The historical status of Cape’s Dam will be up for discussion at tonight’s San Marcos City Council meeting.
Council will hold a public hearing and consider the first of two readings of an ordinance that would designate the dam and mill race as a local historic landmark. The dam was deemed eligible for a place in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985. The nomination form filed with the National Register states that William Alexander Thompson decided to build a mill along the San Marcos River and struck a deal with John Francis McGehee to construct the dam. In 1867, Thompson rebuilt the dam. In 1909, the dam, mill and surroundings were purchased by John Matthew Cape, who rebuilt all of the machinery associated with the mill and made improvements to the mill race. The Cape Gin Company used power from the river until 1942, when Cape’s Gin converted to electrical power.
In October, the Historic Preservation Commission recommended approval of the request to designate Cape’s Dam as a local historic landmark. However, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted in November to deny the request. Because P&Z recommended denial, six council members must vote for approval for the request to pass.
In other business, council will consider an approval enacting amendments to the Business Improvement and Growth (BIG) grant program guidelines that will prevent city employees and officials from benefiting from the program and will clarify program eligibility and intent. Council began discussions about the amendments at its last meeting and made some changes to the text of the guidelines, but then opted to continue the discussion at a later date. The BIG grant program was established in 2016 and, as of September 2018, has funded 14 projects. The program is meant to provide funding for improvements to business facades and other property improvements.
Council is also set to make appointments to the board of directors of the Alliance Regional Water Authority. City staff is recommending that council appoint a council member to serve in one position and reappoint Assistant City Manager Steve Parker, Executive Director of Public Services Tom Taggart and Assistant Director of Public Services John Clack to their positions on the board. The Alliance Regional Water Authority formed in January 2007 to serve the long-term water needs of its participants. The water authority includes representatives from Canyon Regional Water Authority; the Martindale Water Supply Corporation; the County Line, Crystal Clear and Green Valley Special Utility Districts; and the cities of Kyle, San Marcos and Buda.
Council will meet in the council chambers at City Hall, 630 E. Hopkins St., at 6 p.m. City council meetings are televised live on Spectrum Ch. 10 and Grande Ch. 16 or 123-16 and streamed online.
