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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976-09-07 - Regular City Council55 REGULAR SESSION - TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 1976 - 7:00 P.M. CHAMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY HALL, CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The City Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, September 7, 1976 at 7 o'clock p.m. with Mayor Donald R. Jones present and presiding. Councilmembers Jim Chambers, W.M. Irwin, Calvin McGee, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Ermer Ferguson, and Betty Heath were present. Councilman Larry Hammett was absent. Others attending the meeting were City Administrator Marshall Shelton, Admini- strative Assistant Kurt Ackermann, Accountant Betty Chew, City Attorney Joseph Chandler, Director of Public Works R.Y.Gann, Chief of Police Mike Watkins, Director of Utilities Danny Johnson, J. D. Chapman, Harry Schermer and City Secretary Joyce Pemberton and other interested citizens. Mayor Jones called the meeting to order and City Administrator Shelton gave the invocation. There were no minutes to approve. Mayor Jones tabled the agenda item concerning the National Guard as there was no one present to make the presentation. Mayor Jones reviewed for the Council that a joint venture between the Sportsman Club and the City to build a rifle range had been discussed at a previous meet- ing. A committee of the Chief of Police, the Director of Public Works and the City Administrator had been appointed to work with Mr. -Harry Schermer and the Sportsman to develop a rifle range to be used by the Sportsman Club and the City Police Department. Mr. Harry Schermer came before the Council to report that the Committee had a- greed the City will do the dirt work and the Sportsman Club will do the rest. Mr. Schermer explained the plans were to have a slab and shade on the 100 yd line, on the 50 yd line have terraces and markers for police use, have space on the side for archery, build a storage room approximately 12' X 12', with a partition so the police department will have their own storage space. Mr. Schermer also assured the Council the Sportsman Club will do their part in keeping the area clean and also that the plans will be available shortly for anyone to study if they care to do so. Mayor Jones stated he did not think Council action was necessary as the Committee had worked out the details. Mayor Jones explained to the Council that Mr. Shelton had talked to a Texas Municipal League representative concerning the City's needs for consultation or recommendations from an insurance consultant with regard to what insurance we now have and what would be adequate for the city's buildings, general liability, and fleet insurance and any other we might need. Mayor Jones also explained the TML had recommended Mr. Harry Purser, Mayor of Forrest Hills, as a consultant, and due to his inability to attend the meeting, Mr. Purser had sent his partner, Mr. Jim Walker. Mayor Jones asked Mr.Jim Walker to come before the Council and make his present - ation. Mr. Walker explained, in essence, they would evaluate what insurance the city now has, determine the values on properties and the possible,loss potential and make recommendations to the Council and, based on those recommendations, if changes are necessary, provide specifications for the city to take bids. The fee would be $150.00 per day plus travel expenses, with a maximum of $850.00. After much discussion, no action was taken. It was the feeling of the Council they would like to discuss this further and if they decide to undertake this project will notify Mr. Walker at a later date. Lucy Smith, 1080 W. Jones, Stephenville, Texas, came before the Council to present a petition opposing the Garage Sale Ordinance to Mayor Jones, Ms. Smith stated there were 566 signatures opposing the ordinance and 5 for it and it was her opinion that this should have been a vote by the City rather than just the Council. Chief of Police Mike Watkins stated the Police Dept. had issued 50 or more permits for garage sales and had not had a complaint. Mayor Jones accepted the petition given him by Ms.Smith and stated the petition will be available for examination by any council member that might be so inclined. i 56 Mayor Jones advised the Council that Mr. Windle Graham had offered to buy the city owned land adjacent to his A to Z Plumbing Company. This property being the triangle shaped property south of Graham Street near the bridge. Mr. Shelton explained the property was a problem for the City as far as the weeds and drainage were concerned and would be very expensive if it were mowed and kept clean all the time and was really of no value to the City. Mr. Shelton stated Mr. Windle Graham had offered to buy this property which is adjacent to his plumbing company so he could keep it mowed and clean. After considerable discussion, it was the consensus of the Council to get an estimate of the value from a realtor. The City would need to retain 50 feet this side of the river for the Hike & Bike Trail. If the realtor placed a value to exceed $1,000.00, ask Mr. Graham to submit a bid. Chairman of the City Zoning Board Dean Cox came before the Council and explained in detail the revised zoning map, showing the proposed zoning of the recently annexed property. Mr. Cox explained Hunter & Associates had made a study of the annexed property and submitted this map to the City Zoning Board and City Plan- ning Commission