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CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 1, 2005 7:00 p.m. Mayor Clay Walker called the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council to order at 6:33 p.m. Councilman Joe Crouch moved to adjourn to executive session in accordance with Texas Government Code 551.072, deliberations on real property. Councilman Larry Powers 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 Clay Walker Mayor Pro Tem Freddie Taylor Councilman Joe Crouch Councilman Larry Powers Councilman Chris Brown Councilwoman Yolanda Williams Councilman Garry Jordan - 7:00 p.m.
Staff: Marc Maxwell, City Manager Gale Roberts, City Secretary James Litzler - Acting City Attorney Johnny Vance, Dir. Community Development – 7:00 p.m. Peter Karstens, Finance Director – 7:00 p.m. Craig Vaughn, Director of Utilities Gordon Frazier – Assistant to the City Manager
OPEN SESSION Mayor Walker reconvened the meeting in open session at 7:00 p.m.
PLEDGE AND INVOCATION Mayor Walker led in the pledge to the flag and Mayor Pro Tem Taylor led the invocation. MANAGER’S REPORTANNEXATION - At the previous City Council meeting, Councilman Joe Crouch suggested that we should begin looking at the possibility of future annexations to straighten out the boundaries of the City. The Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) will take up this issue at its next meeting November 21st, at 6:30 pm. Anyone with an interest in or concerns about annexation may wish to attend. This will likely be the first of many meetings on this subject to be held by P&Z.
At some point P&Z will likely make a recommendation to the City Council, and then the Council will consider the matter. If the Council decides to move ahead with the annexation, their action triggers a very public process with prescribed timetables and benchmarks. This is a very open process from P&Z’s first meeting to final passage by the City Council. There will be many opportunities for public input; however, I would encourage public participation in the process as early as possible.
HIGHLAND SEWER – This project is completed. The contractor has installed 2,280’ of new sewer lines and he has connected the homes on Hillcrest Drive, Highland Drive and Woodcrest Drive to the new lines. The project had a budget of $181,597. The final cost is estimated at $160,000.
VARIOUS WATER AND SEWER - The Capital Construction Division completed a few miscellaneous water and sewer projects in October. The projects were on McGrede Street, Mockingbird Lane and at the Civic Center. This closes out our efforts in the miscellaneous water and sewer line item for fiscal year 04’-05’.
In recent years we have budgeted up to $230,000 for smaller water and sewer projects which invariably arise throughout the year. This year (05’-06’) we budgeted only $50,000 for various water improvements, and nothing for miscellaneous sewer projects. This leaves us unable to perform many small water and sewer replacement projects until the following fiscal year.
I don’t want to give the impression that we have abandoned sewer improvements altogether. We have not. In fact we have budgeted $383,800 for larger water and sewer improvements which are either stand-alone projects, or are part of larger street projects. This is significantly less than last year’s budget of $841,289, but then again last year’s budget was unusually high.
WHITWORTH REALIGNMENT - Work began on the Whitworth Street railroad crossing last month. We are realigning Whitworth Street so that it will no longer cross the main KCS line. Rather it will cross a spur which is used infrequently by trains.
This is not a part of our capital improvements plan. The project is a result of a prior agreement between the City, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) and Kansas City Southern (KCS). Under the agreement, the City would close Magnolia Street and realign Whitworth Street. TXDOT and KCS would reimburse the City for the cost of the Magnolia Street, and Whitworth Street projects, and they would install crossing arms at the remaining crossings in town.
The estimated cost of the Whitworth Street project is $235,046. The Magnolia Street project was completed last summer.
The completion of these projects along with the new crossing arms should significantly reduce the number of train crossing casualties over time.
REMAINING CIP PROJECTS - All capital improvement projects for FY 04’-05’ are completed. The following table compares project budgets with actual costs. A few projects were completed recently, and bills are still coming in. In those cases we have given our best estimate of the final cost. This should be fairly close.
ACCIDENTS AND CLAIMS - A water and sewer employee lost his footing and dropped a manhole ring on his hand. He has been off work for about 2 weeks. No word yet regarding his return. Verizon has filed another claim for damages that they allege occurred last June at the intersection of Kyle and Gilmer. According to the claim, City crews damaged a conduit and 600 pair of telephone lines while connecting water lines from the Kyle/Bellview project to the Gilmer Street water main. The only problem is that we didn’t damage any cable. In fact, this was a relatively minor incident. Verizon’s contractor put a couple of clamps on the conduit, and in a few hours the contractor reported that he was finished, and that we could repair the street. This all seems like much ado about nothing. The claim has been denied by the TML risk pool.
FINANCIAL REPORT - The usual month-end financial report is not ready, since the month ended only yesterday.
CONSENT AGENDA The following items on the Consent Agenda were reviewed: Consider for approval: regular City Council minutes of October 4, 2005; Planning and Zoning Commission minutes of October 17, 2005; Zoning Board of Adjustments minutes of October 18, 2005; and the Economic Development Corporation minutes of October 24, 2005. Councilman Jordan moved to approve the consent agenda as presented. Councilman Brown seconded the motion and the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Taylor, Brown, and Williams Nays: None. Abstain: Powers (was absent October 4, 2005) The motion carried.
