Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 07, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 16, 1984 Page: 1 of 16
sixteen pages : ill. ; page 22 x 15 in. Digitized from 35 mm. microfilm.View a full description of this newspaper.
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Rest remains in limbo
Corpus Christi takes Port land
The ball was, in effect, returned to
pfay after two public hearings
regarding annexation by the City of
Corpus Christi of land abutting Pbrt
Aransas' extra territorial jurisdiction.
Hearings before the Corpus Christi
City Council Feb. 1 and Feb. 8
resulted in Corpus Christi voting to
proceed with annexation of part of
619 acres located on the southeastern
boundary of Port Aransas. The
portion of land to be annexed is
already owned by the Port Authority
and is south of the Piper Channel.
Hie fate of the rest of the parcel,
part of which is known as Charlie's
Pasture, will be up to a decision
made between the Port Authority,
Port Aransas city officials and the
General Land Office, since part of
the land la state owned. Some
portions of the land are owned by
private individuals.
Port Aransas city officials and
private residents have objected to the
annexation because it has been
unclear what the land would be used
for. Hie request to annex was made
by the Port Authority which has said
it needs the land for spoil disposal
when the ship channel is dredged for
routine maintenance or possible
future deepening. Port officials,
however, denied the possibility of
industrial use of the area. That point
was contested by Port Aransas
Mayor Charlie Brown who presented
copies of Port Authority plans dated
April 5, 1982. The plans showed
spoil disposal areas as well as a
harbor for industrial use.
Port Aransas’ interest in the land
is for the possible construction of a
boat marina in the area. The Port
Aransas school district owns some of
the land and is interested in using it
for possible enlargement of the
school system. Hie water district is
concerned about providing water and
sewer service to the area within its
boundaries. All three local entities as
well as the private landowners and
owners of adjacent lands object to
industrialization of the area. In fact.
Port Aransas' Master Plan calls for
restricting industrial uses to the
Harbor Island side of the ship
channel.
Port Aransas city officials and staff
have been trying for sometime to
negotiate with the Port Authority on
determining how the land wiii be
divided. Hie city was selected to
represent the interests of the school
and water district in trying to get a
lease from the state's General Land
Office since much of the land is state
owned. Mike Hightower from that
office attended both hearings as a
neutral party. At last Wednesday’s
hearing Brown said that efforts to
cooperate with both Corpus Christi
city staff and Port staff have been
futile.
After voting to approve annexation
of the Port-owned portion of the
land, (most of which is south of the
Piper Channel) Corpus Christi Mayor
Luther Jones requested that the Port,
Port Aransas officials and the
General Land Office to work out an
arrangement for use of the remaining
land.
One-way traffic
ok’d on beach
Boundary line stand
Port Aransas Mayor Charlie Brown addresses the Corpus Christi City Council during a
hearing Wednesday, Feb. 8, on annexing land that abutts the extra territorial jurisdiction
of Port Aransas. Port Aransas won at least a partial victory when Corpus Christi officials
voted to annex only Port Authority-owned land. (Staff photo by Murray Judson)
Street assessment gets first nod
A street paving assessment ordi-
nance was approved on first reading
by the Port Aransas City Council
Thursday, Feb. 9.
The reading got its okay despite
the "no” votes cast by Councilman
Tom McNatt and Ralph Keene.
Throughout the past several months
of discussing an assessment ordi-
nance McNatt and Keene have
expressed reservations about actually
getting streets paved if it requires
property owners to peitition the city
to pave and agree to pay their
proportionate share of the cost.
Mayor Charlie Brown has said in
answer to such concern that the city
does not have a "good fairy" who
will pay for paving, that in the end
the people will have to foot the bill
through either an assessment pro-
gram, ad valorem taxes or a bond
issue. An assessment program.
Brown said, is the most fair and least
painful method of getting streets
paved.
Two concerns brought up in last
Thursday’s discussion were making
allowances for below poverty level
property owners and over property
owners whose property is on a comer
abutting two streets.
Adding language to the ordinance
to grant exceptions to the poor was
negated since a person cannot be
forced to sign a petition or pay the
assessment. Liens can be placed
against the person’s property for
non payment. Only at the sale of the
property could the assessment, with
interest, be paid by the buyer.
Councilman Dale Bietendorf pro-
posed the clause for people below
poverty level, and Councilman Ed
Reed’s reply was that the city could
decide against the assessment pro-
gram and "raise taxes and really hit
below poverty level people.” Reed
noted that other taxing entities do
not make exceptions for lower
income taxpayers.
The council also agreed that
property owners whose land abutts
two streets will have to pay
assessment costs for both streets if,
in fact, property owners along both
streets petition for paving.
The council has also discussed a
bond issue to pave the way for the
assessment ordinance and provide
the city with some "seed" money to
get on with paving. However, in
Thursday’o discussion Reed pointed
out that the city will be able to pave
three times the number cf streets
than it would otherwise since
property owners on either side of a
street will pay for one-third of the
width of the street (up to six feet out
from the property line) and the city
will pay for the center third (six feet
or more).
City Manager Joyce Pulich noted
that many cities are having difficulty
floating bond issues and have chosen
the alternate route of allocating
street "seed" money to be used in
conjunction with the assessment
program rather than pursue bond
issues.
