New LG Government Takes Oath

Five La Grange City Council members took the oath of office on Monday, May 22: (from left) Arthur Bosque, Kim Newton, Bonnie Busch, Katie Gross and Ken Taylor. Bosque won an election against Chris Jernigan for a seat representing Ward 4. Newton was appointed to a vacant seat representing Ward 3. She replaces Dusty Littrell, who resigned after taking a new job that requires frequent travel. Incumbents Busch and Gross ran unopposed. Taylor ran unopposed for a seat representing Ward 2. He replaces long-serving Councilman John “Honza” Cernosek, who did not run for reelection this year. Photos by Andy Behlen City Secretary Janet Bayer (left) administers the oath of office to La Grange Mayor Jan Dockery (right). Dockery ran unopposed for reelection. A large crowd of citizens appeared at the meeting Monday night to watch the swear-in ceremony. John “Honza” Cernosek, pictured above at the podium, stepped down from the City Council on Monday after more than a quarter-century in office. “I was very humbled by my last 26 years and I was proud to represent Ward 2 in the city,” Cernosek said. “To the City staff here, out in the warehouse, and the Council – we had a great run, but it’s time.” Photo by Andy Behlen

La Grange City Councilman Quenten Gonzalez officially resigned his seat representing Ward 4 at the City Council meeting on Monday, May 22.

His resignation became effective Thursday, May 25. The next City election takes place in May 2024. The City Charter requires the Council to appoint someone to fill the vacancy within 30 days. The City will accept applications for appointment until Thursday, June 15.

Applicants must be a citizen of Ward 4. Applications are available at City Hall and online at https://www.cityoflg. com/government/mayor_and_ council.php.

In other business at Monday’s meeting, CPA Greg Trlicek presented the City’s independent financial audit for fiscal year 2021-2022. Trlicek reported an “unqualified, unmodified opinion,’ which is the best opinion that an auditor can give to a governing body. He said the City increased its overall fund balance by $1.6 million.

“We always say you should have at least three months worth of expenditures in your fund balance,” Trlicek said. “You probably have about a year and a half. You have a lot more than three months. You are very financially sound.”

Trlicek said he found no material deficiencies in internal controls nor any issues of non-compliance with financial regulations.

“You’re probably the most financially sound of the eight cities that I do,” Trlicek said.

Also at Monday’s meeting, Council accepted and awarded a bid from H&C Construction for the 2023 street reclaiming project. Every year the City “reclaims” a portion of the streets in town. This process involves scraping the surface, repacking the road base and laying down a layer of road oil and rock, which becomes the new street surface.

The 2023 project will include the 100 and 200 blocks of South Monroe and the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of South Jackson, which amounts to about 57,000 square feet of road surface.

H&C won the bid with an amount of $148,026.15. They were the only company to bid on the project. Council voted unanimously to award the bid to H&C.

Council also approved a request from La Grange Juneteenth to block off the inner parking sections of the downtown Courthouse Square on Saturday, June 17, to accommodate a classic car show. The City also received an application from La Grange Juneteenth to hold a parade that day. The parade will run the same route as the Fayette County Fair Parade.

In addition, City Manager Fred Bell reported that Tx-DOT could start construction of the long-awaited traffic light at dangerous intersection of SH 71 Bypass and SH 159 as early as December of this year. Bell said TxDOT will accept bids for the project in August. Their tentative construction timeline starts in December, weather permitting, he said.