FIRST PUBLIC HEARING FOR PROPOSED ANNEXATION A public hearing was held for a proposed annexation of 3.432 acres of land containing seven lots that adjoin the Stonebriar Addition Phase II. There was no one present to speak to the annexation. The public hearing was closed.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PRELIMINARY BUDGET AND DRAWINGS FOR SKATE PARK FACILITY There were many people present for this item. Carla Cordova addressed the City Council stating that skateboarding was an extreme sport and the teenagers needed a skate park facility to keep them off the streets. Rose Van Tassell-Morrow also addressed the City Council in favor of the skateboard facility. There was no one else wishing to speak to the issue. Councilman Crouch moved to authorize the city staff to pursue the skateboard facility up to a cost of $100,000 and also to investigate the feasibility of extending Gladys Alexander to Coleman Park as well as any other improvement that will increase our chances for a grant. Councilman Powers seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 901 DENYING THE REQUEST OF ATMOS ENERGY, MID-TEX DIVISION, FOR AN ANNUAL GAS RELIABILITY INFRASTRUCTURE PROGRAM (GRIP) RATE INCREASE There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the resolution as presented. Councilman Taylor seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 902 ORDERING ATMOS ENERGY, MID-TEX DIVISION TO SHOW CAUSE REGARDING THE REASONABLENESS OF ITS EXISTING NATURAL GAS DISTRIBUTION There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Powers made moved to approve the resolution as presented. Councilman Jordan seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON SULPHUR RIVER MUNICIPAL WATER DISTRICT BOARD APPOINTMENT There was no one to speak to this issue. Councilman Powers moved to appoint Jay McClendon to the Sulphur River Municipal Water District board. Councilman Crouch seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 903 FOR BOARD APPOINTMENT TO THE HOPKINS COUNTY APPRAISAL DISTRICT There was no one to speak to this issue. Councilman Powers moved to approve the reappointment of Mike Barrett to the Hopkins County Appraisal District Board of Directors. Councilman Jordan seconded the motion and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BOARD APPOINTMENT TO THE TOURISM AND PROMOTION BOARD Bobby McDonald cannot serve on the Tourism and Promotion Board as the Civic Center Board representative because he is not a member of the Civic Center Board. There was no one to speak to this issue. Councilman Taylor moved to appoint Deborah Balkcom to serve as the representative of the Civic Center Board on the Tourism and Promotion Board. Councilman Jordan seconded the motion and the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Taylor, Powers, Brown, and Williams Nays: Crouch Abstain: None The motion carried.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 1045 NORTH JACKSON STREET Mr. James McBrayer addressed the City Council stating that the house located at 707 Jefferson is in worse condition than the ones on the agenda. He also stated that there were several houses that needed abatement. He distributed pictures to the council and copies of the pictures will be attached to these minutes. There was no one else to speak to the issue. Councilman Jordan moved to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 30 days. Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Taylor, Brown, and Williams Nays: None Abstain: Powers The motion carried.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 607 LAMAR STREET There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Jordan moved to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 30 days. Councilman Brown seconded and the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Taylor, Brown, and Williams Nays: None Abstain: Powers The motion carried.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 204 WEST BECKHAM STREET There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Brown moved to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 30 days. Councilwoman Williams seconded and the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Taylor, Brown, and Williams Nays: None Abstain: Powers The motion carried.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON ABATEMENT PROCEEDINGS FOR CONDEMNED STRUCTURE LOCATED AT 206 WEST BECKHAM STREET There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Jordan moved to declare the property a public nuisance and order abatement by demolition within 30 days. Councilwoman Williams seconded and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Taylor, Brown, and Williams Nays: None Abstain: Powers The motion carried.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BID AND AWARD OF CONTRACT FOR ROCK, SAND, FLEX BASE, AND BEDDING MATERIALS There was no one to speak to the issue. Director of Community Development Johnny Vance presented the staff report. Councilman Brown moved to approve the bids and award the contract to Martin Marietta. Councilman Powers seconded and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 904 AFFIRMING THE TOURISM AND PROMOTION BOARD’S PRIOR DECISION SUPPORTING THE SOUTH SULPHUR RIVER DEVELOPMENT ASSOCIATION’S PROMOTION OF EVENTS AT THE COOPER LAKE EDUCATION AND CULTURE CENTER There was no one to speak to the issue. Councilman Taylor moved to approve the resolution as presented. Councilman Jordan seconded and the vote was unanimous.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION REGARDING DELIBERATIONS ON REAL PROPERTY Councilman Powers moved to approve a land swap wherein the Sulphur Springs Independent School District would give the City of Sulphur Springs its interest in 306 Magnolia, described as Lot 17B of Block 8, and the City of Sulphur Springs would give the Sulphur Springs Independent School District its interest in 128 Fore Street, described as Lot 33 of Block 19. Councilman Crouch seconded and the vote was unanimous.
VISITORS/PUBLIC FORUM None. ADJOURN With all business complete the meeting adjourned at 7:57 p.m. |
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