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Austin's WWII Homefront: Airport & War Drive

Thursday, October 8, 1942 regular
  • Airport Supports War Efforts:

    The city leased space at Robert Mueller Municipal Airport to the United States Weather Bureau, facilitating federal operations crucial during World War II.
  • Community Mobilizes for War:

    The Mayor officially declared Columbus Day, October 12th, as "Scrap Metal Day," urging residents to contribute to the wartime metal collection drive.
  • Taxi Driver Permits Reviewed:

    The Council approved multiple taxicab driver permits, notably granting a probationary permit to an applicant initially recommended for denial, with strict conditions.
  • Property Tax Relief:

    A resolution was passed to forgive late penalties and a portion of the accrued interest on unpaid property taxes for a local resident from prior years.

Full Transcript

60 1.0 REGULAR MERTING OF THE CITY COUNCIL: Austin, Texas, October 08, 1942 The City Council convened in regular mension, at the regular meeting; place in the Council Chamber at the Municipal Building, on Thursday, October 8, 1942, at 10:30 A. H., with Mayor Tom Miller presiding. Roll call showed the following members present: Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, Mayor Miller, and Councilman Wolf; absent, none. There were present also: Acting City Manager Seaholm, City Engineer Motheral, and Acting City Attorney Randle and Chief of Police Thorp. The Minutes of the regular moeting of October 1, 1942, were rend, and upon motion of Councilmen G111.18, were adopted as road by the following vote: "nyes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, Mayor Miller, and Councilman Wolf; "nays," none. Councilman Bartholomew offered the following resolution: (RESOLUTION) BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN THAT the City Manager, or in his absence, the Acting City Manager, be and he is horeby authorized and directed, in behalf of the City of Austin, to enter into a contract with the United States of America for the lease by the City of Austin to the Federal Government of a portion of the Administration Building at the Municipal Airport.. to be used by the United States Weather Bureau, said lense contract to be substantially in accordance with the terms and provisions of the form of draft of the lease attached to this resolution, and made a part hereof for all purposes. THAT the City Manager, or the Acting City Manager, as the case may be, is hereby further authorized and directed to detach the said copy of the lease. contract in order that it may be transmitted to the United States Government for execution, together with other required copies of said lease, after which a copy of the lease may be attached to this resolution and made a part hereof. (LEASH Attached) LEASE Between CITY OF AUSTIN And THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 1. THIS LEASE, made and entered into this first day of August in the year one thousand nine hundred and forty-two by and between City of Austin, whose address is Austin, Texas, for its heirs, executors, administrators, successors, and assigns, hereinafter called the Lessor, and THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, heroinafter called the Government: WITHESSETH: The parties hereto for the considerations hereinafter mentioned covenant and agree an followAI 2. The Lossor heroby lenses to the Government the following described promises, vint Approximately 560 square feet of floor space in the Administration Building, situnted at Robert Mueller Municipal Airport, in Austin, Texan, to be used exclusively for the following purposes (see instruction No. 3): 3. Office Quarters for the United States Wenther Burenu. TO HAVE AND TO HOLD the said premises with their appurtenances for the term beginning August 1, 1942, and ending with June 30, 1943. 4. The Government shall not nasion this lease in any event, and shall not sublet the demised premises except to a desirable tenent, and for a similar purpose, and will not permit the use of said premises by anyone other than the Government, such sublessee and the agents and servants of the Government, or of such sublessee. 5. (deleted) 6. The Lessor shall furnish to the Government, during the occupancy of said premises, under the terms of thin longe, as part of the rontal consideration, the followings Flectricity, light lamps included, janitor service, roof and ground space, hent, water, and toilet facilities, on a 24-hour bosis, and, as long as the Lessor desires, use of city owned ceiling light projector. 7. The Governmont shall pay the Lessor for the premises rent at the following rates One Thousand and 00/100 ($1,000.00) dollars per annum, Payment shall be made at the end of each calendar month. 8. The Government shall have the right, during the existence of this lense, to make alterations, attach fixtures, and erect additions, structuros, or signs, in or upon the premises hereby lenned (provided such alterations, additions, structures, or signs shall not be detrimental to or inconsistont with the rights granted to other tenants on the property or in the building in which said premises are located); which fixtures, additions, or structures so placed in or upon or attached to the said promises shall be and remain the property of the Government and may be removed therefrom by the Government prior to the termination of this lonse, and the Government, if required by the Lessor, shall, before the expiration of this lense or renewal thereof, restore the premises to the same condition AS that existing at the time of entering upon the same under this lease, reasonablo and ordinary wear and tear and damages by the elements or by circumstances over whith the Government has no control, excepted: Provided, however, that if the Lessor requires such restoration, the Lessor shall give written notice thereof to the Government thirty days before the termination of the lease. 