In addition to declaring June 21 as Smithsonian Institution Day in Bandera, City Council members on Tuesday accepted a $1 million Rural Economic Development grant, approved the purchase of new radios for the Marshal’s Department, and postponed a discussion on permitting requirements for 501(c)(3) applications.
The Rural Economic Development (RED) grant, awarded through the Texas Department of Agriculture, includes a required 10% local match. It aims to fund wastewater treatment upgrades, park improvements, water conservation efforts, mobility and accessibility enhancements, beautification of the historic jailhouse and courthouse area, and upgrades to the education and medical centers.
City officials said the grant has been in the works since 2023.
“We are going to keep our eye on more grants,” Councilmember Tony Battle said. “We need to stay on top of it and not miss a beat.”
No public comments were made during the grant’s hearing, and the measure passed unanimously.
The council also voted to purchase six new radios for the Marshal’s Department, allocating $49,000 from the city’s emergency contingency fund. City Marshal Earl Heidelberg explained the current radios, purchased over a decade ago — some secondhand off eBay — are failing and incompatible with planned upgrades to the emergency communications system.
“The radios we have now were purchased over ten years ago,” Heidelberg said. “Some work, some don’t. Emergency Management is also working on upgrading our telecommunications system, and the radios we have now will not be compatible with the new system.”
City Secretary Jill Shelton noted the department’s current Motorola 1000 models are outdated. The new radios, Motorola 8000s, are being purchased at a discounted rate and will meet future compliance needs.
The council unanimously approved the purchase.
Earlier in the meeting, a representative from the Bandera Convention and Visitors Bureau encouraged the city to revive the tradition of the “Blue Jean Flag” as part of the Smithsonian exhibit’s arrival. The flags, emblazoned with “Free State of Bandera,” are intended to be displayed between Memorial Day and the National Day of the American Cowboy on July 26. A community painting event was held last week at the Ice Haus.
The Smithsonian’s traveling exhibit, Crossroads: Change in Rural America, will be displayed at Bandera Middle School with accompanying exhibits throughout the county. It runs from June 21 to July 26.
The council’s final item, a discussion on permitting requirements for 501(c)(3) organizations, was postponed to a future meeting.
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