10181965 Regular Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

I I I MINUTES OF A RECESSED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SAN MARCOS, HELD ON THE 18th DAY OF OCTOBER, 1965. A recessed meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Ellis Serur on Monday, October 18, 1965, in the City Recreation Hall at 7:35 p.m. Upon roll call by the Deputy City Secretary, the following were present: PRESENT: Mayor Serur Alderman Damon Alderman Froh Alderman Pool Alderman Tuttle Alderman Whittenberg B. R. Fuller, City Manager Bruce McElroy, Assistant City Manager Sue Fomby, Deputy City Secretary Also Present: Mr. Tom Buckner, Mrs. Jerri Veidt, Mrs. Carolyn Chandler, Mrs. Mary Etheridge, and 400-plus San Marcos citizens. Mayor Serur announced that before the meeting got underway, Alder- man Whittenberg had a statement which he wished to make. Mr. Whittenberg was recognized and read a statement which he said was the stand now taken by the three Councilmen who on October 11,1965, voted against a continuation Df Urban Renewal in San Marcos. Mr; Whittenberg began by saying that it was "gratifying to see as much interest in San Marcos and its welfare." He stated that the Council had worked diligently for the last two years in order to get the river project approved, and that it had appeared to them that there have been many unnecessary delays. In addition, people living in the project area, he continued, have been subjected to many hardships due to the project; they have not heen able to sell or make additions to their property for the past three years. Mr. Whittenberg further stated that it seemed reasonable to the Council (referring to the three Councilmen who had voted for the resolution to end Urban Renewal) to do away with the project which had kept so many residents of the area in suspense for three years. The Council, Mr. Whittenberg went on, feels that it is more important to pave the streets and lay sewer lines on the properties of those tax-payers who have lived inside the City Limits for as much as five years without these conveniences. It is important that the City's monies be spent in such a way that all of the citizens will be henefitted. Mr. Whittenberg stated that there was recently a statement in the local press by Mr. Herrington, Assistant Director of the Regional Of- fice of the Housing and Home Finance Agency,who stated that he knew of no reason why the project application cannot be approved in favor of the City; Mr. Whittenberg pointed out that this is the first pos- itive statement on the project that has been made directly or indirectly in the past one-and-a-half years. He said also that the Council felt that the people should show interest in Urban Renewal if they wished it to continue. He noted further that there has been conflict hetween the City and the LPA which been a detriment to the progress of the pro- gram. Mr. Whittenberg said that the Council believes that these two parties should work together in harmony; furthermore, the Council be- lieves that adequate prices should be paid for the proPerty 'which' the City takes over in the project area. He concluded by saying that the Council doubts the wisdom of spending tax-payers' money for this project to the neglect of the rest of the City, and that the Council thinks that if the people want the project to go on, money for it should be voted in a bond issue. Finally, Mr. Whittenberg said that the Council "wi 11 give consideration to wi thholding any action on the Mayor's veto of our resolution, provided the suggestions we have here are heeded." The text of Mr. Whittenberg's statement is attached as a part of the minutes. Southwest Texas State College President James H. McCrocklin stated that he wished to be heard. Dr. McCrocklin introduced himself to the public and stated that he was "in a position in this community