January 15, 2021
City forwards Cowboy Mardi Gras parade application to state for approval
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi Goode
The Bandera Prophet
The City of Bandera has received the Cowboy Mardi Gras parade permit application, and forwarded it to the Texas Department of Transportation for approval. The parade, Bandera’s largest, is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 6.
James McGroarty, event planner and coordinator, said he has limited the cook teams to 20 - a maximum of 80 people - for the gumbo cookoff. The festival is set to last three days, Friday, Feb. 5 through Sunday Feb. 7.
In other business, City Council members last week sustained two of 10 complaints lodged against Mayor Suzanne Schauman by Council Member Jerry Russe. The complaints sustained related to comments she made during a recorded private meeting held Oct. 3 in City Hall. Schauman can be heard asking former interim City Council Member Don Clark how he felt about an “assassination.” Later, she said she was airing her frustration over campaign signs that were stolen.
“I do believe it was a joke and it was in regards to people taking her signs. However, talking about an assassination in any way is not a joke. Based on that, I personally will be voting to sustain this violation,” Council Member Darcy Hasty said during council’s Jan. 7 meeting.
The motion to sustain the complaint carried with Council Member Rebeca Gibson opposed.
The second complaint unanimously sustained was in reference to abusive conduct and impropriety.
“We are held to a higher standard as public officials,” Hasty said.
Council Members unanimously approved a verbal reprimand for Schauman.
“I get angry sometimes and I don’t really think about what I say,” Schauman said. “I will make an effort for sure. You definitely brought it to my attention.”
Russe also filed numerous complaints against City Secretary Jill Shelton, all of which were either withdrawn or rejected.
“As we’ve all stated, we all act out of frustration. I found some merit in this and some disturbing, and all of it petty,” Council Member Toni Kunz said. “This process has been difficult on all of us. I hope we can continue to improve, and we can focus on how to make each of us better, instead of pointing out faults to try to catch somebody doing something. I think we should be ashamed of ourselves. Unless we all own it, it’s not going to get better.”
Economic Development Corporation
Following Gibson’s resignation from the EDC board, council members removed members Cindy Coffey, Andrea Jankoski and Deanna McCabe.
“The EDC has been in shambles now [speculating] for about a year,” Gibson said, adding she felt it used to function well and benefitted the city in multiple ways. “Because of personal troubles with people who had personal agendas, that EDC no longer exists.”
Gibson said she hopes to appoint people to the board who understand economic development and can spend the time to work to improve the city.
The next regular meeting for City Council members is Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m.
James McGroarty, event planner and coordinator, said he has limited the cook teams to 20 - a maximum of 80 people - for the gumbo cookoff. The festival is set to last three days, Friday, Feb. 5 through Sunday Feb. 7.
In other business, City Council members last week sustained two of 10 complaints lodged against Mayor Suzanne Schauman by Council Member Jerry Russe. The complaints sustained related to comments she made during a recorded private meeting held Oct. 3 in City Hall. Schauman can be heard asking former interim City Council Member Don Clark how he felt about an “assassination.” Later, she said she was airing her frustration over campaign signs that were stolen.
“I do believe it was a joke and it was in regards to people taking her signs. However, talking about an assassination in any way is not a joke. Based on that, I personally will be voting to sustain this violation,” Council Member Darcy Hasty said during council’s Jan. 7 meeting.
The motion to sustain the complaint carried with Council Member Rebeca Gibson opposed.
The second complaint unanimously sustained was in reference to abusive conduct and impropriety.
“We are held to a higher standard as public officials,” Hasty said.
Council Members unanimously approved a verbal reprimand for Schauman.
“I get angry sometimes and I don’t really think about what I say,” Schauman said. “I will make an effort for sure. You definitely brought it to my attention.”
Russe also filed numerous complaints against City Secretary Jill Shelton, all of which were either withdrawn or rejected.
“As we’ve all stated, we all act out of frustration. I found some merit in this and some disturbing, and all of it petty,” Council Member Toni Kunz said. “This process has been difficult on all of us. I hope we can continue to improve, and we can focus on how to make each of us better, instead of pointing out faults to try to catch somebody doing something. I think we should be ashamed of ourselves. Unless we all own it, it’s not going to get better.”
Economic Development Corporation
Following Gibson’s resignation from the EDC board, council members removed members Cindy Coffey, Andrea Jankoski and Deanna McCabe.
“The EDC has been in shambles now [speculating] for about a year,” Gibson said, adding she felt it used to function well and benefitted the city in multiple ways. “Because of personal troubles with people who had personal agendas, that EDC no longer exists.”
Gibson said she hopes to appoint people to the board who understand economic development and can spend the time to work to improve the city.
The next regular meeting for City Council members is Thursday, Jan. 21, at 6 p.m.