Opportunity missed

At the close of the (Kendall County commissioners’) special budget meeting held Aug. 30, the judge and several of the commissioners stated, “Don’t forget, we are taxpayers too and pay our taxes. I think we need to pay our people. I don’t apologize for any of the pay increases. They are well deserved in my opinion.”

Among the pay increases granted to elected officials, the judge will receive an increase of $3,278, each commissioner $2,567, each justice of the peace $4,115, plus approximately an additional 35 percent of employee benefits.

The pay increases they gave themselves will be more than the increase in their taxes; however, the majority of other taxpayers, who do not work for the county government, do not have that option.

The total amount of salaries and wages and the total amount of employee benefits is 56 percent of the total budget, $16,900,000. The remaining 44 percent will be used to pay all of the other county operating expenses such as, debt repayment, contingencies, legal fees, repair parts, supplies, contract payments, maintenance of building, roads and bridges, parks, etc. etc.

The judge, who is the county chief financial officer and director of the budget, is solely responsible for the budget, missed a great opportunity to reduce taxes when he did not use “zero budgeting” as he promised during his election campaign.

Frank H. Wetzel
Boerne

Councilmen’s actions criticized strongly

Boerne, send your children to work in San Antonio – they are not wanted here.

This will be the result from the decisions being made by City Council; in particular by the votes of Rob Ziegler, Judy Edmondson and Bob Manning against the rezoning of several properties near H-E-B. on South School Street for commercial use. This is in total disregard for what the master plan calls for and is disrespectful to the planning and zoning commission’s studies and recommendations.

The tactics used by Ziegler and his fear of water runoff issues are disgusting. Current construction regulations and water catchment systems actually help to prevent the flooding that he appears to be so afraid of. Manning strongly supported the master plan to get elected and now seems to have lost his copy. Maybe it got washed away in the last downpour.

As for Edmondson, I have no idea why she seems to follow Rob’s vote other than to possibly slow down commercial growth in Boerne. I estimate that more than 30 small businesses and 200 steady job opportunities have been thrown aside, costing the city a substantial amount of tax revenue, not to mention the boost to other local businesses already established.

I would like for Rob, Judy and Bob to explain their actions to all those that live here and have to work in San Antonio. Also, explain to the families of approximately 445 young men and women graduating from high school this coming year, most of whom will be looking for work and will find very little opportunity here in Boerne. In turn, a large portion of their income will be sucked up in fuel costs going back and forth to work in San Antonio.

To those who so strongly oppose business opportunities in our community, I see you as uncaring, selfish people with an agenda that is designed to keep Boerne frozen in time. The citizens in Boerne need to remember that Ziegler and Edmondson are up for re-election on City Council this next May.

Mike Luckey
Boerne

Councilpeople defended

The residents of Boerne and its surrounds (extra-territorial jurisdiction, or ETJ) are exceptionally fortunate to have council members the caliber of Rob Ziegler, Bob Manning and Judy Edmonson.  They, unlike City Council members in recent years, are not swayed by the high pressure of commercial interests and, unlike the recent City Councils, work very hard to strike an equitable balance between commercialism and the quality of residential life. 

Those of us in the ETJ are particularly appreciative of these folks because never before in my memory (we've lived here almost 30 years) has the City Council been as sensitive to our situation.

Donald W. Titus
Boerne