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Montgomery gets ready for next emergency
By Brad Meyer
MONTGOMERY – Hurricane Ike will cost the city of Montgomery around $100,000 for overtime pay and repairs to roads and utility systems, city officials estimate.
While they are generally pleased with the city’s response to the challenges of the hurricane and its aftermath, officials and City Council members laid the groundwork for better emergency preparation during a regular meeting Tuesday night.
Power generators, communications and access to fuel are three things council members agreed would have helped local government operate more efficiently during the week following the storm.
“Like most of the county, we were caught short,” City Administrator Brant Gary said. “There was considerable property damage done to homes and businesses, but no serious injuries or loss of life.”
Overtime salaries, road damage from water and heavy machinery and damage to the city’s water and sewer system will cost the city an estimated $100,000, Gary said.
Without power, phones and fuel, however, city officials were challenged to address the needs of residents, and council members discussed ways the community could better prepare for future emergencies.
Increased coordination with Montgomery County officials is essential, Gary said. No distribution of food, ice and water from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was established in Montgomery until Mayor Travis Mabry contacted Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador to create a point of distribution site at Montgomery Junior High School.
“The response from our police, public works and city staff was exceptional,” he said. “But we need to coordinate better with the county’s Emergency Operations Center.”
City officials also want to acquire additional power generators either through purchase or a special on-demand lease agreement. Providing power for City Hall, sewer lift stations and other services is essential, officials said.
Rather than rely on retail fuel outlets, city officials are considering acquiring the city’s own gas and diesel fuel tanks. Mabry said an independent, gravity-fed fuel depot would ensure availability of fuel in the face of limited power and be a more cost-efficient way to operate city vehicles and equipment in an ongoing basis.
Because many telephone landlines were taken down by Ike and cell phone service was spotty at best, Gary said, officials hope to encourage a citizen-initiated block captain program to facilitate neighborhood communication. Gary also discussed interest in a reverse 9-1-1 system to notify residents of impending emergencies and provide information on municipal directives. Gateway signage along Texas 105 and Texas 149 is also being considered.
Gary announced the Historic Montgomery Business Association is accepting applications from residents who need help to repair, restore or replace property damaged during Hurricane Ike.
“In addition to the federal and county support, it’s good to see a local initiative available to help local residents in need,” Gary said.
For more information on the HMBA assistance program, visit www.hmba.biz or call (936) 597-5004.
What’s next?
The next regular meeting of the Montgomery City Council will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Montgomery City Hall, located at 101 Old Plantersville Rd.
While they are generally pleased with the city’s response to the challenges of the hurricane and its aftermath, officials and City Council members laid the groundwork for better emergency preparation during a regular meeting Tuesday night.
Power generators, communications and access to fuel are three things council members agreed would have helped local government operate more efficiently during the week following the storm.
“Like most of the county, we were caught short,” City Administrator Brant Gary said. “There was considerable property damage done to homes and businesses, but no serious injuries or loss of life.”
Overtime salaries, road damage from water and heavy machinery and damage to the city’s water and sewer system will cost the city an estimated $100,000, Gary said.
Without power, phones and fuel, however, city officials were challenged to address the needs of residents, and council members discussed ways the community could better prepare for future emergencies.
Increased coordination with Montgomery County officials is essential, Gary said. No distribution of food, ice and water from the Federal Emergency Management Agency was established in Montgomery until Mayor Travis Mabry contacted Precinct 1 Commissioner Mike Meador to create a point of distribution site at Montgomery Junior High School.
“The response from our police, public works and city staff was exceptional,” he said. “But we need to coordinate better with the county’s Emergency Operations Center.”
City officials also want to acquire additional power generators either through purchase or a special on-demand lease agreement. Providing power for City Hall, sewer lift stations and other services is essential, officials said.
Rather than rely on retail fuel outlets, city officials are considering acquiring the city’s own gas and diesel fuel tanks. Mabry said an independent, gravity-fed fuel depot would ensure availability of fuel in the face of limited power and be a more cost-efficient way to operate city vehicles and equipment in an ongoing basis.
Because many telephone landlines were taken down by Ike and cell phone service was spotty at best, Gary said, officials hope to encourage a citizen-initiated block captain program to facilitate neighborhood communication. Gary also discussed interest in a reverse 9-1-1 system to notify residents of impending emergencies and provide information on municipal directives. Gateway signage along Texas 105 and Texas 149 is also being considered.
