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CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS REGULAR
MEETING OF THE CITY
COUNCIL AUGUST
3, 2004 7:00
p.m. Mayor
Chris Brown called the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City
Council to order at 6:30 p.m. Councilman
Jordan moved to adjourn to executive session in accordance with Texas
Government Code 557.074 personnel matters, specifically relating to the
Parks and Recreation Director. Council
woman Bryant seconded. There
was no one present to speak to the issue.
The vote was unanimous. The
following council members and staff were present:
Mayor Chris Brown
Mayor Pro Tem Clay Walker
Councilman Joe Crouch
Councilman Freddie Taylor
Councilman Larry Powers
Council woman Lydia Bryant
Councilman Garry Jordan Staff:
Marc Maxwell, City Manager
Sharon Ricketson, City Secretary
Gale Roberts, City Secretary Trainee
Johnny Vance, Community Development Director 7:00 p.m.
Peter Karstens, Finance Director 7:00 p.m.
James Litzler, City Attorney 7:00 p.m. OPEN SESSION Mayor
Brown reconvened the meeting in open session at 7:00 p.m. PLEDGE AND INVOCATION Mayor
Brown led in the pledge to the flag.
Councilman Crouch led in the invocation. PLAQUE OF APPRECIATION, BOBBY McDONALD Mayor
Brown recognized all the members of the Sesquicentennial Committee and
the volunteers for the successful celebration of Sulphur Springs 150th
birthday. A proclamation
was read naming August 3, 2004 as Bobby McDonald day and a plaque of
appreciation was presented to Mr. McDonald. MANAGER’S REPORT City
Manager Marc Maxwell told council that the plant mix program is
completed for this fiscal year. Drake
Construction placed mix on 13.4 miles of city streets, 2 additional
miles than originally planned. The
cost of the project is $530,456. Over
the past few years the city has sealed over 28 miles of streets. City
employees began construction on a RV dump station at the Wastewater
Treatment Plant this month. The
dump station will be available for all City of Sulphur Springs residents
by the end of the month. The
service is free. The
Highway 19 relocation project is progressing well. The Council approved a budget of $212,942 for the project.
This budget is divided among 7 separate utility relocation
projects along Highway 19. We
have completed 5 of the 7 projects.
This project is being performed in advance of the Highway 19
widening project. TXDOT
requires us to relocate water and sewer utilities in their rights-of-way
when those utilities conflict with TxDOT construction projects. Work
has begun on the Co-op sewer project which will replace 850 feet of
deteriorated sewer main behind North East Texas Farmers Co-Op.
The project is budgeted at $26,160 which includes one creek
crossing over North Town Branch. There
were two liability claims in July.
A woman filed a claim seeking payment for damages to her
automobile. Her grandson
was driving the car when he was involved in an accident. The claimant
says that tree limbs obscured his view of the stop sign.
The claim is pending with TML.
Another claimant seeks payment for a plumbing call.
City crews were cleaning a sewer main on McGrede and backed
sewage up into her home. There
were no Workman’s Compensation claims. Construction
of four homes should begin this month as a part of the HOME Grant.
The Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs grant is
paying $500,000 for the complete reconstruction of nine homes for low
income seniors. The
city’s matching contribution will be to demolish the old homes, waive
tap fees and permit fees. CONSENT AGENDA The
following items on the Consent Agenda were reviewed: regular City
Council meeting of July 6, 2004, Planning and Zoning Commission minutes
of July 19, 2004 and Economic Development Corporation minutes of June
21, 2004. Council woman
Bryant moved to approve the items from the Consent Agenda.
Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON PUBLIC HEARING, SECOND AND FINAL READING OF
ORDINANCE NO.2403, A REQUEST TO REZONE PROPERTY AT 1333 JEFFERSON FROM
SINGLE FAMILY TO HEAVY COMMERCIAL Tammy
Pearson on behalf of Women Offering Women Support has requested a
re-zoning for property located at 1333 Jefferson Street, described as
lot 1 block 523 from Single Family 6000 to Heavy Commercial.
The property will be turned into a Women’s Shelter to provide a
community based, peer oriented residential program. Housing will be on a 30 day trial period, at the end of 30
days each woman will be re-evaluated.
