LIEDERTAFEL HALL 100th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!

CITY COUNCIL
Mark Stolarski (Mayor)
[email protected]
LIEDERTAFEL HALL
100th BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION!
by Chris Coffman, City Manager
Michael Kubricht (Place 1)
Did you know that the Liedertafel Hall is 100 years old this year?
Yvonne Johnson (Place 2)
Sandra Vrablec (Place 3)
Maybe you are asking yourself, Where is this Liedertafel Hall and what is it all
about? Below is information about the hall gathered from the publication of
Dance Halls of Austin County, by the Austin County Historical Commission.
Melanie Willingham (Place 4)
Everett Bubak, III (Mayor Pro Tem, Place 5)
Sometime in the late 1890’s, a German Singing Club was formed by a
group of jovial men that loved music and singing. The singing club’s name,
“Liedertafel” was suggested by the first secretary, Fritz Wildy.
Wyn McCready (Place 6)
Prior to the pavilion being built, meetings were held at the Ferdinand
City Manager—Chris Coffman
[email protected]
Lux home on the end of Main Street. Upon deciding to build a hall, Lux re-
City Secretary—Dayl Cooksey
[email protected]
the location by placing a stake in the ground. The leader, Charles Loescher,
Municipal Complex
415 Main Street
www.ci.sealy.tx.us
979.885.3511
MEETING DATES & TIMES

Planning Commission—1st Tuesday of
each month at 6:00 p.m.

City Council—2nd and 4th Tuesday of
each month at 6:00 p.m.

SEDC—3rd Tuesday of each month at
6:00 p.m.
NOTE: A copy of this newsletter is available
on the City website if you wish to click on the
links within the document.
members the group walking into the corn field near the house and designating
then hit a hammer on the stake followed by each member doing so. He then
said, “ Let the little Lux boy (Edwin) hit the stob too.” Owners of the property,
Ferdinand Lux and F. Kinkler, Jr. sold the lad to the “Liedertafel” Singing Society conveying the land to trustees, Chas. Krampitz, J. Egner, and F. Wildy in
January of 1913.
(continued on page 4)
PLANNING & COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
By Randy Anderson, Director of Planning & Community Development
2014 Sealy Estimated Population
In 2013, a field analysis was conducted to determine the number of occupied housing units in Sealy. It was determined that the city, at
the start of 2013, had 2,622 occupied dwelling units. That figure contrasted sharply with the 2010 Census figure of 2,207 occupied
housing units in 2010. That represents a 415-unit occupancy rebound between 2010 and the start of 2013.
So what accounts for the change? The 2010 Census was completed near the bottom of the Great Recession and showed a vacancy
rate of 13.8% of all dwelling units in Sealy. Since then, the Texas economy has steadily grown, fueled by migration to Texas and the
boom in the energy sector. The high vacancy rate of 2010 shows the severe impact of the economy made on Sealy. The rebound to
2,622 occupancy units in 2013 reflects the economic recovery and steady permit growth.
What does this new data indicate? The 2010 Census indicated that the average household size in Sealy was 2.7 persons per household. So 415 occupied homes multiplied by 2.7 persons per household represents 1, 121 additional citizens in Sealy for a 2013 population estimate of 7,151. Steady permitting growth over the remainder of 2013 and in 2014 means Sealy has exceeded 7,200 and is
pushing 7,300. That growth has been observed with a marked increase in the enrollments of SISD (as verified by SISD). More than
anything else, that figure represents a growth rate of 18.81% between 2010 and 2013. These are terrific EDC figures. Normally with
such growth, you can see the growth with new homes or apartment complexes across a city. In the case of Sealy, this growth reflects
the absorption of new citizens into the existing vacant housing stock noted in the 2010 Census and steady permitting growth, so it’s
not very obvious to a casual observer.