9. The Lossor shall, unless herein specified to the contrary, maintain the said premises in good repair and tenantable condition during the continuance of this lense, except in case of damage arising from the act or the negligence of the Government's agents or employees. For the purpose of no maintaining the premises, the Lessor reserves the right at reasonable times to enter and inspect the premises and to maite any necossary ropairs thereto. 10. If the said premises be destroyed by fire or other casualty this lense shall immediately terminate. In case of partial destruction or damage, so as to render the promises untenantable, either party may terminate the lease by giving written notice to the other within fifteen days thereafter, and if so terminated no rent shall accrue to the Lessor after such partial destruction or damage. 11.No Member of or Delegate to Congress or Resident Commissioner shall be admitted to any share or part of this lense or to any benefit to arise therefrom. Nothing, however, herein contained shall be construed to extend to any incorporated company, if the lease be for the general benefit of such corporation or company. 12. Deletion herein made with consent of Lessor and Lesвое. 13. The Bureau of Internal Revenue shall not be responsible for the payment of rent under this leane beyond June 30, 1943. 14. Except under the conditions described in Paragraph 10 above, either party heroto may terminate this lease upon. thirty (30) days written notice to the other party. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have hereunto subscribed their names as of the date first above written. In presence of: (Address) CITY OF AUSTIN Lessor UNITED STATES OF AMERICA By (Official Title) (If Lensor in a corporation, the following certificate shall be executed by the secretary or assistant secretary.) I, certify that I am the Secretary of the corporation named as Lessor in the attached lease; that who signed said lense on behalf of the LoBsor, was then of said corporation; that anid lenne was duly signed for and in bohalf of anid corporation by authority of its governing body, and is within the scope of its corporate powers. _ (Corporate Seal) Unon motion of Councilman Bartholomew, the foregoing resolution was adopted by the following vote: "ryes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, nyor Miller, and Councilman Wolf; "noys," none. The application of Samuel Whitfield Mathis, 208 West 14th Street, for a taxicab driver's permit, approved by the Acting City Manager, ves submitted. Councilman Alford moved that the permit be granted. The motion prevailed by the following vote: "nyes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gillis, Mayor Miller, and Councilman Wolf; "nays," none. An appeal by James Leonard Ross, 710 West Elizabeth Street, on the granting of his application for a taxicab driver's permit which had been recommended for denial by the Acting City Manager and 61 62 1. the Chief of Polico, was heard. After a consideration of the facts in the core, it was moved by Councilman Gillis that a probational permit be granted to the said Jamen Leonard Ross, to January 1, 1943, rovocable at any time for cause, and conditioned further upon applicant's reporting to the Chief of Police on the first day of each month in the moantime. The motion prevailed by the following vote: "nyes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomow, Gillis, Mayor Miller, and Councilman Wolf; "nays," none. A proclamation by the Mayor, proclaiming Columbus Day, October 12th, as SCRAP METAL DAY wan approved. A complaint that all the weeds on City property on East Avenue below Hant Ist Street had not been cut was referred to the City Engineer to have the matter attended to. Extension of the probational taxicab driver's permit of Orbie Kulila Wheeler to January 1, 1943, by the Chief of Police was agreed to by the Council, but no formal action taken thereon. The following resolution was introduced: WHEHEAS, City of Austin taxes were assessed in the name of Mrs. Margie E. Huebetter for the years 1938 and 1939 on 66' x 200', being all of Lot 33, Outlot 55, Division B, Plat 32, City of Austin, Texas, said taxes being for the sum of $47.92; and for non-payment of same at maturity, penalty in the sum of $2.40 has been assessed, and interest in the sun of $8.68, making the total amount of taxes, penalty, and interest $59.00; and WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Austin deems it just and equitable to remit said penalty in the sum of $2.40 and part of the interest in the sum of $6.60; therefore, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That the aforesaid penalty in the sum of $2.40 and a part of the interest in the sum of $6.60, are hereby remitted, and the Tax Assessor and Collector of the City of Austin is authorized and directed to charge said penalty in the sum of $2.40 and part of the interest in the sum of $6.60 off his rolls, and to issue to the party entitled to receive came a receipt in full upon the payment of said taxes and the remaining part of the interest, as aforesaid. Upon motion, the foregoing resolution was adopted by the following vote: "Ayes," Councilmen Alford, Bartholomew, Gill1A, Mayor Miller, and Councilman Wolf; "nays," none. Upon motion, seconded and carried, the meeting was recessed at 11:10 A. M., subject to coll of the Mayor. ATTEST: Halli M CITY CLERK APPROVED, Jom Millen. MAYOR