Resources, News, and Announcements
From the Mayor’s Desk - 1/17/25:
Happy Friday. Enjoy the sunshine and downright balmy temperatures today and tomorrow, because that’s going to change soon!
First off, let’s talk about the weather coming and preparations that we’re making at City Hall and around the village. Also, what you can do to protect your property and stay warm.
Public works has already followed procedures to insulate pipes in water plants and has heat lamps ready for pressure transmitters. We are actively insulating water lines at all city buildings and draining where possible. This will continue up to Monday afternoon. The RO water supply will be drained on Sunday evening and remain off until Wednesday. City Hall will be open and available as an emergency heated gathering place if needed on Tuesday and Wednesday. Our PD will monitor conditions at the bridge and work to ensure public safety of travelers. Suggestions are to stay home if possible to avoid dangerous road conditions.
We suggest that property owners also insulate your exposed water lines and periodically open faucets or drip continuously to discourage a solid freeze. However the best preventative solution is to drain your water lines as close to ground level as possible, shut off the water at main valve, leave faucets wide open, and insulate your lines from your drain points all the way back to where your water line meets the ground. Save buckets of water or fill bathtubs to use for manual “dump flushing” of your toilets while your water is shut off as well. Hope is not a plan…make sure you take action to prepare for the worst here and then hope for the best!!
Staying warm…Please do not use portable propane or other heat sources that emit carbon monoxide inside your home. This is extremely dangerous and does kill people, so please take this seriously.
Look out for each other and help those in need.
Safety – it seems like common sense, but walking on ice & snow can be slippery (duh, right!). Avoid it if possible, but if walking outside here’s a trick to avoid slip & fall injury. Walk like a penguin! Bend at the knees, Take short shuffling steps, Flat footed, Slightly pointing feet outwards, Keep your arms at your side for balance, and move slowly.
Beach & Parks:
We have approval from GLO to use small hay bales in addition to the Christmas trees to build back dunes lost to the storms. The Beach staff will be placing hay bales staggered with the trees before, during, and after the Dunes Day activity. Funding for this project comes from the sale of our beach passes.
Reminder that Jan 31st is the last day to buy half price beach passes for $15 at City Hall. Anyone from anywhere can buy a beach pass for that discount with a valid driver’s license.
Seasonal beach employees are being hired to staff the booths, empty trash barrels, and walk the beach trash pickers. Please apply at City Hall if interested.
Public Works:
We have significantly reduced the usage of Freeport water (but we still use Freeport water in mixing, fyi). With the lower demand of water in the off season, this action can take place to reduce the volume of Freeport water usage and in turn the overall cost to supply the village with water.
Building:
The crabbing pier demolition work has started. The long, extended pier will be removed due to rotten pilings, and replaced with a shorter pier with two large platforms for crabbing. Completion estimated to occur before Spring Break visitors arrive. Funding for this project comes from the Hotel Occupancy Taxes.
As always, take care of yourselves and each other. Stay warm and stay safe next week.
Thanks,
Zach
Notice
This year's levy to fund maintenance and operations expenditures exceeds last year's maintenance and operations tax levy. The following statements must be included in the ordinance, resolution, or order setting this year's tax rate. The statements must be in larger type than the type used in any other portion of the document.
VILLAGE OF SURFSIDE BEACH ADOPTED A TAX RATE THAT WILL RAISE MORE TAXES FOR MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS THAN LAST YEAR'S TAX RATE.
THE TAX RATE WILL EFFECTIVELY BE RAISED BY 3.50 PERCENT AND WILL RAISE TAXES FOR
MAINTENANCE AND OPERATIONS ON A $100,000 HOME BY APPROXIMATELY $-1.99.
Notice
Public Works After Hours: 979-248-2085 (Please Text)
Notice
If you need help obtaining a WPI-1 for Windstorm Inspection, feel free to call the Texas Department of Insurance (TDI) Angleton Office at 800-248-6032, option 4, then option 3; or you may hire a Texas Certified Windstorm Engineer.
NOTICE OF DEADLINE TO FILE AN APPLICATION FOR PLACE ON THE BALLOT