The City Council in Bridge City on Tuesday approved continuing the municipal ordinance concerning a curfew for minors. The ordinance requires review by the council every three years during which it can be abolished, continued, or modified.
City Manager Jerry Jones indicated the curfew ordinance is a useful tool for the Bridge City Police Department. Councilman Carl Harbert voiced his concern that some adults and especially juveniles do not know the seriousness of the curfew ordinance and its consequences for violating it which carries up to a $500 fine for each violation. “These kids come in and think that they’re just going to get their hands slapped, they find out different,” Harbert observed.
Bridge City received confirmation in the last week a Hazard Mitigation Grant that was applied for in 2018 has been awarded to the city. The $3 million grant will be used for improving drainage.
About half a million dollars will be used to conduct a study on the drainage for the major outfall ditches around Bridge City. The other $2.5 million will be used to repair the problems the study reveals according to Jones.
Officials from the city, the county, and the Orange County Drainage District will meet to ensure the study that is done will dovetail to what is going to be done for the rest of the region. This should reduce the amount of work that needs to be done in the city itself as part of another roadside ditches project.
The applications for two grants received approval from the council. The first grant is for a Justice Assistance Grant to purchase a body camera for the police department. The other grant will be used to purchase new radios for the police.
The Orange County Mosquito Control District was approved to fly at low altitude over Bridge City to spray for mosquitoes. The waiver that was granted is an annual request by the district.
The Elsie Street project is almost complete according to City Manager Jones. There are a few curbs that Public Works Director Mike Lund wants to get repaired and some other minor work that needs to get done.
Repairs to the filter press for the waste-water treatment plant are awaiting more parts for the job. That project will proceed when all the parts are received.
The rainy weather has delayed progress on several projects. The manhole covers, fire plugs, and work on the Center Street ditch are all on hold until things get dry enough to do the work.
The City Council approved relinquishing an easement that goes under the Hackbar building. The easement was created in November 1997. Jones said it really does not go to anything and recommended the action to relinquish it.
During the time for Citizens’ Comments Bridget Johnson with the U.S. Census Bureau out of Dallas updated the council on the fast approaching census which begins March 13. Johnson said the bureau is providing several ways for citizens to reply to the census either online or via an 800 phone number.
Census takers will later meet individually with citizens who have not responded using the other two methods. Johnson reminded the U.S. Census Bureau is still hiring census takers to go house to receive the census information.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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