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Home My WebLink About1974-10-01 - Regular City Council255 OCTOBER 19 1974 - TUESDAY STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS The City Council met in regular session Tuesday, October 1, 1974 at 7:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers at City Hall, Stephenville, Texas, with Mayor Pro Tem Jim Chmabers presiding and the following members present: Charles Riggins, Larry Hammett, Neal Guthrie, Jesse Sexton, Bill Irwin, and Roy McCoy. Absent: Raymond Anderson and Mayor Donald R. Jones. Others attending were: City Administrator Marshall L. Shelton, Chief of Police Mike Watkins, Director of Public Works R. Y. Gann., City Attorney Joseph Chandler, City Inspector Gene Lookingbill, Director of Parks & Recreation Ronnie Isham, Director of Personnel Kurt Ackerman, and City Secretary Joyce Pemberton. Mayor Pro Tem Chambers asked the Council to read the minutes of the pre- vious meeting'of September 3, 1974. There being no correction, additions or deletions, Councilman Guthrie moved, seconded by Councilman Sexton, to approve the minutes of September 3rd. as written. Motion carried unanimously. Mrs. Kay Walton came befor6'the Council to explain to the Council that.. quite a few of the residents of the city do not want the city to pave over the bricks on Frey Street. Mrs. Walton read a letter to the Council from Mrs. Tom Birdsong and presented a petition signed by approximately 35 residents stating that they would like to have the brick streets preserved for their beauty and historical value. After considerable discussion, it was the consensus of the Council and Mayor Pro Tem that more discussion and consideration was needed on the fea- sibility of paving over or leaving the brick streets as they are. Mr. Raymond Lindley came before the Council requesting a discussion on the taxicab Franchise. Mr. Lindley now operates a taxicab on a 24 hour basis but feels that the Senior Citizens and the SOS are providing free transportation for some that are not eligible for the free service. He explained that he wants the ones that are eligible., to take advantage of it, but also wanted the Council to be aware of the fact that some are taking advantage of this service that are not eligible. Mr. Shelton explained that he thought there is room for both but we need to define the limits on each. Mayor Donald R. Jones arrived at this time and Mayor Pro Tem Chambers turned the presiding chair over to Mayor Jones. Mr. Neal Hatch, representing the Downtown Businessmen's Association, came before the Council requesting to transfer the total responsibility of the Christmas decorating of the square to the City. In the past, the merchants have purchased the decorations and the City paid for the installation and up- keep. After considerable discussion, Mayor Jones appointed a committee of Council- men Riggins, Chairman, McCoy and Sexton to check as to how other citis handle the Christmas decorations and report back to the Council. Councilman Irwin, reporting for the committee on the garbage rate increase, explained that Mr. Bledsoe had agreed for Mr. Shelton to check his books to as- certain the need for an increase of $.45 per residence in order to give his employees an increase in salary of $.50 per hour and to have Workmen's Com- pensation. Mr. Bledsoe also agreed for the City to collect 9% of the total collections rather than the 7%2% collected in the past. City Administrator Shelton reported that Mr. Bledsoe had also agreed to write a letter stating that the salary increase and the Workmen's Compensation would be put into effect and that the pickups would be consistent on the days designated. The effective date to be October 15, 1974. After considerable discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Chambers, to aurhorize the increase of the garbage rates from $2.30 to $2.75 per month, per residence, effective October 15, 1974. After more discussion, Mayor Jones called for question on the above motion. The motion carried unanimously. Mr. Bill Bledsoe came before the Council requesting a long term (15 -20 years) contract or franchise as he did not feel he could invest in new equipment and innovations for the short term he has left (3% years) or on a 5 year contract. After discussion, it was the consensus of the Mayor and Council that the committee again on this and make recommendations at the next meeting. Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Riggins, to accept the dedication of the property of Overhill Drive and Dale Avenue, to wit: 1.17 acres out of the William Motley Survey, Abstract 515, and John Blair Survey, Ab- stract 32, Erath Coumty, Texas, which tracts are more fully shown on the Plat and Field Notes of Wayne Graham, a registered public surveyor of the State of Texas. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Hammett asked about the inspection of streets as they are paved in a new addition. He said he thought stronger enforcement of the City's policies was needed. The Council discussed the recommendation of the Planning Commission on the extension of the city limits. After quite a bit of discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Council- man Chambers, to accept the recommendation of the Planning Commission to pro- ceed to get a surveyor in preparation of an ordinance with the metes and bounds descriptions of the property lines. to be; ,introduced then passed after publi- cations and hearing as map is drawn. Motion-carried unanimously. The Planning Commission also recommended that the Mayor appoint a Charter. Revision Commission. Mayor Jones said he would submit some names for the Char- ter Revision Commission, for the Council's consideration, at the next regular meeting. The following bids were received for two new police cars: Herrin Motors-------------- - - - - -2 units--- - - - - -- $9,753.98 Rruner Chev. Co ----------------- 2 units--- - - - - -- 9,516.00 Burgess Motors------------- - - - - -2 units--- - - - - -- 9,590.70 -plus $220. for radial tires. After discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Guthrie, to accept the low bid of Bruner Chevrolet Co. for two new police cars as specified in bid for a cost of $9,516.00. Motion carried unanimously. The following bids were received for drilling shallow well at the sanitary landfill; Wolfe Drilling Co -------------------- $2,090.00 W. 0. Davis ------------------- - - - - -- figures were not tabulated. It was the consensus of the Mayor and Council to delay action on the above bids,as time would be needed to tabulate the figures of Mr. Davis' bid. After discussion, Councilman McCoy moved, seconded by Councilman Sexton, to accept the Resolution of the North Central Texas Council of Governments for the high frequency police radiQltunits. Motion carried unanimously. RESOLUTION RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE NORTH CENTRAL TEXAS COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS TO PURCHASE LAW ENFORCEMENT RADIO COMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT, PHASE II IN BEHALF OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE. Mrs. Charlotte McCoy, President of the Central Ward School PTA, came before the Council requesting assistance from the City with the traffic control around the school. Mrs. McCoy explained that she had talked with Chief Watkins and their request is to make Paddock Street, by the school, one way south and Baxter Street, by the school, one way north and some signs and crosswakks -. After considerable discussion, Mayor Jones appointed a committee of Council- men Guthrie, Sexton and Hammett to study this further and report back to the Council. Director of Parks & Recreation Isham reported to tle Council on the progress being made in the Park Improvement Plan and requested that the Council authorize bids on the lights for Optimist Field and a tractor and mower now and see how much money they run and maybe come back later for funds for the bathroom facilities. After discussion, Councilman Sexton moved, seconded by Councilman McCoy, to authorize the invitation of bids for lights for Optimist Field and a tractor and mower for the Park Department which are budgeted items. Motion carried unanimously. Mr. Isham reported that, for the first time, the swimming program had made a profit this year and, in the near future, he would have a report on all the programs at the park. After discussion, Councilman Sexton moved, seconded by Councilman McCoy,, to authorize Hunter & Associates to start the grant proceedings for the Air- port Improvement Plan at a cost of $2,500.00 for the specifications. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Hammett requested that Mr. Shelton or Mr. Gann or a committee from the Council look into the feasibility of constructing a small number of spaces to park travel trailers that are in town for the night at the park. Mayor Jones said he had received a letter from the Stephenville Ind. School Dist. requesting the City's assistance with regard to traffic control around the Chamberlin School. He daid the committee could look into this at the same time as Central Ward School. There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 P.M. ATTEST: I ity ecretary 0 157 I Ma ATTEST: I ity ecretary 0 157 I