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Austin's Air Force Base Water and Land Rights

Wednesday, June 27, 1951 special called
  • Expanded Utilities for Bergstrom Air Force Base:

    The city approved a contract to provide expanded water and new sewerage services to the growing Bergstrom Air Force Base and its related housing developments.
  • New Utility Rates for the Base:

    The agreement ensured Bergstrom Air Force Base would pay the city's current, increased water rates and newly implemented sewer service fees, replacing an older contract that did not include sewer charges.
  • City Claims Land Ownership:

    Despite entering the service contract, city leaders formally asserted their position that the equitable title to the land occupied by Bergstrom Air Force Base rightfully belongs to the City of Austin.

Full Transcript

CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 4488 MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS Special Meeting June 27, 1951 8:30 Ρ.Μ. Council Chamber, City Hall The meeting was called to order with Mayor Drake presiding. Roll Call: Present: Absent: Councilmen Long, White, Mayor Drake Councilmen Johnson, MacCorkle Present also: Walter E. Seaholm, City Manager; W. T. Williams, Jr., Assistant City Attorney. NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING TO THE MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: Notice is hereby given that a special meeting of the City Council of the City of Austin will be held on the 27th day of June, 1951, at the Municipal Building, Eighth and Colorado Streets, in Austin, Texas, at 8:30 o'clock P. M. for the purpose of considering a proposed contract between the City of Austin and the United States of America, for water and sewerage service to Bergstrom Air Force Base, and to consider authorizing the City Manager to enter into such contract on behalf of the City of Austin. Dated this the 27th day of June, 1951. (S) W. S. Drake, Jr. Mayor City of Austin ATTEST: (S) Elsie Woosley City Clerk CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 48489 CONSENT TO MEETING We, the undersigned members of the City Council, hereby accept service of the foregoing notice, waiving any and all irregularities in such service and such notice, and consent and agree that said City Council shall meet at the time and place therein named, and for the purposes therein stated. (S) W. S. Drake, Jr. (S) Ben White (S) Mrs. Stuart Long The City Manager explained with the expansion of Bergstrom Field, they needed more water than the eight inch line would furnish. Also with the housing project, the matter of sewer lines came into the picture. He stated the water would be at our regular rate, with the rate increase effective. In the original contract, the old water rate was specified and no charge for sewer; but now, it is agreed they will start paying on the new rate. Councilman Long offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That Walter E. Seaholm, City Manager, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to enter into a contract on behalf of the City of Austin with the United States of America (acting by and through a Contracting Officer) in accordance with the terms and provisions of a certain contract No. AF 41 (007) -97 for water and sewerage service to be furnished by the City of Austin to Bergstrom Air Force Base, copy of which is attached to this Resolution, and marked by the City Clerk for purposes of indentification, and the City Clerk is hereby directed to file for permanent record in the office of the City Clerk the attached copy of said contract without recordation in the Minutes of the City Council. (Original in Contract File No 526-C; Resolution in BERGSTROM AIR FORCE BASE file) The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, White, Mayor Drake Noes: Absent: None Councilmen Johnson, MacCorkle Councilman Long offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That Walter E. Seaholm, City Manager, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the City of Austin Supplemental Agreement No. 3 to Contract No. W-359-Eng-4363 between the United States of America and the City of Austin, which Supplemental Agreement No. 3 amends and supplements said CITY OF AUSTIN, TEXAS 490 490 Contract No. W-359-Eng-4363 effective 1 March 1951, in accordance with the provisions of said Supplemental Agreement No. 3, a copy of which is attached to this Resolution, and marked by the City Clerk for purposes of identification, and the City Clerk is hereby directed to file for permanent record in the office of the City Clerk the attached copy of said agreement without recordation in the Minutes of the City Council. (Original Contract in File No 125-0 Resolution in file in BERGSTROM AIR FORCE BASE) The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, White, Mayor Drake Noes: None Absent: Councilmen Johnson, MacCorkle Councilman Long offered the following resolution and moved its adoption: (RESOLUTION) BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUSTIN: That Walter E. Seaholm, City Manager, be and he is hereby authorized and directed to execute on behalf of the City of Austin Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to Contract No. W-359-Eng. 4364 between the United States of America and the City of Austin, which Supplemental Agreement No. 1 terminates said Contract No. W-359-Eng. 4364 effective 1 March 1951, in accordance with the provisions of said Supplemental Agreement No. 1. a copy of which is attached to this Resolution, and marked by the City Clerk for purposes of identification, and the City Clerk is hereby directed to file for permanent record in the office of the City Clerk the attached copy of said agreement without recordation in the Minutes of the City Council. (Original Contract No. 124-C; Resolution on file in BERGSTROM AIR FORCE BASE file) The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, White, Mayor Drake Noes: Absent: None Councilmen Johnson, MacCorkle Mayor Drake asked Councilman Long to take the Chair and preside. Mayor Drake moved that exception be taken to the premise that the Bergstrom land is "Government owned", with reference to the Contract No. AF 41 (007). Equitable title to the land in Bergstrom Air Force Base rests in the City of Austin, but this exception has no bearing on the Resolution adopted at this meeting authorizing this contract, and does not affect the City's consent to making the contract for the purposes expressed in the contract. The motion, seconded by Councilman White, carried by the following vote: Ayes: Councilmen Long, White, Mayor Drake Noes: None Absent: Councilmen Johnson, MacCorkle At this time Mayor Drake resumed the Chair. The Council adjourned at 10:00 P.Μ. ATTEST: APPROVED: Ws Drae City Clerk Mayor