By Michael Cary
Wednesday, November 4, 2009 11:42 AM CST
Those topics and others related to city business topped a list of things to do as outlined by the Aransas Pass City Council during a recent workshop with new City Manager Reggie Winters.
"We need to clean up the harbor as we get funds to use them. We don't want to forget about it," Councilman Jay Attaway told Winters during the workshop.
Councilman Phillip Hyatt pointed out another priority that's on his radar; clean up the neighborhoods, beginning with the alleyways.
"Let them (residents) know they need to clean the alleyways. Promote the (garbage) transfer station, and let's get these properties cleaned up," Hyatt said.
With a month on the job, Winters has a long list of chores to get accomplished as the new city manager in Aransas Pass.
And he has taken up the job with a great amount of enthusiasm.
"I've got several lists," Winters told the council.
There's fire hydrant replacement, street paving, brush chipping, a new filter screen at the sewer plant, manhole covers, and continued work on Conn Brown Harbor at several locations.
Mayor Tommy Knight wants the metal building at the former Tetra site near the Seaman's Memorial Tower converted to a public use structure.
"Get the skin off that thing," Knight said.
The intent, the mayor said, would be to use the building as a public pavilion. He also wants a steep incline from the harbor parking lot graded to allow people to drive or walk up to the five-acre property, and even to "park boats up there."
"We need to look at painting the water tower," Knight said.
"Recycling, that's something else that takes money ... a couple of people have approached me about that," Attaway said.
Other tasks outlined by councilmembers include discussions with Rockport about future extraterritorial jurisdiction lines between both cities, and even replacing a "no alcohol, no fishing, no swimming" sign at the ponds in Community Park.
"Everything's going fine so far," Winters said near the end of the work session with the city council.
Winters said he is getting settled into his new job, and so far he is enjoying the work.
"One of my main focuses will be to enforce code compliance. The city council's emphasis was to clean up the city through code compliance," Winters told the Aransas Pass Progress last week.
Regarding Conn Brown Harbor, Winters said "we've got a world of work down here. This harbor has a lot of potential."
Winters also has busied himself with getting familiar with the city's layout, including the ill-fated star pattern that city founders drew on a map when Aransas Pass was incorporated in 1909.
"Some of these lots are only 25 feet wide," he said as he studied a city map.
Overall, Winters said he has enjoyed his stay in Aransas Pass, and his wife, Donna, a licensed vocational nurse who works in Castroville, drives down on weekends.
He said they are considering the purchase of a house in the area.
"She loves to fish. She is always at the harbor when she's here," Winters said.
"I really enjoy it here in Aransas Pass. I look forward to being here for quite a while," he said.
Link to article on Aransas Pass Progress: Aransas Pass Progress