HomeMy WebLinkAbout1977-04-09 - Special City CouncilSPECIAL SESSION - FRIDAY
APRIL 8, 1977 - 7:30 P.M.
CHAMBER OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL, CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS
The City Council of the City of Stephenville, Texas, met in Special Session,
Friday, April 8, 1977, at 7:30 p.m., with Mayor Donald R. Jones present and
presiding. Councilmembers Jim Chambers, W. M. Irwin, Charles Riggins, Ermer
Ferguson and Betty Heath were present. Councilmen Larry Hammett, Raymond
Anderson and Calvin McGee were absent.
Others attending the meeting were Director of Public Works R. Y. Gann, Water
Superintendent J. D. Chapman, Fire Marshall Kenneth Haley, City Secretary
Joyce Pemberton, Mr. Conrad Callicoatte, Mr. W. E. Sandlin, Mr. Harry Schermer,
Mr. L. B. Howard, Mr. W. N. (Boone) Brown and Mr. Amos A. Eggan.
Mayor Jones called the meeting to order and explained that the purpose of this
meeting was to hold a Public Hearing for the Council to hear any questions,
comments, or suggestions concerning the construction of a new sewer treatment
plant.
Mayor Jones asked Mr. Conrad Callicoatte to present the Sewer Treatment Plant
Facility Plan as prepared by Hunter and Associates.
I
In his report, Mr. Callicoatte explained that the City of Stephenville was under
a federal enforcement order to construct a new sewer treatment plant and have it
ready for operation by 1980. The approximate cost to be 1.8 million dollars.
The City of Stephenville could be fined so much each day we are at fault as a
penalty of not conforming to the order.
The City is applying for a federal grant of 75% of the cost, but Stephenville is
28th on the list now and the plant will have to be constructed whether we receive
the grant or not. The new plant will be designed to handle a capacity of 16,700
population in the year 2000 and will be constructed according, to the federal
guidelines. The City is now considering the new construction to be on the site
of the present sewer plant.
After Mr. Callicoatte had made his presentation, Mayor Jones asked for any questions
or comments from the floor.
i
Mr. L. B. Howard asked the Council to consider moving the new plant five or six
miles to the south as the odor is and will be so bad that he thought it should
be moved further from the downtown area. Also that the area around the present
RRO
sewer plant is being developed and the people will object to buying property
near a sewer plant.
There was also dicussion regarding the building of a lake in the Clairette
vicinity as a future drinking water supply and whether or not this sewer
treatment plant would have any effect on this lake.
After a very lengthy discussion, Mayor Jones closed the Public Hearing and
stated that the Council would certainly give full consideration to all of the
aspects and the problems, not only the cost, but where it might be located.
Mayor Jones also pointed out that moving the sewer treatment plant five or six
miles further south would not make any difference as far as the lake is con-
cerned and to move the sewer plant would be solely for the purpose of removing
the odor or having the plant further from the downtown area in case there was
growth in the south part of the City which, historically, has not been the case.
Mayor Jones also stated that he could foresee many problems in trying to move
the sewer treatment plant to another location, such as the increased cost in
buying the property, the time element in acquiring that land and the increased
cost of putting the pipe to that _property. He said it was his opinion that,
feasibility wise, the new plant will be located on the site of the present
plant, but, if there are other alternatives, now is the time to check them out.
Mr Harry Schermer stated that he felt, considering the cost of moving the sewer
treatment plant and the time element involved, that the city really did not have
a choice other than to construct the new plant on the present site.
Mr. L. B. Howard again stated that he felt that the majority of the citizens of -
Stephenville would rather see the plant moved further south and asked that the
Council get or try to get the opinion of the majority of citizens and to do the
will of the people that had elected them.
There being no other business, Councilwoman Heath moved that the meeting adjourn
Councilman Chambers made the second. Motion carried unanimously.
For the purpose of the minutes of this meeting, Mayor Jones advised the Council
that he had received a letter today addressed to the Mayor and City Council from
Mr. E. L. Stephens stating that, "due to the controversy between the Electrical
Board and the City Council and believing that it would be to the best interest
of both, he was resigning as chairman of the Electrical Board effective as of
this date." Mayor Jones said that he had accepted the resignation effective as
of this date and will appoint or submit nominations for his replacement.
ATTEST:
it Secretary