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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-08-05 - Regular City CouncilREGULAR SESSION- TUESDAY AUGUST 5, 1975 CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY HALL, CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The City Council met in Regular Session Tuesday, August 5, 1975 at 7 :00 p.m. with Mayor Donald R. Jones present and presiding. Councilmen Jim Chambers, W. M. Irwin, Roy McCoy, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Jesse Sexton, Larry Hammett and Neal Guthrie were present. Others attending the meeting were City Administrator Marshall Shelton, Dir- ector of Public Works R. Y. Gann, City Attorney joseph Chandler, Administrative Aide Kurt Ackermann, Director of Utilities Danny Johnson, Chief of Police Mike Watkins, Fire Marshall E. W. Ferguson and City Secretary Joyce Pemberton. Approximately 60 citizens also attended this meeting. Councilman Hammett moved, seconded by Councilman McCoy, to approve the minutes of July 1st, July 15th, and July 22nd meetings with correction of typo- graphical error of July Ist- meeting. Corrected to read "bids on air compressor for the water meter repair shop ranging from $1,050.00 to $1,600.00." Also July 1st minutes corrected to read "Councilman McCoy moved to publish notice, setting a Public Hearing on said ordinance for Tuesday, July 29, 1975 at 3:00 p.m. Councilman Irwin made the second." Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Estell Moser came before the Council regarding the one -way streets. Mr. Moser owns some commercial property on North Graham, which is one -way going north. Mr. Moser said occupants of this commercial property had suffered a great loss of business since the street was made one -way. Mr. Moser also stated that the older people who live on Graham St. find it difficult to get to the downtown area and that, in his opinion, the one -way streets would spell death for the downtown area. Mr. Chuck Gildner, who operates a service station on North.Graham, said that since the one -way streets have gone into effect he is pumping about 2,000 gallons of gasoline less each week. He also said some drivers were making a "race track" out of North Graham and that city police cars were also driving too fast on the street. He asked the Council to change the streets back to two -way. Mr. Don Peacock, owner of a food store on North Graham, also came before the Council speaking against the one -way streets. Mr. Peacock stated that his business is "going down" every day due to the one -way streets and the fact that residents who'live to the west can not get to his store because Frey St. is closed to them. A number of persons from the audience spoke condeming the one -way streets. MR Mayor Jones stated that the Council would study the situation and would take the above comments into consideration and that he had not ruled out the possibility of putting the one -way streets proposition to the voters. Sue McGinity, Chairman of the TSU Bicentennial Committee, came before the Council with a plan for a Stephenville - Tarleton Bicentennial Fair to be held at the City Park April 9 -11, 1976. The plan included construction of temporary fences for the fair area so that an admission charge could be made. Also toilet facilities would be needed. Ms. McGinity requested the Council's support of the fair in general and the City's endorsement and permission to fence off a portion of the City Park for the three day period and any financial support the city could give especially in the area of the fencing and the toilet facilities. Councilman Irwin suggested that Ms. McGinity submit to the Council how much money she would like for the city to contribute to this fair for the fencing and toilet facilities. Ronnie Isham stated that he would like to get the Council's approval and in- clude this in his budget for the next year. Councilman Anderson moved to endorse the project of the Bicentennial Committee for use of the City Park for the heritage fair. Councilman McCoy made the second. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Doug Smithey came before the Council with the proposal to lease 13 acres of land owned by the city for use as a subdivision. This property is bordered on the east by Sixth St., on the south by Swan St., and the Greenview Addition on the west and when purchased by the city was set aside for cemetery use. Mr. Smithey's proposal is to take a long -term lease from the city on this 13 acres, clear it off and develop it with streets and utilities in accordance with the present subdivision ordinance. This land would then be utilized by him for rent property, which would be approximately 67 rental units. Mr. Smithey explained that he would like a 30 year lease with the option on that portion that the city was not ready to use at the end of the lease. If and when the city needed the land it would be relinquished in an improved condition. Mayor Jones explained that there were no legal restrictions in the deeds regarding the use of the land other than for cemetery use. After considerable discussion, Mayor Jones appointed Councilmen Sexton, chairman, Guthrie and Hammett as a committee to check into the above proposal in conjunction with Mr. Shelton and Mr. Gann and recommend back to the Council. Mr. Scott