The City Council of Karnes City agreed to begin the process of consolidating the Karnes City Housing Authority and the Kenedy Housing Authority at its October 28 meeting.

The Kenedy Housing Authority currently manages the Karnes City Housing Authority under a cooperation agreement, but the two housing authorities still operate as separate agencies. The office of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is promoting the consolidation as part of a larger trend.

Housing Authority Director Cristi Baskerville said that the consolidation will both reduce costs and help the combined authority get more money for capital fund improvements.

"It will give us more capital fund operations money," Baskerville said. "We’re looking at about $20,000 a year more in money. It will enable us to do larger projects down the road."

Craig McAda, attorney for the Kenedy Housing Authority, said that steps will be taken to ensure that little will change in terms of day to day operation. The new housing authority board would be composed of members from both cities.

The vote by the council only begins the process. Public notice must be given and both city councils must approve the consolidation agreement before any agreement can be finalized.

The council also voted to make a change to Karnes City 911 addresses. The stretch of highway in front of the high school currently known as Hwy 80/123 will be renamed Hwy 123 North, and the street known both as Lady Badger Drive and 80Y will be officially named Lady Badger Drive. The council also determined that Loop 17 will remain Loop 17. TxDOT had previously suggested BR 123, and some residents on the street are using Panna Maria for their street address.

Karnes County 911 Coordinator Sharon Chesser stressed the importance of residents using their official 911 address as their service address with the telephone company. The telephone service address is what the dispatcher sees when a resident calls 911. If the service address listed with the phone company is incorrect it can cause delays in emergency services arriving at the address.

"We can’t push enough that you (need to be) using your 911 address as your service address," said Chesser.

City officials approved a rate increase for IESI’s garbage collection services under protest. Although dissatisfied with IESI’s service, the council felt they had little recourse other than to grant the increase. The vote was 3 to 1, with council member Raymond Robinson opposing the motion. The rate increase will go into effect December 1.

Lupe Ochoa, Partnership Specialist for the U.S. Census informed the council about efforts to get ready for the 2010 census. She asked the council to begin informing city residents about the census and encourage them to participate. "The message is, it’s important, it’s easy, and it’s safe," said Ochoa. "It’s a federal mandate, but it’s really a local effort. We’re here to ask for your assistance."

The council authorized a change in the city holiday schedule for 2008. City offices will be open all day on Christmas Eve, December 24, but will be closed on both December 25 and 26. Similarly, the office will be open on December 31, but will be closed on January 1 and 2. Columbus Day was also added to the 2009 holiday schedule.