|
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS, TEXAS REGULAR
MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL SEPTEMBER
7, 2004 7:00
p.m. Mayor
Chris Brown called the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City
Council to order at 6:45 p.m. Councilwoman
Bryant moved to adjourn to executive session in accordance with Texas
Government Code 551.072, deliberations about real property.
Councilman Jordan 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
Councilwoman Lydia Bryant
Councilman Garry Jordan Staff:
Marc Maxwell, City Manager
Sharon Ricketson, City Secretary
Gale Roberts, City Secretary Trainee
Peter Karstens, Finance Director
Jim McLeroy, City Attorney OPEN SESSION Mayor
Brown reconvened the meeting in open session at 7:03 p.m. PLEDGE AND INVOCATION Mayor
Brown led in the pledge to the flag and the invocation. PLAQUE AND CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION Mayor
Brown recognized Peter Karstens, Holli-Von Bronson, Heath Anderson,
Nancy McIllwain, and Kelly Patterson for their efforts in saving the
life of Daniel Wagers. The
Mayor presented each of them with a
Certificate of Public Recognition and a plaque.
MANAGER’S REPORT City
Manager Marc Maxwell told council that the RV dump station at the
Wastewater Treatment Plant was complete and is available, free of
charge, for all City of Sulphur Springs residents. The
Co-Op sewer project is complete and 850 feet of deteriorated sewer main
behind North East Texas Farmers Co-Op was replaced.
The project budget is $26,160 and it appears that we will be
within budget. The
Highway 19 relocation of the Water and Sewer is almost complete.
The Council approved a budget of $212,942 for the project and it
appears that we will come in under the budgeted amount.
However, there is some minor work such as driveway approaches
that needs to be done. The
Capital Construction Division also completed the Manhole Replacement
project. The
last Capital Improvement Project for the fiscal year 2003-2004 will be
Maxwell Street which will replace 1,370' of badly deteriorated water
main on Maxwell and Ardis Streets. We
will begin next year’s CIP with Ardis Street replacing 332' of water
main, 660' of sewer main, and reconstruct the street from Beckham, to
Martin Luther King Jr. Drive The
Capital Construction Division demolished and removed 9 homes as part of
the Home Grant program. ILCOR
has already begun construction on some of the new homes. Verizon
has sent us an invoice for damages in the amount of $156,540.52.
TML has reviewed the invoice and denied it. A
car sustained $97.11 of damages to its front end while crossing a dip at
Fisher and Hodge. The claim
is pending at TML. Another
claim was submitted and denied by TML for damages incurred when a woman
tried to squeeze her car between a City dump truck parked on the south
side of McCann and a dually pickup parked on the north side of McCann.
Apparently there was not enough room and she scratched her car. There
were no Workman’s Compensation claims. CONSENT AGENDA The
following items on the Consent Agenda were reviewed: regular City
Council meeting minutes of August 3, 2004, Special City Council meeting
minutes of August 10 and 17, 2004, Planning and Zoning Commission
meeting minutes of August 16, 2004, Zoning Board of Adjustment meeting
minutes of August 17, 2004, Parks and Recreation meeting minutes of
August 24, 2004. Councilman
Jordan made a motion to approve the items from the Consent Agenda with
the correction to the August 3, 2004 City Council meeting minutes
reflecting that Councilman Jordan was “present”. Councilwoman Bryant seconded the motion and the vote was
unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2406 , THE
APPROPRIATIONS ORDINANCE FOR THE CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS 2004-2005 Ordinance
No. 2406 was heard on first reading setting the budget for the City of
Sulphur Springs for 2004 - 2005. The
budget includes a 2-year implementation plan for the police and fire
fighter raises and an increased budget for salary for Municipal Court
Judge. The budget also
includes $55,000 for a water park in Pacific Park and $35,000 for a
restroom in Coleman Park, each of these is included in the General Fund
Capital on page 31. There is no CPI increase for Water and Sewer Utilities and
the CPI increase for Sanitation remains.
