Granite Shoals welcomes new police officer

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

One of the first orders of business at Granite Shoals City Council meeting Tuesday, Dec. 13, was the introduction of a new police officer, Leon Ingersoll, by Granite Shoals Police Department Chief Gary Boshears.

“We received applications from several dozen qualified individuals for this position,” said Boshears. “We looked for someone who also were a good fit for the community.

“Officer Ingersoll brings some important training to the department. He served our country as a U.S. Army military policeman and K-9 officer. From there, he went to the State Department, providing security for dignitaries in different areas around the world. He has been a Texas peace officer since 2011. He is a certified mental health peace officer and a certified hostage negotiator.”

Boshears noted that Ingersoll still devotes time to staying in shape and enjoys his time with his family.

“We are excited to have Leon as part of our family and team in the Granite Shoals Police Department,” said Boshears.

The chief provided a detailed report on the department, beginning with the newly established vision statement and description of measures to “instill a sense of pride in the community. He compared the department's case clearance rate of 58 percent to the national average of from 35-38 percent.

“One thing that drives down national rates is property thefts,” said Mayor Pro Tem Tom Dillard, a captain on the Marble Falls Police Department, who congratulated the GSPD for success with property crimes. “National statistics do not weight crimes (for example murder versus theft), and of course we haven't had a murder, but property crimes are one reason statistics are so low for some departments.”

Finance Director Wendy Gholson greeted the council with good news in her quarterly and un-audited year-end report.

“The General Fund ending balance was $593,000, compared to the $57,000 we anticipated in our budget,” said Gholson. “That puts us at 72 days operating reserves, two days ahead of anticipated.”

Gholson noted that fixed assets of the water system represent part of the Utility Fund ending balance of $3.5 million.

“Aside from those, and considering $94,000 in the equipment fund with the $430,000 balance, the Utility Fund has 112 days operating reserves, compared to the 99 days we anticipated.”

“I want to praise department heads,” said City Manager Ken Nickel. “They are watching their budgets and not spending money just because it is there. That kind of work keeps the city moving forward on financial stability.”

Jim Davant, appointed in October to fill the unexpired council term of Eric Tanner, had requested an agenda item on business development on Ranch to Market Road 1431. Davant, a financial adviser, moved to Granite Shoals about four and a half years ago, and quickly began attending council meetings and public forums and, eventually, taking volunteer commission posts. Since his earliest public comments, he has pressed for attention to economic development.

“For Granite Shoals to grow, we have to have commercial, industrial or residential development,” he said. “Some people have mentioned some kind of grocery store and there are small stores of (big chains) and stores from smaller chains out there.”

Davant volunteered his time to research the possibilities and the council gave him their blessing for the investigation.

Two citizens addressed the council and one of them was Britany Dooley, who has followed the most recent council discussions toward additions to fencing regulations.

“The word that the Planning & Zoning Commission (P&Z) and the city council keep using is 'standardization,' she said. “I believe it is very short-sighted and not at all what most residents want: to make this a 'standard' city. We have a great opportunity to make Granite Shoals a unique city that is unlike any other.

“What draws most of us here is the very fact that this is not a 'standard' city. It's the beauty of the Hill Country, the lake, the wildlife, the feeling of being out in the country...It's the eclectic and diverse mix of homes and people.”

Standards for fencing have been discussed for decades in Granite Shoals and a section of the zoning ordinance already addresses the topic, but the council has been eyeing materials, height and setbacks again.

Dillard has been charged with bringing several meetings' worth of debate into focus. One point he personally holds to is preventing fencing on the street corner that obscures oncoming traffic. There was no council action, and, b the end of the discussion Tuesday night, he had more to develop for a presentation by February.

Roy W. “Smiley” Settlemyre returned to address the council, as polite but unwavering as he has been in frequent appearances since 2006, to say that annexation of the Green Valley section of Granite Shoals was illegal, according to population density. He cites Section 43.033 of the state statute on municipal annexation to claim the city has collected $300,000 in property taxes over the last decade on which it could be challenged. While no discussion of public comment is allowed in a meeting, he has never been satisfied with answers from the city outside meetings, including a recent letter from City Attorney Brad Young, in which Settlemyre said the attorney, staff and elected officials were “opining that nothing has been done amiss.”