By Anton Riecher
A quickly resolved engineering “snafu” threatened to delay completion of Lytle’s latest water well project, City Administrator Matthew Dear reported to the Lytle City Council Monday.
Upon inspection, the new water well number four was found to be missing a vital air release check valve, he said.
“It was a snafu by the engineers who just forgot to design it in there,” Dear said.
The correction is only required a “zero dollar” change order at the insistence of TRC Engineering with no cost to the city.
“The city is not paying for it,” Dear said. “It’s their mistake.”
He said the change order does extend the project’s completion date to Jan. 8, 2023. However, the contractors hope to have the project completed this week.
“We’re waiting on shipping,” Dear said. “Fortunately, (the valve) is not on some weird 48-week back order.”
On a motion by District 3 Alderman David Emery, seconded by District 1 Alderman Joseph Morrow, the change order was approved by a vote of 4-0. District 5 Alderman Charles Cate, a reservist currently on deployment, was unavailable to monitor the meeting by Internet as usual.
In other business, the council voted 4-0 to adopt a new employee handbook with an effective date of Dec. 1. Emery said the new handbook, in development since mid-2021, replaces a handbook that is more than 15 years old.
Dear said the final handbook had been through an extensive human resources and legal review prior to reaching the council.
“A lot that used to come to the council goes to the city administrator,” he said. “A lot that used to go to the city secretary comes to the city administrator.”
The “meat and bones” of the handbook does not change, particularly vacations and holiday, Dear said. However, the new handbook does streamline the pay process for greater efficiency.
Council members also voted 4-0 to approve a new franchise agreement with the utility Texas AEP that delivers electricity to more than one million users in south and west Texas. The franchise fee is paid for use of the city’s right of way to place electric lines.
Jessie Lopez, Lytle’s city attorney, said he was working on the final agreement with AEP until the last minute. One item in contention was dealing with any potential conflict between state law and city ordinances.
“We made a couple of compromises in language,” Lopez said.
Dear told the council that although the city has continued to collect franchise fees from AEP no formal franchise agreement has been in place “for quite some time.”
Dear reported to the council that he is working to arrange dates with previous long time city attorney Tom P. Cate where the city can retrieve legal files needed for its records. Lopez replaced Cate last May.
Among reports given by city department heads police Chief Richard L. Priest reported that the city had no robbery or aggravated crime reported in September. He also said there had been no juvenile arrests.
Alarm calls totaled 18 with 15 related to businesses or commercial property. Only three involved local residences.
Vehicle collisions totaled 12 with only five occurring on public property, Priest said.
On the positive side, Priest reported that a local company, A1 Sealcoating LLC, had seal coated the police department parking lot free of charge.
Category: Top News Stories
Keep up with what’s going on in Devine, Natalia, Lytle, Bigfoot and Moore areas in Medina, Frio, and Atascosa Counties.
Suspect could face life in prison, trial to begin in murder of
MV student 16 yr old Graff
State v. David Garcia, Jr.
Press Release
Medina County Criminal District Attorney’s Office
David Garcia, Jr. is facing a murder charge for the shooting death of 16-year-old Athen Graff. Graff’s body was found in a field just outside of the Castroville City Limits just before 9 p.m. on December 2nd, 2020, not far from his home. Within days, investigators from the Medina County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a San Antonio home leading to the arrest of David Garcia, Jr., then 18-years-old, for murder. Investigators were able to tie Garcia to the death of Graff through messages found on Graff’s phone, showing a conversation taking place shortly before Graff’s death. Physical evidence found at Garcia’s far westside San Antonio home on Paseo Derecho further corroborated Garcia’s connection to the field where Graff was found shot. Graff was a student at Medina Valley High School and resident of the Castroville area.
Jury selection is scheduled to begin on Monday, December 5th, 2022, in the 454th Judicial District Court with Judge Daniel Kindred Presiding. If found guilty, Garcia could face up to life in prison.
Burn Ban continues
New county emergency management coordinator pledges to build on past success of the office
By Anton Riecher
Chadwick, who on Nov. 21 replaced County Judge-Elect Keith Lutz as emergency management coordinator, boasts more than 36 years in emergency response. He graduates to the Medina County job after 10 years as an emergency response specialist with the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management.