The ordinance states that property
owners can be assessed up to 90
percent of the costs of the improve-
ments for one half of the street
abutting the property. But the city’s
formula, stated later in the ordinance
sets a lower maximum that property
owners will, in fact, pay.
Property owners who want their
streets paved must get 51 percent of
the property owners on a street, to
sign a petition asking that the city
pave. The petition will be presented
to the council in a public hearing and
if the council finds no objection and
has the money, the paving will be
done.
Starting March 1 Port Aransas
beach-goers will head south.
Every other means of controlling
beach traffic has failed so far, so the
City Council Thursday night ap-
proved one-way traffic (southbound)
on the beach between Beach Street
and Access Road 1A from March 1
through Oct. 1. Two-way traffic
during Spring Break and summer
holidays has snarled traffic on the
beach, at times requiring up to four
hours to traverse a quarter-mile
stretch of beach.
Out-going Mayor Charlie Brown
suggested in jest that between
October 1 and March 1 that the
one-way signs be replaced with signs
that read ‘‘Hooray for the City
Council!" or "We love our Council!"
In truth, the signs will either be
covered or removed during that
period. Cost of the state regulation
signs is $1 500. The city will provide
installation labor costs.
One of the primary concerns about
limiting traffic to one-way is the
effect it will have on traffic on 11th
Street and Park Road 53. Councilman
Dale Bietendorf asked that the police
and constable’s departments monitor
traffic carefully. Police Chief Dave
Hudiburgh said that those problems
had been anticipated and will be
handled by both departments.
See "TRAFFIC," page 2A
Soon to change
Activity on the beach will be picking up in the next several
weeks as Spring Break approaches. Sights like this one will
become history as the beach explodes with Spring Breakers and
summer gets into full swing. Another significant change will be
one-way traffic on the beach from Beach Street south to Access
Road 1A. That goes into effect March 1 and will continue
through Oct. 1. The scene here looks northward on the beach
from just south of Ave. G. (Staff photo by James Simmons)
Race for mayor develops
On the beaeh...
The beach is sporting little debris and seaweed. Driving
conditions are good, shelling is fair and the beach-goers are
trickling in with the warming trend.
Weather watch...
After experiencing below normal temperatures in December and
January, February temperatures are treating Port Aransans
right. Above normal temperatures for the month have the
mercury kissing 80 degrees. The extended forecast calls for
more of the same with highs in the upper 70's and lows in the
mtd-40's. The water temperature was up to S7 degrees
Wednesday morning.
A cunlest has shaped up for the
mayor’s seat in Port Aransas while
two newcomers lu the political arena
have expressed interest in as many
positions on the school board for
which incumbents had not filed as of
noon Tuesday. All three incumbents
on the water board have filed for
re-election.
Filing deadline in all these
elections is Tuesday, March 6.
City Council
Dale Bietendorf, incumbent in
Race 4 on the City Council, has
drawn an opponent in Parke Unangst
for the mayor’s job. Incumbent
Mayor Charlie Brown has already
announced his decision not to seek
another term.
Races 2, 4 and 6 on the council
are now open for grabs. Ed Reed has
said he won’t ask a return to Race 2,
Bietendorf is giving up Race 4 in
hopes of being elected mayor, and
Race 4 Councilman Bob Carlough
earlier announced he won’t run
again. Remaining on the council for
another year of their two year terms
are Race 1 Councilman Tom McNatt,
Race 3 Councilman Ralph Keene and
Race 5 Councilman Jimmy Barr.
School Board
Donnella Tyler tossed her hat in
the ring last week for consideration
for a position on the school board.
Georgia Neblett joined her this week.
Incumbents R.H. Smith and Mark
Creighton had not filed by noon
Tuesday.
The two positions on the school
board expire in April and candidates
run at large, with the two largest
vote getters declared the winners.
W ater Board
All three incumbents whose terms
expire in April have filed for
re election They are board president
Jim Atwill, and members Ed
Manning and A1 Morn
Statements
Some candidates have already
availed themselves of the South
Jetty's invitation to submit, free of
charge, statements announcing their
candidacy, listing their qualifications
and reasons for seeking office. The
invitation still stands for those who
have not already accepted. State-
ments should be limited to two
letter-si7P page®, be typewritten and
double-spaced. Candidates submit a
photo of themselves for publication
with the statement or have a photo
taken at the South Jetty office, also
at no charge.
Weekly deadline for submitting the
statements is 12 noon Tuesdays. The
final deadline for the statements will
be Tuesday, March b, by 12 noon.
Statements submitted after that hour
and date will be published at regular
advertising rates, payable in advance
as is customary for all political
advertising.
Maiden voyage
A 76-pound amberjack was the prize catch brought back from the maiden voyage of the
Dolphin lixpress which docked at Dolphin Docks on Saturday, Feb. II. Capt. Marvin
Horner Jr. and the anglers also brought back a number of grouper and red snapper.
Pictured are, left to right, Ron Schlimmer, Bob Gulley, Sylvia Gulley, Jay Hart, Bryan
Gulley, Sue Kelln and |im Borden.
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Judson, Mary. Port Aransas South Jetty (Port Aransas, Tex.), Vol. 14, No. 07, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 16, 1984, newspaper, February 16, 1984; Port Aransas, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth840884/m1/1/?q=%22Mustang+Island+%28Nueces+County%2C+Tex.%29+--+Newspapers.%22: accessed June 17, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Ellis Memorial Library.