By Wade Warren

SDN Managing Editor

Snyder city council Monday night tabled action on any changes to an ordinance related to the distance a permanent structure can be “set back” from a residence’s back property line.

Jerry Webb, who lives in the 4500 block of Galveston Avenue, is planning an addition to his home but found that a city ordinance forbids an addition to a house being any closer than 20 feet from the back property line.

In a letter to City Manager John Gayle, Webb wrote that the city ordinance allows a set back of 10 feet for a storage building or garage, but 20 feet for a building attached to the house.

“I do not understand the reason for the different set-back rules and believe they somewhat conflict with each other,” the former councilman wrote.

In addressing the council Monday night, Webb asked the council to change the ordinance’s guidelines saying there are a number of instances around the community that the ordinance is not being followed, a point several councilmen agreed on.

Stephanie Ducheneaux made the motion to table the matter, stating there had not been a lot of time to study the proposal.

“This change could affect a lot of people,” said Ducheneaux.

The motion also stated that the city’s planning and zoning commission look at possible changes to the ordinance.

The council did approve the city’s racial profiling report as required by the state.

Police Chief Steve Warren presented the brief report and it was approved with little comment from the council.

Warren did say that the percentage of arrests closely followed the ethic breakdown of the community.

(See chart)

In other action items, the council approved the low bid for a sanitation truck from Shamrock Chevrolet for $108,595, and the bid from Big Country Autoland for a half-ton extended cab pickup for $17,495, and for a three-quarter ton crew cab pickup from Wilson Motors.

The bids from Big Country and Wilson Motors were not the low bids, but did fall within the state-allowed three percent range of the lowest bid.

Also, the council approved a bid of $44,700 to paint the city’s water tower on Midland Drive.

In one other item, the council heard a request from the Tri-County Children’s Advocacy Center to proclaim April as Child Abuse Awareness Month.

Mayor Francene Noah said a proclamation would be issued to honor the request.

The council also began the yearly evaluation of they city manager, meeting in closed session for just less than an hour.

No action was taken following the closed meeting.

Mayor Noah presided and council members present were Ducheneaux, Terry Martin, Ron Shaw, Vernest Tippens and David Harrell.