So what does the future hold? Presently, there is a housing shortage in Sealy for all types of housing. There is a total lack of rental
property and a lack of affordable housing, starter homes and other types of housing. So more than likely multi-family residential projects will be attracted to Sealy. The growth rate of 18.81 % will be attractive to retailers and service providers to serve our citizens.
Unfortunately, this accelerated growth rate is similar to those common in metro-Houston, so development pressures will be arriving
to Sealy soon. Sealy sits at the edge of the Eagle Ford Shale Formation and the edge of metro-Houston, so those two factors will likely
mean rapid growth in the near term.
Below is a chart showing the growth of Sealy from its inception to the 2013 population estimate. The chart is very telling, showing a
slow but steady growth trend, except for between 1970-1980 and 2010-2013. The decade of 1970-80 was the only decade where the
population grew by more than 1,000, until the present time. We’ve matched that growth in less than 4 years. The exponential trend
line is indicative of rapid growth.
So what does Sealy need to do? With the growth that arrived over the past 4 years, and more on the way, Sealy needs to perfect its
development codes to ensure order and quality growth and to review its Capital Improvements Program to ensure that the City is
ready to provide utility services, parks and recreation and other public services to the new population. It’s more important than ever
that the city proactively direct its future and to not let the outside world determine our futures. Citizens should be prepared to see
new development, both commercially and residentially, all
across the community, including
downtown and infill lots that are
sprinkled across the city. The
growth of the community will
result in new economic opportunities for our citizens and new
challenges to maintain the quality of life that we all enjoy in
Sealy.
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NATURAL GAS—Use your SENSES
Recognizing a Suspected Leak…
Using your sense of sight, sound and smell will help you recognize a suspected leak. Here’s what you should look for:
Sight—Natural gas is colorless, but vapor and “ground frosting” may be visible at high pressures. A gas leak may
also be indicated by bubbles in wet or flooded areas, distinct patches of dead vegetation, dust blowing from a hole
in the ground or flames if the leak is ignited.
Sound—A hissing or roaring noise along the right-of-way of a pipeline could also indicate a natural gas leak.
Smell– Transmission natural gas has a stale petroleum/hydrocarbon smell. Before it is delivered to your home,
natural gas has mercaptan added which gives the gas a sulphur or “rotten egg” smell to help detect leaks. If the
gas is from an underground leak, the odorant may be filtered out by the ground.
========================================================================================================
What you should NOT do if a leak occurs:
DO NOT touch, breath or make contact with the leak.
DO NOT light a match, turn light switches on or off, use a cell or home phone, or do anything to create a spark.
DO NOT attempt to extinguish any fire.
DO NOT attempt to operate any valves.
What you should DO if a leak occurs:
DO leave the home, building and area of the suspected leak, and get to a safe area.
DO call 911 and the pipeline company from a safe distance.
DO warn others to stay out of the area.
========================================================================================================
Ensure Your Safety …
The leading cause of damage to buried pipelines is the failure to call and obtain the pipelines’ exact location.
Damage to pipelines—such as a scratch, gouge, crease or dent—may cause a leak.
Before you start any excavation activity on your property, you are required by state law to call 811 or your
State One-Call Notification Center. Natural gas operators will mark the location of their lines at no cost to
you.
Excavation activities can be as simple as planting a tree, installing landscaping, building a fence or installing a
swimming pool.
811 is the federally-mandated number designated by the FCC to
consolidate all local “Call Before You Dig” numbers and help save
lives by minimizing damages to underground utilities. One easy
phone call to 811 starts the process to get your underground
pipelines and utility lines marked for FREE. When you call 811
from anywhere in the country, your call will be routed to your
State One-Call Center. Once your underground lines have been
marked for your project, you will know the approximate location of your pipelines and utility lines, and can dig safely. More
information regarding 811 can be found at www.call811.com.
Excavators must notify the pipeline company through the OneCall Center immediately but not later than two (2) hours following the damage incident.