Gary announced the Historic Montgomery Business Association is accepting applications from residents who need help to repair, restore or replace property damaged during Hurricane Ike.
“In addition to the federal and county support, it’s good to see a local initiative available to help local residents in need,” Gary said.
For more information on the HMBA assistance program, visit www.hmba.biz or call (936) 597-5004.
What’s next?
The next regular meeting of the Montgomery City Council will be at 7 p.m. Oct. 14 at Montgomery City Hall, located at 101 Old Plantersville Rd.
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Reader Comments
katzanrobbers wrote on Oct 4, 2009 9:09 AM:
" Since this is an on-going situation, the results will get worse. Senior citizens will have no means of living or housing if this is not resolved. Find a solution. There is one. Please do not put people out of their homes because of a situation. There is a solution if you look down in this problem and find means of resolving it. "
1wyrdhipychk wrote on Oct 4, 2009 9:35 AM:
" There's a perfectly easy way to resolve this whole issue. Anyone here ever watch "Soylent Green"? The resulting factories will add thousands of jobs, allowing the low income people a better paying job with benefits. Just think of the possibilities! "
slopchops wrote on Oct 4, 2009 9:47 AM:
" Have you ever seen the mobile home park at South Main in Conroe? Pot holes knee deep, mostly filled with smelly water year round. The garbage containers are constantly overflowing and the stench is gut wrenching.
How the city of Conroe has overlooked this cess pool for so long is beyond me. "
How the city of Conroe has overlooked this cess pool for so long is beyond me. "
LOOKOUT wrote on Oct 4, 2009 10:16 AM:
" I wonder what KIRK JONES has to financialy gain from the trailer park not getting this renewal?
Why does these six people on this council thank they have the right to control other peoples lifes?
The City of Montgomery is all about making a buck NOT PERSERVING THE HISTORY, NOT DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TAX PAYERS, but just how many more customers will we get in the flower shop, for garbage pick up ect.................
The city is going to have to produse that origenal city charter soon, and at that time the public will see that what they are doing and have done is not allowed!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
Why does these six people on this council thank they have the right to control other peoples lifes?
The City of Montgomery is all about making a buck NOT PERSERVING THE HISTORY, NOT DOING WHAT IS BEST FOR THE TAX PAYERS, but just how many more customers will we get in the flower shop, for garbage pick up ect.................
The city is going to have to produse that origenal city charter soon, and at that time the public will see that what they are doing and have done is not allowed!!!!!!!!!!!!!! "
pattiwise wrote on Oct 4, 2009 10:32 AM:
" .
"The 5-acre site, located two blocks from Montgomery City Hall, was created in the early 1980s , .... owner Marcy Bennett said."
Someone wants your property Marcy
Permits and fees established pertaining to the air you breath are forthcoming
. "
"The 5-acre site, located two blocks from Montgomery City Hall, was created in the early 1980s , .... owner Marcy Bennett said."
Someone wants your property Marcy
Permits and fees established pertaining to the air you breath are forthcoming
. "
nathan wrote on Oct 4, 2009 10:51 AM:
" its funny they will shut a mobile home park down for lack of maintenance, but our roads (old plantersville, majority of the road PAST THE POLICE STATION is like a mountain range) we should shut them down. "
onedayatatime wrote on Oct 4, 2009 11:14 AM:
" The park is home to low and middle class families, and senior citizens. It sounds to me the residents are being held hostage by the owner. They can't afford to move and the owner will not keep the park maintained. Someone needs to protect the tenants, it's not the job of the city council but if they are the only authority available, then more power to them. Shame on the owners for having to be served in order to get motivated and provide a decent living environment for their tenants. "
caseyface wrote on Oct 4, 2009 1:15 PM:
" I used to live in a trailer park on Bert Brown road that was an atrocious mess. not only was there numerous maintence problems, but some of the places were plain inhospitable (mine expecialy). No city official ever gave a damn if the folks who lived there were in serious danger of a trailer fire B.C. of faulty wiring or black mold. why are they complainimg about trailer skirting at Marcy's place when the slum lord there is running a minature 3rd world country? Oh yeah cos that specific slum lord is a retired conroe PD officer. Would You Like Another Expensive Cigar At The Taxpayers Expence There City Council Guys? "Why Sure!!!! And Have The Poor Chumps Light It With Their Flaming Paychecks!!!!" BigWig Scum! How Did The Cat Get So Fat?!?!?! "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Oct 4, 2009 1:30 PM:
