Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-01-06 - Regular City CouncilREGULAR SESSION - TUESDAY JANUARY 69 1976 - 7:00 P.M. CITY COUNCIL ROOM CITY HALL, CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The City Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, January 6, 1976 at 7:00 P.M. with Mayor Donald R. Jones presiding and Councilmen Jim Chambers, W. M. Irwin, Calvin McGee, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Jesse Sexton and Neal Guthrie were present. Councilman Larry Hammett was absent. Others attending the meeting were City Administrator Marshall Shelton, City Secretary Joyce Pemberton, Director of Public Works R. Y. Gann, Cheif of Police Mike Watkins, Director of Parks & Recreation Ronnie Isham, Fire Marshall E. W. Ferguson, Fireman Kenneth Haley and J. D. Chapman. Also attending the meeting were Mr. & Mrs. Gene Brown, Mrs. Sue Johnson, Chuck Gildner, A. A. Schrimsher, Mr. & Mrs. Otis Hunter, Estel Moser and several others. After reading the minutes of previous meetings of December 2nd and December 16th, Councilman Irwin made the motion to approve the minutes of December 2nd and December 16th as written. Second by Councilman Chambers. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Jones advised the Council that the following bids for the purchase of an ambulance had been received,, opened, examined and tabulated earlier in the day and a representative of the County had been present and had agreed that the County would pay one half of the cost of a new ambulance. BID TABULATION -- AMBULANCE COMPANY SPECS MET AMOUNT Dietz & Co. Yes $159122.83 Conaway M & M Yes 15,700.00 Superior Southwest Yes 15,286.94 Summers Yes 14,897.48 Beck -Rank No 149090.00 Mayor Jones also advised the Council that Summers, who submitted the low bid, also had a 1% discount if paid ten days after delivery and a 45 day delivery date. After some discussion, Councilman Chambers made the motion to accept the low bid of $14,897.48, submitted by Summers. Councilman Irwim made the second. Motion carried unanimously. City Administrator Shelton reported that Mr. Jack Stewart would accept no less than $99500.00 and the City stand the paving cost for the purchase of property to extend 011ie St. to W. ,Washington St. After some discussion, Councilman Chambers made the motion to reject Mr. Stewart's counter proposal and not purchase the property to extend 011ie Street to West Washington. Second by Councilman Sexton. Councilman Riggins pointed out that if the City does not purchase the property Fes+ now and Mr. Stewart builds on the property, it will cost much more in the future. Councilman Irwin called for question and the above motion carried unanimously. Mayor Jones reported the results of the Opinion Poll on the one -way streets as follows: 1222 against the one -way streets 297 for the one -way streets 1519 total votes cast. City Administrator Shelton advised the Council that Mr. J. R. Stone with the Highway Department had stated the Highway Department would take the one - way streets out just -like they put them in at no cost to the City. Councilman Irwin made the motion that we request the State Highway Department to remove the signs ad discontinue the one -way streets as they are now and put the streets back just like they were before. Belknap Street from Frey Street to Long Street, Graham Street from Frey Street to Long Street and Collins Street between Belknap Street and Graham Street. Second by Councilman Anderson. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Jones read the ordinance declaring a portion of West Tarleton Street be abandoned After the first reading of the ordinance, Councilman Riggins made the motion that the ordinance be passed and adopted on first reading. Second by Council- man Chambers. Mayor Jones advised Councilman Guthrie that the reason the street was being abandoned was that it was not used by the general public and served no privately owned property and that Tarleton University would be constructing some new buildings and could utilize this portion ov the street in its drainage pattern. Councilman Anderson was advised that the reason we could close this street and could not close the one by the First Baptist Church was because this portion of Tarleton was not used by the general public and the one by the First Baptist Church was a much used street. Councilman Irwin called for question and the above motion carried unanimously. ORDINANCE ORDINANCE DECLARING APORTION OF WEST TARLETON STREET RUNNING WESTERLY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE WESTERLY LINE OF ST. PETER AVENUE TO ITS INTER- SECTION WITH THE EASTERLY LINE OF ST. FELIX AVENUE TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED AS A STREET, ORDERING SAME VACATED AND CLOSED, AND FINDING THAT SAME SHOULD BE AND PROVIDING FOR THE CONVEYANCE THEREOF TO TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE: Councilman Sexton stated that he would like to see to see the Comprehensive Plan studied and brought up -to -date and some of the controversial issues such as the one -way streets taken out. Councilman Sexton also said he thought it would be better for the Planning Commission, as it consists of local citizens, to conduct this study rather than hire an outside firm such as Hunter & Associates. Mayor Jones was in agreement with Councilman Sexton and suggested that Mr. Shelton contact the Planning Commission and ask them to begin outlining a plan. Mayor Jones also asked the Council to read and study the Compre- hensive Plan.as any recommendations the Planning Commission might have for alteration of the Comprehensive Plan as it is will be submitted to the Counc31 for consideration and the Council