at a previous meeting. Mr. Cox also explained the City Zoning Board had taken the map and made a thorough study of the property and made a few changes in the zoning recommendations and a few corrections of the map as presented by Hunter and Associates and it is the recommendation of the City Zoning Board for the City Council to accept this re- vised map as it is now. After some discussion, Councilwoman Heath moved for the Council to set October 5th 1976, the next regular council meeting, as the date for the Public Hearing to consider the rezoning of some of the property annexed into the city limits October 7th, 1975. Notice of this Public Hearing to be published three times. Council- man Chambers made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Naomi Hickie came before the Council to request a committee from the Council be appointed to work with a committee from the Chamber of Commerce and the Museum, so the work can be started on the Bicentennial Park Project. Mrs. Hickie explained three men had offered to work 72 hours per week for one year if she could furnish a work sheet and outline their duties etc. She could not furnish work sheets without some plans to go by. Mrs. Hickie outlined their plans and explained how they would like for the project to progress. She also stated she felt 3 or 4 interested persons could work better together, but she did need someone to be responsible for the plans and to see they are carried out as planned. Mayor Jones agreed and said he would talk to members of the Council and appoint someone at a later date. City Administrator Shelton reported he had received several calls from persons wanting to volunteer their time and labor on this project. City Administrator Shelton reported that $2500.00 had been budgeted for a used pickup for the City Inspector. Several bids had been received but Mr. Lockhart had not had the time to drive and check them all out. He would appreciate it if the Council would give Mr. Lockhart the opportunity to drive and check out all bids and accept one not to exceed the $2500.00. After some discussion, Councilman Irwin made the motion for Hardy Lockhart to check the pickups, pick out the one he liked and check with either Councilmen Riggins, Chambers or Anderson as to price before accepting the bid. Councilman McGee made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Councilmen Riggins and Chambers excused themselves from the meeting at this time and Mayor Jones read the bids received for the City Depository from the Stephen- ville Bank & Trust Co. and the Farmers First National Bank. After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved to accept the bid of the Stephenville Bank & Trust Company, Stephenville, Texas, for the City Depository for the coming fiscal year. Councilman Anderson made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Councilmen Riggins and Chambers returned to the meeting at this time. Mrs. Gretchen Walker came before the Council to request funds from the City to pay the bus driver for the Little Flame School. Mrs. Walker explained the driver had been paid from C 0 G funds but they had expired two months ago and they had no funds available at this time. Mrs. Walker said she hoped to get 1/3 from Erath County and 1/3 from the City of Dublin. After some discussion, Mayor Jones authorized Mr. Shelton to talk to the officials of the County and the City of Dublin and to check the legal ramifications as far as the city is concerned and contact Mrs. Walker as to what can be done. _ 57 Mrs. Beverly Pack, 805 S. Graham, Stephenville, Texas, came before the Council requesting the City to help her in someway with her sewer problem Mrs. Pack explained her property was not on the city sanitary sewer system al- though she thought it was at the time of purchase. There are five houses around her that are not on the sewer system because the property is too low. Her septic tank will not take care of their sewage but she had been informed she needed approximately 100 ft. of lateral line but she could not afford the cost of in- stalling this lateral line. Mrs. Pack said her husband would do the work if the City would furnish the backhoe for this lateral line. Director of Public Works R.Y.Gann explained these houses cannot be put on the existing sanitary sewer line because of the gravity flow. The Consultant Engineeer had put an inverted syphon beneath the Bosque River when the Clifton Heights and Belmont Additions were put on the city's sanitary system. The Council discussed the possibilities of putting in a lift station for these houses, where a lift station could be located and the cost involved. After a lengthy discussion, Mayor Jones appointed Councilmen Hammett and McGee as a committee to work with Mr. Gann to see what the City can do, if anything, and if there is an alternative the City has and it will be a question of prior- ities as to where to spend the taxpayers money to the best advantage. Mr. Junior Ward, contractor on the new fire sub - station, reported he had made an inspection of the new fire sub - station today along with Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley and there were several things Mr. Haley had found not satisfactory. _ Mr. Ward explained he would do anything the City needs to sell the building to the City for the Bonding Company. Anything on the planned specs and not quality work, he will correct. Anything not on the planned specs, he prefers not to correct because of his contract with the Bonding Company. Mayor Jones said his major concern was with the things that were in the contract and were not done at all or were improperly done. Mr. Ward stated the City needed to tell the architect "we will not accept the building with these stipulations because -- and list the things that were not done at all or were improperly done that were in the contract." This list will then come back to him and he will correct it. He is to receive no money from the City and his job is to sell the building to the City for the Bonding Company. His major concern is receiving a letter from the City stating the City will accept the building as built. Mr. Shelton reported that Architect Fred B. Parker, Jr. had taken a list of things to check to see which ones were in the contract and which ones were not. Mr. Parker is to contact Mr. Shelton tomorrow with the two lists. Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley came before the Council and presented the following list of items needing to be corrected: 1. The truck and supply room floor. 2. Does not have emergency opener for front and back doors. 3. Threshold under doors does not have weather proofing. 4. Does not have front and back door opener in same place. 5. Carpet in bedroom has large flaw. 6. Tile in truck room. 7. Louver in bathroom is out. 8. Heather in truck room has not been connected to thermostat. 9. Outside doors do not seal. 10. Grout in shower is not properly water - proofed. 11. Outside brick has not been cleaned properly. 12. The breaker -box and fuse box is in the dorm closet and hard to get to it. Director of Utilities Danny Johnson came before the Council presenting a proposal for an increase in the commercial sewer rates. Mr. Johnson explained he felt this proposal would be a more equitable way of charging the commercial consumers. After considerable discussion, Councilwoman Heath moved to adopt the proposed commercial sewer rate as presented and to amend the present sewer rate, effective with the September 15, 1976, billing. Councilman Chambers made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Jones explained to the Council that in the future the Council will hear a brief report from one of the City Departments each month. This is to enable the Council to be better informed on the work and activities of each department of the city. Director of Utilities Danny Johnson, reporting for the Water Department, stated the month of August, 1976, is one of the largest water consumption months on record, with 91,933,000 gallons of water being used. Mr. Johnson said it seems this will be the best year as far as total water connections are concerned. His department installed 22 new meters the past month and 4,123 accounts were billed this past month, compared to 4,110 last year. They have completed the first phase of the repairs to the Methodist Branch and all of the work is completed on the full measuring device for the sewer treatment plant and are now waiting for supplies. Mr. Johnson stated the Customer Service Department is the one that has grown the most and reported a partial list of some of the calls coming through the City Hall and the Customer Service Dept. as 120 cutoffs, 136 turn ons, 86 read only, and this does not include the turn offs for repairs, check readings which he estimated at about 50, which makes about 400 plus calls. The Water Dept also replaced 700 ft. of old water lines, repaired 10 leaks in the water lines and they are also spraying for mosquitos. The Council discussed the permit parking on the City's two paved parking lots. Mayor Jones reported he had received a call from the County Judge objecting to the permit parking on the lot behind the Senior Citizen Center because a lot of the county-employees park there. Mayor Jones also explained the City has approximately $90,000 invested in these two lots. (The one behind the Senior Citizen Center and the one next to City Hall.) Mr. Shelton said he had estimated $5,000 per year income from these two lots in the budget.wi.th ;permit parking. Councilwoman Heath said she did not think that was a good enough return as the taxpayers own the lots. Councilman Chambers stated that many of the taxpayers do not use the lots and the City should receive some return on the investment of the paving and the City should charge for the parking. After a lengthy discussion, it was the feeling of the Council to discuss this with the downtown merchants to see if they would be interested in leasing these lots as free parking for their customers and employees. Mayor Jones asked the Council to consider these lots and if they had any solutions to the problem to let him know, as Mr. Shelton had this income figured into the budget and the permit parking was supposed to go into opeartion October 1st. Councilman Irwin reported he had talked to Bill Bledsoe concerning his Garbage Franchise but they had not come to an agreement. Mr. Shelton reported he had received a call from Don Bird, in which he had in- dicated he was still negotiating with Lone Star Gas and he thought he would have an agreement shortly to present to the Council concerning a reduction in the five cent (5p) surcharge. There is a hearing set for October 13th but he is hoping they do not have to enter into the hearing. The Council further discussed the insurance consultants and the need for their services and it was the consensus of the Council to contact other cities that have used consultants to see if they thought it was worth the cost. Being there was no other business to come before the Council, the meeting ad- journed at 10:20 p.m. IN