The Bandera Economic Development Corporation unanimously approved $1.2 million toward the city’s planned wastewater treatment plant relocation while also debating business incentives and property expenses amid growing tensions between board members.
The move of the wastewater treatment plant was a mandate from the state of Texas years ago, and the total estimated cost of the project is approximately $13M.
The city has faced penalties for the delays in years past, but according to city administrator Toni Kunz, it’s been several years since the city has been fined.
“I confirmed we have not had any Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) penalties or fees in the last several years because we are monitoring and making sure that any and all repairs are done immediately,” Kunz said. “We work closely with TCEQ to give them status of the relocation efforts. To date, they have been satisfied with what we have been doing thus far.”
The address of the potential new location for the plant has not yet been disclosed to the public.
The EDC also discussed bringing back applications and incentives for local businesses to apply for after Trail Boss Steakhouse requested $25,000 from the board to rebuild the restaurant’s outdoor patio through a performance agreement application.
“We are asking for that because we have never formally asked for any help before,” said Seanna Henry, a representative for the restaurant. “Annually, the restaurant generates $36,000 in property tax and about $10,000 in sales tax.” The decision to approve the expense was tabled until next meeting, where the board is expected to discuss bringing back retired forms and applications for local businesses to fill out.
Although each decision the board weighed on resulted in a unanimous vote, clear tensions between EDC president Kim McAleb and treasurer Nancy De Foster reflected divisions on procedural and financial stances.
Tensions were apparent from the beginning of the meeting, when De Foster questioned the invoice for the EDC’s administrative assistant Denise Lauricella.
“If I’m not mistaken, this one is higher than the last one,” De Foster said.
McAleb explained that the EDC had met twice in the month of Sept., resulting in the difference in invoice amounts. After the board approved the invoice, McAleb questioned if De Foster had brought the checkbook to pay Lauricella.
“The last one [payment] took quite some time,” McAleb said.
De Foster continued to question expenses, including a $400 cost for surveyors to mark the boundaries of Settler’s Park ahead of the scheduled clear up.
When board members pointed out that there was money available in the parks and recreation budget for the expense – which a few members noted was necessary to establish where the contracted workers would work – De Foster voted to approve the expense but questioned another expense: Surveying the Tin Man Parking Lot, which the EDC has owned since 2008.
According to the EDC, there is a portion of the property that has not been recorded, causing an uncertainty in ownership and responsibility in tax payments.
“Why do we need a survey if we’re not going to sell it or do something with it?”
Board member Gay Guilott, who works in real estate, responded, “Would you want to own a piece of property that you don’t have a clear title on?”
McAleb also pointed out that she had searched archives for the property’s information and title and came up empty.
The disagreement led the board to table the decision, prompting frustration from Guilott, McAleb and Patricia McMullan over unresolved property matters and continued delays on outstanding projects.
"We just keep delaying things," Guilott said.
The board is expected to discuss the property again at the next scheduled meeting.
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