After having held two workshops and a public hearing, Seadrift City Council voted to adopt the tax rate for the year 2015-2016 of $0.500000 per $100, a slight increase from last year’s rate of $0.496600 per $100.
The Budget for the year was also adopted:
General Fund = $529,464. This includes administration and office expense, capital outlay, elected officials salaries, election expenses, employee salaries, general employee expense, legal and professional services, Municipal Court expense, Parks & Recreation maintenance and upkeep, property maintenance and upkeep, property insurance, public health and safety expense, services contracted, and streets and drainage maintenance and upkeep.
Harbor = $77,014. This includes capital outlay, series 2010 certificates, employee expense, legal and professional services, and harbor maintenance and upkeep.
Hotel/Motel = $23,050. This includes capital outlay, eligible property (depot/museum, civic center, sports plex, sports plex museum/visitor center parking, AD Powers Park pavilion, Ad Powers Park pier), promotions and advertising, and administrative expense (annual audit fee).
Details of the annual budget may be obtained at City Hall.
Mayor DeForest announced that the City has been awarded a Texas Department of Agriculture – Community Development Block grant of $275,000 to be used for sewer/water upgrades. The bulk of the grant will be used for installing a sewer main from the Grape Street Lift Station eastward down East Pine to the Blasingim Addition and then down Blasingim Road and connecting all structures to City Sewer and upgrading the water line in Blasingim Road and installing a fire hydrant at the end of Blasingim Road, plus replacing a 2” water line with a 6” water line down Armstrong Road and Cemetery Road, plus some water plant repairs, funds permitting.
Council entertained a request by Seadrift resident Tom Miller to improve and use as access the 10’ easement intersecting Oakland at 3rd Street between block 208 Lot B and block 200 Lot 12. Mr. Miller asked to be permitted to lay gravel on the easement in order to make his driveway wide enough to access the back of his property. Council had no objections, stipulating that there should be no building, blocking, or parking on the easement, as the easement remains public property.
Mayor DeForest informed the Council of the resignation of Municipal Court Judge Janet Rosenboom, who will be taking a position in Fort Worth, Texas. The Mayor has appointed Wesley Hunt, Justice of the Peace Precinct #4, as part-time Municipal Judge to fill the term of Municipal Judge from September 1, 2015 through May 31, 2016.
Police Chief Leonard Bermea introduced Officer Robert Montero. Officer Montero, a recent graduate from the Police Academy in San Antonio, is currently working part-time while seeking a permanent residence in Seadrift.
Seadrift City Council meets the first Tuesday of each month, 7:00 p.m. at City Hall. All residents are encouraged to attend where they can hear detailed reports from the various departments, learn of upcoming and ongoing projects, and have an opportunity to voice any concerns they may have.
Seadrift Police Officer Robert Montero