will make any determination of changing the present plan. City. Administrator Shelton advised Councilman Anderson that he had not heard from The Water Development Board concerning the grant for the new water well field. He had a letter from Taylor Almon stating that he felt we would get the loan but should hear next week and maybe could begin work in April. City Administrator Shelton advised the Council that Enoch Collins had gone to Comanche to look at some used parking meters and if they were a reasonable price, we might buy some of them to replace some of ours that were beyond repair and, possibly, install some extras on parking lots such as the one behind Higginbotham's. ORDINANCE DECLARING A PORTION OF WEST TARLETON STREET RUNNING WESTERLY FROM ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE WESTERLY LINE OF ST. PETER AVENUE TO ITS INTERSECTION WITH THE EASTERLY LINE OF ST. FELIX AVENUE'TO HAVE BEEN ABANDONED AS A STREET, ORDERING SAME VACATED AND CLOSED, AND FINDING THAT SAME SHOULD BE AND PROVIDING FOR THE CONVEYANCE THEREOF TO TARLETON STATE UNIVERSITY. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE: Section One Tarleton State University, through its President, W. O. Trogdon, has made proposal that that portion of West Tarleton Street running from its intersection with the westerly line of St. Peter Avenue to the east- erly line of St. Felix Avenue as shown by King's 1956 Map of Stephenville at Page 670 and Page 690, be abandoned as a street, same being located adjacent to land now owned by Tarleton State University and such section of said street serving no privately owned property, and that same be conveyed to Tarleton State University in order that it may be utilized as a part of the drainage pattern and meet needs brought about in this area of the Tarleton State University campus by drainage, problems in regard to which will be increased by construction of new physical educa- tion and home economics buildings and the proposed stadium improvements on Tarleton State University campus situated in a general northerly direction from this portion of said street. In view of said proposals and the need of Tarleton State University and the fact that said area has been abandoned for street purposes, that portion of West Tarleton Street above mentioned,is hereby ordered vacated and closed as a street. Section Two That portion of West Tarleton Street hereinabove described is hereby found by the City Council of Stephenville to be of no value to the City of Stephenville and to have no market value. Therefore, in consideration of the utilization of same by Tarleton State University and the contribution to be made to the drainage system by the use of such property which will be beneficial to the City of Stephenville and its citizens, it is hereby ordered and directed that Don Jones, Mayor of the City of Stephenville, Texas, execute a special warranty deed to Tarleton State University, conveying to said institution the above des- cribed land, and that same be delivered after its execution to the grantee therein. PASSED AND APPROVED this '~ day of Janu y, 1976. D n Jones yor Councilman Sexton suggested that the parking on W. Washington St. by the the Methodist Church be checked out as cars are parking with one wheel over the curb and one wheel in the street and there are "no parking" aigns along this area. Councilman Guthrie suggested that the old wooden building on the lot next door to the City Hall should be torn down as it is an "eyesore" to the downtown area. Mr. Shelton explained that if we could get the Quonset but from the National Guard to store the Civil Defense facilities in, we can tear the building down. Councilman McGee brought to the attention of the Council that there are several streets in the city that now have parking on both sides and are not wide enough to accomodate two -way traffic if cars are parked on both sides and,,,in his opinion, should be checked out and changed if possible. Mayor Jones reported that he had signed the contracts for the construction of the comfort stations at the city park, Councilman McGee stated that he thought it should be a matter of record that Mr. Jim Driscoll, a representative of Traffic Engineers, Inc., conducted the traffic survey on the one -way streets without pay. Mr. Shelton also pointed out that Mr. Driscoll did not solicit this survey at all. The Mayor and Council discussed the application for a grant for the extent - sion of Belknap Street and under the circumstances, thought the money could be used elsewhere. The Mayor asked Mr. Shelton, Mr. Gann and others _ -! to look at areas this $85,000.00 grant could be used for the improvement; of other streets. Mr. Shelton informed them that Mr. J. R. Stone of the State Highway Department had indicated this grant could be applied to most any street that would help the flow of traffic. Mr. Gann suggested a low water bridge on Long Street as there is a lot of traffic on it and has to be blockaded every time it comes a big rain. Councilman McGee asked about the Garbage Franchise Contract. He stated he had been receiving a lot of complaints concerning the garbage men not cleaning up after themselves and leaving trash all over the ground and in the trash containers. Mrs. Sue Johnson stated that she would not pay a garbage bill if her garbage was not picked up. She further stated that she had called the City Hall, the Mayor and Mr. Bledsoe and her garbage still had not been picked up. Mayor Jones assured her this was being checked out. Councilman Guthrie moved the meeting adjourn. second. Motion carried unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 7 :45 P.M. ATTEST: i ecretary Councilman Sexton made the Mayo 17