Flatonia Council Addresses Number of Issues

The Flatonia City Council voted unanimously Tuesday night to purchase 1.37 acres of property along US Highway 90 on the east side of town. The property will be used to connect two City Parks – McWhirter Park and 7 Acre Park.

The City bought the property from the Grifaldo family for an undisclosed sum with funds from the Flatonia Economic Development Corporation.

City Manager Sarah Novo said the purchase could clear the way for a new ball field or other park amenities in the future.

Also at Tuesday’s meeting, Council voted unanimously to renew a contract with the company Sign Ad for a billboard along Interstate 10. The annual cost is $5,395, which can be paid in 13 payments of $415 every four weeks. The City will use hotel occupancy tax funds to pay for the billboard.

In other business, Council reappointed Dennis Geesaman, Ginny Sears and Gary Hoover to the Flatonia Economic Development Corporation for a term of Oct. 1, 2020 to Sept. 30, 2022. Council also renewed a declaration of local disaster for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. The renewal was for 90 days.

Flatonia City Council met in a closed-door executive session Tuesday night to discuss the lawsuit filed against the City by former police chief Perry Kram. The City fired Kram last year following an investigation into allegations of misconduct.

Council did not take any action regarding the suit after the executive session. The law yer representing the City in the suit, Joanna Salinas, filed a motion for summary judgement to dismiss the suit. Visiting judge Dwight E. Peschel presided over the case. Peschel signed the order to dismiss on Oct. 28. Look for a story about the lawsuit in Tuesday’s paper.