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A Publication of Guidry News Service |
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A Publication of Guidry News Service |
Jamaica Beach Mayor Vic Pierson told the Jamaica Beach City Council on Monday that he is seeking a designated Zip Code for the West Galveston Island city. "We don't want a post office, but we need a Zip Code here," Pierson said. "We are not getting the proper sales tax dollars we need to get from the utilities that serve Jamaica Beach." Pierson said most utility companies charge residents two percent local sales tax and forward it to the City of Galveston, rather than collecting Jamaica Beach's one percent for the city. He said that Reliant Energy has corrected the problem and is rebating the city's one percent, but he added that Southwestern Bell collects no local sales tax in Jamaica Beach. "They think we are unincorporated," Pierson complained. He said that he has written to the Texas Public Utility Commission detailing the problem and intends to talk to Congressman Tom DeLay this week, seeking support for a Zip Code. The city council voted 4-1, with Anne Wright opposed, to grant a variance for a boat deck at 4210 Karankawa. Former Jamaica Beach mayor Phil Douglas, who is the contractor on the project explained that the variance is necessary because the bulkhead must be tied in to a neighbor's bulkhead. Alderman John Noah voted in favor of the variance, but asked that future requests for variances be reviewed by a committee before being presented to the city council. All other agenda items were approved with unanimous votes, including a resolution urging Congress to reject all efforts to withdraw from or limit the federal government's role in the nation's beach nourishment project; and a resolution supporting the efforts of the Ellington Field Task Force to retain and enhance the joint reserve base presence at Ellington Field. The city council met in executive session to discuss two items dealing with pending litigation. Following the meeting the city council took no action on Nollingberg v. City and referred JBIC v. City to the city attorney to handle.
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