Citizens on different sides of zoning issue attend City Council meeting

  • August Employee of the Month Matthew Boswell, employee working in the Sanitation Department, was selected as the Employee of the Month for August. Alderman Marcus Amthor and Sanitation Department Supervisor Juan Montoya presented Matthew with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant during the August 20th City Council Meeting.
    August Employee of the Month Matthew Boswell, employee working in the Sanitation Department, was selected as the Employee of the Month for August. Alderman Marcus Amthor and Sanitation Department Supervisor Juan Montoya presented Matthew with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant during the August 20th City Council Meeting.
  • September Employee of the Month Juan Diaz, employee working in the Parks Department, was selected as the Employee of the Month for September. Alderman Michael Nelson and Parks Superintendent Eugene Bessent presented Juan with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant during the September 10th City Council Meeting.
    September Employee of the Month Juan Diaz, employee working in the Parks Department, was selected as the Employee of the Month for September. Alderman Michael Nelson and Parks Superintendent Eugene Bessent presented Juan with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant during the September 10th City Council Meeting.
  • Supervisor of the Quarter for the Third Quarter Paul Stewart, General Maintenance Supervisor, was selected as the Supervisor of the Quarter for the Third Quarter. Public Works Supervisor Scott Glaze and Alderman Michael Nelson presented Paul with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant during the September 10th City Council Meeting.
    Supervisor of the Quarter for the Third Quarter Paul Stewart, General Maintenance Supervisor, was selected as the Supervisor of the Quarter for the Third Quarter. Public Works Supervisor Scott Glaze and Alderman Michael Nelson presented Paul with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant during the September 10th City Council Meeting.

    During the September 10th City Council meeting, several citizens attended to make their views known on a zoning change request.

    Tommy Pulatie and his son, Mitchell Pulatie (who was not able to attend the meeting), had asked the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Council to approve a zoning variance in order to install an RV Park near the Riverview Apartments and the RV Park and Golf Course area. Mr. Pulatie addressed the council first. He noted how beautiful San Saba is and how our town draws many visitors to the area. His hopes were that his RV Park would be a kind of extension to the City RV Park in that it would draw high-end visitors. He noted there is a high elevation, and there would be no need to evacuate during flooding. His son, who would be running the RV Park, would also build a house on the property so he could be on site. Mr. Pulatie also explained that he would build a privacy fence between his property and the adjacent apartments. Mr. Pulatie gave some background on his son to show his dependability and integrity to be able to manage such a property.

    Ms. Belle Lanning then addressed the Council in opposition to the zoning change. She has owned and run many duplexes in the Riverview area for 12 years. Ms. Lanning said she has spent many years working hard changing the atmosphere in the Riverview area to make it a safer place to live. One of her concerns was that the ‘unknown’ factor of (short-term) tenants staying in the RV Park could change that safety dynamic. She also said it could have a negative effect on the Riverview properties, lower the value, and make them harder to rent.

    It was Ms. Lanning’s opinion that San Saba did not need another RV Park. She went around and visited the four RV Parks in San Saba and said they do not have a high enough occupancy rate to warrant needing another one. The last citizen to address the council on this item was Donnie Smith. He also shared some concerns with this new RV Park being so close to his property. He said his property is just 10 feet from the proposed RV Park and it might cause some safety concerns with some of his tenants, especially single moms. He also echoed many concerns that Ms. Lanning had already mentioned. Letters were sent out to the four closest renters to this property. One did not respond. The other three responded, and all were against this zoning change. The Planning and Zoning Commission met in Open Session on September 5, 2024, and voted with a 5 to 0 vote not to approve this Zoning Variance.

    Mayor Jordan put the item on the floor for discussion. No discussion. The item then died for lack of motion.

    Approved Consent Agenda Items 

    • Meeting minutes from August 20, 2024

    • Payment of bills

    • Interlocal Agreements between San Saba County and City of San Saba for Dispatch Services, Emergency Management Coordinator position, Flood Plain Management, and Emergency Medical Services

    • Updated contract with appointed Municipal Judge Sharon Blossman

    • Resolution No. 2024-26, to waive the noise ordinance for Ines Ramirez on September 28, 2024 at Risien Park.

    • Ordinance No. 2024-09 temporarily closing Cherokee Street from E. Wallace Street to E. Commerce Street on October 25, 2024, from 12 noon to 4 p.m. for the Pink Out Pep rally.

    Approved Discussion/Action Items 

    • Resolution No. 2024-27 approving the proposed budget for Fiscal year beginning October 1, 2024 and ending September 30, 2025

    • Resolution No. 2024-28 ratifying property tax increase reflected in the budget.

    • Ordinance No. 2024-10 levying a tax rate of $.344000 for the City of San Saba for 2024. (This rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than this rate raised last year.)

    • Ordinance No. 2024-12 - a zoning change for 1806 W. Wallace Street from Residential to Commercial requested by Greg McGregor, owner of Property Management.

    • Amending the New Civic Center Application with Terms and Conditions, Lease Agreement, and General Rules and Regulations; and authorizing the SS Police Department Admin to oversee/schedule the applications and security for events.

    • Nominating Jimmy Jenkins, Councilmember of Smithville, to the Region 10 Director of the Texas Municipal League (TML) to serve a two-year term.

    • Nominating the following to the Board of Trustees for the TML Intergovernmental Risk Pool: Place 11 - Randy Criswell, Place 12 -Allison Heyward, Place 13 - Harlan Jefferson, and Place 14 - Mike Land 

    City Manager’s Report

    CM Scott Edmonson gave updates on the following: Sidewalk project (worked out some challenges with the slope by Bagley Pecan); Cemetery (got a new flag pole and asked that we help install it); Christmas Lights (start to go up October 1st); Splash Pad (about to shut down for the season); and the KSSB Cleanup and Golf Tournament.

    Mr. Edmonson also related a story of Officer Newkirk arrest that netted 58 grams of meth. Scott Glaze gave updates on the street paving plan.