The holidays are over. San Angelo and West Texas citizens rang in 2016, and today people are ready to start the year with a bang, and part of that preparation includes gearing up for the new laws that go into effect as of now--laws and changes that caused a bit of controversy.
The City’s leaders had to make quite a few tough decisions in the past year that made them less than popular with citizens, but they determined them necessary. Now, only time will tell if the choices they made will make a difference, especially when it comes to trash, animals, water and guns.
San Angelo Struggled with New Trash System
Citizens in San Angelo were extremely upset when they learned City Council made the choice to move ahead with Republic Services contract that would not only change the way trash pickups occurred, but also would raise rates on local citizens.
Despite facing 700 petitioners in opposition to the contract, the City forged ahead in 2014, and in July of 2015, residents faced a bit of confusion and anger as the transition to the new system went into effect.
One citizen, in response to the new service, said, “I know the whole trash thing has been rehashed several times, but it is an issue that continues to grow thanks to the thoughtless council and mayor.”
Amidst the frustration of the change, Republic Services decided to address the complaints of overflowing green and brown garbage bins, trash in the road, missing garbage cans, recycling and more.
“A lot of it is that it’s a timing issue,” said Republic Services General Manager Ray Grothaus regarding missing bins. “In some cases, we potentially did miss [collection], but there’s new areas for our drivers that they’re getting familiar with…and each week we’ll have incremental improvement on that.”
Not only did anger bubble over at the way Republic won the contract and the issues that ensued with the change, but a legal battle also ensued between the company and Texas Disposal Systems that added to the controversy.
For review, here are the headlines on this topic for 2015 (Click on the titles to go to the original stories):
- Republic Sends Oprah’s Lawyer After Texas Disposal Systems
- An Open Letter to the Citizens of San Angelo From Texas Disposal Systems
- Republic Services Speaks
- Texas Disposal Systems Wins Round One in Legal Battle Over San Angelo Trash Contract
- Republic Completes Trash Cart Distribution, Announces Pickup Schedule
- Wheels on New Republic Trash Bins Recalled
- Details Emerge That the City Negotiated Significantly Higher Trash Fees Than Originally Proposed
- Behind the Struggles to Implement Residential Recycling in San Angelo
- City of San Angelo Reports on New Trash and Recycling Progress
- 3 Ways Your Trash Bill May Soon Increase in San Angelo
- San Angelo Trailer Parks Hit By City Water, Trash Billing Changes
City Council Approves Spay/Neuter/Microchipping Ordinance
In August 2015, James Flores, assistant director of Neighborhood and Family Services with COSA, and who oversees the San Angelo Animal Shelter, proposed a low-cost spay/neuter program to City Council members, which caused quite a stir amongst San Angelo residents.
Flores told council members that in relation to other Texas cities, San Angelo has one of the worst euthanasia rates in the state.
“It’s a conversation we need to have,” Flores told the council. “I do believe there’s something we can learn from other communities and we need to talk about this.”
Well, city leaders indeed talked, and so did citizens.
Proponents of the ordinance, including Jenie Wilson, executive director of Concho Valley Paws, said she goes to the Animal Shelter every week and has to look into the eyes of all the animals there. She also said that since January 2014, the Shelter has taken in over 10,000 animals, and out of those intakes, 7,000 animals get euthanized.
“Something has to change,” she told city council members.
Although many citizens agree there’s a problem with the euthanasia rates, many people felt an ordinance overstepped boundaries and would only affect responsible pet owners.
“Does the city council truly believe that people who aren’t currently spaying or neutering their animals will now do so because they issued a ‘mandatory’ city ordinance?” asked on citizen. “This goes along with the gun control laws that say if we just make laws restricting the guns people can get, then there will be less gun crime. Just as criminals don't follow gun laws, irresponsible pet owners won't follow spay an neuter laws. For that matter, many of the animals put down by the shelter are homeless or feral animals whose "owners" won't claim them. Are we, the taxpayer, going to pay for their spaying or neutering as well?”
