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El Campo residents press council on litter, code enforcement and oppose subsidized apartment conversion
Summary
At the July 14 council meeting residents urged stronger code enforcement and cleanup efforts and raised objections to a proposed Creekside apartment development reported to be using federal financing; council received public comment but took no immediate policy action on those items.
Several El Campo residents used the public-comment period at the City Council meeting on July 14 to press elected officials on neighborhood upkeep and to protest a proposed apartment project they say will rely on federal housing financing.
Michael Bochick, a 71‑year resident who said he has run a lawn‑care business locally for 25 years, urged the council and City Manager Courtney Sladek to coordinate code enforcement and roadside mowing. He cited specific concerns about the rear parking area behind the Dollar Tree strip mall, saying a two‑foot drop in the concrete posed a danger to bicyclists and children and asking the city to inspect and address dilapidated buildings, abandoned vehicles and other code violations. "I am willing to help or work with the city in any way I can to make El Campo beautiful again," Bochick said.
Former councilmember and resident Steven Ward raised a constituent service issue: he said he had emailed council on July 7 about a driveway and ditch repair affecting his mother, had not received a council response and asked how residents can be assured their concerns are routed to staff and addressed. Ward said he had previously followed council procedures while in office and urged better responsiveness from the city manager and public works staff.
Dan Harris spoke about Creekside, a residential development brought by Houston developers. Harris said earlier presentations assured the public the project would not be "government housing," but that recent reporting indicated the development would include units financed or subsidized under federal programs (he referenced federal loan/assistance categories and cited monthly rents and subsidy calculations). He said, "We all nobody wanted government housing, and that's what they are," and urged the council to rescind permits if necessary.
Council did not deliberate on public comments during the meeting; after public comment the council proceeded with its consent agenda and agenda items. The comments were recorded for council consideration and may be placed on a future agenda for action.
