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BASTROP — Bastrop welcomed a new face to City Council to preside over its May 13 meeting.
Perry Lowe was sworn in to Place 5 replacing Cheryl Lee and took his place at the dais. Other members of council thanked Lowe for running and spoke out about their eagerness to work with him, citing his ability to persevere and be a team player.
“I was just watching you burn with interest and passion and there’s no truer fire than that. It’s been a treat to watch you get closer and closer and now you’re up here,” said Council member Kerry Fossler. “It’s fun to find a team player and an independent- natured person in the same person. It’s just going to be wonderful up here having your qualities.”
Council member John Kirkland was re-sworn into his seat representing Place 5. He was chosen by council unanimously to continue for the next year as Mayor Pro Tem.
Kirkland will continue to act as interim mayor until a new mayor is elected in the run-off election June 7.
Willie De La Rosa and Ishmael Harris are the two contenders for the one-year term left unfilled by former mayor Lyle Nelson’s resignation in January. Early voting runs May 27 through June 3.
Surprise for the Chief
Historically, communities throughout the nation pay homage to their police departments during National Police Week, held this year during the week of May 1117. The Bastrop Police Department turned the tables to honor one of their own, Police Chief Vicky Steffanic.
Steffanic became the city’s first female police chief in April 2023. She has served 17 years on department and before her career in law enforcement, she was a U.S. Marine Corps fighter pilot.
The chief was caught offguard when members of the police department showed up at the City Council meeting to formally present her with a set of handcuffs emblazoned with the Bastrop PD and US Marine Corps emblems.
“I’m here this evening because my colleagues and I want to acknowledge the most important, most vital part of our department for Officer Appreciation Week,” said Patrol Lieutenant Nick Malmstrom. “During my tenure at the police department I’ve had the pleasure of seeing significant progresses and changes that have positively impacted the police department as well as constructively improved the safety and security of the residents and businesses of Bastrop.”
Malmstrom added that the chief has created an immense increase in morale and optimistic growth in the department.
Fire chief honors life-saving heroes
On April 8, Bastrop resident Luann Padovich suffered a cardiac event at the local Hobby Lobby store, 779 Highway 71 West. Two people who happened to be trained in cardiopulmonary resuscitation stepped in and performed CPR, keeping the victim alive until emergency service personnel arrived.
“Acadian (Ambulance Service) and Bastrop Fire Department arrived upon the scene within three minutes and began life-saving measures for the citizen and luckily we were able to get pulses back and transport her out by (PHI Air Medical helicopter),” Fire Chief Christopher Stone told council.
“There are roughly 1,000 cardiac events a day suffered by people in the United States. Of that thousand, 51% are witnessed. Of that 51%, only 40% have citizens come out and step up and help save the day. Of that 40%, 9% successfully make it to the hospital. Of that 9 percent, only 7% make it out of the hospital with no deficits,” Stone said, emphasizing that Padovich’s complete recovery was a rare event made possible only by receiving quick and effective help.
Stone called Padovich to the front to present the Life-Saving Award recognition certificates to those who came to her rescue.
Residents Andrea Grant and Aubrey Marquette were the residents who stepped up and were first to help Padovich. They received Life-Saving Awards along with Bastrop Fire Department Lieutenant Morgan LeBaron, Assistant Chief Nicholas Laus and Firefighter Carter Ambruster, who was serving his first week in the Fire Department.
“I’m eternally grateful. I get to see my little granddaughter grow up, God be willing. I’m happy to say I’m right here right now,” Padovich said.
Kirkland encouraged audience members to get their CPR certifications in case they found themselves in a position to help someone in the future.
“It’s common to refer to first-responders as heroes. You are more than heroes. You literally altered the course of history for this family,” Kirkland said.
Bastrop Fire Department helps residents get their CPR certification at no cost. Contact them at (512) 332-8670.
City manager requests support
City Manager Sylvia Carrillo- Trevino appealed to the public to ask Texas Senator Charles Schwertner (District 5, R-Georgetown) to support House Bill 3196, a measure that would help Bastrop to build a community recreation center downtown.
Carrillo said that special legislation approved during the previous Texas legislative session would have allowed the city to build a hotel at the site of the current convention center (1408 Chestnut St., Suite B). The project didn’t work out.
“We went back to the legislature this year and asked for not just a (Quality Hotel Project) but expanding the capture of sales tax and hotel tax. It was dying on the vine. Representative Gerdes did a ‘Hail Mary’ and got it through the House. It is now going to be in the Senate,” the city manager said. “We need Senator Schwertner, if he’s listening, to please, please, please support. That would allow plans to turn the current convention center into a recreation center and move us back into a place where the residents have asked us to be and that is to not put a hotel here on Chestnut.”
Schwertner’s email address is [email protected]
