The City Council heard the annual audit for Bridge City on Tuesday evening. Accountant Keri Michutka informed that the city had a $151,000 deficit as of September 30, 2017 when she performed the audit.
City Manager Jerry Jones explained there were several reasons for the deficit and that Bridge City has money in the bank despite the deficit. The problem started last year when Bridge City did not have the fund balance the city thought it had when it purchased over $200,000 in equipment. Next Tropical Storm Harvey hit the city which resulted in $200,000 of overtime pay for city employees. The storm has delayed the sale of the former police station which would have netted the city revenues of about $200,000. Jones pointed out that it is never a good thing to be in a negative position at the end of the year, but Bridge City still has a lot of money in the bank.
Jones indicated that some services have been cut back and budgets adjusted to make up for the deficit. He assured Bridge City would not be facing a deficit next year when the audit is done.
The City Council approved ordering the municipal election for Saturday, May 5. The council approved an agreement to hold a joint election with the Bridge City Independent School District, the Orange County Navigation and Port District, and the Orange County Drainage District.
Monday, February 26 was the date set for a joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning and Zoning Commission. The purpose of the meeting is to hear comments on two proposed zone changes on Granger and Bower. That meeting will be in the City Hall on Rachal.
Everyone agrees there is a problem with the owner of property on 160 Darby in Bridge City hoarding numerous items which causes a problem with roach and rodent infestation. The City Council heard from a neighbor of that residence Karah Saucier talk about the infestation of roaches and even rats that come from the house. Saucier said she had been forced to spend thousands of dollars on spraying her own property including her vehicles to keep the pests out of them.
Bridge City has acted to condemn the structure and have it torn down, but that is a slow process. A humane organization has offered to help rebuild the house which was damaged from the flooding during Harvey which is delaying the demolition of it.
The owner has been fined multiple times by the City of Bridge City, but she does not pay the fines and just moves to one of her other residences. City Attorney Paul Fukuda sympathized and added the City of Bridge City is limited in what it can do citizens who refuse to obey certain laws. The city can levy fines against them or put them in jail, but not cleaning your house is hardly a jail able offense according to Fukuda. Jones promised the city would continue to pursue condemnation proceedings on the property.
During the meeting Mayor David Rutledge presented certificates recognizing the great service provided by City of Bridge City employees to citizens during and after Tropical Storm Harvey. Each member of the City Council gave thank yous to the employees for their hard work and friendly disposition handling the citizens’ needs because of the disaster.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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