Council receives 2024 racial profiling report

The Shiner City Council received the 2024 racial profiling report from the Shiner Police Department at the Jan. 6 meeting. 
“We’re required by law to report all of our police contacts with violated traffic stops,” Police Chief Wayne Denson said. “We report these findings to the council and also turn them into the state. We made 392 traffic stops in 2024 with 27 searches as a result of the traffic stops. Out of those, 15 were for probable cause. There was 15 contraband found out of those 27 stops. We issued a total of 45 verbal warnings, 235 written warnings, and 106 citations.”
“For the race and ethnicities of the violators, there were 235 white or Caucasian people, 32 black people, 120 Hispanic people, and 5 Asian or Pacific Islanders.”
The council also received the end of year Municipal Court report from Court Judge Bob R.W. Penley Sr. 
“The year end for 2024 showed that the revenues for that year was a bit more for 2023,” Penley Sr. said. “Some of the fines were higher for that year.”
Other items on the agenda include:
• Council members approved the annual City of Shiner Investment Policy. There were no changes.
• Council approved a replat at 302 N. Ave. B.
• The council tabled the purchase of a new animal control vehicle.

• The Shiner Gazette was designated as the official newspaper of the City of Shiner for fiscal year 2025.
• Council approved the Hazard Mitigation Action Plan.
• Council approved the tax roll.
• Folks will be getting a $10 credit for signing up for e-bill on their utilities bill. This is to alleviate the fees for postage stamps.
• Council approved two applications for hotel occupancy tax funds from Heritage Quilters and the Shiner Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber will be using these funds to promote Half Moon Holidays as well as the City of Shiner.
• It was reported that there was a new applicant for the Shiner Police Department.
• Stolen trucks in the area are becoming more prevalent according to Denson.
• Two council members as well as a new mayor for Shiner are up for election. The deadline to put your name on the ballot is from Wednesday, Jan. 15 to Friday, Feb. 14.
• It was reported that the radio system for Emergency Management Services is up and running.