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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1974-03-05 - Regular City CouncilIm CITY COUNCIL MINUTES March 5, 1974 Stephenville, Texas The City Council met in regular session on the above date with Mayor Donald R. Jones presiJing and the following members presents Jim Chambers, Jack Curtis, Roy McCoy, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Jesse Sexton and Toby Stone. Others present were; City Administrator Shelton, Director of Public Works Gann, Director of Parks & Recreation Isham, City Attorney Chandler, and Animal Control Officer Van Item. Councilman Sexton made the motion, seconded by Councilman Chambers, to approve the minutes of the previous meeting as written. Motion carried. The two bids received for the sale of part of Lot 8, Block 51, City Addition, were as follows: Babe Huey -------------- $500.00 Kenneth Haley---- - - - - -- 263.00 After some discussion, Councilman McCoy made the motion, seconded by Councilman Sexton, to accept the high bid from Babe Huey in the amount of $500.00. Motion did not carry by a vote of 3 for, 4 against. Councilmen McCoy, Sexton and Anderson for; Councilmen Chambers, Stone, Riggins and Curtis against. All bids were rejected. After more discussion concerning access to the property and the use of it, Councilman Curtis made the motion, seconded by Councilman Stone, to reconsider the acceptance of Babe Huey's bid on the above property. Motion carried, with Councilman Chambers voting against. Mayor Jones reopened the floor on the above bid. Councilman McCoy made the motion, seconded by Councilman Sexton, that the $500.00 bid by Babe Huey be X accepted for the sale of part of Lot 8, Block 51, City Addition. Motion carried by a vote of 6 to 1 with Councilman Chambers voting against. Mr. Taylor Almon came before the Council to discuss the financing schedule for the Capital Improvements for 1974-1975 and 1975 -76 for the water and sewer areas. Mr. Almon presented each of the members with an analysis of the proposed 1974 -75 water and sewer Capital Improvements to be financed by Certificates of Obligation covering estimated expenditures of $725,000 in 1974 and estimated expenditures of $1,100,000 in 1975 -76. After quite a bit of discussion concerning the cost estimates on the water and sewer systems, Councilman Chambers made the motion, seconded by Councilman Riggins to authorize Mr. Taylor Almon and Homer Hunter & Associates to continue, in conjunction with City Administrator Shelton, with their preparations to start a program of water and sewer systems improvements. Councilman Stone asked for more discussion. Mayor Jones opened the floor for more discussion. Councilman Stone asked that the Council consider, before going any further with this program, that we should check some other engineers and their prices as the ones quoted by Hunter & Associates seem out of reason. Also Councilman Stone suggested exploring the possibility of locating a well field in the north or north- west part of the City as this is the direction the City is building. This would save the cost of laying long water lines. Councilman Stone stated that he felt that maybe the City would be spending their money in the wrong places and maybe the engineers had not looked at the alternatives. After quite a bit more discussion, Councilman Chambers changed his motion to have Mr. Taylor Almon work in conjunction with City Administrator Shelton and the City's engineer and to see about the financing of Capital Improvements on our water and sewer systems. This authorizes Mr. Almon to work up the Certificates of Obligation and does not assign an amount and does not decide how much we need.; This does not authorize Hunter & Associates to draw up plans on these projects. Councilman Riggins made the second. Motion carried. Mayor Jones brought back to the Council the fact that the property sold to Babe Huey will need to be surveyed to establish the south and east lines before a deed could be issued to Mr. Huey. Councilman Sexton made the motion, seconded by Councilman McCoy, that as a part of the sale, a survey will be provided by the purchaser, Babe Huey, and along with that, since we had to add this stipulation in order to give him a deed, that he be given the opportunity to withdraw hid bid. Motion carried. 132 Ernest Gregory came before the Council requesting permission to lease property on both sides of the Bosque River from E. Washington to Long St. This is approx- imately 5 or 6 acres. It was decided that bids should be taken as a request to lease this property had been refused last year. After some discussion, Councilman Curtis made the motion, seconded by Councilman McCoy, to authorize the taking of bids on the above property on the basis that it be for a one year lease with the provision that the City could retake it after so many days notice with a pro rata rebate. Motion carried. The following bids were received for a new pickup for the Animal Control Dept: Herrin Motors --------------- $2,700.47 Bruner Chevrolet Co.-- - - - - -- 2,736.74 Burgess Motors-------- - - - - -- No Bid _I After some discussion concerning the width and length of the wheel base and whether or not the cages could be transferred from one pickup to the other, Councilman McCoy made the motion, seconded by Councilman Curtis, that the Animal Control Officer look at the two vehicles described in the bids above and pick the one best suited for the job and the City buy it. Motion carried. Director of Parks & Recreation Isham came before the Council reporting on the progress and work that has been done at the City Park and requesting temporary funds to complete the ballfield. This is not to be used for little league ball �exclusively. It is to be built so that others can use it also if needed. Mr. Isham said $5,000.00 would put this field in playing condition by May 1, 1974• This money to come out next year's budget. Councilman Curtis made the motion, seconded by Councilman Chambers, to authorize +.$5,000.00 expenditures this year to the present budget for construction of the ballfield. Motion carried. \ The Jaycee Park was also discussed. Mr. Isham explained what is planned for \ the Jaycee Park in the future. After quite a bit of discussion, Councilman (Curtis made the motion, seconded by Councilman Sexton, to appropriate $4,000.00 from next year's budget to put in some playground equipment and do some work at the Jaycee Park now. Motion carried. Councilman Stone explained to the Council that 50 feet of property had been sold to Gibson's Discount Store prior to the extension of the 8" water line in front of his property on the South Loop. Due to a misunderstanding, the City lacked 50 feet bringing the '8" water line to Mr. Stone's property line. Councilman Chambers said that this was the intention of his motion in the October 2nd meeting. It was the consensus of the Council and Mayor that the City should lay an additional 50 feet of 8" water line to Mr. Sone's property.. Mayor Jones brought up for discussion the request of Kenneth Lockhart to collect his prorata share for connecting to his 6" water main to the Lockwood Addition. Mr. Lockhart states that because of the City's Comprehensive Plan and change in policy that he is losing one half of his $792.00 on the property located on the South Loop where the Mall is now located! It was the opinion of some members of the Council that this property was not subject to the previous agreement Mr. Lockhart had with the City as this 8" water line feeds into the 61' line that Mr. Lockhart put in, therefore, would be of benefit to the Lockwood Addition. The Council decided, after quite a bit of discussion, to have City Administrator Shelton check with City Attorney Chandler on the legality of this and any moral obligation the City might have to Mr. Lockhart. Councilman Stone asked the consent of the Council not to install a fire plug unless it affects the key rate insurance. There is a fire plug in 500' of the Mall now. Mr. Stone will bring the information to Mr. Shelton. It was the consensus of the Council that it would be agreeable if the key rate insurance was not affected Mr. Stone did not have to install fire plug, if the key rate in- surance was affected, he would install .fire plug. Councilman Curtis asked that the Council review the Blue Cross -Blue Shield Insurance program that the City now has. He feels that maybe the policy is not as good as it should be. Mayor Jones advised City Administrator Shelton to contact the Blue Cross -Blue Shield representative for a meeting to review the City's policy. Also Mr. Shelton advised the members of the Council that have this insurance through the City that their premiums can be deducted from their checks once a year if they so desire. The members agreed that beginning in April, 1974, that their premiums will be deducted from their checks at the end of each year. This was agreeable with the Council. City Administrator Shelton reported that Mrs. Clayton Dameron had phoned him complaining of the increase in the sewer rates. Mrs Dameron stated that with her 200 apartments this had increased her bill by $100.00 per month and she thought maybe they should have a special rate. No action was taken. Councilman Stone reported that when the Tarleton Arms Apartments were being built the Contractor had come to the City Hall to see about getting water for construction use. The Contractor had offered to put up a bond, or hire someone to meter or gauge the water used from a fire plug or do anything to be able 133 to get water from any source, that would keep him from having to haul water in to the construction site. Councilman Stone said that he was at the building site of the new high school last week and there was a large truck loading water from a fire plug without any supervision. There was some discussion on policy and Councilman Stone stated that, in his opinion, the policy should be the same for all and the Council was in agreement. There being no other business, the meeting adjourned. Mayor A EST: ty ecre ary