Rusk Council hears complaint on city crews
BY GLORIA JENNINGS

Rusk property owner Lesley Swift discussed damages created on her property by city crews at the Thursday evening Rusk city council meeting. Ms. Swift owns property behind the former FertylMulch off U.S. Highway 84 W. and CR 2201.

"When I purchased the property the deed showed no city easements on the map," Ms Swift said.

"I have discovered that the city has a sewer line running across the property and there are at least three sewer manholes on the site. In the past when there was a problem the city had access to the property and they took care of it. We gave them a key. I do not know what happened to their key, but city crews cut the lock on the property gate," she said.

"I did not like them cutting my lock and I have an issue with people going on my property. In mid-May a 45 foot path was cleared of pine trees. These were the ones I bought and planted. The trees were pushed over into the

creek. I met with Neil Holcomb concerning this matter," she said, adding she had reported the matter to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ).

"I have no problem with the city having an easement across the property. But I need to see the new easement and I need to be compensated for the loss of the pine trees. In the meantime, I ask that the city notify me when they are going on my property. You have my phone number, my mother's phone number and my boyfriend's phone number," she said.

In another matter, the council renewed its juvenile ordinance with enforcement for violations and setting a penalty. The ordinance calls for young people to be off the streets from 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday nights and from midnight to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. Parents will be called concerning violation of the ordinance. Asst. Chief Roy Cavazoz said officers will wait until the parent arrives to pick up the child. The council adopted a National Incident Management System (NIMS) ordinance. With the passage of this ordinance the city will be able to apply for federal grants for security programs. Attending the meeting were Mayor Angela Raiborn; Councilmembers Walter Session, Don Jones, Donald Woodard and Sam Florian; City Manager Mike Murray and City Secretary Fran Wendeborn. Councilman Kris Morgan was absent.