News

   Bay City council members complained about the lack of information from city staff on three fronts at council’s meeting last week.
   Council expressed dissatisfaction about insufficient details on building permit fees, the theater building proposal and financial reports at its regular meeting Thursday, Jan. 14.
   Works Director Marla Jasek and city inspector Otis Justice told council they looked at other cities’ building permit costs in developing the fees for Bay City.
   Council approved an ordinance with new building permit fees last October, but members became concerned on how much the new fees that were effective Jan. 1 were impacting overall residential construction costs.
   Residential building permit fees, noted City Council Member Chrystal Folse, jumped Jan. 1 from a little over $1,000 to more than $3,000 for a $200,000 house under construction.

   There are currently eight teams ready to “guide” Camofest goers through a few savory samples of wild game, fowl or fish.
   However, the menus are being kept as a closely-guarded secret.
   “It is a good mix; venison in many forms, duck and I think some quail and other surprises,” said Alicia Waters, co-director of Main Street and promotional committee chairman.
   “I want to remind everyone this is a sampling of wine and food, not a full meal.”

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  Bay City School Superintendent Keith Brown’s contract, which runs until July 2017, was not extended after a 5-2 vote by trustees Tuesday night, Jan. 19.
   Brown faced a similar outcome from the board last year on Feb. 17.
   The superintendent’s performance is evaluated annually.
   The evaluation is based on all campuses having “Met Standard” on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) test and reaching district goals.

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   Dr. Christopher Hall, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon with Matagorda Medical Group, was recently named one of the “Top 10 Doctors” by Vitals.com, a website resource that helps consumers find any type of doctor anywhere in the U. S.
   The Top 10 Doctors are chosen by patients who visit Vitals, which gets more than 100 million visitors a year. 
   Visitors to the Vitals website leave ratings and reviews, including doctors’ bedside manner, follow-up care, east of appointment setting, courtesy of office staff and overall appointment experience.
   “It is certainly nice to be recognized for hard work and dedication by this community,” said Hall. 
   “My orthopedic team strives to give patients equal or better care than they can get in Houston or elsewhere. I am proud to offer outstanding orthopedic care in a small town.” 
   Matagorda Medical Group also announced a long-term agreement with Hall.

   Longtime historic preservationist Judith Allen asked for city council’s help in preserving and planting trees throughout the city.
   “Life would be a lot less pleasant without trees,” Allen told council at its meeting last week.
   Allen reminded council about Scott Peden’s donation of 900 trees to the community a few years ago and the creation of a fund where people could donate $1,000 to have a tree planted at the courthouse.

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   John Holloway is Bay City Police Department’s December Officer of the Month.
   Holloway has been with BCPD since January 2014.  
   Holloway attended Palacios High School where he participated in Future Farmers of America and he graduated in 2007.  
   Holloway joined the Marines in 2008 and spent 4 ½ years at his home base of Twentynine Palms, Calif., which included two, seven-month-long deployments to Afghanistan as an infantryman.  
   Upon completion of his military enlistment he returned to Palacios.  
   Holloway attended Victoria College and decided on law enforcement as his career and attended the Victoria College Police Academy, graduating in December 2013.    
   BCPD selects officer of the month based on calls for service, reports taken, traffic contacts and arrests.  
   During December, Holloway answered 127 calls for service and took 13 reports.  

   Beginning Sunday afternoon, Bay City residents were under a “Boil Water” notice until Tuesday morning when the warning was rescinded.
   A water main on Fifth Street and Avenue M broke sometime in the morning Sunday, Jan. 17.
   The immediate impact to residents was area street flooding lower water pressure and tinted water.
   At 4 p.m. Sunday, the public was notified via media outlets, the call-out system and through general calls of concerns made by citizens of the “Boil Water” notice required by law and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).
   Bay City officials indicated the Boil Water Notice (BWN) was “to inform our customers that due to the presence of contaminants or an interruption in service, water from our system must be boiled prior to consumption.

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   Nearly 1,000 tickets have been sold for the 9th Annual Crisis Center Chicken Fried Steak Dinner.
   The dinner will be on Friday, Jan. 29 from 4:30 – 7:30 p.m. at the Knights of Columbus Hall off of Nichols in Bay City.
   “We have been diligently working on the issues last year that slowed the process, and think it should go much smoother this year,” said Crisis Center Executive Director Eugene Davis.
   Tickets cost $10 each and are available by phone at 979-245-9109 or at the Crisis Center, 3010 Sixth Street in Bay City.
   Dinner plates include steak, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans and homemade cookies.
   Plates are available for dining in or drive-thru.
   “We purchase the steaks fresh from a packing company in the Yoakum area,” he said.
   There will also be some tickets available at the door.
   “But, don’t wait. We will project out estimating how many we will sell,” said Davis.

   Power Church plans on opening its “House of Refuge” by Feb. 1 located at 3920 Doris Street in Bay City.
   In order to do that, they are in need of donations.
   Twin size bunk beds were constructed by volunteers Friday, Jan. 15.
   The church is still seeking donations of twin mattresses, pillows and corresponding linens.
   As a 501(C)3, non-profit organization, monetary donations are also tax deductible.
   The “House of Refuge” will be co-ed and feature 20 beds to help support the needs of homeless citizens in Bay City.
   “It’s all part of the vision,” said Pastor Franc Paiz.
   “Originally, we were only going to be a men’s homeless shelter, but, we saw a need for it to be co-ed.”
   Showers and bathrooms will be available for those in residence at the shelter.
   The shelter will be open from 8 p.m. to 7 a.m.