Ideally, the best way that the new Medina County emergency management coordinator Mark Chadwick could make his introduction to county residents would be lifting the burn ban that office has had in place since late June.
Unfortunately, Chadwick says that despite the recent rain the ban must remain in place.
“Right now what we are doing is every night I call dispatch after reviewing the weather for the next few days,” Chadwick said. “I’m looking at things like wind speed, humidity and the soil moisture to determine whether or not it would be safe for us to burn.”
Most important is the Keetch-Byram Drought Index (KBDI) which balances the drought factor against precipitation and soil moisture.
“We’re not doing away with the burn ban because two days from now the conditions could be horrible again,” Chadwick said. “We have to keep looking at that soil moisture content provided by the Texas A&M Forest Service.”
Among a host of credentials, Chadwick is certified as an emergency manager (CEM) by the International Association of Emergency Managers and as a Texas Emergency Manager (TEM) by the Emergnecy Management Association of Texas. Obtaining those certifications takes a minimum of five years documented training.
He serves on one of Texas’ 17 local incident management teams and one of six regional teams in the state. These teams are activated to lend incident management support in emergencies requiring significant local, regional and state resources.
“Incident management teams can deploy anywhere in the United States and the U.S. territories to assist with managing major disasters,” Chadwick said.”
A published author, Chadwick’s book “Organizing Chaos: A Comprehensive Guide to Emergency Management” has been selected by Lone Star College as a textbook for emergency management courses beginning next semester.
Chadwick, 57, is a native of San Antonio. He earned his bachelor’s degree at Hardin-Simmons University in Abilene. Originally, his career goals pointed toward law enforcement with six years active duty in the U.S. Air Force security police.
“I initially started in law enforcement then transitioned to disaster response,” he said. “It was kind of a natural thing because you’re always responding to disasters anyway.
Chadwick followed his Air Force service with more than 24 years in the Texas State Guard, one of three military branches comprising the Texas Military Department.
“When Hurricane Katrina hit I was one of the people who was activated and sent to New Orleans,” Chadwick said. “After coming back from that is when I transitioned fulltime to just doing emergency management.”
Before his years with the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management Chadwick spent several years as the disaster volunteer coordinator for the American Red Cross in San Antonio and three years with the San Antonio Office of Emergency Management.
A widowed father of three adult children, Chadwick has a son who serves as chief risk manager and safety officer for the various campuses of the Texas School of the Deaf. Of his two daughters, one is a school teacher in Bryan, TX, and the other lives with her family in Saginaw, a suburb of Fort Worth.
Living just five miles from the county line, Chadwick has many connections with Medina County, including a long friendship with Lutz. Like Lutz, Chadwick, in his capacity with the Bexar County Office of Emergency Management, responded to the Das Goat fire last March.
“It’s not any stretch of the imagination to say that Keith, over the last ten years, has done some tremendous things for Medina County,” Chadwick said. “So the good thing is I inherit all those good things that have already been done.”
Chadwick has made training his forte in emergency management. He is one of seven main trainers with the Texas Division of Emergency Management, the agency that coordinates the state’s emergency management program.
“In the last 13 years I’ve trained over 27,000 people in various courses,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of stuff throughout this region such as development and facilitating exercises in Medina County.”
Chadwick said that he and Lutz have talked about capitalizing on Chadwick’s training experience.
“We would like to actually develop a training center here, not only for the local responders, but for citizens throughout the region, offering the citizens emergency preparedness training,” he said.
The future for Medina County Emergency Management is building on the successes of the past, Chadwick said.
“Medina County is growing,” he said. “Good things are ahead in Medina County. I think we’ve got some great leadership.”
Casino Night this Friday
Come on out and join the Devine Education Foundation for a Casino Night this Friday from 6-10 p.m. at the Devine Community Center.
The event is being hosted by the foundation to raise money to support the students and staff at Devine ISD.
“Our mission is about kids and staff. We raise money to help with items and programs the normal budget cannot,” Mrs. Brenda Gardner, DEF executive director, said.
Contact Brenda Gardner to purchase tickets, brenda.gardner@devineisd.org or call the Central Office, 830-851-0710.
“It will be a fun evening. Plus, we have lots of Silent Auction items,” she said.
