Bastrop, Tx–In a rare unsigned editorial April 18, The Bastrop Advertiser questioned an alleged rush to decide at a special city council meeting April 20 the fate and terms of a proposed 40-year lease (at a nominal $10 a year) to turn over the present City Hall on Main Street to the Bastrop County Historical Society. The organization hopes to turn the building into a new history museum and visitor center for Bastrop and the surrounding area.
The editorial writer professes not to understand why there’s a rush to make a decision, in part because one council member can’t attend the session, and other recent important decisions have been postponed to assure full council participation.
But here’s the 600-pound gorilla in the drawing room which no one wants to speak about frankly: the council is divided on the museum issue and there’s a city election on May 9 which could potentially tip the balance of power.
A vote today would favor the museum’s plan. It’s backed by council members Terry Sanders, Willie DeLaRosa and Joe Beal. The critics are led by council member Julie Hart with some ambiguous backing from Dock Jackson (who says he can’t be in attendance April 20).
Mayor Terry Orr is a strong museum backer, but he can’t vote except to break a tie. He may not need to.
Sanders, DeLaRosa and Jackson won’t be council members after the election because of a term limits provision of the Bastrop City Charter. That means the majority council sentiment could be different after May 9. A firm decision by a council majority before that date could settle the issue, whatever voters decide.
Museum proponents, of course, want to press for a decision while the numbers are on their side. Opponents must favor delay in hopes of a turn in sentiment in their favor at the polls.
The six candidates seeking election to the three open seats on May 9 have been remarkably reticent about speaking plainly on this issue. Do you know where your candidates stand tonight? I didn’t think so.
Of course the museum/visitor center proposal is not the only controversial or important issue the council must confront in the next two years. Maybe not even the most important.
In any case it will be telling to watch what the council does–or fails to do–between now and May 9.
–Davis McAuley