News

   City Council unanimously approved issuing $6 million in certificates of obligation that will cover reconstructing Nile Valley Road from Texas 35 to Texas 60, during a workshop session Tuesday night, Jan. 14.
   The two-phase road construction is projected to be about $4.8 million, with a little more than a $1 million remaining to tackle other projects.
   The .5-mile-long Phase 1 will be from Texas 60 to MLK, while 2.21-mile Phase 2 will be from MLK to Texas 60.

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   Bay City ISD trustees unanimously approved construction documents for the new Linnie Roberts Elementary Campus at the old McAllister Intermediate/Junior High site during their regular meeting Monday night.
   “We brought you copies of the documents in progress at 35, 65 and 95%,” said Cristina Marrero, Claycomb Associates, Architects assistant project manager.
   “They are now at 100% and you received an email link to them earlier prior to this meeting. Once you approve them, the next step is having Weaver and Jacobs contractors solicit bids from their subcontractors.”
   “We’ve already had our subs looking at and making pricing calculations on the preliminary documents,” added Dallas Hagan, Weaver and Jacobs project manager.
   “With the final construction documents approved, we can get hard numbers and provide the board with a guaranteed maximum project price by the next board meeting in February.”

   The 120th Annual Audubon Matagorda County Mad Island Marsh Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is officially reporting 229 species and is projected to be No. 1 in North America again.
   “Matagorda County sent 111 birders in the field and they used 371 party hours to locate 229 species,” said Dr. Brent Ortego, wildlife ornithologist, and CBC compiler.
   “Our traditional competitors in San Diego reported 211, Santa Barbara 206, and Guadalupe River Delta 201,” he added. 
“We are not officially No. 1 until the editing is completed. That will not likely change any of these statuses.”  
   Ortego added that while the species count was below average overall, the CBC tallied the most this year in North America.

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   Commissioners Court reduced District Attorney Steven Reis’ salary requests for two investigators at the court’s regular meeting Monday, Jan. 13.
   County Judge Nate McDonald and commissioners argued the pay rate for those positions was too high in relation to the county’s salary structure.
   Reis responded the salaries were within his budget and in line with the demands of the district attorney’s investigations that require long hours and work to prepare the cases for criminal investigation and for prosecution in court.
   The salary requests were sought because of longtime Chief DA criminal investigator Jeannette Bell’s retirement Jan. 31, Reis told the court.
   Reis proposed hiring 11-year Bay City Police officer Justin Kirk as an entry-level DA investigator at $29 an hour. Kirk has been working toward that position, Reis added.

   Tidehaven school trustees approved a $500 attendance incentive for the current spring semester during their meeting Monday night.
   Our trustees approved an incentive for the current semester for five days at $100 per day,” said Superintendent Dr. Andrew Seigrist.
   If the employee does not miss any days and they retain all five days, then they will be eligible for $500. If they use three days and have two days remaining, then the employee will be eligible for $200,” he explained.

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   January sales tax rebates for Bay City and Palacios are up from the same month in 2019.
   Bay City’s January sales tax rebate was $477,720, up 13.52% from $420,788 the same month a year ago. 
   Palacios received sales tax rebates totaling $51,672, up 4.72% from the $49,340 in January 2018.
   The Texas Comptroller’s office January sales tax allocation checks are based on sales made in November by businesses that report tax monthly.
   Statewide the January sales tax allocations are 3.6% more than in January 2018. 

   The Bay City Police Department received the award of “Recognized Law Enforcement Agency” from the Texas Police Chiefs Association (TCPA) Law Enforcement Recognition Program on Dec. 19.
      The actual presentation of the award will take place at the regular City Council meeting held on Feb. 25.  
   The department will also be recognized at the Texas Police Chiefs Association annual conference in April.
   The Bay City Police Department was originally recognized by the TCPA Law Enforcement Recognition Program in 2012.  
   “Beginning in 2011, the department began the lengthy process to become a recognized law enforcement agency by preparing proofs of compliance for each of the Texas Law Enforcement Best Business Practices,” said BCPD Police Chief Robert Lister in a press release.
   “Upon completion of the internal review, an outside audit and review were requested. This latest on-site review took place on December 11, 2019.”  

   Bay City Police Department officers were dispatched in reference to a disturbance at about 6:49 p.m. Friday, Jan. 10 to 2001 Palm Village.
   Upon arrival, the complainant and suspect had already left location.  
   Corporal Dan Shook spoke with the complainant over the telephone where she advised that her husband, Earnest Johnson III, attempted to get into her apartment.  
   She told the officer that he had pulled a gun and threatened to shoot her.  
   Shortly after speaking with the victim, she called back to notify the officer that Johnson was parked in the 3400 block of Avenue F.
   Shook headed to the location and contacted Johnson.  
   Due to the earlier information of Johnson being armed, he was placed in handcuffs during the investigation.  
   Johnson began to argue with the officer and while Shook attempted to place Johnson in the back of the patrol unit, Johnson began pushing the officer.