There was no one present to speak on the issue.
Councilwoman Bryant moved to approve the ordinance on first
reading. Councilman Jordan
seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2407 SETTING THE TAX
RATE FOR THE CITY OF SULPHUR SPRINGS 2004 Ordinance
No. 2407 was heard on first reading setting the tax rate for 2004. The
tax rate will remain the same at 44¢ per $100 valuation. There was no one present to speak on the issue.
Councilman Powers moved to approve the ordinance on first
reading. Councilman Crouch
seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON REIMBURSEMENT RESOLUTION NO.
874 Resolution
No. 874 is the reimbursement resolution for the lease purchase package
outlined in the budget for 2004-2005. Councilman Powers moved to approve
the resolution. Councilman
Taylor seconded and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Jordan,
Walker, Brown, Powers, Taylor, Bryant Nays: Crouch DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2408 INCREASING THE
SANITATION RATES The
contract for trash pick up increases each year by 90% of CPI as
published in January. The
contract on the landfill increases by 100% of CPI.
This ordinance will increase the sanitation rates by 2.75% CPI
increase. There was no one
present to speak on the issue. Councilwoman Bryant moved to approve the
ordinance on first reading. Councilman
Powers seconded and the vote was as follows: Ayes: Walker,
Crouch, Brown, Taylor, Powers, Bryant Nays: Jordan DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2405 UPDATING
SERVICE CREDITS FOR CITY EMPLOYEES AND RETIREES This
ordinance authorizes “Updated Service Credits” and provides for
increase in retirement annuities for CPI increases.
There was no one present to speak on the issue.
Councilman Crouch moved to approve the ordinance on the first
reading. Councilwoman
Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 2409 REDUCING THE
SPEED LIMIT ON S.H. 19 DURING CONSTRUCTION As
a part of the construction project Texas Department of Transportation is
requesting the speed limits be reduced for safety of the workers during
the time of construction. The
ordinance changes the speed limits on State Highway 19 in the corporate
city limits of Sulphur Springs from mile point 16.523 northerly for a
distance of approximately 0.419 miles to 40 mph and northerly 0.200
miles to mile point 17.149 a speed limit of 50 mph. There was no one
present to speak on the issue. Councilman
Jordan moved to approve the ordinance on the first reading.
Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON BID FOR CAUSTIC SODA, CHLORINE AND SULFUR DIOXIDE The
City advertised for bids on Liquid Caustic Soda, Chlorine and Sulfur
Dioxide to be used at the Water Plant and the Wastewater Plant. Altiva was the qualified low bidder for Caustic Soda at a
price of $349 per ton. Brenntag
Southwest was the qualified low bidder for Chlorine at a price of $430
per ton and also the qualified low bidder for Sulfur Dioxide at a price
of $520 per ton. Staff
recommendation was to accept qualified low bids. Councilman Jordan moved
to approve the low bids for chemicals as presented by staff.
Councilman Taylor seconded and the vote was unanimous. DISCUSSION/ACTION ON EXECUTIVE SESSION ITEM IN ACCORDANCE WITH TEXAS
GOVERNMENT CODE 551.072, DELIBERATIONS ABOUT REAL PROPERTY Councilman
Jordan moved to approve the purchase of land legally described as Block
84, Lot 3A and part of Lot 3, Original Town, (also known as J’s
Locksmith) for $20,000. Councilwoman
Bryant seconded and the vote was unanimous. VISITORS/PUBLIC FORUM A
letter of gratitude written to the Sulphur Springs City Council from the
Board Members of the Senior Citizens Center was read. The letter thanked Hopkins County and Sulphur Springs City
Boards as well as Activity Director Karen Weatherman for the many
activities and support provided to the Senior Citizens Center. ADJOURN With
all business complete the meeting adjourned at 7:33 p.m.
|
||||||