Items include a large basket of Mary Kay body care products along with some wine, a Jon Hart Revolver Holder and Shag Bag from Mag’s Place, Quarry Golf for four, two pieces of French Kande Jewelry, Orka Ice Chest, Guided Bay Fishing for two, Meat Box, Deathgrip Precision Tripod, Toolbox from Alamo Truck Accessories, Fire Pit, Yeti Bucket Plus, Tito’s Basket, Golf at Castroville, and Elmer T Whiskey.
“We will have more items that evening. We still have tickets left, so I hope lots will come help us in our mission to help those in our school district,” Gardner said.
Finto diagnosed with Stage 4 gall bladder cancer, benefit January 14
“I want to thank everyone for the prayers and support for my sister in law Tina (Barron) Finto and her family”, said Kim Finto.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 gall bladder cancer earlier this month. She is a kind and generous person always willing to lend a helping hand to family and friends and the community.
“We will be having a benefit for her at our next Market Day here at Brown Dodge Chrysler Jeep Ram on January 14th. We will have drawings and will be selling BBQ brisket plates with all the trimmings. If you or someone you know would like to donate items for our drawings, please let me know as soon as possible so we can get the tickets made up”. said Kim. If you plan on donating items, please let me know what they are, and pictures would be great so that I can post them to our event.
Again, thank you so much for all the love and support for Tina Finto, Charles and Christy.
To help contact Kim Finto, 210-825-5390, kimfinto@browndodge.com or kimfinto@gmail.com
TUNESdays
live music at historic downtown building in Devine
Local musician Claude Butch Morgan will be performing at Bon Cafe every Tuesday from 6-8 pm. It will bring back many old memories of times past, he said.
“The start of my musical history is right here in good old Devine. I wrote my first song in 1963 at my parent’s house at 601 Mockingbird Lane, I’ve written 1,000’s since that time,” Morgan said.
“I had several bands while in high school here, The Electras, The Illusions, The Shannon’s, and Chapter XVI. I don’t remember all the details. I was busy and not taking good notes.
“Somewhere around 1964/65 our band “The Illusions” opened a teen club in what was the Wooten Bakery, (now “the Bon Cafe.”) We called it, “The Illusions A Go-Go.”
“I think it was only on Saturday evenings and I’m not sure how long it lasted, but not long.
“Across the street was Schott’s Model Market. Out front of it there were two soda machines. We realized soon that teenagers wanted sodas. They would run across the street and buy them. So I had a brilliant idea. I started getting there early on Saturdays and buying up all of Mr. Schott’s sodas, paying full price, then I’d bring them across the street to The Illusions A Go-Go and sell them, adding another nickel to the price we paid and wah la, we made a little profit and it kept our fans at the Go-Go!
“We did that a few Saturdays until my mother got a phone call from Mr. Schott. He was not happy about us emptying his machine on Saturday night and told my mother just that. My mom was on our side of course and quickly said to him, “I thought selling sodas was the point of your machine.” He replied, “Yea but they’re taking them across the street to the Go-Go and selling them for a profit!” Mom said, “Well with all due respect, they paid for them and technically aren’t yours anymore right?”
“We never heard another thing about it.
“I tell you this because I am once again playing in this historic old building. Starting on Tuesday, Nov 29th from 6-8pm, I will be performing some of the songs I’ve written, as well as some old favorites you might recognize.
“We are calling this event The TUnESDAY Music club. Nothing would please us more than to have you make it your weekly hang. I promise good, wholesome music with uplifting lyrics and joyful attitude.
“I will do my very best to put a smile on your face and promise you won’t have to go across the street to get something to drink. The Bon Cafe has great non-alcoholic beverages and pastries for you to enjoy.
“Please consider this your personal invitation to join “The TuNESDAY Music Club.”
Drainage improvement may dominate proposed May city bond issue election
By Anton Riecher
Flooding received the most attention during the Nov. 15 session of the Devine City Council with speculation about adding $4.8 million in drainage improvements to a possible bond issue election in May 2023.
Ralph D. Montgomery, owner of two houses at 406 Monticello Drive, addressed the council about “tremendous runoff” from Fox Run and Libold Drive affecting his property.
“I bought the property four years ago and I’ve had this problem ever since I bought the place,” Montgomery said. “It only happens during heavy, hard rain.”
Video coverage of the council session is posted at the Devine News’ YouTube channel.
