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Gwen Janes, Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley and Rick Janes.
December 2, 2021
Briefings from Commissioners Court
By Jessica Nohealapa’ahi
The Bandera Prophet
“We have an anniversary in the house today,” Pct. 3 Commissioner Jack Moseley said Tuesday morning, introducing Gwen and Rick Janes of the O.S.T.
Moseley read aloud a resolution, put together by him and Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Patricia Moore, recognizing the Janes, as well as previous owners of the 100-year-old Bandera restaurant. To commemorate, dine-in customers will be served free tea or coffee, and drawings will be held for free t-shirts, mugs, gift certificates and more from Monday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 12.
*During the public forum, Silver Sage Executive Director Art Crawford thanked the court for its support of his efforts with the San Antonio Food Bank. Crawford said 317 people were served locally when the food bank distributions began, and this year the number of people served in Bandera County totals 9,400.
Pre-pandemic, the SA Food Bank served 58,000 people district wide; during the pandemic, that number rose to 120,000 people; now the number of people served is around 90,000.
“We recognize Art, and we also recognize the volunteers,” Bandera County Judge Richard Evans said. “A lot of places shut down during the pandemic…but we ramped it up. That’s why we live here.”
*In other business, commissioners cast 457 of the county’s 1,840 total votes to Mike Wilson, of Medina, nominating him for the Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. The court then approved casting 920 votes to George Sharman, 457 votes to Russell Hevenor, and one vote to the remaining six candidates.
*Commissioners asked County Attorney Janna Lindig to review the county’s animal control ordinance.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Bobby Harris said when the ordinance was written in 2009, “we had a pretty bad human problem which caused animal problems.”
Harris said each precinct had a large number of stray dogs and, not only was the animal control facility overcrowded, it later flooded and was destroyed. So, in admitted haste, Harris, with former Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug King, veterinarian Dr. Conrad Nightingale and former county attorney Kerry Schneider, threw together an animal control order.
Harris said the ordinance addressed unleashed dogs and nuisance barking, but missed one integral piece.
“In our zest to get it done, we didn’t put a penalty in the ordinance if you didn’t tell your dog to shut up,” Harris said. “We don’t have any teeth in that particular part of the ordinance…as it stands, it’s pretty much useless.”
Sheriff Dan Butts said the dog problem is not getting any better.
“There are dogs all over the place. We have had several attacks on people…some of the dogs are packing up and going after livestock,” Butts said. “It’s becoming a big problem. It starts with people. Not the dogs.”
Lindig said she would review the ordinance and bring it back with suggested revisions after the New Year.
*In his monthly report, Butts said for the month of October, the Sheriff’s Office received 1,194 incoming 911 calls, and 529 calls for service, deputies traveled 25,329 miles and made 24 arrests - 11 felony. The average tone to on scene for priorty calls was 14 minutes and 58 seconds. A total of 29 dogs and one cat were picked up; the average dog population was 11, and the average cat population was one.
The Sheriff’s Office was the primary responder for 14 calls within the city limits. There were 53 bookings in the Bandera County jail, 18 out-of-county transports, and the average inmate population was 57 - including six contract inmates.
In her first monthly report as county EMS director, Shannon Griffin said EMS responded to 236 calls and EMTs traveled 13,557 miles during October. The average tone to en route time was 1.17 minutes, and the average tone to on scene time was 10.58 minutes.
Moseley read aloud a resolution, put together by him and Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Patricia Moore, recognizing the Janes, as well as previous owners of the 100-year-old Bandera restaurant. To commemorate, dine-in customers will be served free tea or coffee, and drawings will be held for free t-shirts, mugs, gift certificates and more from Monday, Dec. 6 to Sunday, Dec. 12.
*During the public forum, Silver Sage Executive Director Art Crawford thanked the court for its support of his efforts with the San Antonio Food Bank. Crawford said 317 people were served locally when the food bank distributions began, and this year the number of people served in Bandera County totals 9,400.
Pre-pandemic, the SA Food Bank served 58,000 people district wide; during the pandemic, that number rose to 120,000 people; now the number of people served is around 90,000.
“We recognize Art, and we also recognize the volunteers,” Bandera County Judge Richard Evans said. “A lot of places shut down during the pandemic…but we ramped it up. That’s why we live here.”
*In other business, commissioners cast 457 of the county’s 1,840 total votes to Mike Wilson, of Medina, nominating him for the Central Appraisal District Board of Directors. The court then approved casting 920 votes to George Sharman, 457 votes to Russell Hevenor, and one vote to the remaining six candidates.
*Commissioners asked County Attorney Janna Lindig to review the county’s animal control ordinance.
Pct. 2 Commissioner Bobby Harris said when the ordinance was written in 2009, “we had a pretty bad human problem which caused animal problems.”
Harris said each precinct had a large number of stray dogs and, not only was the animal control facility overcrowded, it later flooded and was destroyed. So, in admitted haste, Harris, with former Pct. 4 Commissioner Doug King, veterinarian Dr. Conrad Nightingale and former county attorney Kerry Schneider, threw together an animal control order.
Harris said the ordinance addressed unleashed dogs and nuisance barking, but missed one integral piece.
“In our zest to get it done, we didn’t put a penalty in the ordinance if you didn’t tell your dog to shut up,” Harris said. “We don’t have any teeth in that particular part of the ordinance…as it stands, it’s pretty much useless.”
Sheriff Dan Butts said the dog problem is not getting any better.
“There are dogs all over the place. We have had several attacks on people…some of the dogs are packing up and going after livestock,” Butts said. “It’s becoming a big problem. It starts with people. Not the dogs.”
Lindig said she would review the ordinance and bring it back with suggested revisions after the New Year.
*In his monthly report, Butts said for the month of October, the Sheriff’s Office received 1,194 incoming 911 calls, and 529 calls for service, deputies traveled 25,329 miles and made 24 arrests - 11 felony. The average tone to on scene for priorty calls was 14 minutes and 58 seconds. A total of 29 dogs and one cat were picked up; the average dog population was 11, and the average cat population was one.
The Sheriff’s Office was the primary responder for 14 calls within the city limits. There were 53 bookings in the Bandera County jail, 18 out-of-county transports, and the average inmate population was 57 - including six contract inmates.
In her first monthly report as county EMS director, Shannon Griffin said EMS responded to 236 calls and EMTs traveled 13,557 miles during October. The average tone to en route time was 1.17 minutes, and the average tone to on scene time was 10.58 minutes.