News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 20, 2003 Page: 3 of 14
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Thursday, February 20, 2003 News Bulletin Page 3
County leaders plan future, use La Coste City Hall as backdrop to ideas
Sylvia Carrizales a mayor, city administrator county with a central control and cities partner with the Charter Communications and approached us a year ago
Staff Writer or councilman and at the and computer station in the emergency services district to officials reported frequent that prompted our national
LA COSTE - Area lead- county level, County Judge Sheriff’s Office. pay for the system. problems with picture quality corporate office in Sanford,
ers planned for the county’s Jim Barden and County An initial price tag on the Another countywide issue and customer service.Conn to start having dialogue
future here last week here Commissioner for Precinct 2 equipment for the cities and was the availability of other "The good news for La with Charter on a nation:
and their vision included a Beverly Keller attended. a few unincorporated areas cable television providers in Coste has been through tech- basis, Guerra said. “We may
wireless emergency warning After a presentation about was about $200,000, which cities currently serviced by nology we’ve been able to have systems in other parts
and communications system, a wireless warning system officials said was much lower Charter Communications, and include their system into our of the country they might
better cable television options from the Acoustic Technology, than another company. John Henry Guerra of Time mam (system), Guerra said, be interested m... Acquisitions
for residents and an ample Inc., officials agreed the coun- Barden said the system Warner Cable in San Antonio ‘What that meant for the sub- are long, drawn out process-
supply of water for all com- ty could use the sirens to alert is needed and since the coun- spoke about expansion into scribers is digital cable and es.
momities * residents with tones, a pre- ty would pay for the central the county. high-speed Road Runner or Castroville Mayor Robert
The second meeting of recorded message or a five units and the unincorporated Because of an acquisition, broadband Internet.” . . Hancock said for the past
Medina County elected and warning during emergencies areas, he said he would pre- the City of La Coste is the only Guerra said the cities o ew years the city has no
appointed officials was held like tornadoes or hail storms, pare a recommendation for location in Medina County Devine, Natalia and Lytle con- signed a contract with Charter
at the La Coste City Hall With the ATI system, state- next year’s budget cycle begin- where Time Warner Cable tacted him and he began to Communications because of
Thursday, Feb. 13. of-the-art speakers mounted ning Oct. 1,2003. operates and provides digital explore the possibility ofTime failed negotiations.
Every’city in the county on poles would be installed La Coste Mayor Andy cable and high-speed online. Warner in those cities. .
was represented by either in 12 locations around the Keller suggested the county Other cities receive cable from “When Lytle and Devine
Stadium Has bright future-------------90 Receiving much attention ------------------
See "Ideas," page 4
Continued from pg. 1
investigating the bids and
checks on the companies he
Negotiations on the con-
tract will include who con-
structs the press box and
which avenue is most cost
recommended negotiating effective.
with Griggs. In other contract news, the
The money for the project board approved the adminis-
has already been budgeted tration to enter into negotia-
for construction projects, tions with Southeast Service
Assistant Superintendent for Corporation (SSC) to out-
Operations Paul Holzhaus source cleaning of the dis-
said. trict.
Board member Carl
Blakemore said the renova-
• tions are long overdue with
crowd control being a serious
problem.
"You tell the kids to go sit
in the stands but they don’t
Paul Holzhaus, Personnel
Director Mark Eads and .
Director of Plant Management
Brad Conger briefed the board
on SSC reference checks and THIS IS IMPORTANT: Top photo clockwise: Castroville
told the board outsourcing City councilman Mike Masters, right, listens to an uniden-
with the company would save tified woman during the middle portion of the workshop. To
ins
have any seats to sit in” he $60,000.
• said. Holzhaus said The Faulk
Plus, according to the plans, Company and Professional
Oppelt said the renovations
will limit where students can
roam.
There will be one entrance
w and exit below the steps, mak-
ing it easier to monitor, Oppelt
said.
Janitorial Services also sent
begin the four-hour workshop, consultant Charles Gandy
explained through a screen presentation on ways Highway
90 could be more pedestrian friendly. Castroville Mayor
Robert Hancock, left, points out an issue related to the
in proposals. Out of the three, highway as others listed. (Photos by Michelle Mondo)
SSC was the mid-level priced
bid but had the best refer-
ences, Holzhaus said.
If signed, the contract will
be in effect for one year.
Continued from pg. 1
Gandy said that is an ob vi-
ous sign something needs to
change.
“As we heard, visitors are
intimidated by the size of the
road,” Gandy said. “It creates
a barrier for those needing to
cross the street.”
Gandy said planners also
Friesenhahn, who oversees
Medina County, said even if
the city council decides to
make changes brought up at
the meeting, changing the
speed limit or structure of the
highway is not something the
city can do quickly, if at all.
“It’s a state law that
governs the speed limit,”
Frisenhahn said. “It's not a
FINALLY COMPLETE: The building shown on London
Street is the first structure constructed in Castroville
under the buffer zone ordinance. Haby Realty owner Tim
Hardt owns the building. (Photo by Albert Villegas)
Business owner happy
with buffer ordinance
Yvonne Tschirhart attend-
ed the workshop when her
husband Sammy Tschirhart,
owner of Sammy’s Restaurant
and Haby's Alsatian Bakery,
cannot overlook the needs of city’s choiee.xo-o-oyayCastroville :: City could not make it.
seniors, “I have the ability toFriesenhahn said studies Administrator Jack Yates said Tschirhart said she was
sprint (through Highway 90) are conducted and speed limit public hearings to get feed- interested in ways to make
if I need to, seniors don’t.” is based on the 85th percen- back from the business own- their area along Hwy 90
Gandy said. tile of cars traveling through ers along the highway is need- attractive to tourists.