Over the year the problem has grown worse with water backed up into the alley behind his home “coming in the back door” during the last major rain, he said. He blamed the new flooding on construction near his home.
Dealing with the problem at Montgomery’s address and throughout a large portion of District 4 would require a system of box culverts to reroute water from north of Mockingbird Lane, Mayor Cory Thompson said.
Thompson noted that the city staff has been unable to locate building permits on record for the construction at Montgomery’s address.
“Was there nothing in the seller’s disclosure when you bought the property because this isn’t a new problem?” Thompson asked.
Montgomery said no. He also told the council he took offense that the original construction at the site was for a business and not a home.
“It’s all been approved by the city,” Montgomery said. “How did it get built if it wasn’t approved?”
Thompson said a much less expensive alternative of building a wall to divert the runoff had been rejected as ineffective because openings must be permitted for driveways.
Montgomery complained that the city had previously built a wall from the alleyway behind a nearby home to Monticello Circle as a means to divert the water. However, that wall has seen no maintenance and is now overgrown with grass and weeds.
Thompson asked city engineer Raul H. Garcia to develop “a more realistic plan” for handling the drainage issue. District 2 council member Angela Pichardo told Montgomery the city would have to find a solution best for “the overall population.”
“If we do fix your situation it would fix quite a bit” of the District 4 flooding issues, she said.
The council also addressed drainage in the 400 block of W. Park Avenue near the intersection with Washington Drive.
“To permanently fix the problem will require a street reconstruction project of the adjacent streets that contribute to this area,” Garcia said.
As with Monticello Drive, the issues on West Park may require bond issue funding on the May ballot, Thompson said. However, since the flooding is attributable to the contours of the property anything major that would divert natural drainage would require federal approval.
On motion by District 5 council member Debbie Randall, seconded by District 3 council member David Espinosa, the council voted 4-0 to direct Garcia to come up with price estimates. District 4 council member Josh Ritchey was absent from the meeting.
In other action, the council passed a motion to correct action taken in April to award a contract for a water transmission line to Qro Mex Construction Company for the base bid of $146,818, plus $100,000 for the additional work contained in an alternate bid.
While the original motion still stands it “should have been worded slightly differently,” Thompson said.
On action of Pichardo, seconded by Espinosa, the council approved the purchase of available property adjoining Curcio Park for future expansion. City Attorney Thomas P. Cate explained that delinquent taxes owed on the property to various entities totaled about $12,500.
Peggy Lester, a resident of Warhorse Drive, asked the council to consider moving a propane tank at the city water tower. She said she was concerned that the tank could pose an explosion risk if struck by lightning.
City staff reported that the tank was placed on site to fuel an emergency generator during the winter storm of February 2021. The tank is already scheduled to be moved.
The council voted to approve the installation of a street light at 509 Howell Ave. after owner Mary Uhl agreed to cover installation costs in the neighborhood of $180.
Also approved was action to lease a portable building near the golf course clubhouse to Devine Golf Group for storage at a cost of $200 a month on a yearly lease.
Council members approved plans for the Devine Women’s Golf Association and the Devine Golf Group to conduct a golf cart parade at 7 p.m. Dec. 16. No street closure was required for the parade.
The council approved rescheduling its Dec. 20 regular session meeting to Dec. 13.
Invasion clause invoked by Abbott to combat illegal immigration at the border
By Anton Riecher
In a letter to Texas county judges Gov. Greg Abbott explained his post-election executive order that invokes the so-called “invasion clause” of the U.S. and Texas constitutions to authorize stepped-up border enforcement to curtail illegal immigration.
Medina County Judge Chris Schuchart reported during the Nov. 17 meeting of the commissioners’ court on the letter sent to him. He also reported on letters sent to Department of Public Safety Director Steven C McCraw and Major General Thomas M. Suelzer of the Texas Military Department.
“All of these letters basically say that our governor is not happy with anything going on at the border,” he said. “Our president has failed us in trying to support the border.”
Abbott launched Operation Lone Star in March 2021 in a joint effort between the National Guard and Texas Department of Public Safety to combat illegal immigration and crime at the border.
In his letter to the county judges, Abbott said that just two years ago the state had the fewest illegal crossings in decades.
“This past year under President Biden, an all-time record was set for the number of immigrants crossing the border illegally,” Abbott said.
