Round Top Town Council Meets

member asked the Mayor whether the Do Your Duty (DYD) Club could rent the building during the antiques shows. Earlier this year, the Town Council passed a resolution that essentially prohibits the DYD Club from holding their long-standing Square Fair. The resolution cited the Town’s desire to preserve greenspace. At Thursday’s meeting, Vincent reiterated that the rates are for the building and not the grounds surrounding the square.

“Who owns the building?” asked another audience member, Mark Neeley.

Vincent said the Town of Round Top owns the building.

However, as the Record reported earlier this year, ownership of the building isn’t so clear. A deed from the 1980s purporting the transfer of the property from Fayette County to the Town of Round Top is on file at the Fayette County Clerk’s Office. But there is no record of the Commissioners Court ever authorizing the transfer. Upon discovering this information back in March of this year, the County Attorney’s Office determined that the County still owns the building. The County offered the Town a new deed to clear up the matter, so long as the Town agreed to allow the DYD Club and the Round Top Rifle Club use of the Square for their traditional events, namely the Fourth of July Celebration and the Square Fairs.

So far, the Town has not accepted the County’s offer. County Attorney James Herbrich told the Record on Friday that the matter is still pending.

At Thursday’s meeting, Neeley asked Vincent how the Town can lease the building if Town doesn’t own it.

“The Town of Round Top owns this building,” Vincent said.

“It’s in debate,” said Alderman Jeanette Burger.

“it’s not in debate,” Vincent said.

After again stating that the Town owns the building, Vincent said, “We’re not going down that path on this agenda. This agenda is to talk about the fee structure to rent this building.”

“How are you even doing that?” Neeley asked.

“Because like I told you, the Town of Round Top owns this building,” Vincent said. “We’re not going down that path again in this meeting.”

“I think the citizens deserve an answer,” Neeley said.

“I already gave you an answer three times, and I’m not going to give it to you a fourth time,” Vincent said. “We are moving on.”

When the rental fee schedule came up for a vote, it passed 3-2. Aldermen Lynn Connie, Lou Ann Phillips and Karen Duddlesten voted in favor. Burger and Nagel voted against it.

“It’s a shame that an organization with a mission statement to take care of the courthouse will have to pay to have their meetings there,” Burger told the Record on Friday, referring to the DYD Club, which was established 90 years ago to maintain and beautify the courthouse grounds.

There was another item on the agenda concerning a lease from the Town to the Round Top Area Historical Society for property at 304 N. Washington St. Vincent said the Town and the Society were still working on terms of the lease. Council took no action on that item.

In other business from last Thursday’s meeting, the Council approved a resolution authorizing the Town to place liens on property for unpaid utility bills. The only utility currently offered the Town is wastewater services. Vincent said one customer owes the city “many thousands” of dollars, but until now, the City had no way to enforce collections.

One audience member suggested that the Town could offer more convenient ways for residents and businesses to pay their bills, such as accepting credit cards or automated payments. Vincent said the Town does not have the resources to offer those services at this time.

Council members voted unanimously to authorize the liens.