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CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
JULY 11, 2006 7:00 p.m.
Mayor Freddie Taylor called the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council to order at 6:31 p.m. Councilman Walker moved to adjourn to executive session in accordance with Texas Government Code 551.072, deliberations regarding real property. Mayor Pro Tem Williams seconded the motion. There was no one present to speak to the issue. The vote was unanimous. The following council members and staff were present: Mayor Freddie Taylor Mayor Pro Tem Yolanda Williams Councilman Garry Jordan Councilman Clay Walker Councilman Oscar Aguilar Councilman Larry Powers Councilman Chris Brown
Absent: None
Staff: Marc Maxwell, City Manager Gale Roberts, City Secretary Jim McLeroy, City Attorney Johnny Vance, Dir. Community Development Craig Vaughn, Director of Utilities Gordon Frazier, Director Human Resources OPEN SESSION Mayor Taylor reconvened the meeting in open session at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE AND INVOCATION Mayor Taylor led in the pledge to the flag and Councilman Jordan led the invocation. OATH OF OFFICE WILL BE GIVEN TO COUNCILMEN ELECT GARRY JORDAN City Secretary Gale Roberts gave the Oath of Office to councilman-elect Garry Jordan. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION TO SYNDI YOUNG, CEDRICK FINNEY, RICKY GODBOLT, BRANDON, KELLY, AND HAROLD NASH FOR RESCUING KERRY Mayor Freddie Taylor presented a proclamation to those who participated in the life saving efforts of Kerry Wright. PRESENTATION OF PROCLAMATION FOR THE MILTON AND MARY HESS THOMAS REUNION Mayor Taylor presented a proclamation to Carolyn Thomas, Dorothy Jo Thomas, and Yolanda Thomas in recognition of the Hess Thomas Family Reunion. MANAGER’S REPORTBASEBALL / SOFTBALL TOURNAMENTS - We have 2 Dixie statewide tournaments and one Dixie World-Series tournament scheduled for July. The tournaments will bring a combined 34 teams to Sulphur Springs including players, coaches, parents and grandparents. It should be a nice little booster shot for the local economy. The hotels are booked, and overflow is being sent to Greenville. The state tournaments will occur concurrently beginning on Saturday, July 15, and they will conclude the following Thursday. The state tournaments are for Dixie boys ages 14 and 7-8. The Dixie World Series tournament is for girls ages 9-10. It will begin on July 28 and end on August 02. Baseball/softball tournaments are highly sought after events. Local baseball/softball associations must bid on tournaments. Sometimes their bids are successful, sometimes they are not. This year, the local associations successfully bid on 2 tournaments, the Dixie girls World-Series Tournament and the Dixie boy’s 7 and 8 year old statewide tournament. The 3rd tournament, Dixie boys 14 year-old statewide tournament is the product of a City of Sulphur Springs bid. As an experiment, we bid $4,450 on the Dixie statewide 14 year-old boys tournament, and we got it. We estimate that we will take in $4,000 in gate fees and $11,850 in concession sales for total gross sales of $15,850. Subtract from that the bid amount, labor and concession supplies and we should make a small profit, not to mention the benefit to local merchants, hoteliers and restaurateurs. If all goes well, we may do this again. PLANT MIX - The annual plant mix program is completed. The contractor, Drake Construction, placed plant mix, or asphalt overlay on 4.0 miles of city streets in June. The project had a budget of $300,000. It appears that we spent most of the budget, or $299,105. GLOVER STREET - This water/sewer/street reconstruction project is progressing well. The Capital Construction Division has installed 850’ of water line and 850’ of sewer line. When we are finished testing the water line, we will begin reconstructing the street with reinforced concrete from Davis to westward to the dead-end. NEXT UP – As soon as the Glover Street reconstruction project is completed, the Capital Construction Division will move to North Church and North Jackson streets to begin 2 sewer projects there. They will be replacing the sewer main, which passes through the backyards of homes on the east side of Church Street. This project will begin at Pipeline Road and continue northward for 3,500’. Another 980’ of sewer line will be replaced between Church Street and Jackson Street on the north side of Wesley House Apartments. These projects are budgeted at $87,000 and $29,200 respectively. COLLEGE STREET WATER TOWER – This rehabilitation project is underway. The contractor, Utility Service Company, is moving more slowly than expected. I had hoped to report to you at this meeting that the tower would be finished, but, alas, it is not. It looks like we still have a couple of weeks to go. The tower has been sandblasted and painted inside and out. The contractor is currently repairing some minor structural problems in the interior of the tower. The contracted amount for the project is $299,200. The project originally had a budget of $300,000. FINANCIAL REPORT - Finance Director, Peter Karstens is hot