In July, Abbott issued an executive order invoking the invasion clause found in the U.S. and Texas constitutions “to fully authorize Texas to take unprecedented measures to fight back against the invasion of our border.”
Use of the word “invasion” caused political friction in Medina County earlier this fall. More than 30 Texas counties approving “declarations of invasion” to push for federal help against increased border crossings, smuggling operations and drug trafficking.
However, Medina County approved a resolution supporting Abbott’s efforts at the border without the word “invasion.” At the root of the local impasse was the definition of the word as accepted by U.S. Courts, Schuchart said.
“The Supreme Court has never overruled three federal appellate courts who say an invasion is not illegal immigrants coming across,” he said. “We all agree we have a huge problem but it doesn’t fit the definition of an invasion.”
The letter to the county judges pledged to deploy the National Guard to safeguard the border and repel immigrants trying to cross illegally. It also pledged to deploy the DPS to arrest and return immigrants who crossed illegally.
In his letter, Abbott said he would build a border wall in multiple counties, deploy gun boats and designate Mexican drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.
“Texas had devoted more than $4 billion of Texas taxpayer dollars toward these and other efforts to secure the border and enhance public safety,” Abbott wrote. The letter calls on Congress to reimburse Texas for the money spent on border protection.
Schuchart said he spoke to Nim Kidd, chief of the Texas Division of Emergency Management that morning about the letters issued by Abbott.
“His biggest road block is still the fact that the federal government controls the border, and unless he wants to start a civil war with the federal government, we are still going to be stuck with the same problems,” he said. “Maybe he can deter some of them.”
Re-zoning in downtown Lytle proposed, storm water utility discussed, council asked to help fund “visitor’s center”
By ANTON RIECHER
Scheduling of public hearings on proposed zoning amendments restricting the use of recreational vehicles and modular buildings in downtown Lytle received a go-ahead from the city council during its regular session Monday.
Regarding modular buildings, the council voted in February 2020 to create a new zoning district along Main Street that restricted the placement of mobile homes to certain areas, City Administrator Matthew Dear explained. However, that ordinance did not include modular-type buildings.
Extending the ordinance to include that type of construction requires again notifying residents potentially affected and conducting a new set of public hearings on the issue, Dear said.
If re-zoned, any pre-existing modular structure would be classified as “non-comforming,” meaning it would be allowed to remain but could not be expanded or enlarged, city attorney Jessie Lopez explained. If replaced, the new structure would need to comply with the ordinance.
District 4 Alderman Michael Rodriguez asked that any new ordinance be exact in defining the difference between a modular structure and a pre-fabricated building that would be allowed. On a motion by Rodriguez, seconded by District 3 Alderman David Emery, the council approved allowing the legal work to move forward on the amendment.
District 1 Alderman Joseph Morrow was absent from the Nov. 14 meeting.
With respect to recreational vehicles, Dear explained that a 2019 amendment to the zoning ordinance prohibited the use of mobile homes in certain commercial areas along Main Street. But the amendment did not specifically prohibit the use of recreational vehicles in those same areas.
As with the modular building issue, a revision defining zones RVs can be used along Main Street would require notification of affected businesses and public hearings to discuss the proposed changes before the council could vote.
Again, on motion by Rodriguez, the council approved moving forward with the proposed changes.
The council also voted to proceed on developing an amendment to the Lytle zoning and subdivision codes to establish requirements for on-site parking and garage requirements. Dear said the action would be aimed at “bigger, masterplan communities.”
Subdivisions without requirements for garages and ample driveway parking for at least several vehicles tend to develop problems with parking that blocks sidewalks and forces pedestrians into the street, several council members remarked.
“Do we want to paint the picture of what we want our community to look like or do we just want them to come in and build whatever they think we need,” Dear said.
In other action, the council voted to approve updating the city’s building regulations to adopt the latest editions of various national and international codes governing electrical, plumbing and construction work.
The code update comes several months after the council voted to update the local fire code to agree with the 2021 edition of the International Fire Code, Dear said. The city had previously been using the 2006 edition of the code.
“The building code and all the other codes we use for construction here in the city were based on the 2008 editions,” Dear said. “That’s pretty outdated so we needed to bring that up to the 2021 model.”
In certain ways, the updated codes are more lenient than the codes that had been in place, Dear said.
