Lifestyle

   A city manager is much like a school superintendent or the CEO of a corporation, Councilman Bill Cornman explained at City Council’s Town Hall meeting Thursday, April 11.
   More people attended the last educational meeting on the three proposed city charter propositions on the May 4 city ballot than previous sessions.
   The three propositions, Cornman explained, are:

  Van Vleck trustees heard several construction updates about the progress of the new campuses and design documents for the auditorium renovations during their regular meeting Monday. 
   “We’re finishing up pouring the last bit of concrete in the next week or so,” said Sophia Dusek, PBK architect project executive.
   “Steel should be arriving the first week of May. Once it starts going up, we’ll definitely be getting more excited.” 
   Dusek told the board that the concrete pad for the new elementary is poured and awaiting holes drilled for piers.
   “The auditorium is finishing up its design phase,” she added.
   “Once that’s done, we’ll be able to release the documents to Drymalla to help get bidding underway.
   “We should see bidding start on May 8 and be able to come back to you with a guaranteed maximum price hopefully in time for the regular May board meeting,” said Dusek.

   A work order of $110,718 for interior and exterior work on the Palacios Courthouse Annex was approved by commissioners court at its regular meeting Monday, April 15.
   County Judge Nate McDonald referred to the work order from Houston-based LMC Corporation as “way deferred maintenance” on the annex that houses a county courtroom and the Palacios Police Department and jail.
   “The old building is sturdy enough, but it needs a lot of attention,” said Precinct 3 Commissioner James Gibson.
   Monday’s work order approved came after “three or four iterations” of the contract were discussed, McDonald said.
   The largest portion of the work will be roof repairs at $41,418.
   The court also approved a professional service agreement for Harvey-related erosion at the River Oaks subdivision between the county and Atkins North America Inc.
   Atkins’ engineering work is preparation for the county’s FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

   Good Friday this year falls on Friday, April 19.
   In observance of Good Friday, the Matagorda County Courthouse and city offices will be closed.
   The U.S. Post Office will be open on Friday.
   Van Vleck ISD has a half day of classes with early dismissal Thursday, April 18.
   Bay City campuses are closed for students all day Thursday.
   Bay City, Tidehaven and Van Vleck school campuses are all closed on Good Friday.
   All Van Vleck students are due back Monday, April 22, at their normal schedule.
   Bay City and Tidehaven students return to school Tuesday, April 23.
   WCA trash collection will follow its usual schedule.

Voters can take to the polls next week for early voting ahead of the official May 4 election day.
   Early voting for the city elections and BCISD trustee races will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday, April 22-26, and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Tuesday April 29-30 at City Hall.
   Regular voting will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, May 4, at the Bay City Service Center.
   The ballot features several propositions for city charter changes:
   A Elect to have the “Council/mayor-city manager” form of government instead of the current “mayor-council” form of government
   B Council members having a three-year term instead of two years
   C Council may appoint a charter review commission, if deemed necessary, instead of a mandatory requirement to appoint charter review commission every five years.

   City Council voted to table indefinitely Mayor Mark Bricker’s request to remove three commissioners from the Bay City Housing Authority board at council’s regular meeting April 11.
   The removal – the subject of three district court sessions plus open and closed-door council meetings – was again on the regular council agenda last week.
   Bricker actively has tried to remove the commissioners – mainly on the accusation of violating the Texas Open Meetings Act – since late 2018 but has been thwarted by district court decisions that have kept the three on the board.
   When the matter surfaced last week, Councilman Jason Childers abstained from voting – as he has done before – on grounds that a family member was connected with BCHA.
   In an effort to move past the contentious subject, Councilman Bill Cornman then moved to support Bricker’s request to remove Ronnie Reeves, Vidala Rodas and Danyal Manning from BCHA.

   Bay City City Council unanimously approved a new rental lease for the House of Refuge homeless shelter with the City’s property at 2001 Fifth Street during their March 28 meeting.
   The lease agreement is set for House of Refuge’s Pastor Frank Paiz to occupy the building for two years at $500 per month rent including utilities and no security deposit. 
   Per the lease, Paiz must maintain commercial property insurance and commercial general liability insurance.
   Other stipulations included that the garage may not be used to house clients and that if Paiz wants to change any rules, they must be presented to and approved by council. 
   If any changes are made to the shelter’s rules without council approval, then the lease can be terminated immediately.

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   As a fan of the previous “Hellboy” movies directed by Guillermo del Toro, I figured that I owed it to myself to see the newest one.
   After all, this reboot draws the majority of its inspiration from the Hellboy comics: Darkness Calls, The Wild Hunt, The Storm and the Fury, and Hellboy in Mexico.
   Directed by Neil Marshall, the film stars David Harbour in the title role, alongside Milla Jovovich, Ian McShane, Sasha Lane, Sophie Okonedo, Daniel Dae Kim, and Thomas Haden Church.
   My favorite part about Harbour taking the reins as Hellboy is that he’s been quoted describing his take on the character as a mix of “Wolverine and Deadpool,” which is awesome!
   That also means that there’s plenty of swearing, gore and grossness – all scored with awesome 80s songs!
   Though it’s only ranked third at domestic box offices, Hellboy could rake in more worldwide.