" Where will drank too much whiskey on the school live if they close the trailer park? Thanks for wasting our time with your post that has nothing to do with the park you you live in drank to much whiskey on the school bus ! "
chowtime29 wrote on Oct 4, 2009 3:38 PM:
" Now that's not very nice Tired Waldumb. Whisky must have really got to you. LOL. It is rather nice to see you post without the word "Sadler" in it 4 or 5 times though. I'll let you get back to your weedeatin now. LOL. "
drivermom wrote on Oct 4, 2009 5:45 PM:
" rino you have an issue about drinking whiskey on a school bus! sad little person you are! "
rr23 wrote on Oct 4, 2009 7:25 PM:
" city of montgomery thinks montgomery is to go for trailor house park. agree someone just wants that land. Great point nathan. why dont montgomery think about the huge pot holes that tears cars and trucks up all the time down old plantersville. maybe they should worry about the city streets they dont take care of. its just an i sore for the snubs of montgomery. when people are doing there best to live in an affordable home. "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Oct 4, 2009 8:06 PM:
" Annie (Chowtime) Good to see you are not posting on taxpayer time. How is your boss going to explain this?
Next up is danny signorelli and ed rhinehart , making alot of money
off east county. Cowan is gone so its getting there.
says:
October 3, 2009 at 10:28 am
isnt it odd the a company Signorelli would buy a piece of property in east county then turn around and sell it to ed rhinehart and prct.4 and after selling it to his buddy go to comissioners court and get it named ed rhinehart sports complex at valley ranch. Quick note signorelli owns valley ranch and donates money to eds campaign.
Why didnt county buy property straight from seller .Also why did county pave and pay for a 2 mile road that goes into only Valley ranch.Odd because word around here is that signorelli donated land back to county so he didnt have to pay for road.So us tax payers did it for him.Stay tuned because this story is going to be big once we connect the dots. Media already on this one. "
Next up is danny signorelli and ed rhinehart , making alot of money
off east county. Cowan is gone so its getting there.
says:
October 3, 2009 at 10:28 am
isnt it odd the a company Signorelli would buy a piece of property in east county then turn around and sell it to ed rhinehart and prct.4 and after selling it to his buddy go to comissioners court and get it named ed rhinehart sports complex at valley ranch. Quick note signorelli owns valley ranch and donates money to eds campaign.
Why didnt county buy property straight from seller .Also why did county pave and pay for a 2 mile road that goes into only Valley ranch.Odd because word around here is that signorelli donated land back to county so he didnt have to pay for road.So us tax payers did it for him.Stay tuned because this story is going to be big once we connect the dots. Media already on this one. "
chowtime29 wrote on Oct 4, 2009 8:15 PM:
" tired
Can you explain who Annie is and why you always label anyone that makes you look like a fool with that name. "
Can you explain who Annie is and why you always label anyone that makes you look like a fool with that name. "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Oct 4, 2009 8:54 PM:
" Make we look like a fool. That is like saying A and M beat Arkansas even though Arkansas scored more points. And Ann I know that you work for the county and who you are! "
chowtime29 wrote on Oct 4, 2009 9:21 PM:
" LOL. If that makes you feel better calling me Ann then run with it. Sad you have to lie to try and make a point. But if that's all you got then go with it. We both know the truth don't we? "
Ski_K2 wrote on Oct 5, 2009 10:08 AM:
" onedayatatime - The park does not own the homes. The grievances by the city are, according to this article:
potholes in roadways - park owner's responsibility and are completed on a regular basis for the past 20 years
lack of skirting on trailers - resident's/mobile home owners responsibility - never more than 2 out of 29 homes without skirting
lack of street numbers - resident's/mobile home owners responsibility - again this is a recent requirement by the city and it's the home owner's responsibility to add street numbers to their homes
lack of restoration to the site of a mobile home fire - resident's/mobile home owners responsibility - here again the mobile home park owner's have no right to interfere with the mobile home owner's negotiations with insurance companies and in fact could be in violation of state law if they intervened and had the home owner's property hauled off before settlement between the home owner and the insurance company
Aside from the fire in one of the 29 homes the skirting and potholes are routine mobile home park issues that are regularly dealt with. As another commenter pointed out when you compare the appearance of Cedar Crest Mobile Home park to most others in Montgomery County it is far better maintained!
