CITY& COUNTY
News from Comal County & New Braunfels
QUOTEOFNOTE “THE SALES TO RENT MARKET INVERTED THISWEEK FOR THE FIRST TIME IN 40YEARS. THAT MEANS THERE ARE MORE HOUSES ON THEMARKET TO RENT THAN THERE ARE FOR SALE UNDER $500,000.” EASTON SMITH, A LOCAL REAL ESTATE SALESPERSON, IN A PRESENTATION TO NEWBRAUNFELS CITY COUNCIL ON FEB. 14 NUMBER TOKNOW in grant funding was submitted to the Governor’s O ce for the Comal County Sheri ’s O ce to purchase advanced computer hardware that can manage data and “retrieve evidence from computer and video camera/ cell phone systems,” according to the grant application. New Braunfels City Council Meets March 14 and 28 at 6 p.m. at 550 Landa St., New Braunfels 830-221-4000 • www.nbtexas.org Comal County Commissioners Court Meets March 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31 at 8:30 a.m. at 100 Main Plaza, New Braunfels 830-221-1100 • www.co.comal.tx.us MEETINGSWE COVER competitive sealed proposals for the construction of a 5-mile ber-optic cable on Loop 337 to complete a ber ring between City Hall and the New Braunfels Public Library. individuals have led for two open New Braunfels City Council seats in the upcoming May 7 election. District 1 Council Member Shane Hines and District 2 Council Member Justin Meadows did not le for re- election. Three candidates will appear on the ballot for District 1, and two candidates will vie for District 2. COMAL COUNTY The Baptist Health Foundation of San Antonio in December recognized Comal County as one of eight counties to receive its 2021 Spirit of Health Award. The award celebrates the community’s hard work during the COVID-19 pandemic. NEWBRAUNFELS In February the city began accepting $67,660 HIGHLIGHTS NEWBRAUNFELS Five
Commissioners Court approves grant applications
BY ERIC WEILBACHER
FUNDING PROGRAMS Several grant applications were approved by the Comal County Commissioners Court in February. If approved, the funds will cover the salaries of several positions within the county.
COMAL COUNTY The Commissioners Court unani- mously approved grant applications for several salaried positions Feb. 10 that are funded through criminal justice and special courts grants from Gov. Greg Abbott’s o ce as well as other grants for the continuation of county programs totaling $410,019.25. Positions for two coordinators for violence against women victims’ assistance within the Criminal District Attorney’s O ce were created in 2020 as well as a prose- cutor focused on violence against women, and if awarded the funding—which is a mix of federal and state funds that are dispersed through the governor’s o ce—it would fund the positions for another scal year from October through September 2023. According to the grant applications, the county requested $118,088.51 for the annual salary of the pros- ecutor, and $123,613.18 to support the salaries of the two coordinators. “This is a renewal for the [violence against women] prosecutor position. It’s proved to be highly e ective within our o ce,” Comal County Criminal District Attor- ney Jennifer Tharp said. Other ongoing county e orts had grants approved to
Violence against women assistants and prosecutor $241,701.69 Increasing Accountability Program $90,155.06 Felony drug court $78,162.50
Total $410,019.25
SOURCE: COMAL COUNTY COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
send to the state to request funding. The county requested a $90,155.06 grant through the state’s specialty courts program for the Increasing Accountability Program, a drug court program created in 2009 by County Court at Law Judge Randy Gray created in 2009 to reduce repeat arrest rates of DWI defendants, according to the application. A $78,162.50 grant proposal was also approved by the court to support the felony drug court program.
Spring applications open for city boards and commissions
BY LAUREN CANTERBERRY
NEWBRAUNFELS The city of New Braunfels is now accepting applica- tions for positions on several boards and commissions. In August the city reorganized the schedule used by city o cials to appoint new members to the 31 local boards and commissions. O cials said the change would streamline communication between the community and city sta and improve advertising for the positions. Appointments included in the spring term will end May 31 of each year, and new appointments will begin June 1. Fall term appointments will end Nov. 30, and new appoint- ments will begin Dec. 1. Applications are now being accepted for the airport advisory board, arts commission, downtown board, ethics commission, heritage commission and more. Residents who are interested can learn more about open positions and submit applications online at www.nbtexas.org/apply.
Residents sign a beam at the Feb. 16 ceremony for the Westside Branch of the New Braunfels Public Library. (Lauren Canterberry/Community Impact Newspaper)
Topping-out ceremonymarksmilestone in NewBraunfels’ Westside library construction
BY LAUREN CANTERBERRY
LIBRARY EXPANSION The new Westside Branch of the New Braunfels Public Library will include a variety of learning spaces. The library will include:
NEWBRAUNFELS Representa- tives of the city of New Braunfels, area nonpro t organizations and businesses gathered Feb. 16 for a topping-out ceremony celebrating the new branch of the local library system that is being built. Construction on the newWest- side Branch of the New Braunfels Public Library began in spring 2021 on the same property as the West- side Community Center, located at 2932 S. I-35. The $5.5 million project is part of the city’s 2019 bond program, and the 8,800-square-foot facility
• study rooms; • a teen space; • a 20,000- item library collection;
• a community garden; and • a program room.
SOURCE: CITY OF NEW BRAUNFELS COMMUNITY IMPACT NEWSPAPER
will include a program room, study rooms, a teen space, a library collec- tion of up to 20,000 items, comput- ers and a community garden.
17
NEW BRAUNFELS EDITION • MARCH 2022
Powered by FlippingBook