Archive for December 11th, 2009

Bastrop council OK’s utility deposit refunds by Christmas for good customers

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–City utility customers who have paid their bills on time for at least a year are in line for water and electric service deposit refunds before Christmas. Those eligible for the refunds include residential and commercial customers, the city council agreed at a meeting Dec. 8.

Refund checks–not credit against current and future bills–should be in the mail by Dec. 15, City Manager Mike Talbot said in a Dec. 10 interview.

Those eligible for deposit refunds include customers who paid their bills late no more than twice in the past 12 months, said Talbot. The refund plan was approved, in general terms, when the council approved its operating budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year in September. Tuesday’s action authorized the refund action and included a broad overhaul of the city’s utility policies aimed at making Bastrop services more competitive with area cities, said Talbot.

Under revised rules adopted this week, new city customers may not be required to put down deposits for utility service if they can show a good record of payments to previous providers, said Talbot.

Bastrop eyes Farm St. improvements near new city convention center

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Bastrop, Tx–When construction begins early in 2010 for Bastrop’s first convention center, some roadway improvements along Farm Street adjoining the site may be part of the project.

Following a hearing before the city council Dec. 8 at which some area residents called for street, traffic and pedestrian upgrades, City Manager Mike Talbot promised to study the issues and report back to the council in January. The convention center will front on Chestnut Street, but a secondary entrance and exit for the facility will be on Farm Street between Gills Branch and the Union Paccific Railroad west of Texas 95.

Amber Marsh told the council her street needs to be widened, vehicle traffic slowed between the highway and Mina Elementary and potholes fixed. She also urged adding sidewalks to improve safety for pedestrians in the area. Dorwin French echoed her concerns. “It’s about time to fix Farm Street,” he said.

Mayor Terry Orr said some street improvement costs might come from the convention center construction budget.

In a Dec. 10 interview Talbot said he is studying the issues and the city street budget and work force might be able to bear the expenses. The Dec. 8 hearing focused on creating a new CF zoning district for civic facilities and rezoning the civic center and city hall sites on Chestnut Street to CF.