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MESSAGE FROM MAYOR 11-22-2022
As we approach the holidays and the coming end of the year, it is not unusual to look back and reflect on what has happened during the past 11 months. We remember the joys and sorrows, the accomplishments, and lessons learned from the past year. As we emerge from the pandemic we face new challenges, as well as opportunities.
For the City of Saint Hedwig, we have much to reflect on. It has been a year of exceptional growth and development. I look back at where we were just 2 years ago, and over this past year we have done some pretty amazing things. The city has:
- Established a full time Marshal’s Office which is now a 9-member agency, with 3 paid deputies and 6 volunteer deputies.
- Opened the City Municipal Court for business and now hear court cases once a month.
- Employed a full time City Manager who is bringing innovative concepts to the City, helping to develop policies and procedures for the orderly maintenance of City Hall, and providing oversight of all city administrative matters.
- Employed a court clerk and permitting officer to manage the court docket and document maintenance, as well issue permits for building construction and other permitting matters.
- With the hard work of the Planning and Zoning Commission, reviewed and revised the Zoning Ordinance and all the supporting Appendices.
- Established a Public Safety Task Force to examine safety issues throughout the City and provide recommendations to the City Council for improvement.
- Joined the Northeast Partnership of Cities, a collaborative association of local cities in this area who work cooperatively to share resources, ideas, projects, and concerns that affect all the cities in our rural area.
- Began several projects to find grant funding for city improvements, including roads and equipment.
- Worked with Bexar County Office of Emergency Management to update our Hazard Mitigation Plan.
- Began the search for additional space for the City Hall. We’re out of room! With the tremendous growth in staff, we are now looking for additional space to house our budding city family.
We also reflect on the loses this year, including the horrific tragedy for the community of Uvalde. We also lost members of our community that will be greatly missed.
There is no doubt Saint Hedwig will continue to grow, growth is inevitable and cannot be held back or ignored – but we can be in control of our future and how this city adapts and manages its growth. It has been my mission since coming into office to help, in coordination with the City Council, ensure that growth in our community is structured and in line with the rural and historic way of life that has made Saint Hedwig the place that we love. The City recently fought to keep out a wastewater treatment in our ETJ, and while we were unable to block the facility entirely, we were able to obtain major concessions to odor, noise, and quality control issues. I will continue to stand by the commitment to honor the wishes of the resident of this city and safeguard our unique rural environment.
As we turn to the future and look to 2023, I hope everyone has safe and happy holidays, spends time with the ones you love, and has peace into the new year. May our New Year be filled with hope and health, opportunities and successes, and harmony and goodwill.
Mayor Dee Grimm
