HomeMy WebLinkAbout1975-01-07 - Regular City Council1.6'7
REGULAR SESSION - TUESDAY
JANUARY 79 1975
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS
The City Council, City of Stephenville, Texas, met in Regular Session,
Tuesday, January 7, 1975, at 7:00 P.M. with Mayor Donald R. Jones pre-
siding and the following Councilmen present: Jim Chambers, W. M. Irwin,
Roy McCoy, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Jesse Sexton, Larry Hammett,
and Neal Guthrie.
Others attending were: City Administrator Marshall Shelton, Director
of Public Works R. Y. Gann, City Attorney Joseph Chandler, Director of
Personnel Kurt Ackerman, Fire Marshal E. W. Ferguson, Chief of Police
Mike Watkins, City Inspector Gene Lookingbill, City Secretary Joyce
Pemberton, Mr. Ewell Jones, Mr. Randy Chandler, Mr. R. B. McClure and
Judge L.L. "Blackie" Martin.
There being no additions, deletions, corrections or amendments, Council-
man Sexton moved, seconded by Councilman Chambers, to approve the minutes
of the meetings of December 3, 1974 and December 12, 1974, as written.
Motion carried unanimously.
Judge L. L. "Blackie" Martin came before the Council concerning a
request from the county for a 50¢ per day increase for meals served
in the jail for the city's prisoners. After Judge Martin had given
a complete breakdown on the operating expenses of the jail, City
Administrator Shelton explained that the reason he had asked Judge
Martin to meet with the Council was to discuss all phases of the ex-
penses where the City and County were both involved, such as, Fire
Protection, Library, Police Dispatcher, Jail and the meals for city
prisoners. Judge Martin said he was not prepared at this time to discuss
all these phases.
Mayor Jones asked if a committee from the Council could meet with the
County Commissioners. Judge Martin said he would set up a meeting.
Mayor Jones appointed a committee of Councilmen Roy McCoy, Charles Riggins,
and Neal Guthrie and himself ex officio, to meet with the County Com-
missioners and Judge Martin on Tuesday, January 14, 1975,. at .2 :00 p.m.
in the Commissioners:' office.
Mayor Jones explained that in a previous meeting the Council had told
Mr. R. B. McClure of the Farm Bureau that if he could work out an arrange-
ment with the National Guard for the use of a 2 acre site he wanted to
erect a building on, it would be fine with the City. Since this meeting,
the Army has indicated that Military Policy will not permit them to do
anything but deed the property back to the City.
After discussion in which it was explained that the City cannot give,
donate or give a long term lease on City owned property and that the only
way the City can dispose of property is to take bids for the sale of said
property, Mayor Jones said, there being no other discussion, the matter
would be considered closed.
Mayor Jones explained that, in acquiring easements for the installation
of the sewer trunk line, the City, in some cases, had agreed to pay crop
damages resulting from the laying of the line. We have this specific
agreement on the Sharp Property and now have a claim for damages from the
lessee and sub - lessee. Mayor Jones read a letter from Mr. W. E. Sullivan,
the lessee, and Mr. Gary Henderson, the sub - lessee, stating the following
reasons for the claim: inconveniences, the production loss of the dairy
cows, the actual immediate crop destruction and the loss of future pro-
duction. The amount of the claim being $1.00 per foot (4,683.8 feet) or
a cash settlement of $4,000.00.
After some discussion, Mayor Jones and the Council agreed that, before
appointing arbitrator, to authorize City Administrator Shelton to get some-
one that has knowledge of the value of crops, etc to observe the land, see
what is involved and propose to the Council what should be paid in settlement
of the crop damages.
City Attorney Chandler pointed out that the agreement is with the lease
holder only, also, that the person evaluating the damage would need to be
someone that ;would testify in court if needed.
168
Mayor Jones presented the Resolution that the City join with the County'
in contracting emergency helicopter service from Fort Hood, Texas. After
some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Anderson,
to adopt the Resolution. Motion carried unanimously.
RESOLUTION
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE City Council, City of Stephenville, Texas, that
the City of Stephenville join with the County of Erath in joing the Massive
Assistance Safety and Traffic Project operated out of Fort Hood, Texas and
pay the $100.00 fee therefore.
UNANIMOUSLY passed and adopted this the 7th day of January, 1975.
