KENEDY– The issue of annexation was once again discussed during the meeting of the Kenedy City Council on July 10.

Attorney Craig McAda presented the council members with what he described as a very brief summary of annexation.

McAda talked about the differences between general law cities and home rule cities and how it relates to annexation. Home rule cities, McAda explained, are created by adoption of a charter and election and with that comes greater authority to annex properties.

McAda explained that general law cities can annex with consent and pointed to a recent example of when the 4B Corporation consented to annexation for property that the corporation owned.

Councilman Bob Patton said that property owners in the area of Business Park Drive near the Walmart Supercenter, had requested annexation.

McAda said they can asked to be annexed, but other requirements to consider is that it must be sparsely populated, contiguous with the city and less than one half a mile in width.

“The real problem there is it is not contiguous with the city,” McAda said, explaining that there was a property between the property requesting annexation and the city limits.

Karnes County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Ray Kroll, who was present at the meeting, addressed the council on the issue.

“The gentleman who owns the property in question, John Buckingham, I have spoke to Mr. Buckingham and he has no issues with being annexed into the city – all done,” Kroll said. “I am waiting on a meeting with the developer. Once they give me a break out of their plans for development, Mr. Buckingham will request annexation into the city.”

McAda asked if this was the tract in between Jerry B’s and the city limits, and Kroll confirmed that it was.

Kroll said he talked to the county judge about paving the county road in the area, but Judge Shaw said the county has no intention of paving the road, but the county expressed a willingness to turn the road over to the City of Kenedy if the city makes the request.

“And we might do that,” McAda said. “At some point, if the property is developed...”

McAda talked about other aspects of annexation with the council members, including forced annexation that can happen under circumstances such as a situation when the city annexes property with the intention of providing city utilities and services for the property in question.

In other business, Councilman Brandon Briones expressed concerns about truck traffic that continues to pass through the downtown area, even though prohibited by ordinance and marked with signs showing that trucks are not allowed.

Briones said he had noticed that police had stopped trucks in violation of the ordinance, but the traffic seems to continue to pass through the downtown area.

“We have a truck route in place for a reason and I don’t understand why they still contnue coming through,” Briones said. “The last thing we need is a major accident and the city being held responsible for such an incident.”

City Manager Ford Patton he understood that two officers are on patrol on a regular basis, but spot checks throughout the day may help with the situation.

“I will follow up with them to see if more can’t be done,” Patton said. “I know they have started to focus more on the truck traffic through the downtown area.

Mayor Randy Garza suggested working on a plan to address the issue.

Councilman Ken Reiley suggested that increasing the number or enhancing the visibility of signs might be a good idea. He said that current signs posted are past the point where truck drivers would have the opportunity to change their route before entering the downtown area.

The city council heard an update from Klein Engineering on a planned wastewater system improvement project funded by the Texas Community Development Block grant funding.

The project includes 2,000 linear feet of sewer line replacement and the rehabilitation of eight manholes used as part of the city’s wastewater system.

“This is designed to relieve the pressure and capacity off this one old linea and redirect it down this new sewer line,” said Felincio Rodriguez. “Plans and specifications are completed. We are ready to advertise this project.”

The cost of the project was originally estimated at $236,000, but representatives of Klein Engineering said the base bid was expected to cost $136,500 with an additional $39,500 for an alternative enhancement.

The engineers said they hoped to advertise the project at the end of July and early August with a possible date of awarding the bid in mid August.

Councilman Ken Reiley made a motion to authorize advertising for bids on the project and the motion carried unanimously by the council.