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HIBBETT SPORTING GOODS, INC. ANNOUNCES NEW STORE TO OPEN
IN SEALY, TX
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (9/24/14) – Hibbett Sporting Goods, Inc. (“Hibbett”), the national sporting goods retailer based in Birmingham, Ala., is pleased to announce the execution of a lease for a new store in Sealy, TX.
Hibbett Sports plans to open the new location this winter at Brazos Village Shopping Center. The store anticipates employing
eight full and part-time team members. Currently Hibbett has 94 locations in the state of Texas alone.
Hibbett is a fast-growing operator of over 950 full-line sporting goods stores in small to mid-sized markets, predominantly in the
Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest.
Hibbett Sports stores offer a large selection of quality branded athletic equipment, footwear and apparel, with a focus on knowledgeable, friendly customer service and providing customers with information they can't always get at other stores selling
sporting goods. Hibbett Sports has a long history of focusing on the needs of local teams and leagues, with a variety of services to
meet the needs of coaches and players alike.
Hibbett is the only sporting goods chain committed to serving small and mid-size markets. This strategy has proved to be a successful one for Hibbett as the company continues to expand its number of stores across the U.S.
Liedertafel Hall 100th Birthday Celebration (continued from page 1)
In 1914, local builder Marcus Kinkler, Ferdinand Lux, and other society member built the octagon-shaped hall with lumber purchased from the Hackbarth Lumber Co. Six by six sills were used for the maple floor that was put down by a local contractor,
Louis Sommermeyer, with the stage being built around the center pole. It had a shingle roof with a cupola and walk-way with an
American flag at its top. Later a gazebo was built in front of the pavilion and served as a popular location for speeches and political rallies as well as a popular spot for numerous brass band concerts.
Weather prevailing, the society met behind the hall by a honeysuckle arbor where a keg of beer would be available for the singing sessions. One of the favorite songs of the time was “Auch du Liebe”. This group also enjoyed playing the German card game
“skat”.
At festival time, meat in large quantities was prepared in large open pits that had been dug in the ground. Chas. Amsler and Regenbrecht would barbecue the large hunks, turning the meet with a pitch fork. Lemonade was served for five cents and beer
twenty cents a glass with dance tickets costing 25 cents for gents and ladies free. Hamburgers were later served for 25 cents.
In 1945, the hall was sold for $3,000 to the Sealy Volunteer Fire Department. Additional buildings were added and a new oak
floor was placed over the maple one. Many will remember this location as the place for dancing and frolicking at many community affairs, but more especially at the annual “Fireman’s Frolic”.
Some fifty years later, the Sealy Volunteer Fire Department donated the building to the Sealy Area Historical Society and remodeling began that year. Then in 2006, the SAHS donated the building to the City of Sealy. The building continues to be a gathering
place for all ages. Weddings, YMCA activities and other social gatherings utilize the building on a weekly basis.
The celebration will include historical photos of the building, music, a brief history of the building, bratwurst, sauerkraut and
beer lunch with a birthday cake in honor of the hall. The party will begin at 11:00 am and the birthday cake will be cut at 12:30
PM. The hall will be open until 4:00pm for visitors during the tour homes sponsored by the Sealy Area Historical Society in conjunction with the Fantasy of Lights weekend events. The event is free to all. Donations will be accepted for the future building
improvements. Please mark your calendar and join us for the December 6 th , 100th birthday celebration of the Liedertafel Hall.
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POLICE DEPARTMENT
By Officer Eric Gum
SPD has launched a specially designed Youth Detective Program for our community. This project was designed and implemented
by Officer Tia Argueta. The school-age children have to solve an imaginary crime by following specially laid clues throughout a
crime scene.
Each participant is issued a junior officer badge. SPD officers begin the course with the children attending roll call. During roll call
they are shown a video of a staged crime (usually a bicycle theft). The suspect
is dressed up like the Hamburglar and caught by officers in the video. The
officers don’t know where the bad guy stashed the stolen bike and the kids
get to help locate it.