To threaten to displace 29 low income minority and senior citizen families, causing them great financial punishment and dragging children out of school and away from friends because a couple residents haven't skirted their homes or added street numbers yet and a few potholes are between repair is what you might expect in Russia not Montgomery, Texas!
I hope Brad Meyer will do a follow up article interviewing some of the families that call Cedar Crest home, that follow the rules and have their homes skirted, and ask them how they feel about being threatened with such drastic disruption of their family's lives, because of the inaction of a few of their neighbors who may find the $100 cost to skirt their home a major expense that has to be budgeted over time! "
potholes in roadways - park owner's responsibility and are completed on a regular basis for the past 20 years
lack of skirting on trailers - resident's/mobile home owners responsibility - never more than 2 out of 29 homes without skirting
lack of street numbers - resident's/mobile home owners responsibility - again this is a recent requirement by the city and it's the home owner's responsibility to add street numbers to their homes
lack of restoration to the site of a mobile home fire - resident's/mobile home owners responsibility - here again the mobile home park owner's have no right to interfere with the mobile home owner's negotiations with insurance companies and in fact could be in violation of state law if they intervened and had the home owner's property hauled off before settlement between the home owner and the insurance company
Aside from the fire in one of the 29 homes the skirting and potholes are routine mobile home park issues that are regularly dealt with. As another commenter pointed out when you compare the appearance of Cedar Crest Mobile Home park to most others in Montgomery County it is far better maintained!
To threaten to displace 29 low income minority and senior citizen families, causing them great financial punishment and dragging children out of school and away from friends because a couple residents haven't skirted their homes or added street numbers yet and a few potholes are between repair is what you might expect in Russia not Montgomery, Texas!
I hope Brad Meyer will do a follow up article interviewing some of the families that call Cedar Crest home, that follow the rules and have their homes skirted, and ask them how they feel about being threatened with such drastic disruption of their family's lives, because of the inaction of a few of their neighbors who may find the $100 cost to skirt their home a major expense that has to be budgeted over time! "
pattiwise wrote on Oct 5, 2009 10:34 AM:
" .
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Oct 4, 2009 8:54 PM:
" And Ann I know that you work for the county and who you are! "
" Annie (Chowtime) Good to see you are not posting on taxpayer time. How is your boss going to explain this?
With a handle like chowtime are you the one with the big butt that works for the county ?
. "
tired of rino's like sadler wrote on Oct 4, 2009 8:54 PM:
" And Ann I know that you work for the county and who you are! "
" Annie (Chowtime) Good to see you are not posting on taxpayer time. How is your boss going to explain this?
With a handle like chowtime are you the one with the big butt that works for the county ?
. "
something-smells-here wrote on Oct 5, 2009 10:42 AM:
" Brad:
I'd like to suggest the following, more accurate Headline and story line
Racism Alive and Thriving in Montgomery, Texas
All Anglo Montgomery, Texas city council threatens to drive Hispanics out of town! "
I'd like to suggest the following, more accurate Headline and story line
Racism Alive and Thriving in Montgomery, Texas
All Anglo Montgomery, Texas city council threatens to drive Hispanics out of town! "
Ski_K2 wrote on Oct 5, 2009 3:16 PM:
" To set the record straight there are several inaccuracies in this article.
The mobile home that burned was cleared away weeks prior to this council meeting
There were NO homes without skirting on the day of this meeting
"The most recent survey of shortcomings conducted by city officials" was apparently done weeks prior to the meeting or just plain FALSE! "
The mobile home that burned was cleared away weeks prior to this council meeting
There were NO homes without skirting on the day of this meeting
"The most recent survey of shortcomings conducted by city officials" was apparently done weeks prior to the meeting or just plain FALSE! "
onedayatatime wrote on Oct 5, 2009 4:49 PM:
" Ski, thank you for the clarification. Bennett's statements says it best "We're trying to be more proactive about this". There is your answer. Keep the potholes filled, the homes skirted and the address numbers up to date, not really rocket science, seems very inexpensive to me. Don't give the City Council ammo to attack, be proactive. And I believe Ms Bennett will be just that. "
Ski_K2 wrote on Oct 5, 2009 5:09 PM:
" onedayatatime -
My point was that those items related to the park had been complete prior to the meeting. Council members were either weeks out of date on the conditions at the park or just plain deceptive.