Allen, Chairman of the Charter Revision Commission, came before the Council with a list of charter revisions as recommended by the Commission. Each councilman had been given a copy of the recommendations' and Mr. Allen expalined each of the items and discussed them with the Council. After discussion, Mayor Jones asked the council to take the recommendations and examine them in detail. If and when the council approves the recommendations, they will be a referendum at the Specail Election which will be some time in October. Mayor Jones explained that no action would be taken at this time on the Position Classification and Pay Plan. He did request that the council take their copies and study them and this would be an :,agenda item at a meeting in conjunction with the budget hearing. Mr. Shelton discussed the proposed retirement plan for city employees. He stated that he hoped to have a plan to submit in approximately two weeks. Mayor Jones explained that the Fruehauf family is requesting a renewal of their lease which expires December 1, 1975. The present lease is for $600.00 for 10 years, payable in annual installments of $60.00 each for plot of ground 80' X 80' out of the city airport land for their hangar. After considerable discussion, Councilman Guthrie moved, seconded by Council- man Riggins, to accept the lease they proposed at $60.00 per year for a 10 year period. Councilman Chambers suggested an increase in the lease. After more discussion, Councilman Guthrie withdrew his motion and Councilman Riggins withdrew his second. Councilman Chambers moved, seconded by Councilman Irwin, to re- submit to the Fruehauf family a proposal that the city would approve a lease for a period of 5 years for $10.00 per month payable annually. Motion carried unanimously. 198 After some discussion, Councilman Sexton moved Anderson, to approve the plans of the First Baptist archway across Barton St. from the present building ing as long as it meets the safety standards of the carried unanimously. The following bids were received for 1000feet seconded by Councilman Church to construct an to a proposed new build - city and state. Motion of 8 inch water pipe: McWane Cast Iron Pipe Co.------- - - - - -- :$5.15 per ft. Bowles & Edens Corp -------------------- 4.68 per ft. Lone Star Cast Iron Pipe-------- - - - - -- 4.68 per ft. Trans -Tex Supply----- ,----------- - - - - -- 4.68 per ft. Director of Utilities Danny Johnson said he would have to check with the companies with the low bid of $4.68 per foot to see which could give the best delivery date After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Sexton, to accept the low bid recommended by Mr. Johnson. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. R. Y. Gann reported that the second test hole had been drilled with a micro -log and an electro -log. Mr. Gann stated that, in his opinion, the second hole does not look as good as the first hole. Director of Parks & Recreation Ronnie Isham read a telegram from Mr. B. D. Click to the Council concerning the repair of the tennis courts stating that the painting had been done and the city would be billed for all costs incurred. Mayor Jones said the city may or may not be involved in a law suti concerning the payment of these costs. After some discussion, Councilman Chambers moved, seconded by Conncilman Sexton, to increase the water rates on usage over 10,000 gallons an additional 10¢,per 1,000 gallons for all over 10,000 gallons. Motion carried unanimously. The effective date to be August 15, 1975. The above increase would be from 35¢ per 1,000 gallons to 45¢ per 1,000 gallons for all usage over 10,000 gallons. Councilman Sexton stated that he and several other councilmen were non- smokers and he wondered if the council meetings could be conducted without smoking as it bothers them very much. Councilman Hammett brought up the question of the city owned property that Bramlett Implement Co. is using and should the city be paid for use of it? Councilman Chambers reported that Mr. Bramlett had approached him to either buy or lease the property. Mayor Jones asked the street committee to check into this. Mayor Jones stated that he would like a little more discussion on the one -way streets. He said he would like for the Frey Street situation to be examined immediately. That he could see the problem it would create and possibly consider putting this to a vote. Councilman Chambers said that he would like to see the one -way streets given more of a chance. That he had no objections to changing Frey Street back to two -way and does not think it necessary to put this to a vote. Mayor Jones said he wanted to have this committee check thoroughly with George Bla'ck and the Highway Dept. and the Chief of Police to see what our alter- natives are as far as those end streets are concerned. Unless we have a major necessity on the Frey Street deal, that would pretty well eliminate the biggest part of the problem that Mr. Peacock and others have around that corner. Mayor Jones read a letter of resignation from Councilman McCoy as he is moving out of the city. Mayor Jones expressed his and the Council's regrets at losing Mr. McCoy as a member of the Council and as a resident of the city. There being no other business, TEST: C' Sec etary the meeting adjourned at 10 :35 p.m.