Although both sides had a lot to say, in the end, the low-cost spay/neuter program, and the added microchipping element, passed. As of today, animal owners, if they haven’t done so, need to schedule an appointment with their veterinarians to get their animals spayed and/or neutered and microchipped. For those people who may not have the funds, the Animal Shelter hired a veterinarian and will offer low-cost options to assist.
Individuals who plan on breeding their animals, even if that’s just to get an offspring from a beloved animal, must pay $100 for a breeding license.
For review, here are the headlines associated with this topic:
- San Angelo, Prepare for Spay, Neuter and Microchipping
- City Hires Vet to Provide Low Cost Spay/Neuter Procedures
- Drama Dominates Spay/Neuter Discussion at San Angelo City Council Meeting
- New San Angelo Law Will Force Citizens to Spay/Neuter and Microchip Their Pets
- Irresponsible Pet Owners May Face Fines for Animal Neglect
Water Rates Increase Go into Effect
Perhaps the most controversial, even more so than trash, is that of water rates. In mid-August 2015, the Water Advisory Board and City Council held a special joint meeting with Raftelis Financial Consultants, Inc. to discuss the Water Reclamation Cost of Service and Rate Design Study.
Based on that study, Rick Giardina, executive vice president of Raftelis, recommended the COSA to raise rates over a five-year period.
“The goal of this study and financial plan is to secure a sustainable financial future for San Angelo,” Giardina told attendees at the time.
After a few discussions, and several meetings held by city council members and city officials to educate the public, and after public outrage and anger, city leaders approved the water rate increase to help the city obtain a sustainable financial future.
Beginning this month, citizens will see those increases go into effect, and over the five-year term, citizens will pay more than a 50 percent increase.
One citizen, Chad Freeze, in response to the increase, said, “Water rate hikes have been going on since I moved here in 2004. When does this end, maybe at 100% hike? What is the bottom line? When is enough enough? I would really like to know this because they just keep coming back to rate hiked on everything and I don’t see anything change. Frankly, they are taxing me out of town.”
Overall, this was the consensus by the majority of citizens; however, City officials, in defense of this decision, pointed out that water rates have not occurred for several years.
To review the discussion, here are the headlines associated with this topic:
- San Angelo, Get Ready for a Water Rate Hike
- Proposed Water Rate Increases Would Sap Local Agencies
- San Angelo’s Leaders Prepare for Large Water Rate Hike
- City of San Angelo Public Forum Will Address Proposed Water Rate Structure
- San Angelo Water Rates Hiked 54.5 Percent
- Few Citizens Attend City of San Angelo’s Water Forum
Today, People Can Open Carry Handguns
Across the country, people are rallying for more gun control; however, in Texas, people have rallied for less gun control. The latter won, and as of today, gun owners can open carry handguns. Granted, there are some stipulations to the law, but there’s no doubt, the San Angelo Police Department expects some issues with this new law.
“We are expecting, for sure, more calls of service,” said Chief Tim Vasquez of SAPD. “I suspect that initially people who have concealed handgun permits will be carrying firearms, and how long that lives, I don’t know. Also, it is going to take quite a bit of time for our systems to get used to seeing that around.”
This is another topic that has proponents and opponents.
One reader, milo otis, wrote, “I have no problem with concealed carry; it poses no threat to me and others like myself; better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. I do, however, have a problem with open carry. I feel that the individuals who want to open carry is to intimidate others, and that is the whole purpose of open carry to many of the people who want to display their masculinity on their waistband.”
Whether people are for or against the law, it matters not any longer since the law is now a reality. However, here are the headlines to review for discussion and more understanding of the dos and don’ts.
- San Angelo Prepares for Open Carry Gun Law
- Jan. 1, 2016 Marks the Beginning of Open Carry
- Guns Likely Headed to Texas Universities
Undoubtedly, San Angelo witnessed a bit of controversy and man changes have been made. Now that 2016 is here, only time will tell how trash services improve, new ordinances help to improve/hinder animal euthanasia rates, water hikes affect the pocket books of citizens, and how open carry affects business, education and law enforcement calls of service.
Additionally, only time will tell what new laws and changes will come in 2016.
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