"Hwy 90 is much more the area. In other words, if ed before the city goes to Tschirhart said she has tried
burdensome to them.” 85 percent of the motorists TxDOT flowers and bushes but main-
One reason for the Hwy 90 are driving slower than the “The ideas presented at tenance (watering in particu-
danger is speeding motorists, posted speed limit the state the workshop are just that lar) became cost prohibitive.
Castroville Police Chief Lee could reduce it. If not, the - ideas,” Yates said. “There “I’ve decided to try artifi-
McVay attended the work- limit stays, Friesenhahn said, is a tremendous amount of cial flowers but they haven’t
shop and said according to While speed limits may work with TxDOT and prop- come in yet at Gardenridge,”
studies by TxDOT the aver- not be flexible, Friesenhahn erty owners along 90 to be Tschirhart said. “I’m open to
age motorist hits the edge of said he wants to be flexible done.” ideas. I think he (Gandy) got a
town driving approximately and will work with the city Getting business owners lot of people thinking outside
50-52 mph. and his district managers at involved has not been easy, of the box.”
“At least two-thirds of our TxDOT to help get changes councilman Stuart said. In Tschirhart said more busi-
citations are for speeding,” in place, response to the invitations ness owners do need to get
McVay said. “The majority of “As far as the concepts, I Stuart sent out to notify busi- involved but because many
those are given out on 90.” have plans to get with district ness owners of the workshop, live out of town it might be
TxDOT Engineer Carl representatives to check on one owner attended. difficult garnering interest.
fund allocations and see what
is plausible,” Friesenhahn
said. “I am not closed minded
to these ideas and it has
merit.”
Michelle Mondo ordinance did its job for the . .1
staff writer building located at806 London Beveriv Keller counting on less rain to fix roads
CASTROVILLE-Thefirst Street. • 4 *
building constructed under “It’s a nice little building,”
ouuumg - better . Michelle Mondo FEMA and one of the most soon as the water level goes individual commissioners,
the guidelines of the butler Bell said. It looks a lot better =.1 D 1 1-01
e * is comolete than the backside of the drive Staff Writer important to complete. down. Barden said his knowl-
and owner Tim Hardt said he thru and car wash ” Road repair in Medina The county has to have all The crossing is monitored edge on the status of road
the Unlike Hardt Bell said County has long been an projects completed within 18 weekly and as soon as it repair throughout the county
job Castroville City Council the ordinance could use some issue and this year is no dif- months of FEMA approval can be repaired, it will be, is limited, especially since he
it tn an tweaking" to make less ferent with increased rain- in order to get reimbursed, Alexander said. is new to the job.
The buffer zone ordinance asphalt allowed at a building, fall and projects from the Keller said, and that is whyAs for the rest of the coun- c Precinct1 County
nestles built on property locat the idea ora buffer zone when pleted. With a tight budget year, Barden said he has received Hartmann and Precinct 4
ed in a zone between com Hardt bought the residential Precinct 2 County the county needs FEMA’s calls concerning roads around County Commissioner Kelly
mioamei and mamiaartiol property behind the Beverage Commissioner Beverly Keller money, Keller said. the Medina Lake area but Carroll did not return calls
“I do believe it is easier Barn and wanted to build a said in her district alone One area Keller said she the road repair is left to the to the TIMES for comments.
for the city and the business new Hardt Realty office early she had 18 projects approved has heard numerous corn-
people to come to a common lastyear. by the Federal Emergency plaints and questions about is
. ground (with the ordinance)," The city did not want to Management . Agency Young’s Crossing, which con-
€ Hardt said, change the zone to commer- (FEMA). Disappointed in the nects Constantinople Street
Even so, Hardt said some of cial but did see the benefit to lack of jobs completed so far, and Lower La Coste Road.
the guidelines are “a little too having a residential-like busi- Keller said the crews are The crossing is the ast
restrictive.” He said restric- ness between the Beverage working against forces they around the Castroville area
tions on the parking lot and Barn and other properties. cannot control, to be closed because of t e
signage may make it more Work on the buffer zone "I don’t think people real- flooding, but that area is not
difficult for some businesses ordinance began in the Spring ize how wet it's been, Keller under her control, she said.
and could be eased. of2002 but the ordinance was said. “A lot hinges on the . Castroville Public Works
City councilman James not adopted by the city council weather. It has to be dry and Director Bruce . Alexander
Bell was a driving force behind until a special meeting Oct. it has to be warmer, said the crossing ism t ecity
the buffer zone and said the 7 Keller said the bridge on limits and is under contract
Lower La Coste Road is to be repaired by Hondo com-
the biggest project listed by pany D & D Construction as
Correction
In a story related to the Medina Valley High School
R-n-i-ancere-tivalipullishedlonfited. 1 theemailsda=
was incorrect For information on the event, one may contact
Lauren Riedel through e-mail glimpse ent@hotmail.com
or 830-931-2514 ext. 121.
Too Late To Classify
In an article on the politics pages of the Feb. 6 edition of
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News Bulletin (Castroville, Tex.), Vol. 43, No. 8, Ed. 1 Thursday, February 20, 2003, newspaper, February 20, 2003; Castroville, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth1689496/m1/3/: accessed July 16, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; crediting Castroville Public Library.