Once the kids cross the police tape the course has officially begun and they
must follow the clues throughout the building to locate the stolen bike. At
the end they are rewarded with candy or temporary tattoos and get to highfive the officers on their way out. To see a video of the program just log onto
www.facebook.com/sealypd and watch the latest episode of Behind the
Scenes with SPD.
We are still accepting applications for the Citizens Police Academy. This program is a great way to
educate interested people about the inner workings of the department. It is an educational program
which allows our community to see inside the world of law enforcement and what is involved with
the officers’ daily duties. We will use tours, lectures, demonstrations and "hands-on" experiences so
the class participants can gain insight into the policies and procedures of the department. Citizens in
the program can ride with police officers during a normal patrol shift, which gives people a firsthand
look at what officers deal with on a daily basis.
Click here for the CPA application. Applications are also available on the City website, and
at City Hall. We look forward to seeing you at the first Academy!
General Election
November 4, 2014
Early voting will take place at the
Austin County Election Office in
Bellville—October 20 thru October 30 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm,
and October 31 from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm.
Early Voting will also be available at the W. E. Hill
Community Center located at 1000 Main Street.
You can early vote at this location on Wednesday,
October 22, 2014, from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
COMMERCIAL RECYCLING
Local business can now participate in our recycling program with Texas Disposal Systems . They can request a
container ranging in size from 4 cubic yards up to 8
cubic yards, or a small cart can also be provided. The
cost for these containers varies and are picked up either every other week, one (1) or two (2) times per
week.
A list of acceptable items can be
found at:
TEXASDISPOSAL.COM/RECYCLING
We also have a list of polling locations available at
City Hall for election day.
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Sealy Animal Registration
Registering your pet is more than a legal requirement.
It also shows your pet is loved and cherished.
Who needs to register?
Sealy Ordinance requires all dogs and cats older than 4 months who are kept within the city limits to have a current rabies vaccination and city registration. The registration must be renewed annually. The registration tag should always be worn by your
pet, especially when it is outdoors.
What are the benefits of registering your pet?




A registration tag shows that your pet is not a homeless stray.
Found pets can be reunited more quickly with the owners.
Your lost pet gets a longer care period when taken to a shelter.
Your registration shows your pet has been vaccinated for rabies.
How much does it cost?
A city registration is FREE!
How do I register my pet?
Present a current rabies certificate for each pet to City Hall.
Who do I contact with questions about registering my pet?
Contact City Hall at 979.885.3511
Who do I contact with questions about animal control?
You can reach Gary Kollatschny, Animal Control Officer, at the Police Department—979.885.2913.
REGULATING ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES
By Dayl Cooksey, City Secretary
Due to rising concerns about the dangers of electronic cigarettes or “e-cigs”, the Sealy City Council adopted an ordinance August 26, 2014, prohibiting the possession, sale, and consumption of e-cigs, and all related products and paraphernalia, to minors.
Currently, e-cigs are advertised to be “safe nicotine delivery devices”; however, nicotine is a known neurotoxin and one of the
most highly addictive substances available for public consumption. Reportedly, e-cigs are also being used to consume illegal
drugs.
At this time, e-cigs and their associated products are not regulated by the Federal Government or the State of Texas; therefore, by adopting Ordinance number 2014-14, the Sealy City Council
recognizes and addresses the hazards and concerns associated with ecigs and the protection and wellbeing of the children of the community.
The Council and Staff of the City of Sealy strive to create a safe and
healthy environment for all citizens of Sealy.
If you have any questions or would like a copy of this Ordinance or further information, please contact City Hall at 979-885-3511.
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OCTOBER IS FIRE PREVENTION MONTH
October is the month in which fire departments and life safety educators across the
country will bring important safety messages to their communities.
Fire Safety Basics:
 Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection, interconnect
all smoke alarms throughout the home. When one sounds, they all sound.
 Test smoke alarms at least once a month using the test button.
