The following departmental reports for the month of September were included in packets at the October 16 Devine City Council meeting.
Water
In September, 8,782,000 gallons of water were pumped from the Edwards Aquifer and 4,964,000 gallons of water were pumped from the Carrizo Aquifer for a total of 13,746,000 gallons. To date in 2018, 92,727,000 gallons have been pumped from the Edwards, or 284.56 acre feet of the City’s allotment of 911.730 acre feet.
In September 2017, 12,252,000 gallons were pumped from the Edwards and 6,871,000 gallons were pumped from the Carrizo for a total of 19,123,000 gallons.
Public Works
Two-hundred and fourteen work orders were issued in September, including 123 in the water department, 26 after hours, 26 line spots, 17 in the street department, eight in the sewer department, five at City Hall, four at the police department, three at the George S. Woods Community Center, and two at the Driscoll Public Library.
Two-hundred and eleven of the work orders were completed.
Municipal Court
A total of 489 traffic and 416 non-traffic cases were on the docket in September. Forty-seven traffic and seven non-traffic cases were disposed, and 29 traffic and 17 non-traffic cases were placed on inactive status. At the end of the month, 1,328 traffic cases and 1,062 non-traffic cases were pending.
Three active civil cases remained pending at the end of September.
Arrest warrants were issued for 28 Class C misdemeanors, two for Class A and B misdemeanors, and seven for felonies.
A total of $12,687.40 in fines and court costs were collected, $8,510.92 of which was kept by the City, and $4,176.48 of which was remitted to the State.
Police Department
Officers worked a total of 1,664.03 hours in September, including 64.91 hours of overtime. Dispatch handled 464 calls, 109 warnings were issued, 95 tickets written, and 16 arrests made. Devine PD assisted other agencies 24 times, including five hours and 16 minutes on 13 calls outside of City limits. Other agencies assisted Devine PD six times.
Calls answered included 61 for Animal Control; 44 to talk to an officer; 36 for suspicious activity; 30 to assist Public Works; 25 disturbances; 24 School Resource Officer; 23 assist the public; 22 traffic complaint; 21 alarms; 15 miscellaneous; 14 each for information report and family violence notice issuance; 10 assist agency report; nine each for civil matter, open door/window, minor accident, and welfare concern; six each for found property, assist Devine EMS, assist other agencies, and patrol by; five assist Municipal Court; four each for lost property, major accident, liquor laws, criminal mischief, emergency detention, sex offender registration, and child abuse/neglect; three natural death and traffic violation; two each for escort, warrant service, found contraband, assist Devine VFD, theft, runaway, Driving While Intoxicated, and sex offenses; and one each for assist Code Compliance, animal adoption, School Resource Officer report, public relations, use of force, emergency warning services, stolen property, drunkenness, fraud, and assault.
Tickets for traffic violations included 15 for disregarding a stop sign; 12 for speeding; 10 for expired motor vehicle registration; eight for failure to dim headlamps; five for failure to change address on driver’s license; four each for defective stop lamps, speeding in a school zone, no valid driver’s license, failure to display driver’s license, driving while license invalid, and possession of an open container of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle; two each for unsafe start from a stopped position, defective headlamp, disregarding a red light, and child unsecured under 8 not taller than 4’9″; and one each for no/defective license plate light, improper turning, operating a vehicle without a license plate, failure to signal a turn, failure to maintain financial responsibility, driving the wrong way, use of a wireless device when prohibited, operating a vehicle without appropriate driver’s license, and violation of City Ordinance – racing.
Tickets for non-traffic violations included three for possession of drug paraphernalia and one for public intoxication.
Arrests included four each for driving while license invalid and possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle; three for possession of drug paraphernalia; two each for warrant service and DWI/DUI minor; and one for drunkenness.
Driscoll Public Library
A total of 1,554 library materials were checked out in September. Public access computers were used 444 times, eight new library accounts were opened, and 10 additional library cards were issued. Programs and classes were attended by 125 patrons. The total door count for the month was 1,601.
Library staff reported that several tutors and students use the library on a weekly basis; a patron who is a student applied for a card when he discovered the free databases the library has access to, as they will help with his research for school; and that the Teen Library Club continues to have an active membership.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer