Point Blank balks at animal control participation

POINT BLANK — The Point Blank City Council needs more information before signing on with the San Jacinto County Sheriff’s Office for animal control.

Mark Wood said the city received a request from the Sheriff’s Office seeking funding for the county’s animal control efforts, and the matter was discussed at the Oct. 13 meeting.

Wood said that they would like participation from the city for animal control; however, the city previously had contributed to the effort for 12 years, but since no animal control officers ever visited the area, the funding was ended.

Wood said he will discuss the matter further with Sheriff Sam Houston. Additionally, they sent the request after the current budget was approved, and it can’t be changed.

In other business, the council:

• executed contracts for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant for street repair in the Hillzendager subdivision, expected to be completed in December;
• discussed the adoption of the Texas Bandit Sign rules. HB 3611, which became effective in September, states that signs in state right of way are prohibited (putting signs on phone poles). Wood said the city will study it to come up with a procedure, and perhaps modify existing sign ordinance; and
• discussed participation in the TDEM Region 3 Regional Functional Exercise on Nov. 13, which requires all cities to participate or observe effectiveness of TDEM evacuation programs.