Councilman Taylor moved to approve the ordinance on second and
final reading. Councilman
Jordan seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON COMPLAINTS ASSOCIATED WITH SULPHUR SPRINGS CULTURED
SPECIALTIES Mr.
Maxwell stated that this agenda item is a result of the meeting in July
at which time several residents in the area of Sulphur Springs Cultured
Specialties appeared before Council to ask help in eliminating the odor
problems being generated at the plant.
Mr. Maxwell reported that as of July 12, 2004 the plant had
ceased their land sludge application and is now hauling away the sludge.
This solves half the problem.
The other part is the treatment process itself.
Mr. Whener, plant manager, told council that the company had
contracted with John Heilman to begin a new process to help eliminate
the odor. Two of the
residents of the area spoke to council stating that the odor was better
during the day but around 2:00 a.m. it begins to get worse.
Mr. Whener stated they would continue to monitor the progress
however the plant had been inspected twice over the past month by TCEQ
and they found no problems. There
was no action taken on this agenda item. City Manager Maxwell told council that staff will continue to
monitor the plant. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR SURVEY SERVICES AND
MAPPING FOR THE HIGHWAY 11 BY-PASS PROJECT Request
for Proposals (RFP’s) were sent to nine surveying companies.
Responses were received from four.
In the request staff asked for qualifications and proposals for
survey work including all work, maps and appropriate documentation to
prepare a right of way map according to TxDot specifications.
To insure compliance with the Professional Services Procurement
Act the selection was based on the demonstrated competence and
qualifications. Staff
evaluated all responses and assigned a ranking number to each firm.
Staff recommends Goodwin-Lasiter, Inc. as the best qualified firm
to perform the ROW mapping for the Highway 11 Bypass project.
However, if terms cannot be reached with this firm, staff asks
that they be allowed to go to the next firm.
Council woman Bryant moved to enter into negotiations with
Goodwin-Lasiter however if terms cannot be reached then they move down
the list in the ranking order until terms can be reached.
Councilman Jordan seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON RESOLUTION NO. 873, REQUIRING TXU DELIVERY TO SHOW
CAUSE WHY ITS TRANSMISSION AND DISTRIBUTION RATES SHOULD NOT BE REDUCED TXU
Electric Delivery Company bills are comprised of 2 basic charges, one
for the electricity itself, the other for delivery of the energy which
is called a T & D charge. In
July 2004 the TXU Electric Standing Steering Committee unanimously
recommended that cites pass a resolution that requires TXU to show cause
why its T & D rates should not be reduced and have sent a sample
resolution for council consideration.
The resolution would require a public hearing in January.
If the resolution is not passed the City of Sulphur Springs would
most likely still benefit from the process because any PUC decision
would apply to all cities. The
cost to participate is 10 cents per capita or $1,455.10.
Mr. Danny Hodges spoke to council asking them to delay a vote on
the resolution to allow him more time to review the resolution.
A brief discussion was held.
Councilman Crouch moved to table the item until the August 10,
2004 meeting. Councilman
Walker seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON REQUEST FOR FINAL PLAT FOR YOLANDA’S ADDITION Owners
Terry and Yolanda Williams have requested a replat of property located
on the south side of California Street, west of Mulberry Street,
described as lots 12-11 and part of lot 10 block 82 into one lot. The owner has acquired five feet additional land from his
neighbor and is platting it into one lot to accommodate a proposed
addition to his house. Planning and Zoning Commission recommends
approval. There was no one
present to speak to the issue. Councilman Jordan moved to approve the
replat. Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FINAL PLAT FOR THE McDONALD ADDITION Owners
John & Diana McDonald to replat property located on the east side of
Broadway, north of Drexel Drive, described as lots 2, 2A, 3, 4 and 21
block 210-1 into two lots. The
owner is requesting the replat to accommodate the proposed expansion of
his business, Discount Tire. The
Planning and Zoning Commission recommends approval.
There was no one present to speak to the issue.
Councilman Powers moved to approve the re-plat.
