City council discusses speeding in neighborhoods with concerned resident
The Cameron City Council heard from a very concerned citizen about the need for speed limit signs in the city’s neighborhoods during its meeting Jan. 22. Cameron resident Roy Boutwell spoke to council requesting more speed limit signs and attention from the Cameron Police Department be discussed in his neighborhood to deter people from speeding down his street.
He said he wants to make it clear that he is here to support the Cameron Police Department, but that there has been a problem on East 8th Street with people speeding up and down the street for several years. “It is amazing to me that when 8th Street makes a dog-leg at Washington, why people come off of 7th Street and use that as a racetrack,” Boutwell said. “They will come through on Burns and once they turn the corner they will open up on it. You can tell when a car is going more than 30 miles an hour.”
He said his cat was run over a few weeks ago and is now recovering, but he would hate to see that happen to a child. Boutwell said several children have moved into the neighborhood in recent years and they are out playing on their riding toys in the street all the time. He said he has requested the Cameron Police Department put extra patrols in that area in the afternoon. “I don’t see any speed limit signs in the residential part of Cameron,” Boutwell said. “A whole lot of people don’t seem to be aware that there is a 30 mile an hour speed limit and that the police start writing tickets. We need to do something. I’ve talked with other people and it is not just confined to 8th Street.” Mayor Connie Anderle said she sees a lot of speeding too, and hopes they can work on the problem.
Police Chief Lonnie Gosch said he has looked into the issue and they have caught a few people speeding in that area. He said if they can catch them, they do and issue tickets. Councilmember LaKeithia Sims asked if it is possible to put speed limit signs in that area and across the city and City Manager Rhett Parker said it is and he would look into what that would cost and report back to council. Council also adopted a resolution to establish a new program that will help area businesses and commercial properties finance affordable energy and water efficiency upgrades. The council adopted the Texas Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Program after a presentation from a PACE representative during the meeting.
The PACE Program is a simple and affordable way to finance energy and water efficiency upgrades for commercial properties. PACE provides low cost, longterm, 100 percent financing for these qualified “green” improvements. Eligible upgrades are financed over time through a voluntary property tax assessment attached to the property. PACE improvements add value to the property and reduce utility bills with the upgrades typically paying for themselves with positive cash flow over time.
Lone Star PACE provides energy efficiency, renewable energy and water conservation improvements to existing properties while generating tangible benefits to property owners, local governments, contractors and the community as a whole. PACE financing requires lender consent for any existing mortgage and the assessment is attached to the property. This provides flexibility as the assessment can either be paid off or assumed by the new owner in the event of a property sale.
The program has no cost to the city. PACE projects not only reduce utility expenses while increasing the tax base and local employment, they also support Texas energy and water conservation goals. During department reports Fire Chief Henry Horelica told the council that the fire department had 225 calls during 2018. He said it was a quiet weekend with only minor wrecks. The Cameron Fire Department’s Money Giveaway will be held on Feb. 9 and the department is currently selling tickets. He said he received a grant from the Williams Foundation for bunker gear and is applying for a grant for new boots for everyone in the department.
The cost of new boots is $350 per firefighter. Gosch said that he, Sgt. Anthony Maskunas and Rene Sapp have attended training to begin to assist Code Enforcement Officer Stanley Garrison with those duties. He said the code enforcement vehicle has been striped and they will begin to work on a more cohesive plan for that department. Garrison said they have changed the way they are approaching code enforcement and the public is responding positively. In other business council also: approved a special use permit at 601 East Main; approved the use of Ledbetter Park and the Downtown Square for the 2019 Cameron Fun Fest and National Train Day to be held on May 10-11; approved a request for tree planting for Arbor Day from the Fleur-de-Lis Garden Club; called for the May 4 election; appointed Pat Sheguit to the Planning and Zoning Commission; and approved a request from Jerald Brunson to finance a jetter truck for the Water Department.