been difficult, at times, due to the need for available wreckers who will haul them off. A list was given to the council members of those who need to move the vehicles. These records are open to the public.

It was brought to the attention of the council by Councilman Felipe Leal the increasing problem of alcohol use in the auditorium of City Hall.

The lease that must be signed for its use clearly states that "if alcohol is to be served, a security officer must be hired." But Leal said the problem is that many are bringing it in through the back door after the party or activity has started. Discussion followed with the idea of banning alcohol altogether but others noted that many of the celebrations there are wedding anniversaries, adult birthday parties, or other adult gatherings and those patrons usually abide by the rules.

Councilman Leal said that posting large signs on all of the doors stating the deposit would be forfeited and also defining the consequences such as shutting down the party immediately were clearly emphasized, it should help. The current contract that must be signed will be re-examined and worked on internally to make if more definitive and brought back to the council for approval.

City Manager Reggie Winters spoke briefly on city water and its growing availability to assure the council that there are no issues at this time. The water wells are working and praise was given to the UTSA crew that helped to get the wells in good shape.

After the meeting closed, Mayor Garza said he would like the citizens of Kenedy to know that the council tries very hard to conserve their tax dollars and that council members were glad for the unanimous vote to freeze the taxes for the disabled or 65 and older at their last meeting.