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City Council names Officer of the Quarter
Wednesday, 31 October 2012 by Matthew Girard
The Belton City Council recognized several outstanding citizens and also received several reports during a busy meeting Tuesday night at the Harris Community Center.
During the presentation portion of the meeting, Belton Police Chief Gene Ellis presented the Officer of the Quarter for the third quarter of 2012 to Officer Joe Thomas. On July 30, dressed in street clothes and shopping at the Harker Heights Wal-Mart Thomas helped in the apprehension of a theft suspect. Thomas chased the suspect on foot, tackled him and held him until the Harker Heights Police Department arrived to take the suspect into custody.
Ellis also presented the National Night Out Block Party awards at the meeting. "The Big Block" award was given to the Miller Heights party, Rookie of the Year was given to Grand Avenue Theatre and the 2012 Best Block Party award was given to Saddle Creek and host David Pruitt.
The council also received a status report on the 1874 Church from committee chairman Mike Cooper.
Since the last report given to the council in March, the committee has gone through a few organizational changes, added lights around the building and installed a temporary roof.
"It's slow progress, but that's just the nature of it right now," Cooper told the council.
The committee also reported that they are pursuing grants for the rehabilitation of the building.
"We have engaged with an architectural firm that deals in historical properties to prepare a budget for us for what it would take to do a historical rehabilitation of the church," Cooper said.
Cooper said the committee hopes to have more funding questions answered by April 2013 on whether or not it is financially feasible to save the building.
In other business, the council adopted an ordinance to amend Chapter 3 of the Code of Ordinances relating to small animals and fowl. The change calls for any person with rabbits, guinea pigs, rats, hamsters and similar small animals in a cage, pen or coop by at least 50 feet from every building or structure used for sleeping, dining or living. For fowl, the distance is 200 feet for any cage, pen or coop. Residents who currently have chickens, fowl and other small animals that would be in violation of the new provisions will be given a one year grace period to come into compliance with the ordinance.
The council also authorized City Manager Sam Listi to execute a water supply contract with the Central Texas Water Supply Corporation that would provide a water source for southern Belton with water from Stillhouse Hollow. The new line would bring new customers for the city and is a 40-year contract.
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