After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Council-
man McCoy, to authorize invitation of bids for a tractor with mower and
front end loader for the Park Department_. Motion carried unanimously.
After some discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Council-
man Guthrie, to adopt the Codification Ordinance with an effective date of
February 1, 1975. Motion carried unanimously.
ORDINANCE
AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING AND ENACTING A NEW CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY
OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS; ESTABLISHING THE SAME; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF
CERTAIN ORDINANCES NOT INCLUDED THEREIN; PROVIDING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF
SUCH CODE AND A PENALTY FOR THE VIOLATION THEREOF; PROVIDING FOR THE MANNER
OF AMENDING SUCH CODE; AND PROVIDING WHEN THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BECOME EF-
FECTIVE.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF STEPHENVILLE, TEXAS.
City Administrator Shelton explained that previously the Council had
considered having Tommy and Don King to prepare a Revised City Map at a cost
of approximately $20,000.00 but decided against it.
Don King has now decided that he will sell these maps, unfinished, to
the City for $400.00 to defray the expenses he has, incurred. Mr. Shelton
further stated that he thought the City could use them but it would take
approximately one year and some extra expense to bring them upto date.
This would provide a tax map and a utility map. After some discussion,
Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman Riggins, to purchase these
maps from Don King for total sum of $400.00. Motion carried unanimously.
City Administrator Shelton explained that the Council, at the time the;
budget was prepared, had indicated that, after January 1st, a cost of living
salary increase would be discussed.
After much discussion, Councilman Irwin moved, seconded by Councilman
Guthrie, that Mr. Shelton prepare a salary list individually and in total
and advise the Council as to the total amount of the dollar cost and also
budget the remaining year on the expenditures with this salary increase in-
cluded to determine if we have to increase the revenues to meet the expense,
if so, provide alternative sources to do so. Motion carried unanimously.
City Administrator Shelton explained that he had received the catalogue
of the designs of fire stations. There were no specifications included in
the catalogue. We would have to write the City ox the architect for the
specifications.
After considerable discussion, Mayor Jones appointed a committee of
Councilmen Larry Hammett, Jesse Sexton, and Jim Chambers to go over the
catalogue with Mr. Shelton and Fire Marshal Ferguson, pick different ones
then write the architect or the City, as the case maybe, for the specs and
see how it comes out. After this committee makes their report to the Council
then decide if and when to build the fire sub - station and how much money will
need to be appropiated.
Mayor Jones reported that _there have been some changes in the -sites for
the water well test holes. Mr. Dallas Thompson has indicated he would sign
an easement and Mr. Shelton is to contact two other property owners that have
indicated they would sign easements.
The Council discussed a "City Mechanic Feasibility Report" on vehicle
and equipment maintenance cost -with a 90 day base period, July l through
September 30 and projected over a 12 month period.
After quite a bit of discussion, it was the consensus of the Mayor and
Council to let Mr. Shelton find out exactly what tools and materials we have
and what the investment would be. If we could go into this without too much
of an initial investment, we could try it for awhile then if it didn't work,
drop it.
Mayor Jones reported that the school had requested some help for the
lighting of their tennis courts. They want to work out some kind of sharing
basis with the City. Mr. Chandler is checking on this and may be by next'meet-
ing will have something to present to the Council.
Mayor Jones reported that the specifications had been received for a new
fire truck. After some discussion, Councilman Chambers moved, seconded by
Councilman Sexton, to invite bids for the fire truck that had been discussed
previously and to ask for a delivery date. Motion carried unanimously.
Councilman McCoy asked about the progress on the extension of the city
limits.
City Administrator Shelton reported that the Surveyor had called today
and said they were doing fine but he had some questions he would need to
discuss with the Council at a later date. He thought they should finish
sometime in February. Mr. Shelton also reported he was still checking with
the Highway Dept. on the one -way streets downtown and still does not know
when they will be ready to put into operation.
The Sewer Outfall line is going real well. There is approximately
11,000 feet completed out of 15,000 feet and, if the weather remains good,
should be completed sometime in February or March.
Councilman Guthrie suggested giving some consideration to tearing down
the building next door and putting in a parking lot, either for downtown
parking or for city employees parking. Mayor Jones said this had been dis-
cussed and it would cost somewhere around $15,000 to $20,000 to tear down.
There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 9:15 P.M.
ATTEST:
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