CITY & COUNTY
Top city & county stories to watch in 2023
2023 ANNUAL COMMUNITY GUIDE
COMPILED BY EDMOND ORTIZ
Election ling underway in Hollywood Park, Hill Country Village, San Antonio, Shavano Park
San Antonio agency receives $21.5M grant to boost public health services
AACOG honors Bexar County’s mental health response team BEXAR COUNTY On Dec. 8, the specialized mental health response team operating in unincorpo- rated Bexar County and its 26 suburban cities received the Government Project of the Year award from the Alamo Area Council of Governments. According to a news release, the Standardized Multidisciplinary Alternate Response Team, or S.M.A.R.T., is seen by local law enforcement, elected o cials and mental health care experts as a model for methods used to divert people in mental health crisis from jail and toward resources. In an emergency, the S.M.A.R.T. unit will be dispatched from information gathered in a 911 call. Otherwise, they can be requested for a mental health response by call- ing 210-335-6000, the release said.
OTHER STORIES TO FOLLOW IN 2023 Groundwater Conservation District appoints new board member Trinity-Glen Rose Groundwater Conservation District, which protects the north Bexar County portion of the Trinity Aquifer, in December appointed Katrina Waring Castillo to the vacant Precinct 5 board seat. An information technology professional, Castillo will need to run for re-election in May 2024 to continue to serve Precinct 5, which covers neighborhoods east of US 281 and north of Loop 1604. Businesses apply for road construction recovery grants in San Antonio Small businesses hit hard by road construction in 15 identi ed corridors have Feb. 13-28 to apply for aid from the city’s new COVID-19/Construction Recovery Grant Program. City o cials on Jan. 11 announced the reallocation of $2.25 million within their American Rescue Plan Act Small Business Implementation Plan to fund a recovery program to help small businesses that can attribute decreased revenues to lengthy or delayed street construction in one of 15 targeted areas. Approved grants will range $10,000- $35,000. More details are available at www.saspeakup.com/smallbizgrants
Feb. 17: Last day to le for a ballot spot or for a city or school district to call a May 6 election April 6: Last day to register to vote April 24-May 2: Early voting ELECTION DEADLINES The Texas Secretary of State’s Election Department has the following deadlines for Texas residents who wish to run or vote in the May 6 elections. April 25: Last day to apply for ballot by mail Visit https://txapps.texas.gov to register or update your voter registration information. First-time voters may complete an application at https://vrapp.sos.state.tx.us/index.asp and return it to the Bexar County election o ce at least 30 days before May 6.
BEXAR COUNTY Eligible residents interested in pursuing a city council spot in the May 6 munici- pal elections have a 5 p.m. Feb. 17 ling deadline. The May 6 election ling period began Jan. 18. In Hill Country Village, Carl Register, Thomas Doyle and Allison Francis, respectively, hold council places 1, 3 and 5, which are on the ballot. Hollywood Park voters will consider candidates in council places 1, 3 and 5, which are occupied by Chester Drash, Michael Voorhies and Glenna Pearce, respectively. The San Antonio mayor’s o ce and all 10 council spots are up for election, including
SAN ANTONIO The city’s Met- ropolitan Health District on Dec. 9 said it received a $21.5 million grant from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to improve local public health infrastructure. The CDC’s Public Health Infrastructure Grant will help to modernize the health department and fund the SA Forward Plan, the city’s response plan to COVID-19 to enhance public health infrastruc- ture, according to a news release. The release also said the federal funding will support SA Forward’s six focus areas: access to health care; data and technology infrastructure; food insecurity and nutrition; health equity and social justice; mental health and community resilience; and violence prevention. At a press conference, elected o cials, such as U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D Laredo, and State Rep.
north side districts 8, 9 and 10, which are held by Manny Pelaez, John Courage and Clayton Perry, respectively. After a two-month sabbatical, Perry on Jan. 12 returned to full-time council duties following his involvement in a Nov. 6 vehicular hit-and-run incident. Local law enforcement authorities said they are investigating Perry for allegedly driving while intoxicated. Shavano Park voters will consider contestants for mayor and two at-large council seats that are occupied by Bob Werner, Albert Aleman and Pete Miller, respectively.
SIX FOCUS AREAS The San Antonio Metropolitan Health District will use a $21.5 million federal grant to make improvements in these areas:
Access to health care Data and technology infrastructure Food insecurity and nutrition Mental health and community resilience
SOURCE: BEXAR COUNTY, STATE OF TEXAS COMMUNITY IMPACT
Health equity and social justice
Shavano Park using funds to move water mains
commissioners in October. Hill said many water mains in Sha- vano Park located in the right-of-way parallel to Northwest Military Highway had to be replaced and moved to accommodate the road project, which includes drainage upgrades as well as the addition of sidewalks and bicycle lanes.
This ARPA grant will oset the city’s cost of replacing water mains, which is estimated at $1 million, he said. Per ARPA requirements, Shavano Park must budget the funds for future expenses, Hill said. The city and county have also been hammering out an interlocal agreement about the particular use of these ARPA funds.
Violence prevention
SOURCE: CITY OF SAN ANTONIO COMMUNITY IMPACT
SHAVANO PARK The city plans to use $750,000 in American Rescue Plan Act money to relocate water main lines as part of the Texas Depart- ment of Transportation’s ongoing Northwest Military Highway project.
City Manager Bill Hill briefed City Council on Dec. 12 about his meeting with Bexar County sta about timing and other speci c requirements for budgeting the ARPA funds, which were approved by Bexar County
Liz Campos, D San Antonio, said the coronavirus pandemic highlighted a need to upgrade much of the local public health infrastructure.
STONE OAK 23026 US Hwy 281 N (210) 497-1322 DE ZAVALA 5219 De Zavala Rd (210) 561-0900
VINEYARD 1309 N Loop 1604 W (210) 408-8206 RECTOR
819 E Rector Dr (210) 340-2244
LEGACY 2003 N Loop 1604 E (210) 494-8600
Powered by FlippingBook