Open Carry is now law in Texas. Tuesday evening the City Council in Bridge City discussed the new gun law and its effect on municipal buildings. City Attorney Paul Fukuda informed the council about the effects of the law on the City Hall in Bridge City which serves as the city court, council chamber, and houses city offices. Fukuda said the legislature is not perfect and may not have taken into account all the circumstances that are impacted by the law. He added that the law does prohibit the carrying of hand guns in courts and offices connected to the courts or in areas where posted meetings are held like the council chamber and that kind of thing.
The City Council asked Fukuda a few questions. Some members expressed support for the new law while others said they had concerns about it. No action was taken by the City Council Tuesday, but Mayor Kirk Roccaforte suggested Bridge City delay any action on posting signs for a month or two until the interpretations of the Open Carry Law are more defined.
The City Council heard a concern from a couple about a neighbor they believe is breaking a zoning regulation by operating a business in a residentially zoned area of Bridge City. Arthur and Terry Wolf complained their neighbor across the street from their residence on Dugas is constantly working on boats that are not necessarily his in the front yard. Arthur said the result is an unsightly mess for the neighborhood. Wolf informed that daily there are usually multiple boats in the neighbor’s yard in fact as many as seven. He asked the council if the city is not going to enforce zoning regulations, why do we have them.
His wife Terry added that many times pallets, old tires, and other parts are left in the neighbor’s driveway which she previously provided photographs of the situation to the city. The Wolfs pointed out that the boats come at various times of the day or night to the yard. They stated that sometimes the boats block access to other vehicles on the street.
City Attorney Fukuda responded that his hands are tied unless they can provide evidence that the neighbor is actually operating it as a business with signs, advertising, and fees charged. Mayor Kirk Roccaforte understands the Wolfs’ concern. Roccaforte believes citizens do have a right to do certain things on their property if they own it, but feels they should consider how it will affect their neighbors. The mayor reminded that Bridge City has addressed the complaint previously and has worked with the owner of the property in question to make sure he is obeying city ordinances. Roccaforte emphasizes there are two sides of the story, too. City Manager Jerry Jones promised that Code Enforcement Officer Clarence Philpott would inspect the property in question this week to make sure it is cleared of items like tires and pallets which are violations of city ordinances.
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