ALPINE — Alpine residents will have a new place to stay out late on Friday and Saturday nights, new options for paying utility bills and could soon see expanded economic development and a new incinerator for cremation of deceased pets.

At its March 4 meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a five-year contract with Continental Utility Solutions Inc. (CUSI) for software for cloud hosting, utility billing, meter reading, work order management, and a customer web portal. The contract calls for a first-year implementation fee of $36,750 plus $2,259 monthly. While the software brings an increase in costs over the city’s former system, it will provide greater reliability, payment options and customer service, city staff said. Councilmember Reagan Stone added that he hopes to work with city staff to find cost savings for postage and office supplies resulting from the new software.

City Council also approved a specific use permit that will allow American Legion Big Bend Post #79 to stay open until 2 a.m. on Friday and Saturday nights. The vote on the item was four to one, with Councilman Rick Stephens voting against the permit.

The vote came after the original agenda item, which would have allowed the post to stay open until 2 a.m. all week, drew concerns from one resident and council members and was changed.

Shelley Atwood, a longtime resident of the neighborhood surrounding Post #79, said she is concerned that the late hours could negatively affect safety and noise and change the neighborhood. “We’re losing the neighborhood we came to 20 years ago,” she said. Council members also expressed concern over the possibility of increased noise levels if the post stayed open late every night.

Andy Ramos, commander for Post 79 and candidate for City Council Ward 1, assured the City Council that it was a “family organization” that donates money to other organizations in Alpine and that their intent was to be open late only on Friday and Saturday nights.

Police Chief Darrell Losoya was asked about noise complaints regarding Post 79 and informed the council that the last complaint was received in November 2022.

Council members were set to postpone voting on the issue so that data on noise levels could be collected until City Attorney Cynthia Trevino informed them the certificate could be changed to limit the late-night openings to weekends.

Councilmember Rick Stephens cast the lone vote against extending the post’s weekend hours, explaining that he still intends to collect the noise data.

The council also discussed possible 380 Ordinances (allowed by state law) in which municipalities develop policies to promote economic development and stimulate business. They could include loans, grants of public money, tax breaks and providing personnel and services.

All council members supported the idea of 380 Ordinances; however, they also conceded a need to learn more about them and how they are developed. A workshop on the issue was set for April 1 at 4 p.m.

Mayor Catherine Eaves delivered information from the city’s Animal Advisory Board regarding the need for a new incinerator. The incinerator currently being used to cremate pets and other deceased animals has a significant crack, and the staff at the city’s animal care facility are not sure how much longer the incinerator will continue to work, Eaves said.

Eaves called it a “dire situation,” adding that the service is tremendously needed in the city. In the last five years, the city has conducted at least 2,000 cremations, she said.

Eaves also pointed out that the fee per cremation service —between $90 and $135 — had more than paid for the incinerator and could pay for another.

All City Council members supported replacing the incinerator and asked that options and recommendations be brought back for their consideration.

Also approved during the session were the hiring of David Luce as director of utilities and the police department’s participation in the state’s Operation Lonestar grant program.

The police department has participated in Operation Lonestar in the past, asking for funds to pay for overtime and equipment, Losoya said, but has chosen to ask mostly for overtime funds this year.

The police department’s participation was approved with a vote of four to one, with Stone voting against it.