BY THOMAS LEFFLER
Schertz issues $56.4 million in bonds for 7 projects On July 15, Schertz City Council unanimously approved issuing $56.4 million in bonds for various capital improvement projects. Of the $56.4 million, $28.8 million will go
I-10 business park rezoning approved The city of Cibolo will be rezoning approx- imately 270 acres from a mixed-use regional employment district to a light industrial business park along I-10 East. The overview In a 4-2 vote, Cibolo City Council approved the rezoning July 8, following a unanimous recommendation by the city’s Planning & Zoning Commission on June 11. Council members Joel Hicks and Norma San- chez-Stephens were the dissenting votes. The city-initiated rezoning is part of the Future Land Use Map adopted in September. Potential uses for the park include automo- tive services, professional offices, warehous- ing and light manufacturing.
Bond-funded projects in Schertz The city approved issuing $56.4 million in bonds to fund general and utility projects. Main Street improvements $6M
toward general fund projects while $27.6 million will go toward utility fund projects, according to Schertz Financial Advisor Andrew Friedman. Why it matters According to agenda documents, projects selected to be funded through the debt issuance include improvements to Main Street, Kramer Farm Road and the Buffalo Valley South neighborhood. James Walters, the city’s finance director, said that funding of these projects would likely not have any impact on the city’s Interest & Sinking tax rate, part of the city’s property tax rate specif- ically related to paying off debt. The current I&S rate in Schertz is $0.3326 per $100 taxable value. “The bonds were structured in a way to not raise taxes. This is within our allotted capacity, so we believe the tax rate will remain the same even after this sale,” Walters said. What else? The funds are expected to be delivered on August 13, Friedman said. Selma OKs contract for fire station remodel The Selma Fire Department is one step closer to increasing operational efficiency at Selma Fire Station No. 1, located at 9375 Corporate Drive. Selma City Council approved a construction contract with Field Construction for the loft to bunk remodel on July 10. A loft to bunk remodel is the process of converting the station from single loft beds to dual bunk beds, allowing for more employees to stay in the location. The details The contract has a maximum price of $314,154 and a price not to exceed $329,861, which is a 5% contingency for potential added construction costs. Digging deeper Funding is part of the 2024-25 fire department
$4M
2025 Street Preservation and Maintenance (SPAM) projects
$1.6M
Boenig Road reconstruction
$1.4M
Kramer Farm subdivision rehabilitation
$1.1M
Elevated storage tank pipeline replacement
$400K
Generator replacement at East Oak pumping station
$100K
Schertz Parkway waterline replacement
NOTE: THIS LIST IS NOT COMPREHENSIVE AND DOES NOT INCLUDE PRIOR EXPENDITURES MADE BEFORE BOND ISSUANCE. SOURCE: CITY OF SCHERTZ/COMMUNITY IMPACT
90
N
SANTA CLARA RD.
Schertz Mayor to seek re-election During a July 15 city council meeting, Schertz Mayor Ralph Gutierrez said he will be seeking re-election this November. In a nutshell Gutierrez was sworn in as Mayor in November 2019. He previously served as a City Council member from 2016 to 2019, and has been a Schertz resident since 1991, according to the city’s website. Council also approved a resolution on July 15 ordering a joint election with Comal, Bexar and Guadalupe counties on Novem- ber 4. The positions of Mayor, council member Place 1 and council member Place 2 will be on the ballot, with winners to be elected for a term to expire in November 2028, according to agenda documents.
35
N
operating budget. The project will accommodate the fire department’s addition of fire battalion chiefs, including a dedicated chief’s quarters with an additional bunk room, new bathroom and shower facilities. Next steps City Manager Johnny Casias said construc- tion will begin no later than 45 days from the contract signing and will be complete within 120 days, or in mid-November.
7
NORTHEAST SAN ANTONIO METROCOM EDITION
Powered by FlippingBook