The Eldorado City Council met Monday night and discussed a variance for a carport requested by T.J. Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was on hand for the meeting and discussed a carport he is in the process of building at his home on Highland Street. He said he had received a note from the city informing him that he had not obtained a building permit or submitted a survey prior to starting the project.
Rodriguez noted that the frame is already built for the structure and said he was not aware of the need for a survey or a building permit. He asked the council for a variance and said he would pay the $1.25 the city charges for building permits.
City Secretary Carolyn Mayo presented photos and a drawing showing the property and the carport under construction. She noted that the subdivision rules require a 35-foot setback from the property line and added that the a city ordinance requires a 12-foot setback.
During the discussion it was noted that the city’s ordinance has no teeth since it doesn’t specify a fine for violators. Council members also indicated they were unaware as to exactly where the city’s right-of-way is located.
Rodriguez explained that there is an iron stake in the cement curb which he said he believed to be the property line. The carport is six feet from this stake.
Ordinance #101-6, which took effect January 6, 2009, requires that structures be a minimum 12 feet from the property line nearest the street, six feet from the back and three feet from the side.
Carolyn Mayo asked the council if the property could be surveyed but the group chose instead to see if there is already an existing survey. They also voted to give the variance for the carport with the provision that it not be enclosed and that a survey is located for the property.
In other business, Code Enforcement Officer Maggie Lloyd reported to the council Schleicher County Judge Charlie Bradley informed her the Sheriff’s Department would no longer put down dogs or cats within the city limits due to liability issues, unless the animal is rabid or otherwise dangerous.
Code Enforcement Officer Maggie Lloyd also gave the council an update on the schedule for her code enforcement duties. Council woman Stacy Haynes asked that Lloyd have a set number of hours during the month for the performance of her code enforcement duties.
City Secretary Mayo reported Mayor John Nikolauk wrote a letter supporting the Eldorado Youth Corps, Inc. which will has submitted a grant application to the San Angelo Health Foundation. The Eldorado Youth Corps, Inc. is a recognized as a “501 c3 non profit organization.” It is seeking an $80,000 grant from the Health Foundation for renovation of the old Episcopal Church building so it can be made available to the local scouting organizations and to provide a permanent location for the scouts to hold meetings and conduct other scouting activities.
It was noted that the Schleicher County Commissioners have also submitted letter of support.
Utitlity Superintendent Floyd Fay then reported that the city’s primary garbage truck is being repaired in San Angelo. He said the hydraulic cylinder that assists in emptying the truck had developed a leak.
Fay noted that water pressure was doing well over town. Fay told the council due to the cold weather the “DAF unit” at the sewer plant will not be running and no sewer effluent will bed released for the next month.
Fay also advised that pothole patching continues on city streets and the digging of a ”Type 4” cell for the disposal of construction and demolition debris is well underway at the landfill. He further advised that city crews have found and repaired several gas leaks.
Fay then requested a 50 cent pay raise for a new employee who had completed a 90-day orientation period. The council approved the increase.
City Secretary Carolyn Mayo then distributed a copy of the city’s 2009-2010 audit report. She advised that the total cost of the audit was $13,700.00.
Mayo also informed the council the YFZ Ranch signed a new contract under protest for monitoring the YFZ sewer system. The city increased the monitoring fees at a recent meeting. According to Mayo, the YFZ had gotten behind on its payments and had used up its deposit.
Mayo said she advised ranch representative Paul Allred that the city would no longer monitor the sewer system after December 1st. With that the YFZ presented a check for October and November bills.
The council then authorized Mayo to enter into a contract for electrical service with the Texas Association of School Boards
The council also voted to close City Hall on Friday, December 31, 2010 and approved longevity pay for the employees.
Before adjourning, the council approved minutes of the November 8th meeting, authorized payment of the city’s bills and okayed a city holiday schedule for 2011.
Monday’s meeting was presided over by Mayor Pro-Tem Stan Meador with council members Stacy Haynes, Richard Mendez, Jon Cartwright and Dorothy Dacy in attendance. Mayor John Nikolauk and Council woman Dora Bosmans were absent.
The next meeting of the Eldorado City Council is slated for 6 p.m. on Monday, January 10, 2011 in the council chambers at City Hall.
Emergency personnel were called last Saturday evening to free Rosa Delia Reyes, 39, from an overturned vehicle on CR 300, just outside of the Eldorado city limits.
AUSTIN — William Alan Dykstra of Eldorado graduated November 18, 2010 from the Texas Department of Public Safety’s Training Academy.
The Duckwall’s store in Eldorado is slated to close its doors shortly after the New Year. So will 42 other stores in the central United States.