“I can tell as to the fire code what I saw in certain things allowed in the 2021 code weren’t allowed in the old 2006 version,” Dear said. Improvements in technology allowed the changes, he said.
The old codes adversely affected the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating which determines the cost of fire insurance for local homes and businesses, Dear said.
“Once we get these (updates) adopted we can contact ISO and they will bring our rate down,” he said.
On a motion by Emery, seconded by District 2 Alderman Sam Cortez, the council approved adopting the updated standards.
On a motion by Rodriguez, seconded by Emery, the council voted to award a $34,900 administrative services agreement with the grant management firm GrantWorks to obtain a Texas Community Development Block Grant.
The grant would be used for flood mitigation and drainage planning, Dear said.
The council also voted to authorize Dear to negotiate an engineering services agreement with San Antonio-based Kimley Horn for development of a drainage master plan for the Lake Shore Estates Subdivision.
Some council members questioned if it would be better to include the Lake Shore drainage plan under the overall city drainage plan under discussion.
“I do believe that if we fix drainage issues in Lake Shore it’s going to cause issues downstream,” Dear said.
However, Emery urged immediate action on the Lake Shore issue rather than wait an additional two years or more to complete the overall city plan.
“They have been waiting and suffering for this for years,” Emery said.
Dear was also authorized to negotiate with Kimley Horn for engineering services to establish a municipal storm water utility in Lytle. Added to the monthly utility bill of Lytle residents, the storm water utility is something common to most cities, Dear said.
“Once we get the utility established by ordinance everyone gets to pay into it monthly,” he said. “It’s an assessment on your property. Then we can use those funds to mitigate storm water and do drainage in the city.”
The Lytle Chamber of Commerce asked for the city’s annual participation of $35,000 in a proposed visitor center to offer information about lesser known offerings and events within the community. The presentation by Dear said the center would “offer a feedback mechanism from the community and visitor to help improve appeal.”
Total cost for the visitor center is estimated at $72,669 annually. Cost of one employee to staff the center is estimated at $52,525.
Dear said the city staff is frequently too busy to assist visitors seeking out tourist information. Funding the center would be on a year-by-year basis just as the city’s participation in Little League.
“Our staff is already busy doing other things such as processing bills and taking care of customers,” Dear said.
On a motion by Emery, the council approved participating in the project using monies from the hotel occupancy tax.
After a brief executive session to discuss pending litigation and purchase of property the council voted to allow the city administrator to acquire property discussed in closed session.
Slight name change proposed for Medina County Appraisal District, board considers building new 4,000 sq ft office
By Anton Riecher
Could a minor name change help make clearer the distinct role of the appraisal district as a governmental entity separate from Medina County? Such a change is under consideration by the district’s board of directors.
Chief Appraiser Johnette Dixon recommended the directors change the Medina County Appraisal District’s name to Medina Central Appraisal District.
“The longer we are in existence the more people think we are part of the county,” Dixon said.
Video coverage of the entire meeting can be found on the Devine News YouTube channel at youtu.be/MqjSg6L1o_w.
In Texas, appraisal districts are responsible for appraising property for tax purposes for the various taxing units such as cities and school districts within the appraisal district’s jurisdiction. An appraisal district is established in each county and has the same boundaries as the county’s boundaries.
The county and the appraisal district remain separate governmental entities. An appraisal district is a political subdivision of the state governed by a board of directors appointed by the governmental taxing entities in its jurisdiction.
Historically, appraisal districts have had a hard time making that distinction clear to the public, Dixon said.
“Our (district) is probably the worst because we are housed right in the same building with the (county) tax office,” she said. “A lot of people think the tax office is the appraisal district and the appraisal district is the tax office.”
Since being formed in 1979 to standardize the administration of local property taxes, many appraisal districts sought to distinguish themselves from the county government by either dropping the word “county” from their names or adopting the word “central” as a substitute for “county,” Dixon said.
“When I first started working here that was what was on the door,” Dixon said. “It said ‘central appraisal office.’”
Board chairperson Tim Hardt said the same proposal was discussed by the board several years ago. However, that discussion never went forward.
He said he had no objection but wanted a legal opinion on the extent that a formal name change might impact district operations.
“If this were a legal corporation we would be changing all our corporate documents, our IRS number and a lot of things involved with the name,” Hardt said.