Council woman Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON REQUEST FROM POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FOR SALARY
INCREASES AND A FUNDING SOURCE City
Manager Maxwell told council that since the last council meeting, a call
was made to the City of Mt. Pleasant to clarify the way their step plan
works. Staff was told that
each position has steps A-J, however seldom do employees reach the top
out level. It was also
learned that promotion through their steps is based strictly upon merit
not on time in the position. He
asked that since Council’s last direction was based on incorrect
numbers, he would like to know if the direction is still the same.
A discussion was held concerning the cost of the increases over
one, two or three years and again how any increases might be funded.
After the discussion the City Manager was instructed to prepare
budget numbers as to what the cost would be over one, two or three years
and the funding source and present it with the budget at the special
meeting on August 10. No
formal action was taken. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BID FOR HEALTH INSURANCE FOR CITY OF SULPHUR
SPRINGS EMPLOYEES The
City advertised for bids for employee health insurance for partially
self funded with a Third Party Administrator and re-insurance carrier
and also as an alternate a fully insured plan.
The bid spec called for quotes on Specific Stop Loss of $35,000
which is the current funding rate, and $50,000.
Over the last 7 years the city has experienced slightly less than
expected estimates, only hitting the aggregate attachment point once.
The lowest bid which would fund the worse case is from Trustmark
at a worst case cost of $642,404 and expected cost at $536,262.
This would be $74,900 lower than our current plan and would lower
the employee cost from $300.07 to $256.25.
Staff recommends the dependent cost to remain the same.
Staff also recommends acceptance of the Trustmark bid.
Councilman Powers moved to approve the low bid.
Councilman Jordan seconded and the vote was as follows: Ayes:
Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Brown, Taylor, Powers Nays:
none Abstain:
Bryant The
motion carried. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BID FOR GAP(SUPPLEMENTAL) INSURANCE FOR CITY OF
SULPHUR SPRINGS EMPLOYEES Part
of the employee health plan includes a supplemental insurance to cover
the $2,500 deductible. Two
bids were received one from American Public Life the incumbent at total
of $8,424, and the other from SISLINK at a bid of $9,187.
Councilman Powers moved to approve the low bid from American
Public Life. Councilman
Taylor seconded and the vote was as follows:
Ayes: Jordan, Walker, Crouch, Brown, Taylor, Powers Nays:
none Abstain:
Bryant The
motion carried. DISCUSSION/ACTION FOR ANNUAL SUPPLY OF ROCK Bids
were received for the annual supply of flex-base, aggregate, bedding and
rock. Staff sent bid
notices to 12 bidders and advertised in the local paper.
Only one bid was received from
Martin Marietta Materials from Powderly Texas.
This is the current supplier and there has not been any problems.
Councilman Jordan moved to approve the only bid. Council woman Bryant
seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BID FOR ROOFS FOR THE MUNICIPAL AND POLICE
BUILDINGS, WATER AND WASTE WATER PLANTS Staff
contracted with Bart Robinette, Architect for the engineering documents
for the roofs at a cost of $16,500.
Bids were advertised in the local paper, Dodge Reports and
individual mailings. Three
bids were received, the apparent low bidder is Hefner Roofing of
Pittsburg, Texas at a cost of $326,443.
This exceeds the budgeted amount of $322,000.
Staff told council that because of the steadily rising cost of
steel this quote is only good until August 16, also that although the
bid is above the budgeted amount if this is the direction we plan to
take the costs will most likely not go down in the future.
Councilman Jordan moved to approve the low bid.
Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON APPOINTMENT OF A PARKS AND RECREATION DIRECTOR Councilman
Jordan moved to appoint Kevin McCarty as the Parks and Recreation
Director. Council woman
Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON GRANT FOR HOMELAND SECURITY The
U.S. Department of Homeland Security has awarded the City of Sulphur
Springs a grant of $107,737. Staff
is proposing to use the money as follows: computer equipment for the
police department $3,766, ACU 1000 a computer radio system that will
allow the police department to communicate with other agencies on
different frequencies in time of disaster –$20,000; Fixed Power
generator–will have the ability to operate the water plant in event of
power loss–$85,000. All
total is $108,766 which is $1,000 over the grant amount which will be
funded in house. Councilman
Jordan moved to approve the grant budget.
Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. VISITORS/PUBLIC FORUM NONE ADJOURN With
all business complete the meeting adjourned at 8:34 p.m.
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