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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPetition to Texas A&M to create municipality (03-04-1938)TEAS AGRICULTURAL AND MECHANICAL COLLEGE SYSTEM COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS April 22, 1955 Mr, Ran Boswell, City Manager, College Station, Texas Dear Ran: Here is a signed copy and apparently the original of the petition presented to the Board of Directors of A & M asking for their support in creating a municipality. This instrument is dated March 4, 1938. I do not have a copy of the action taken by the Board but I do recall they lent their support generously. Dr. Walton, who was President at this time, was also quite helpful in securing the incorporation. GG:rpm TO TIE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, A. & M. COLTF,,GE through the President of the College To the Board of Directors, A. & M. College thru the President of the College. Gentlemen: College Station, Texas, March 4, 1938. A self organized committee of citizens representing the various communities immediately adjoining the A. and M. College and the Campus proper, respectfully request an expression of policy from the Board of Directors on the question: Does the Board have any objection to a movement being started by the residents of this community looking to the in- corporation of the City of College, Texas under the provisions of Title 28 of the Revised Civil Statutes of Texas of 1925 and any amendments thereto, such proposed incorporated limits to be substantially as follows : - -To include both private residential districts or additions immediately south of the College property, a band of property bordering the College property on the East and along the present State Highway No. 6, a band of private proper- ty bordering the College property on the north and extending from State Highway No. 6 in a westerly direction to an intersection with the Agricultural Experiment Station Agronomy Plots eastern boundary; thence south along the west right of way line of the railroad lines to the southerly boundary of College property, thence easterly across the railroad tracks along, the line form- ing the southerly extremity of College Park to the point of beginning; said area completely surrounding all college property east of the railroads and enclosing the entire Campus. The area so described is approximately two square miles and has a population of considerably in excess of 500 people not including students housed on the Campus. The Committee feels that the Board has an inherent interest in this matter and for that reason we respectfully submit this question for your consideration prior to making any move toward incorporation. Attached herewith we enclose what we believe to be twelve good and salient reasons for incorporation of the City of College, Texas and #2. Board of Directors, A. & M. College. March 4, 1938. we submit them to the Board as a justification for our personal convictions with regard to the question of incorporation. Respectfully yours, )14.4 X-a-c,_ 7`='4 7 , I TV1ELVE REASONS FOR INCORPORATION OF TIC CITY OF COLTFCE, TEXAS In the presenting of the question of incorporating the City of College, Texas under the provisions of Title 20, Revised Civil Statutes of Texas, the following salient reasons are offered by the committee of citizens representing the Community both on and off of the campus to show why such incorporation will be of distinct worthwhile service to the entire community: 1. A municipal corporation of College completely surrounding and in- cluding all College lands east of the west right of way property line of the Southern Pacific tracks can in no way adversely affect, limit or otherwise embarass the Board of Directors of A. & M. College in its function of Administering the policies of the institution since such corporation ordinances could not supersede statutory State Legislation concerning a State owned institution. 2. From the standpoint of sanitation and public health a municipal corporation made up of the Campus and its surrounding territory will provide worthwhile benefits in the following items: (a) Proper and adequate sewerage disposal facilities in con - tiguous areas for Mich there is either inadequate or no provision at present. (b) Drainage and malaria control can be made effective over the entire area rather than merely on College lands as is now the case. (c) Garbage and refuse collection from the business district north of the Campus as well as in the off campus residential areas can be instituted by ordinance and rrovided for by enforceable orders of payment therefor by the residents concerned or by city tax on private property. (d) Commercial establishments in contiguous areas particularly those dealing in groceries, cold drinks, meats, milk, as well as restau rants, may be controlled with regard to sanitation of food and food handlers by the recognized ordinances of municipal corporations (Such control is not exercised now, nor can it be under the present unincorpor- ated status). (e) By means of the agencies of a municipal corporation theatres, hotel facilities, clubs, resorts of all kinds and other establishments, facilities and gathering places off the campus may be controlled as to become a part of an efficient sanitary district thereby making the campus program in such matters more effective and worthwhile. #2. Twelve Reasons for Incorporation of the City of College, Texas 3. A municipal corporation of College, Texas, can provide traffic regulation not practical at present on the campus and impossible of con- trol in congested areas immediately off the campus. 4. By execution of the rights of granting city franchises the proposed City can control the operation of busses, commercial trucks, taxicabs and other conveyances in keeping with the needs of a community such as College Station. 5. An overwhelming _majority of residents and property owners in this area are either directly or indirectly employed by the College and its branches and municipal control would therefore be limited to those policies and problems which are directly and solely the concern and business of this immediate community. 6. A municipal corporation would provide a corporate entity, which legally and systematically could provide solutions to problems of street maintenance and repair in off campus areas. There is no system possible at present and hence no possibility of either making improvements or pro- viding adequate maintenance. 7. A municipal corporation could and unquestionably would provide facilities to enable the off campus residents to receive at least a fifty percent reduction in fire insurance rates which are at present extremely exhorbitant. The present communities now have a country rate and the State Fire Insurance Commission has ruled against, base rate reduction ex- cept in case of incorporation. 8. Under municipal government control fire limits could be established, firetrap construction off the campus could be prevented and the standard codes for buildings, wiring and electrical equipment and appliances could be enforced. 9. As a municipal corporation the community would have police protec- tion which at present, though needed, is entirely absent in off campus areas. Present protection comes solely at the pleasure of the County Sheriff. 10. Incorporation would in no wise change, obstruct, regulate, or other- wise molest or disturb the present status of the College owned utilities and distribution lines nor would such lines be subject to any order, franchise, tax or regulation of any kind since such utilities are owned by the State and are on State Property. 11, Incorporation is the only salvation for the public schools in this Independent School District and this problem alone makes the proposal worthwhile wven should all other reasons be ruled out. Taxable revenues of this School District are concentrated in the pro- posed municipal area and any encroachment of other independent school districts in the absorbing of contiguous areas diverts taxes from this #3. Twelve Reasons for Incorporation of the City of College, Texas district which are at present sorely needed by the public school system at College Station. Incorporation would protect the integrity of the area most prolific of school revenue, and a municipal corporation would offer inducement to a further development of revenue producing property in the off Campus areas to the enhancement of our public school revenue. If thru lack of incorporation the College Independent School District should for want of revenue be forced to discontinue its High School, it would most surely revert to a rural district with its accompanying eight months school rather than the standard nine months term. Such decay of the public school system would most certainly affect the College in its efforts to p=rovide and keep a faculty at A. and M., particularly those faculty employees who have children of public school age. 12. College Station, Texas has problems the same as any other city or town and at present has no conceivable nor workable way of coping with the situations other than by organizing and supporting its own municipal government. Other alternatives have been studied but none have been found which offer a solution to the various problems as stated indirectly in the aUove set of reasons for incorporation.