By BETH FOLEY
The Palestine Herald
PALESTINE
June 24, 2008 02:29 am
—
City code enforcement officers now can issue citations for code violations, thanks to action taken Monday night by the Palestine City Council.
Previously, code enforcement officers who needed to have a ticket written for someone violating city laws regarding high weeds or junked vehicles had to return to City Hall to have the citation issued, then return to the property to present it.
Now code enforcement officers will be able to write those citations themselves on scene, city development services manager Warren Oakley said.
“This will cut down a lot of time,” Oakley told council members and Mayor Carolyn Salter.
Also on Monday, the council:
• HELD a work session on a proposal to provide senior citizen services by Lois Durant of Meals on Wheels and decided to further discuss the proposal when budget numbers are available;
• PRESENTED an award from the Palestine Economic Development Corp;
• PRESENTED a certificate of appreciation to a Palestine Junior Crime Fighter;
• HELD a public hearing on six historical landmark designations for the following addresses: 1. Lot 5, Block 45, Original Addition, 1020 E. Lacy St., applicant Chris Gouras (HZC-07-27); 2. Lots 1-3, Block 60 (new), Original Addition, 400 N. Queen St., applicant Jean Mollard (HZC-07-28); 3. Lot 12, Block 164, Original Addition, 213 W. Main St., applicant Palestine Landmarks Commission (HZC-07-29); 4. Lot 3B, Block 1, Reagan and Word Addition, 511 S. Royall St., applicant Palestine Landmark Commission (HZC-08-01); 5. Lots 5A, 6-7, Block 34, Green Addition, 217 W. Palestine Ave., applicant Chris Edomwande (HZC-08-02); 6. Lots 3B, 4, 4B, Block 16, Original Addition, 704 Avenue A, applicant Anderson County (HZC-08-03);
• HEARD the Mayor’s Report;
• HEARD the City Manager’s Report, which included monthly departmental reports from development services, the Palestine Public Library and the Palestine Fire Department, as well as a report on the city attorney’s fees;
• APPOINTED Daniel Dyer to the Landmark Commission and Peggy Wyatt to the Library Board;
• APPROVED the Consent Agenda, which included awarding bids for demolition of substandard structures (Bid No. 2008-12), construction of Gillespie Road (Texas Capital Fund Program/Capgemini Bid No. 2008-15) and the water treatment plant force main project (Bid No. 2008-13); and ordinances designating the following locations as Palestine Historic Landmarks: 1020 E. Lacy St., 400 N. Queen St., 213 W. Main St., 511 S. Royall St., 217 W. Palestine Ave. and 704 Avenue A;
• APPROVED a resolution approving PEDC facade improvement grants;
• APPROVED a resolution approving PEDC Cartmell Home project;
• APPROVED a resolution approving PEDC J-3 Real Estate infrastructure grant;
• APPROVED a resolution approving PEDC revolving loan to Prestige Ventures LLC;
• APPROVED the final plat of Texas Area Fund Foundation addition, Block 1, Lots 1, Reserve A and C, Block 2, Reserve B;
• APPROVED an ordinance establishing regulation for the issuance of citations by non-peace officers for alleged criminal violations of city ordinances;
• APPROVED an ordinance abandoning a portion of N. Cedar Street between E. Lacy Street and E. Crawford Street, next to The Ranch House restaurant;
• APPROVED an ordinance approving budget amendments for the current fiscal year for police department ammunition;
• HEARD comments from council members and Mayor Carolyn Salter during the “Items from Council” portion of the meeting;
• CONVENED in closed session to hear an update from City Attorney Ron Stutes regarding pending litigation in the lawsuit entitled Vickie Wesson & Lonnie Wesson v. Frank Campos, Cause No. 3-40016, Third District Court. Council also may receive an update regarding the pending appeal entitled Vickie Wesson v. State of Texas, Cause No. 12-06-00205-CR, 12th Court of Appeals;
• RECONVENED in regular session but took no action regarding the pending litigation from closed session.
————
Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com
————
On the Net:
City of Palestine, http://www.cityofpalestinetx.com/
Copyright © 1999-2008 cnhi, inc.