 Replace smoke alarms every 10 years.
 Replace batteries when day light savings time occurs—usually March and November.
 Make sure everyone can hear the sound of the smoke alarms.
 Have a home fire escape plan. Know at least two ways out of every room, if possible, and a meeting place outside. Practice your escape
plan twice a year.
 When the smoke alarm sounds, get out and stay out.
 The leading cause of fires in the kitchen is unattended cooking.
 If you must leave the room even for a short time, turn off the stove.
 Keep smoking materials away from things that can burn, like bedding, furniture, and
clothing.
 Keep lamps, light fixtures, and light bulbs away from anything that can burn, such as
bedding, curtains, and clothing.
 Replace cracked and damaged electrical cords.
 Use extension cords for temporary wiring only. Consider having additional circuits or
receptacles added by a qualified electrician.
 If you have young children in your home have tamper-resistant electrical receptacles.
 Call a qualified electrician or landlord if you have recurring problems with blowing fuses or tripping circuit breakers, discolored or warm
wall outlets, flickering lights or a burning or rubbery smell coming from an appliance.
Fantasy of Lights—
Dec. 5-6, 2014
The 28th Annual Fantasy
of Lights will be here
before you know it!
Held in the heart of
Sealy, this year's festival
is Friday, Dec. 5 & Saturday, Dec. 6. The event is
sponsored by the Sealy Community Foundation. The
Annual Christmas Festival is a longstanding tradition
complete with a bar-b-q cook-off, softball tournament,
LIVE snowfall, entertainment, arts & crafts, great food,
and culminating on Saturday a tree lighting,
and Annual Christmas Parade! For more information,
visit www.sealycommunityfoundation.org.
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YARD WASTE INFORMATION
Woodchipping/Limb Pick-up: City crews will woodchip and/or pick-up limbs during the first week of each
month commencing with the first Monday of the month. To guarantee service, limbs must be stacked next to the
street or curb away from garbage receptacles on the first Monday of the month by 8am.
Trunk pieces may be no larger than eight inches (8”) in diameter and no longer than three feet (3’) in length.
No stumps or bushes will be chipped.
City crews will make the determination whether it would be more cost-effective to the customer to chip the ma-
terial onsite or to load and transport it offsite for chipping.
Rates for this service are posted on the City website.
Heavy Limb Pick-up: Heavy limb pick-up is also held the same week as wood chipping.
No limbs over six feet (6’) in length will be picked up.
All limbs are to be stacked with the cut ends facing the street or curb in a neat pile.
Root balls are required to have the dirt removed prior to pick-up.
The charge for this service is $25 for the first minute or part of a minute plus $4.50 per minute or part of a minute thereafter (only loading time is included in the fee).
Rates for this service are posted on the City website.
Leaf/Grass Clippings Pick-up: City crews will pick-up leaf and grass clippings during the third week of each month
commencing with the third Monday of the month.
Bags are to be in good shape and not to exceed a weight that would cause them to tear.
No household trash, dead animals, oil filters, or other debris shall be in the bags.
Torn bags or bags that are deemed by the City crew to be too heavy will be left at the street or curb.
There is no charge for this service.
Curbside Residential Recycling: Texas Disposal Systems offers this service
to all residential customers. Please put paper products, cardboard/
boxboard boxes, and empty containers (plastic, metal, aluminum, or glass—
but must be rinsed out and food-free). The pick-up day for the recycling
service is on Tuesday, every other week (depending on your week color).
Currently, citizens who live East of Highway 36 and North of Columbus
Road/FM 1094 are on the “GREEN” pick-up schedule, and all others are on
the “TAN” schedule.
For more info visit TEXASDISPOSAL.COM/RECYCLING for a list of recyclable
items, and when you are scheduled for pick-up.
City Offices will be closed in
observance of the following holidays:
Veterans Day—November 11
Thanksgiving—November 27 & 28
Christmas—December 24 & 25
New Year’s Day—January 1
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