The following monthly departmental reports were provided at the Regular Devine City Council meeting on September 17.
Water
In August 2019, the City pumped 19,754,000 gallons of water from the Edwards Aquifer, and 3,457,000 gallons from the Carrizo Aquifer, for a monthly total of 23,211,000 gallons.
To date in 2019, the City has pumped 92,105,000 gallons of water from the Edwards, or 282.65 of its allotted 911.730 acre feet.
In August 2018, 12,831,000 gallons were pumped from the Edwards and 8,490,000 gallons pumped from the Carrizo for a monthly total of 21,321,000 gallons.
Public Works
Two-hundred and forty-two of the 245 work orders issued in August were completed. That figure includes 154 work orders in the water department, 17 in the street department, 11 in the police department, eight at City Hall, four at the George S. Woods Community Center, three in the sewer department, and one each at Hester Park and Briscoe Park.
There were also 28 line spots and 15 after hours.
Municipal Court
A total of 1,342 traffic and 1,085 non-traffic cases were pending in the Municipal Court in August. Three-hundred and eighty-six traffic and 385 non-traffic cases were on the docket.
Twenty-eight traffic and 13 non-traffic cases were disposed prior to court appearance, and one traffic case was dismissed by the prosecution at trial. In all, 40 traffic cases and 16 non-traffic cases were disposed.
Three active civil cases remained pending, and five juvenile transportation code cases were filed.
Seventeen arrest warrants were issued for Class C misdemeanors, and 19 capiases pro fine were issued.
Of the $8,046.60 in fines and court costs collected, $4,779.76 was kept by the City, and $3,266.84 was remanded to the State.
Police Department
Officers worked 96.34 hours of overtime and a total of 499 calls were handled by dispatch in August. Devine officers assisted other law enforcement agencies 38 times, including one hour and 28 minutes on four calls outside the City limits, and were assisted by other agencies 11 times.
A breakdown of the 499 calls is as follows: 88 for Animal Control; 57 for suspicious activity; 47 talk to officer; 27 for welfare concern; 26 to assist Public Works; 22 for disturbances; 20 for information report; 19 to assist the public; 18 to assist Devine EMS; 16 miscellaneous; 15 traffic complaints; 15 minor accidents; 11 civil matters; 11 School Resource Officer calls; 11 requests for patrol-bys; 10 alarms; 10 assist other agencies; eight for theft; seven City Ordinance violations; six assist agency reports; five for criminal mischief; five traffic violations; five emergency detentions; four to assist Devine VFD; four animal adoptions; four burglaries; four natural deaths; three escorts; three family violence reports; two for lost property; two for public relations; two for open door/window; two animal bites; two warrant services; two assaults; two runaways; and two sex offender registrations; one School Resource report; and one fraud.
There were 114 citations issued in August, including 109 traffic violations and five non-traffic violations.
Traffic citations included 34 for speeding; 12 for no valid driver’s license; 11 for expired motor vehicle registration; 11 for failure to maintain financial responsibility; nine for failure to dim headlamps; seven for speeding in a school zone; five for disregarding a stop sign; five for driving while license invalid; three for failure to change address on driver’s license; two for operating a vehicle with one license plate; two for obstruction of driver’s view; two for disregarding a red light; one for improper use of horn; one for improper lane change; one for an unsafe start from a stopped position; one for failure to drive in a single lane; one for allowing an unlicensed minor to drive; and one for not securing a child younger than 8 and shorter than 4’9″.
Non-traffic citations included three for violation of City Ordinance – running at large; and two for possession of drug paraphernalia.
Eleven arrests were made in August, which included five for driving while license invalid; two for possession of drug paraphernalia; two on warrant service; and two for assault – family violence.
Driscoll Public Library
The door count for August was 2,149, and a total of 1,938 library materials were checked out. Fourteen new library accounts and 31 additional library cards were issued, and public access computers were used 525 times. Program and class attendance was 176.
Preschool Story Time is held every Tuesday morning. Weekly and monthly programs include Family Art Night, LEGO Club, Code Club, Teen Library Club events, and adult computer classes.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer