Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1978-05-02 - Regular City CouncilU REGULAR SESSION- TUESDAY MAY 2, 1978 - 7:00 P.M. CHAMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY HALL, CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas met in Regular Session Tuesday, May 2, 1978 at 7:00 p.m. with, Mayor Donald R. Jones present and presiding. Councilmembers Mike Leese, W. M. Irwin, Calvin A. McGee, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, E. W. Ferguson, Larry Hammett and Linda Chew were present. Others attending the meeting were City Administrator Marshall Shelton, Assistant City Attorney Randy Chandler, Director of Public Works R. Y. Gann, Administrative Assistant Kurt Ackermann, Director of Utilities Danny Johnson, Water Superintendent J. D. Chapman, Director of Parks & Recreation Ronnie Isham, Chief of Police Mike. Watkins, Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley, Tax Assessor - Collector Robert Groves, Mr. Scott Reed and City Secretary Joyce Pemberton. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order and Mr. Shelton gave the invocation. ITEM 1: APPROVAL OF MINUTES There being no addition, deletions or corrections, the minutes of the April 4th and April 7th' council meetings stood approved as written. ITEM 2: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE ZONING BOARD Mayor Jones advised the Council that, due to problems of publication, the Council would not be able to hold the Public Hearing or to act on the Zoning Board's recommendations for rezoning of the property on Harbin Drive or Dr. Raley's property on the Northwest Loop. Mayor Jones set the June 6th meeting for the Public Hearing and action on the rezoning after proper publication. IC HEARING ON ANNEXATION ORDINANCE Mayor Jones then opened the meeting for public hearing to consider the annex- ation of a portion of the River North Subdivision, Phase II, that is presently outside the city limits. Said property being 11.38 acres out of the Jarrett Menefee Survey. There being no comment from the floor and no discussion from the Council, Mayor Jones closed the public hearing and set the June 6th meeting at the date for final adoption. ITEM 3: CITY PROPERTY LEASED TO SUN CONSTRUCTORS, INC. City Administrator Shelton explained that Mr. Lane Wallace of Sun Constructors, Inc. had asked to lease two or more acres of city owned property near the'airport. Mr. Shelton said this would be on a month to month basis and no permanent building would be erected on said property. After some discussion,'Councilman McGee moved, seconded by Councilman Ferguson, that the City enter into a month to month lease contract with Sun Constructors, Inc. on two or more acres out of the Matthew Robert Survey, Abstract 640, Airport Addition, for $75.00 per month. Motion carried unanimously. ITEM 4: JURY PAY ADJUSTED After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Riggins, that the City adjust the pay of persons summoned for jury duty to $10.00 per day for those serving and $5.00 per day for those summoned but dit not serve. Motion carried unanimously. ITEM 5: CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF THE EQUALIZATION BOARD AND TAX DEPARTMENT REPORT Mayor Jones explained that he had been unable to contact all the persons being considered for appointment to the Equalization Board to verify their acceptance if appointed. Therefore, he did not have a list to present to the Council for approval. After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Anderson, that the Mayor appoint a three member Board of Equalization subject to ratification .by the Council at the next Regular Meeting. The motion carried unanimously. Tax Assessor - Collector Robert Groves gave the Council a report on the status of the delinquent taxes. In his report, Mr. Groves told the Council that, to date, $344,281.90 has been collected of the 1977 total tax roll. This being 108% of the budgeted figure and 95% of the present year's tax roll. 163 i Mr. Groves also recommended that the City Council increase the assessment ratio from 33 1/3% to 100% and drop the tax rate when the Equalization Board was appointed. He also recommended an outside appraisal firm be hired for the re- appraisal program. No action was taken. ITEM 6: BID AWARDED ON BACKHOE FOR WATER DEPARTMENT Director of Utilities Danny Johnson presented the following bids received for the purchase of a backhoe for the Water Department: Ben Griffin Ford Tractor Co.------------------- - - - - -- $16,217.40 Walker Tractor Co.----------------------------- - - - - -- $16,990.00 Intern'tl Harvester Sales & Service----------- - - - - -- $17,040.15 Trinity Equipment Co.----------------------------- - - -$18 884.00 Clemons Ford Tractor --------------------------------- $19,147.50 Comanche Ford Tractor Co.--------------------- - - - - -- $17,551.00 - Alternate bid 11 IT If ' - _$20,766.00 Weldon & Newman Agrinomics-------------------- - - - - -- $20,771.10 Mr. Johnson explained that he had budgeted $20,000.00 for a backhoe. Also that he had looked at and tried out the different models and he recommended the bid submitted by Trinity Equipment Co. for the purchase of a John Deere backhoe. After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Ferguson, to accept the bid submitted by Trinity Equipment Co. in the amount of $18,884.00 for the purchase of a backhoe as recommended by Mr. Johnson. Motion carried unanimously. ITEM 7: AMBULANCE POLICY APPROVED Councilman McGee reported that he and his committee had met with Fire Marshall Haley and City Administrator Shelton and that, after a lengthy discussion, had arrived at the following recommended ambulance service policy: Ambulance Committee Recommended Policy The City of Stephenville and remaining portion of Erath County, excluding the City of Dublin (unless emergency situation warrants service in this area) shall warrant first priority of emergency service. The Stephenville - Erath County Ambulance will transport emergency patients from pick -up location to Stephenville Hospital unless patient or next of kin request transportation to Dublin or Hico Hospital only, and it is deemed feasible by E.M.T. in charge of ambulance. Request for ambulance service coming from outside Erath County will be approved by Department Head and in his absence will be approved by his designee. In general, this service will not be offered to other counties except in emergency situations. Non- emergency transfers of non- residents of Erath County requiring the ambulance to leave said county will be handled at the descretion of the i Department Head or his designee. I- After some discussion, Councilman McGee moved, seconded by Councilwoman Chew, that the City Council accept and approve the above recommended ambulance service policies as recommended by the committee. The motion carried unanimously. ITEM 9: DISCUSSION OF GUIDELINES FOR PREPARATION OF BUDGET Mayor Jones advised the Council that preparation for the 1978 -79 budget would be starting soon. He said that rather than have committees for specified areas that it would probably be the Council as a whole on these meetings. He said it will take approximately two days, but he feels the Council gets a much better view of how the money is spent. City Administrator Shelton asked that, if the Council had any suggestions on the revenue or expense or both, to please let him know. He advised the Council that he had received word that the City will receive 75% funding for the new sewage treatment plant and that he would like to start planning a pay as you go program for the City's 25% participation of said plant. He suggested that the Council might want to consider an increase in the sewer rates for this. Mr. Shelton also advised the Council that authorization to take bids for two new police cars was needed as the dealers had set June 1st as the deadline for taking bids. After some discussion, Councilman McGee moved, seconded by Councilman Hammett, ( to authorize the invitation of bids for the purchase of two new police cars. Motion carried unanimously. 164 MISCELLANEOUS DISCUSSION Mayor Jones reminded the Council of the Planning & Zoning Seminar on June 2nd and 3rd sponsored by the Council of Governments here in the Council Chambers. Mayor Jones also said he would appoint the combined Planning & Zoning Com- mission after this seminar as he thought this seminar would give some guidelines as to what the responsibilities of said commission would be. He said he would like for the Council to be thinking about, maybe, paying the commission as they will be spending considerable more time on this than the commissions have in the past. REPORT ON BRICK STREETS Mayor Jones advised the Council, in reference to the brick streets being designated landmarks, that the Texas Antiquity Commission has very broad powers. They have the power or it sets up the situation that you cannot alter, change or do anything else with whatever has been designated as such a landmark. He said he had received a letter from Mrs. Herrington stating sh would like to meet with the Council and wants the Council to get some input from the community as she still thinks it is a good idea to designate the brick streets of Stephenville as such landmarks. Mayor Jones said he would set a date for her to meet with the Council. NEW BUSINESS Mayor Jones said he had received a request from a local realtor who had a potential client that wanted to know whether or not the City would be interested in selling the property that the Soil Conservation Office had considered leasing It was the consensus of the Council not to sell said property at this time. Councilman Irwin suggested that the Planning Commission, the Zoning Board and the Board of Equalization be included and invited to the next City Bar- B -Que. There being no other business to come before the Council, Mayor Jones adjourned the meeting at 8:15 p.m. ATTEST: it Secretary Mayo