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2015-1 Remembrances Special Edition1 City of Schertz Remembrances Special Edition Article 2015-1 Presented by: Schertz Historical Preservation Committee Schertz in the 1970s – City in Flux (Sources: Schertz City Council Minutes 1970-1980 & Interview of former Mayor Robert Bueker) America in the 1970s has been described as a “nation in flux” as it moved through serious political and domestic turmoil brought about by our ever increasing involvement in the Vietnam War, the Iran hostage crisis, racial unrest in our cities and a deepening distrust of the Washington White House (Watergate and Presidential impeachment). An era of technological revolution was emerging with the introduction of microprocessors that were making computers smaller, faster, and more powerful. A debate over the nation’s environmental and social values intensified following crisis such as the Three Mile Island explosion and the U.S. Supreme Court ruling of Roe vs. Wade. The City of Schertz experienced its own period of “flux” during the decade. In Schertz, Texas, new leaders emerged to take the city through the decade. Mayor Roy Richard continued in the position until the election of Jessie Graham in April 1972. Graham served in the office for eleven months before resigning to accept another position with the Cibolo Creek Municipal Authority. Robert Bueker was elected Mayor on April 7, 1973 and served throughout the remainder of the decade. Assisting the Mayors during the decade was a cadre of dedicated councilmen to include: Leonard J. Kazben; Leon Chambless; Bobbie L. Koch; Jimmy V. Dunham; Robert E. Schuartz; Mrs. Bobbie L. Koch; Mrs. Nell Funk; Richard M. Mansfield; Hugh Sandifer; Richard M. Mansfield; Tom Koole; Donald J. Seeba; Walter F. Schneider; Edward L. Sharp; Gail Hyatt; Richard L. Howe, Sr.; Earl W. Sawyer; Earl Johnson; and Marvin G. William. City Managers included: Denny L. Arnold; Walter W. Hill, Jr. and Mayor Robert Bueker Jimmy Gilmore. Hal Baldwin served as Interim City Manager for two shot periods in the late 1970s. The issue of city growth was a high priority for the City administration. Providing a funding source for city growth and services expansion was helped tremendously by the passage of a city-wide sales tax referendum in April 1970. The annexation process was recognized as vital to Schertz’s survival and growth. Mayor Bueker made it clear where Schertz was headed when he announced at a October 22, 1974 City Council meeting that: “In 1969 the City elected to grow with a total City concept, rather than stagnate, with annexation following the logical pattern.” Annexation activity begun in the 1960s and accelerated in the 1970s to the point that the City’s borders more than doubled by the end of the decade and the city population grew from 3,980 in May 1970 to 7,262 in 1980. Early in 1970 (March) the City Council designated an area of the city as an Industrial District (north of Interstate 35) a move that would eventually prove wise and rewarding for the City. In April 1970, the Council approved a petition to annex territory 2 bordered by FM 3009, FM 78 and then Live Oak Road (now Schertz Parkway). Continuous annexation actions occurred throughout the 1970s to include Deerhaven Subdivision, multiple tracts in the area of Interstate Highway 35 and FM 3009 and tracts within Comal County north of Highway 35 to include a good portion of what is today Garden Ridge, Texas. On May 7, 1974, City Council voted to expedite development of the Industrial District. A Herald Weekly Newspaper article that appeared in March 3, 1974 edition indicated that the San Antonio City Council itself had intentions of annexing 2,700 acres along Nacogdoches Road near Garden Ridge, Texas (adjacent to Schertz) and a 5,800 acre tract south of Randolph Air Force Base near loop 1604 and Interstate Highway 10. These annexation plans would have extended the San Antonio ETJ into Comal and Guadalupe Counties and severely limited any planned expansion of the Schertz city limits especially along Interstate Highways 35 and I0. Such a move would mean that the citizens and businesses of the areas would pay San Antonio taxes thus limiting Schertz’s economic prospects. The San Antonio threat of ETJ encirclement prompted the City of Schertz to move at an even quicker pace in its annexation endeavors. Schertz Attorney Joe Stulb headed a citizens commission to write a home rule charter which was approved by citizen vote (859 to 148) on April 9, 1974. According to Attorney Stulb, without having incorporated when the City did (1958) the City would not have been able to expand its