here to present a year-to-date summary of revenues and expenditures; however, a copy of his monthly report is attached. CLAIMS AND ACCIDENTS – We had 2 minor workers compensation claims this month. Neither accident was serious enough to result in lost time. A police officer sustained scrapes and bruises in a motorcycle accident. A Library employee suffered minor injuries putting out a fire at the Library. Both employees were treated and released. The damage to the library and the motorcycle was minor. Verizon filed a claim for unspecified damages this month. We cut a phone cable on the Highway 11 Utility Relocation Project. This is one of those instances wherein the utility locating service did not properly locate the utilities. I do not expect TML to pay this claim. MISCELLANEOUS – Elsewhere around the City, employees:
CONSENT AGENDAThe following items on the Consent Agenda were reviewed: Consider for approval: regular City Council minutes of June 6, 2006, the special City Council minutes of June 14, 2006, the Planning and Zoning Commission minutes of June 19, 2006, and the Economic Development Corporation meeting minutes of May 22, 2006. Councilman Brown moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Williams seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARING FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2440 AMENDING BOARD TERM LIMITS AND RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS This ordinance amends the limit on terms and residency requirements of appointments to the various city boards and commissions. There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the ordinance on the second and final reading. Councilman Walker seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARING FOR SECOND AND FINAL READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2441 ESTABLISHING A DOWNTOWN REVITALIZATION BOARD This ordinance amends Ordinance No. 2050 of the Code of Ordinances by adding Section 13.600 to Article 13, Central Commercial District, relating to the establishment of a Downtown Revitalization Board. This ordinance establishes the purpose, membership, officers, rules of procedure, powers and duties of the board; providing a severability clause; and providing an effective date. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the ordinance on the second and final reading. Councilman Walker seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PREVIOUSLY TABLED ITEM FOR PUBLIC HEARING OF FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2442 RESCINDING CHAPTER 13 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OR OTHER APPROPRIATE ACTION DEALING WITH FOOD AND FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented the staff. He stated that he had done the research requested by the City Council and it appears the City of Sulphur Springs would benefit from contracting the services of an independent contractor that is a registered sanitarian and not rescinding Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinances. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the use of an independent contractor and not rescinding Chapter 13 of the Code of Ordinances therefore voiding Ordinance No. 2442. Councilman Brown seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARING OF FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2443 REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED ON THE NORTH SIDE OF MAXWELL STREET AND THE EAST SIDE OF OAK AVENUE, BEING FURTHER DESCRIBED AS LOTS 23-22, 23F, 24B, 24F, 23A, 23C, 24A, AND 25 OF BLOCK 40-1 FROM MULTIPLE ZONINGS TO PROFESSIONAL OFFICE Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented the staff report. The owner, Matthew L. Johnson, would like to rezone the property to accommodate a dental office. Joann Kelly Johnson requested clarification on the location of the property. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Jordan moved to approve the ordinance one first reading. Councilman Powers seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARING IF FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2444 REZONING PROPERTY LOCATED AT 329 LEAGUE STREET, BEING FURTHER DESCRIBED AS LOT 5C OF BLOCK 24-2 FROM SINGLE FAMILY 6000 (SF-6) TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL (HC) Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented the staff report. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve this ordinance on first reading with the stipulation that a 6’ masonry wall is built on the north side of the property. Councilman Aguilar seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BIDS AND AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR CHEMICALS The City advertised for bids on Alum, Alum/Copper Sulfate Blend, Anhydrous Ammonia, and Chlorine Dioxide (Chlorite) to be used at the Water Plant. Low bids were submitted by the following companies:
There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Brown moved to approve the low bids as presented. Councilman Jordan seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FINAL PLAT OF MATTHEW L. JOHNSON ADDITION, A REPLAT OF LOTS 23-22, 23F, 24B, 24F, 23A, 23C, 24A, AND 25 OF BLOCK 40-1 INTO ONE LOT The owner, Matthew L. Johnson, would like to replat the property into one large lot to accommodate a new dental office. There was no one else to speak to this issue. Councilman Jordan moved to approve the replat with the 50’ setback line instead of the usual 25’ setback line. Mayor Pro Tem Williams seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM REGARDING REAL PROPERTY AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO SELL PROPERTY DESCRIBED AS 0.391 ACRES BEING PART OF THE WATT MORRIS ADDITION There was no one to speak to this issue. Councilman Jordan moved to approve authorizing the City Manager to sell this property. Councilman Walker seconded and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Aguilar, Taylor, Brown, and Williams Nays: Powers Abstain: None The motion carried. DISCUSSION /ACTION ON FINAL REPLAT OF LOTS 9 AND 10 OF THE WATT ADDITION AND PART OF LOT 2 OF BLOCK 308 INTO ONE LOT This is a city initiated plat based upon a request from the property owner to purchase the partial lot. The city purchased a lot on Alabama Street in preparation to build Como Street through to Jefferson Street. This left a partial lot adjacent to the new street. This plat will combine the partial lot with the existing lot to the west and mark the right-of-way for Como Street. A drainage easement has been reserved across the partial lot. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Walker moved to approve the replat with the stipulation that the property owner assumes maintenance of the easement. Councilman Jordan seconded and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Aguilar, Taylor, and Williams Nays: Powers and Brown Abstain: None The motion carried. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON REPLAT OF LOTS 1A, 1B, 2, 2A, 4, 4-02, 5, AND 16 OF BLOCK 43 FOR THE HOPKINS COUNTY LAW ENFORCEMENT CENTER Placing the county’s property into one lot allows flexibility for future additions or expansions. There was no one else to speak to this issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the replat. Councilman Brown seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON LONG RANGE PLAN FOR THE LIBRARY This plan provides the city with a comprehensive plan for meeting goals, objectives, and activities that can be used to measure the library’s progress. This long-range plan must be submitted to the TSLAC by September 2006 in accordance with the Texas State Library Minimum Standards and Rules for Accreditation of Public Libraries. Councilman Powers moved to approve the long-range library plan as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Williams seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BOARD APPOINTMENTS TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION There was a brief, general discussion regarding this issue. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to table this item until the next regularly scheduled meeting, August 1, 2006. Councilman Jordan seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 925 DENYING THE REQUEST OF ATMOS ENERGY CORP., MID-TEX DIVISION, FOR AN ANNUAL GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GRIP) RATE INCREASE Atmos Mid-Tex filed its third surcharge request under the Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program (“GRIP”) statute, seeking to add additional surcharges on top of the 2003 and 2004 GRIP surcharges already approved by the Railroad Commission. The 2005 surcharges are $0.51 on all residential customers, $1.75 for commercial customers, and $78.47 for industrial customers. If this third surcharge were to be approved, the total amount of surcharges resulting from the GRIP statute would be $1.09/month for residential customers, $3.68/month for commercial customers, and $151.96/month for industrial customers. This resolution denies the 2005 surcharge request on the grounds that it does not comply with the law and is not reasonable, and also because it is duplicative of the Company’s Statement of Intent filing for the same period of time. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the resolution as presented. Mayor Pro Tem Williams seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM REGARDING REAL PROPERTY, ACCEPTING OR REJECTING THE CONVEYANCE OF PROPERTY LOCATED AT 709 CRANFORD FROM JOHN BEEZLEY TO THE CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to accept the conveyance of the property. Councilman Walker seconded and the vote was unanimous. VISITORS/PUBLIC FORUM Mr. Jackie Blount addressed the City Council regarding the recent name change of Radio Road to Bill Bradford Road. He suggested the City Council change the name of the airport in honor of Bill Bradford instead of renaming Radio Road. Ms. Carolyn Thomas publicly thanked the City Council and the City Staff for their accessibility and support. Ms. Thomas said that she praises the Lord that she is a citizen of Sulphur Springs and is truly appreciative of the City Council and staff. ADJOURN With all business complete the meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m. |
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