Secondly your post assessed responsibility of many of the issues to the park owners that in reality were the responsibility of the HOME owners.
Skirting is the responsibility of HOME owners NOT the park owner Ms Bennett
Ditto for street addresses
Ditto for the home that burned. Cleaned up nearly 3 weeks prior to this council meeting according to several park residents!
New potholes occur periodically and are repaired in timely fashion. They are NOT left un-repaired as council members lead you to believe. That meets the definition of proactive in most dictionaries :)
Just trying to keep things real here and clean up the misleading rhetoric :) "
My point was that those items related to the park had been complete prior to the meeting. Council members were either weeks out of date on the conditions at the park or just plain deceptive.
Secondly your post assessed responsibility of many of the issues to the park owners that in reality were the responsibility of the HOME owners.
Skirting is the responsibility of HOME owners NOT the park owner Ms Bennett
Ditto for street addresses
Ditto for the home that burned. Cleaned up nearly 3 weeks prior to this council meeting according to several park residents!
New potholes occur periodically and are repaired in timely fashion. They are NOT left un-repaired as council members lead you to believe. That meets the definition of proactive in most dictionaries :)
Just trying to keep things real here and clean up the misleading rhetoric :) "
glenoir wrote on Oct 5, 2009 9:15 PM:
" Am I wrong to assume that most, if not all, of these folks are renters? And therefore it is the park owner's responsibility to remedy the city's complaints? "
Ski_K2 wrote on Oct 6, 2009 10:05 AM:
" glenoir -
Yes you are wrong to assume they are renters in the way you seem to assume!
Another example of how deceptive this article is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The residents of Cedar Crest Mobile Home Park own their manufactured homes.
They rent a lot from the park to place their home on.
The city would have you believe it is the park owner's responsibility to replace skirting on the 2 homes that had some of their skirting torn away by storm damage.
Again the other 27 residents have all their skirting properly installed. Only 2 family's homes have skirting PARTIALLY missing.
Who would think it reasonable to drive all 29 families out of their homes, tear children away from their friends and out of school because 2 families have not replaces a few pieces of skirting that was blown off in a storm? "
Yes you are wrong to assume they are renters in the way you seem to assume!
Another example of how deceptive this article is!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The residents of Cedar Crest Mobile Home Park own their manufactured homes.
They rent a lot from the park to place their home on.
The city would have you believe it is the park owner's responsibility to replace skirting on the 2 homes that had some of their skirting torn away by storm damage.
Again the other 27 residents have all their skirting properly installed. Only 2 family's homes have skirting PARTIALLY missing.
Who would think it reasonable to drive all 29 families out of their homes, tear children away from their friends and out of school because 2 families have not replaces a few pieces of skirting that was blown off in a storm? "
glenoir wrote on Oct 6, 2009 6:37 PM:
" Ski_K2, thanks for that info, and you are right, that drastically changes the situation. I suspect any attempt to evict residents or take action resulting in eviction would face litigation. "
Ski_K2 wrote on Oct 6, 2009 7:28 PM:
" glenoir -
Yes, at least 31 and several federal agencies would likely be called in to investigate the racial aspects of this issue! "
Yes, at least 31 and several federal agencies would likely be called in to investigate the racial aspects of this issue! "
trailerparktrash wrote on Oct 8, 2009 4:34 PM:
" By the Way...mobile home skirting does not cost a mere $100 and it is not inexpensive! Also,some, if not half of the Cedar Crest mobile home park residents do not own their home. The rental homes are not owned by the mobile home park owner either, but, they are most definitely rented out. Who really cares what the park looks like anyways except the residents themselves? There is absolutely no reason for anyone else besides residents to drive through the park except the garbage men and meter readers! Who has time to go out of their way and drive over the speed bumps and through the potholes - which should only bother the residents and not the city council members anyways! This park is still one of the safest parts of Montgomery, as it has always been - which the city should be grateful for, instead of wanting the land to just make more money off of it! Maybe Marcy should just make one improvement - by making it a gated community and then there wouldn't be any more complaints!! "
Whiskyecho wrote on Oct 2, 2008 8:10 AM: