July 27th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–Monday the Bastrop Economic Development Corp. board set some major spending goals to put before the Bastrop City Council later this year. The projects include more than $2 million to extend roads and add some 20 new lots in the board’s Industrial and Business Park.
Also on the to-do list is some $320,000 to replace existing street lights on Main Street between Farm Street and the 800 block of Main. That suggestion, from City Manager Mike Talbot, was greeted with enthusiasm by the board which has long contemplated such a project but expected the price to be much higher, possibly more than $1 million.
The board agreed to decide later how to finance the projects, either with new borrowing, cash reserves or current operating funds. That decision can be postponed, the board decided.
Any BEDC spending plan for the coming fiscal year must also be approved by the Bastrop City Council sometime in the next two months.
Last year the BEDC board also proposed expanding the industrial park, but the city council finally approved only funds for final engineering for the project.
The Main Street lighting effort would replace current street lights with antique-style lighting along the three-block section of the historic commercial district, said Talbot. As presently envisioned, the work also includes replacing underground electric lines in order to support additional holiday lighting displays which have long been sought by downtown merchants.
Posted in Bastrop City, business plans | No Comments »
May 26th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–A former law enforcement agent for the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission was ordered on May 25 to stand trial in Bastrop on charges of official oppression and sexual assault of a child younger than age 17. The state grand jury for Bastrop County returned two indictments against former TABC agend Joe Chavez this week.
Chavez was released from the Bastrop County Jail on $225,000 bail last June 12. The alleged incident, involving a teen and sting operations aimed at alcohol sales by local retailers, took place May 30, 2009, according to investigators. The grand jury indictments, which are not evidence of guilt, name Chavez on charges of sexually assaulting the girl as well as official oppression,that is, acting “under color of his employment as a public servant, namely as a law enforcement agent for the Texas Alcohol Beverage Commission.”
Following the arrest of Chavez, TABC officials announced a state wide review and overhaul of rules for sting operations involving field agents and and underage informants working with them.
No trial date has been set.
Tags: child sexual assault, law enforcement, TABC
Posted in Bastrop County, Crime | No Comments »
May 26th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–A 15-year-old from McDade was ordered to stand trial for murder in the August 2009 death of her mother, 42-year-old Tracy Belllard. Haley Bellard was 14 at the time of the incident.
Last week 423rd District Judge Chris Duggan in Bastrop ruled that Haley Bellard can be tried as an adult for her alleged role in her mother’s death. On May 25 the state grand jury for Bastrop County returned an indictment against the teen, in effect sending the case to trial . An indictment indicates that grand jurors decided there is enough evidence to warrant a trial. The action also serves as formal notice of a felony charge against a defendant. An indictment is not evidence of guilt in any case.
Since Duggan’s ruling earlier this month, Haley Bellard has been held in the Bastrop County Jail under $100,000 bail. Previously she had been held in a juvenile facility in Seguin.
Also charged in the death of Tracy Bellard is 18-year-old Joseph Douglas. He is in the Bastrop County Jail under $750,000 bail. Criminal investigators believe Tracy Bellard was shot to death in her McDade home last Aug. 14 after she tried to break up a romantic relationshiip between her daughter and Douglas.
Prosecutors said it could be another year before the case comes to trial.
Tags: McDade shooting, teen murder charges
Posted in Bastrop County, Crime | No Comments »
May 22nd, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–A traffic accident in the city today claimed the life of a leading local activist in environmental and arts affairs.
Judy Ing died in a collision at Texas 95 and Hoffman Road Saturday morning. The vehicle she was driving was struck broadside by a pickup headed north on Texas 95 as she entered the intersection from Hoffman Road, said Police Chief David Board. Earlier in the morning she had gone to an area home to feed the cats of a couple who were out of town for the weekend, according to close friends.
The other driver involved in the mishap, whose named was not immediately available, was taken to Lakeside Hospital with injuries which were not considered life threatening, said Board.
Ing, a photographer, writer and graphic designer, was retired from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center near Smithville. For many years she was a stalwart and leader in both the Bastrop County Audubon Society chapter and the Bastrop County Environmental Network. At various times she worked with or directed periodical publications for both organizations.
Posted in Bastrop City, Environmental Movements, Traffic Fatalities | No Comments »
May 17th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–After a hearing today a state district judge ruled that 15-year-old Hailey Bellard can be tried as an adult for the shooting death last August of her mother, Tracy Bellard, 42, of McDade. The teen was immediately arrested on a murder charge and ordered held in the Bastrop County Jail under $100,000 bail.
Hailey Bellard had been held in a juvenile detention facility since she and her 18-year-old boyfriend, Joseph Douglas, were questioned in August 2009 about the disappearance of Tracy Bellard, who worked at the family restaurant, Mimi G’s, on FM 1441 north of Bastrop. Douglas, also charged with murder, remains in jail under $500,000 bail.
District Attorney Bryan Goertz said he will seek a grand jury indictment against Hailey Bellard next week. Grand jury action is required to send any felony case to trial.
Criminal investigators believe Tracy Bellard was shot to death at her McDade home after she repeatedly tried to interfere with a romantic relationship between her daughter, 14 at the time, and Douglas.
Tags: teen murder charges
Posted in Bastrop County, Crime | No Comments »
May 17th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–A May 13 hearing on possible changes to the city’s home rule charter drew a full house to City Hall, and the assembly voiced distinct views on what they’d like to see go before voters, possibly in November.
In recent weeks, Council Member Kenneth Kesselus has been leading a panel of former officials and other residents in a detailed review of the 2002 city charter with a view to suggesting possible amendments to the city council. Only the council can put particular changes before voters in a future referendum, said Kesselus.
The crowd at the hearing liked some of the committee’s tentative suggestions–retaining the current limit of six years continuous service on the council and the mayor’s office, for one. Another topic also struck a responsive chord–extending council terms to three years instead of the present two years.
Other possible changes which drew comments included adding a sixth council member to the present five and a provision allowing the mayor to vote on all issues coming before the council. Presently the mayor can only vote to break a tie.
The sharpest division of opinion arose over whether to call for council members to be elected from single-member geographic districts. Presently all five council members and the mayor are elected from the city at large. A number of those attending the hearing vigorously called for single-member districts. Members of the charter review committee were reluctant to endorse such a move, citing both technical difficulties and other considerations, especially before results of the 2010 US Census are released.
One line of argument suggested that it might be difficult to draw districts of roughly equal population which would not also diminish the potential for Hispanic and African-American residents to be elected to council seats, as required by the US Voting Rights Act and related court decisions. For more than two decades under the at-large election system the city council has included almost continuously both at least one African-American and one Hispanic representative.
Single-member district proponents noted that every member of the present city council lives in an area bounded on the west by the Colorado River and on the north and east by the Union Pacific Railroad. Areas including Tahitian Village, Riverside Grove and Hunters Crossing are not represented on the present council.
Kesselus said the study committee will draft its recommendations in time for the council to review their work and call for a November referendum.
Tags: city home rule charter review
Posted in Bastrop City, Local Politics | No Comments »
May 12th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–The Main Street Program board laid out its downtown plaza proposal for the city council Tuesday, but the plan received a cool reception. Three council members said they want to hear about any other options for use of the vacant lot at 923 Main St. before making any decision.
The vacant property fronting Main Street could become a downtown attraction with benches, shade trees and public restrooms, said designer Dan Hays-Clark. He said a rough cost estimate for the development might be $250,000. Main Street board member Steve DeWire, who manages the Lost Pines resort west of town, said the suggestion deserves further study.
Council Member Ken Kesselus said the site is also a point of interest for private developers. “I need to hear from others” before any decision on the future of the property, he said.
Council Member Julie Hart said the council should “look at other options, too” before endorsing the Main Street board suggestion.
Private interests in acquiring and developing the property were not identified. Mayor Terry Orr said he’s interested in the Main Street board suggestion but will hold a public hearing on the issue before any council vote. The city acquired the property last fall, chiefly to secure additional downtown parking and utility rights of way. The property extends from Main to Water Street.
Main Street Program Manager Nancy Wood said future planning efforts for the site should include how to pay for proposed improvements and ongoing maintenance costs.
Tags: downtown development
Posted in Bastrop City Council | No Comments »
May 11th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–A unified slate of candidates seized control of the Tahitian Village water and road district board May 8 in Bastrop, winning election to three of five seats.
The winning candidates include former Bastrop city councilman John Creamer, Bastrop Planning and Zoning Commission member Christy Kossser and veteran political activist Vic Gonzalez.
The Bastrop County Water Control and Improvement District No. 2, which covers the 7,000-lot Tahitian Village subdivision from the southeast sector of Bastrop into adjoining parts of Bastrop County to the Colorado River, oversees water, sewer and road improvement services in the area.
The insurgent campaign raised questions about recent administrative oversight of the district’s affairs as well as road and street improvement plans and execution.
Holdover board members include Bastrop surveyor Dale Olson and businessman Stan Wellso.
Posted in Bastrop City, Local Politics | No Comments »
May 11th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–By narrow margins two Bastrop school trustees were returned to office in elections May 8. An open seat was overwhelmingly carried by a newcomer to local politics.
Linda Apostalo won 1,195 votes to swamp Gary Jefferson’s 413 votes for the Place 6 school board seat formerly held by Sophia Williams, who did not seek re-election this year.
In Place 5, however, incumbent Glenn Peterson narrowly won re-election with 837 votes, nine ballots ahead of challenger Carol Armstrong, a Bastrop accountant.
A three-way race for the Place 7 seat was almost as close. Incumbent trustee Jim Mills won 653 votes, just over 38 percent of the total, to lead challengers Kelly Bender (503 votes) and Jim Clark (547 votes).
Posted in Bastrop School District, Local Politics | No Comments »
May 11th, 2010
Bastrop, Tx–City voters were in no mood for change when they went to the polls May 8 to decide a disputed seat on the city council.
Incumbent Joe Beal was handily re-elected to a second two-year term with 436 votes, almost 62 percent of the total turnout. Challenger Bob Parmelee had made a name for himself over the past year as an activist in the so-called tea party movement. His campaign appealed to voters who felt “over-taxed and under-represented” in city affairs.
Parmelee, who lives in the Tahitian Village subdivision on Bastrop’s southeast side, also noted in campaign materials that currently the mayor and all five sitting council members live in the city’s historic central core on the east bank of the Colorado River.
Mayor Terry Orr and Council Member Julie Hart were also elected to second terms in office May 8. Neither had opponents this year.
Posted in Bastrop City, Local Politics | No Comments »