HomeMy WebLinkAbout1980-01-08 - Regular City Councili
REGULAR SESSION - TUESDAY
JANUARY 8, 1980 - 7:00 P.M.
CHAMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL, STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS
The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, met in
Regular Session Tuesday, January 8, 1980 at 7 o'clock p.m. with
Mayor Donald R. Jones present and presiding.
COUNCILMEMBERS PRESENT
Mike Leese
W. M. Irwin
Calvin A. McGee
Charles Riggins
OTHERS ATTENDING
Raymond Anderson
E. W. Ferguson
Larry Hammett
Linda J. Chew
City Administrator Marshall Shelton
Administrative Assistant Kurt Ackermann
Director of Public Works R. Y. Gann
Chief of Police Mike Watkins
Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley
City Attorney Randy Chandler
City Secretary Joyce Pemberton
Mr. David Cheatham
Mr. Jerry Singleton
Mr. Paul Lansford
Members of the Press and others
ITEM I; APPROVAL OF SITE FOR FIREFIGHTING TRAINING CENTER - #1
Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley presented the plans for a firefighting
training center. Mr. Haley advised that his concern at this time was
approval of a site for the training center. He requested Council ap-
proval of a portion (450 ft. X 525 ft) of property owned by the city
located on Airport Road across the from the National Weather Service.
Mr. Haley said he planned to build the training center as money
was available. He advised that he had budgeted $3,000.00 this year.
Also that he thought the Volunteer Firemen would donate time and
equipment to the project.
After discussion, Councilman Anderson moved, seconded by Council-
man Ferguson, that the City Council authorize the use of 450 feet X 525
feet of city owned property located on the Airport Road for the proposed
firefighting center. Motion carried unanimously..
ITEM II: AUDIT REPORT BY DAVID CHEATHAM - #255
Mr. David Cheatham presented the audit report of the 1978 -1979
city financial stanewent.
Mr. Cheatham discussed the audit by department with the Council.
He said he did not find any serious problems but did make the following
recommendations:
1. All coupons need to be cancelled.
2. Expenses over $1,000.00 to be approved by the City Council
3. Issue a purchase order of all items over $25.00 as required by
City Charter.
4. Should have prenumbered tax statements.
5. The accountant responsible for recording the Cash Receipts
should not reconcile the bank statements.
6
FROM TEXAS POWER & LIGHT CO. FOR RATE J
Mr. Jerry Singleton, local manager of Texas Power & Light Co.
advised the Council that on January 4, 1980, he had filed with all
the cities they served and with the Public Utility Commission a
request for a rate adjustment effective February 8, 1980. Said
increase would be approximately 15.35% or $124,000,000 increase in
revenues.
Mr. Singleton discussed with the Council the reasons for said
rate increase.
Mayor Jones advised that the city has the right, in order to
consider the data filed,hold a public hearing, etc., to extend from
the effective date, February 8, 1980, the final consideration of the
rate request for 120 days.
Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Riggins, that the
ordinance suspending the effective date of rate change by adopted and
the present rates stay in effect for the 120 day period. Motion car-
ried unanimously.
AN ORDINANCE SUSPENDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROPOSED REVISIONS
OF RATES AND SCHEDULES OF TEXAS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY FOR 120 DAYS
FROM FEBRUARY 8, 1980; PROVIDING THAT THE RATES OF SAID PUBLIC UT-
ILITY SHALL REMAIN UNCHANGED DURING THE PERIOD OF SUSPENSION: AND
PROVIDING FOR NOTICE HEREOF TO SAID PUBLIC UTILITY.
ITEM IV:
OF MONIES TO BILL BLEDSOE LOST
Mayor Jones explained that the Council had granted Mr. Bledsoe
a rate increase on the garbage rates to be effective with the Dec -
embl,er billing. Due to the computer not being in operation by the
December billing date, the increase was not on the bills and was
not collected. Mr. Bledsoe has requested that the city pay him
the $1,700.00 he would have received had the increase been on his
bills.
City Secretary Joyce Pemberton explained that the delay was
due to machine breakdowns of the new computer but that the new
rates would be on the old machine by the next billing date.
It was the consensus of the Mayor and Council that Burroughs
Corporation should have to stand the expense as it was due to
their lack of service and instruction that the new B 800 computer
was not in operation at the December billing date. Also that
Burroughs be notified that if they cannot get the machine to oper-
ating correctly in the very near future they could just pick up
the machine.
Mayor Jones said that, in his opinion, the city should adjust
their monthly payments to Burroughs for 3 months in order to recoup
the money paid to Mr. Bledsoe due to the computer not being in oper-
ation as it was Burroughs' responsibility to install and program
the computer and put it into operation.
After more discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by
Councilman Hammett, that the City Council authorize payment of $1,700.00
to Mr. Bill Bledsoe and it be charged to the Accounts Receivable of
the Burroughs Corporation and credit their account for the rental of
the computer until the $1,700.00 is paid after which if the machine
is not functioning properly no further payments will be made until
it is functioning properly. Motion carried unanimously.
Mr. Shelton was directed to write Burroughs Corporation a letter
to this effect.
2a
ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE SUSPENDING THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF PROPOSED REVISIONS OF
RATES AND SCHEDULES OF TEXAS POWER & LIGHT COMPANY FOR 120 DAYS FROM
FEBRUARY 8, 1980; PROVIDING THAT THE RATES OF SAID PUBLIC UTILITY SHALL
REMAIN UNCHANGED DURING THE PERIOD OF SUSPENSION; AND PROVIDING FOR
NOTICE HEREOF TO SAID PUBLIC UTILITY.
WHEREAS, Texas Power & Light Company heretofore, on January 4, 1980,
filed with the City Secretary a Statement of Intent and Petition for
Authority to Change Rates for electric service provided by it within
the corporate limits of the City and proposed that the revised schedules
and rates become effective on February 8, 1980; and
WHEREAS, the City Council is of the opinion that there is necessity to
consider a large amount of data in connection with the request and there
is a necessity for public hearings thereon prior to final determination
of the rate request, and consequently that the operation and effective
date of the proposed schedule of rates should be suspended for final
determination of the rate request; NOW THEREFORE:
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS:
Section 1
The effective date of the proposed revision of rates and schedules
of Texas Power & Light Company for electric service within the City,
heretofore filed on January 4, 1980, is hereby suspended for a period
of 120 days from February 8, 1980. The reason for such suspension is
to provide additional time for consideration of data, for the conduct
of public hearings and for final determination of the propriety of the
request for a rate increase.
Section 2
The rates of Texas Power & Light Company for electric service within
the City in effect on January 4, 1980, shall continue in force during the
period of suspension as provided in Section 1.
Section 3
The City Secretary is hereby directed, promptly after passage hereof,
to furnish a copy of this Ordinance to Texas Power & Light Company.
PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 8th day of January, 1980.
//
3
ITEM V: APPROVAL OF SCHEDUEL AND PLANS FOR HARBIN
Mayor Jones reminded the Council of the plans for the extension
of Harbin Drive.
Mr. Shelton explained that a 60 day notice was needed to get the
houses moved and to start the dirt work. He said he was requesting
Council approval of this, if they wanted to continue with the Harbin
Drive project of extension to Swan Street.
After some discussion, Councilman Anderson moved, seconded by
Councilman Ferguson, that Mr. Shelton proceed with the plans and
schedule for the extension of Harbin Drive. Motion carried unanimously.
ITEM VI: BID. AWARDED FOR SWI14MING POOL REPAIRS -$690
In the absence of Parks & Recreation Director Ronnie Isham, Ad-
ministrative Assistant Kurt Ackermann advised the Council that $10,000
had been budgeted for these repairs and presented the following bids
for replacing the filtering equipment on the swimming pool at the city
park:
1. A. E. Stein Co.----------------- - - - - -- $9,887.00
2. Stephenville Pool Supply Co.---- - - - - -- $9,485.48
After some discussion, Councilman McGee moved, seconded by Council-
man Riggins, to accept the low bid of $9,485.48 as submitted by Stephen-
ville Pool Supply Company. Motion carried unanimously.
ITEM VII: BID AWARDED ON VEHICLE LIGHTS FOR POLICE CARS -7k767
Chief of Police Mike Watkins presented the following bid for
lights for the new police cars:
1. American Communications - -- $1,237.00 new
Alterate bid--------- - - - - -$ 988.00 used as a demonstrator but
is guaranteed.
After some discussion, Councilman McGee moved, seconded by Council-
man Leese, to accept the low bid of $988.00 submitted by American
Communications as recommended by Chief Watkins. Motion carried unani-
mously.
ITEM VIII: DEPARTMENT REPORT BY CHIEF MIKE WATKINS
Chief of Police Mike Watkins discussed his department's past year's
accomplishments with the Council. He presented a detailed report of
the year's activity and outlined the plans for the future.
ITEM IX: OLD BUSINESS
1. Councilman Anderson, reporting for the committee appointed to
study the proposed Health Inspection Ordinance, said the committee
recommended that said ordinance be tabled. Councilman Anderson said
that in a public hearing it seemed that no one was in favor of the or-
dinance and the committee felt that if the city were to go into the
inspection they should go all out and that would be quite expensive.
After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Council-
man Leese, that the City Council adopt the recommendation of the committee
and table the Health Inspection Ordinance at this time. Motion carried
unanimously.
4
2. Mayor Jones asked for a report from the Building Improvement
Committee.
Councilman Irwin said that the committee had not met and did not
have a report.
Mayor Jones said that a law enforcement center had been considered
which would be a center for all law enforcement officials for the
whole county. He said this was being done in Cranbury and Palo Pinto
and was very satisfactory. He said he had discussed this with the
Sheriff and Chief of Police and they were agreeable. He advised that
there were grants available for this type building and it might be
good for the Intergovernmental Committee to examine this further.
There being no other business,
ATTEST:
the meeting adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Ma o