Council proposes tax rate, approves new stop sign
After reading a proclamation honoring the birthday of Medal of Honor winner MST Roy Benavidez, Mayor Emil Garza had the rhythm of an auctioneer as city council went through the motions of approving the first reading of utility rate increases during their regular meeting on Aug. 11. The slightly higher rates will show up in November bills, according to City Manager Wayne Berger.
Council also approved a proposed tax rate of 0.30675, which is less than last year’s rate of 0.3100. They set the public hearing on the proposed tax rate and 2026 budget for Sept. 8.
Then Main Street Director Sandra Osman asked for a City-Wide Garage Sale waiver on Saturday, Sept. 13.
“I’m going to talk about something so much more fun than you’ve been talking about,” she said.
Osman said they would charge everyone just $5 for a garage sale sign for that day. They can sign up for a booth at the Downtown pavilion or use their own property. She asked the council to waive the garage sale fee for that day and participants would be included in the Facebook post. Also, the garage sale permit would not count as one of the four a year allowed to residents.
“I think the community will really enjoy that,” Osman said. “It certainly will bring people into town.”
Council approved the garage sale waiver for participation in the City-Wide Garage Sale on Sept. 13.
New Stop Sign
Get ready for a new stop on Main Street with a four-way stop added on Valley and Main.
In May, resident Dale Malone asked council to consider putting fourway stops on Main to slow through traffic and consider redesigning the Fain McDougal intersection as a true corner rather than a curve.
Malone spoke to council about it again this month.
“Stopping is just an option there for the people coming off Fain McDougal Drive on to Main Street,” he said. “You have a blind hill and there’s kids and folks walking to and from the park, riding bicycles, skateboards, golf carts. We don’t want something bad to happen there.”
Police Chief Steven Ellis reported on a traffic survey that he conducted in the area with most drivers averaging between 28-30 mph. He did not recommend a stop sign at Hunt and Main, but thought the Valley and Main intersection would be a good place to include another stop.
Council voted to install a stop sign at Valley and Main, while City Manager Wayne Burger said he will look at the design and cost of improving the Fain McDougal intersection.
Partial street closure rejected
Council heard from residents about a closure request for a portion of Monserrate Lane Alley. Mike and Sarah Diaz requested a partial closure in the alley behind their property to improve security.
“The major concern here is burglaries that we’ve had since December, until like two weeks ago, and it’s hit in our two blocks,” Sarah Diaz said. “I understand that there’s no lighting in the alleys, but our alley is kind of wide, and we would like to put a light bulb if we were granted that extra property.”
After hearing concerns from Berger about accessing city utility lines, council member Mitch Adams spoke to Diaz saying it was not in the city’s best interest to close the requested portion, but they would like to see about installing a light in the area.
For a full list of council actions see the City of Cuero website. The next regular meeting of City Council will be Monday, Sept. 8, at 5 p.m.
Approved First Readings
• Ordinance 2025-05 amending cemetery skirting to allow granite in addition to concrete.
• Ordinance 2025-06 for sewer/wastewater rate adjustment.
• Ordinance 2025-07 for water and bulk water rate adjustment.
• Ordinance 2025-08 for solid waste garbage charge rate adjustment.
• Ordinance 2025-09 amending electric rates.
• Ordinance 2025-10 for hauled waste fee rate adjustment.
Approved Second Reading:
Ordinance 2025-04 for TDS solid waste collection contract on second reading.
