Council takes action on local blight issue
Hallettsville council members officially gave notice last week to the owners of one of the newspaper’s neighbors, giving them 30 days to clean up the place or the city would.
That decision came after the city held a public hearing on the property, located at 514 W. Fairwinds here in Hallettsville, known to many as the old Joe’s Fried Chickenbuilding though Joe Neskora and his family are no longer the owners of said property.
Readers likely recall that the building was laid open one night when a driver apparently fell asleep behind the wheel coming off the Victoria highway and never made the turn. Instead, the driver plowed headlong into the building, damaging much of the front facing wall as well as the building’s flooring.
Of course, all this took place some months ago now. In the interim, it has stood pretty much as that driver left it that night: Damaged and exposed to the elements.
To sum up the opinion of many on the council, it’s an eyesore, set right in front of one of the main entrances into our city and it needs to be cleaned up. Tuesday’s hearing was held to discuss a code violation under Article 3.300 of the City Code, the parts listed as “Substandard and Dangerous Buildings.”
On a related issue, Hallettsville has qualified for more HOME Investment Partnership Program projects with the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs. This is Hallettsville’s third round of local projects with the program, which has already done much to improve several neighborhoods around the city.
City administrator Grace Ward said they were applications from qualifying low-income residential properties now.
In this new round of projects, city leaders also named Langford Community Management Services to assist the city in managing the projects and staying on top of the rather stringent requirements those grants require of their recipients.
In other business last Tuesday:
• Council approved a road closure request for St. Peter’s annual pancake supper taking place on Tuesday, March 4. Traffic flow will be restricted in areas near the church that day so be aware if you happen to be traveling there.
• Hallettsville ISD staff updated city officials of their ongoing improvement projects out at the baseball and softball fields at the city park. The school will be expanding restroom and concession stand facilities to better serve the students and their families who make use of those facilities at games.
• The city held the first of two required readings on a project put forth by the Hallettsville Economic Development Corp. that will provide some $125,000 of HEDC grant money toward the construction and renovation projects over at Hometown Wellness Clinic, located at 306 N. Texana in Hallettsville.
No public comments were offered on the project proposal Tuesday. It will have one more reading at next month’s meeting before council can vote to approve it or address any comments.
•Hallettsville police have circled back to the governors Operation Lone Star funds in hopes of securing a side by side utility vehicle and possibly for license plate reading camera equipment for their department.
They made their applications and now await their response from the state. If approved, the governor’s grant would cover 100% of the funds needed. No local match is required.
• Council members met in executive session to discuss the hiring of a new police officer in Hallettsville. Upon returning to their open session a job offer was made and accepted by new HPD Officer Oscar Montantes.
The next Hallettsville council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 17.