city boundaries as it eventually did. Boundary disputes arose between Schertz, Cibolo, and Selma as to ETJ positioning. Those disputes were all eventually resolved through mutual negotiation. The Buffalo Valley North Urban Renewal Project began in the mid-1960s and progressed to completion through mid-1975. What began as a modest budgeted project (a few hundred thousand dollars) evolved to having spent $2,500.000 by 1972. The Project involved the Planning and Zoning Commission actions to approve rezoning certain locations within the target renewal area. Certain parcels of land were eventually purchased by the City of Schertz and later resold. Substandard homes and businesses were removed from the Schertz downtown area (Main Street). Pickrell Park was developed along FM 1518 and improved infrastructure was put in place (i.e., roads widened, curbs/water mains enlarged/railroad crossing replaced). In addition to the Urban Renewal projects, the City began planning for a new municipal complex to house city offices, the police department, and the fire department. The original City Hall had been located in a small building at the corner of First and Main Streets (now Randolph Field Reality – a designated Schertz Landmark Property). The Municipal Complex became a reality during the last 1970s and is today a beacon of pride for the community and the focal point of City business. Paying for City improvements was addressed through the implementation of City sales and use tax (1%) as well as the passage of revenue and obligation bonds. One of the first of such bonds in the period was approved by voters on July 18, 1970 and provided for $600,000.00 revenue bond funds for improving and extending the city’s sanitary sewer system and $250,000.00 of general obligation bonds for sewer improvement and extension projects. Again in October 1971, Council approved a bond package that voters later approved a portion of, to include $200,000.00 for extension of the city waterworks, $85,000.00 in general obligation bonds for 3 installing and enlarging storm drains and $175,000.00 general obligation bonds for street improvements. In 1974, another bond package was approved for voter consideration that included $1,125,000 in revenue and general obligation bonds for improving the waterworks system, improving and extending the sanitary sewer system, improving the land and park systems and for construction of the public Municipal buildings. It was during the 1970s that the Cibolo Municipal Authority (CMA) was begun and among its first actions was to seek authority from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to develop a regional water system. Some initiatives worked on throughout the 1970s did not materialize as hoped they would while others succeeded. The expansion of FM 78 was an ongoing initiative between Schertz, adjoining communities and the Texas Department of Transportation that was stalled by indecision as to the best course of action to pursue between expansion of the highway verses construction of a by-pass road around the area. In July 1973, Randolph Air Force Base announced that it could no longer provide emergency ambulance services to Schertz and thus began (April 1, 1974) a volunteer ambulance service called Schertz Area Facility For Emergency Service (SAFES). The SAFES organization (Tom Funk, Chairman) served the community as a non- profit volunteer organization until October 2000 when an all paid city sponsored professional Emergency Medical Services (EMS) organization was formed. The Community Development Block Grant Program worked on between 1976 to 1977 was eventually denied by the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The establishment of a community public library was begun as a local citizen’s initiative and eventuated (February 7, 1978) in establishment of a Library Advisory Board (Ruth Tienor Chairperson) that resulted in the opening of the first city library in the old City Hall Building at First and Main Streets. The city fathers worked continuously throughout the decade on the development and implementation of ordinances as varied as: utility rates, franchise agreements, traffic control, building codes, fire codes, plumbing codes, housing codes, electric codes, zoning codes, fees for service connections, and many more topics. The 1970s was a busy period for those engaged in City of Schertz business. Much was accomplished toward setting the foundation for properly administering City affairs and for setting the stage for even greater future community growth and prosperity. A deserving salute is offered to those who served the City during the decade of the 1970s.