No formal motion was made on the proposed change in name.
Also concerning the appraisal district’s future, Dixon reported on her discussion with the city staff in Hondo about acquiring property to build a proposed 4,000-square-foot headquarters building for the appraisal district.
“It’s an item we’ve talked about for two years now,” Hardt said.
Dixon said she had been in touch with Hondo City Manager, Scott Albert, about city owned property zoned for governmental use available near the Southwest Texas Junior College. However, four acres is far more property that the appraisal district needs.
The district had hoped to find property along Castro Street, she said. But that area is zoned industrial and is not available.
Hardt said the district is proposing a metal building on a concrete slab with a brick veneer on the front. It would be built to suit what the district needs rather than “buy something that doesn’t fit,” he said.
What is available to rent is either “too big, too small or too expensive,” Hardt said.
“We don’t need a Taj Mahal like a bank building or something,” he said. “The research we did approximately two years ago (showed that) land cost in buying from the city of Hondo would be the least expensive commercial property we could find.”
Construction cost would be in the range of $100 a square foot for a total of about $450,000, Hardt said.
Nearly two years ago the district had entered into an agreement with the county to purchase the former Hondo office used by the 38th Judicial District of Texas district attorney. However, lengthy litigation over the ownership of the property led the district to reconsider and reject the purchase.
Plans call for the county tax collector’s office, presently housed in the county-owned building shared with the appraisal district, to move to one of two bank buildings in Hondo recently purchased by the county. Dixon said one possibility is to wait the two years until the tax collector moves and then acquire the building from the county.
Hardt restated his proposal to build a new center for appraisal district operations.
“The concept has always been it would be nice to control our own destiny, own our own building and not be tenants,” he said.
He asked the district staff to obtain one to three preliminary proposals from contractors on the costs involved in the estimated 4,000 square foot project.
In other action, the board approved a 10-year contract with Eagleview Pictometry, an aerial imaging company specializing in accurate property measurement data. The annual cost of the contract is roughly $75,000, Dixon told the board.
The company conducts an extensive aerial photography flight every other year. Then, using computer software, the appraisal district is able to determine changes affecting property value, Dixon said.
“We are able to use that to flag properties that we don’t have on the tax roll,” she said. “Because (sometimes) we can’t get on the big ranches. There is a program called Change Finder that compares the two flights … and will tag the account to have an inspection done.”
The previous Eagleview Pictometry contract covered only three years. The 10-year contract locks the company into current prices regardless of future inflation, Dixon said.
Another bi-annual contract agreement decided by the board involved the depository bid for a local bank. Despite soliciting bids from eight banks in Castroville, Devine and Hondo only Castroville State Bank sent a complete formal bid for the district’s account, Dixon said.
Hardt, who sits on the board of directors for the bank, said he would not take a position on the bid other than to chair the meeting. However, the board did reject an incomplete bid from another bank that only submitted a copy of their fee schedule.
“Since they didn’t follow the form that you all would expect them to do it’s made it a little more difficult to compare,” Hardt said.
The district currently holds a certificate of deposit for $260,000, a money market account for approximately $80,000 and funds of more than $300,000 to cover its operating budget, Dixon said.
In a financial report to the board, Dixon reported that all 24 taxing entities within Medina County have paid their portion toward the district’s operations.
“Everything is just sort of finishing up for the year,” Dixon said. “The appraisal review board went over which we knew because we had so many hearings this year. It think that’s the only thing that went over. Everything else is still under budget.”
The appraisal district conducted more than 800 appraisal review hearings this year, she said. Of the 4,600 tax appraisal protests scheduled, only about 40 percent actually appeared for the scheduled hearing, she said.
“That seems to be the state norm,” Dixon said.
As for the results for those who followed through Dixon said appraisal review board did not seem to favor either the district or the property owners unfairly.
“Most of them, if they had any evidence to show the board was sympathetic,” Dixon said. “A lot of them had repairs to be made that we didn’t see.”
Those present were Tim Hardy, chairman; Jody Jacobs, vice chairman; Cindy Segovia, member and Clay Bell, member. Absent were Mamie Navarro, secretary, and Melissa Lutz, tax assessor-collector.
The next appraisal board meeting is 6 p.m. Jan. 10 at the district office in Hondo.