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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1973-02-06 - Regular City CouncilThe City Council met February 6, 1973 at 7:00 P. M. in regular session in the Fire Dept. Stephenville, Texas, with Mayor Donald R. Jones presiding and the following members present: Toby Stone, Garland Loudermilk, W. M. Irwin, Charles Riggins, Raymond Anderson, Larry Hammett, Jack Curtis, and Doug Smithey. Others present were: City Administrator °helton, Director of Public Works Gann, Director of Parks & Recreation Isham, Fire Marshall, - Ferguson,. and City Attorney Chandler. Councilman Curtis said the Park Committee is to meet again to reconsider the Rate Schedule that was passed at the January meeting. Councilman Irwin moved to approve the minutes of the last meeting as written. Councilman Riggins made the second. Motion carried. Mr. Crutchfield, representing the Municipal Code Corp., spoke to the Council concerning the codification of ordinances. He said it would take approximately one year to prepare and complete the codification and the estimated cost would be approximately $5,200.00 for 100 copies - -25 in binders and 75 wrapped. The Mayor told him that the Council would take this under consideration and notify him if and when the Council takes any action. Mary Fletcher spoke before the Council in behalf of herself and the residents on Overbill Drive concerning the 25 feet of land, owned by the Chamberlain heirs, between their property and the Hispania Apartments. These residents are complaining of this strip of land being used as a race track and of trash being thrown out here. Mrs. Fletcher was requesting that the City give these residents some kind of assurance that if they bought this property themselves that at some later date the City would not come back and con- demn this property for an alley. The Mayor asked to disqualify himself and that the Mayor Pro Tem take charge. After quite a bit of discussion, it was decided to present, this to the Planning Commission to see if they have any long range plans for this as an alley then the Council take action at the next meeting. Marvin Toler came before the Council complaining about the dogs on the adjacent property. He also had some recommendations for revising the Kennel Ordinance. After quite a bit of discussion, the Mayor referred this back to the Committee for further study. Mr. Jess Johnson and other representatives of Lone Star Gas Co. came before the Council asking for a rate increase for residential and commercial consumers. Councilman Curtis moved to grant a 5.66% rate increase but not grant the automatic rate increase adjust- ment. Councilman Stone made the second. Motion did not carry by a vote of 3 for, 5 against. Director of Parks & Recreation Isham reported that he had checked the proposed plans for remodeling of the offices in the recreation hall with Fire Marshall Ferguson and the,plans pass the Tire Code with the exception that they need Panic Hardware on all the doors. Councilman Loudermilk said he would like to see more remodeling done, such as the kitchen, behind the stage and other things. City Administrator Shelton said the remodeling could be financed out of the Revenue Sharing Funds. Councilman Hammett moved to go ahead with plans as presented including the Panic Hardware and for Mr. Isham to study and present, at a later date, further improvements. Councilman Loudermilk made the second. Motion carried. Capt. Hershel Davis of the City Police Dept. came before the Council requesting permission for some remodeling of the front office of the police station at an approximate cost of $650.00. Councilman Irwin moved to remodel the front office of the police station as requested by Capt. Davis. Councilman Smithey made the second. Motion carried. City Administrator Shelton reported that the Planning Commission will have a report at the next meeting. 99 The Mayor presented the Zoning Board's recommendations. Councilman Smithey moved to approve a non- conforming permit to Mr. Bert Carlton to operate a Real Estate and Insurance office out of his house at 2155 South Loop. Councilman Stone made the second. Motion carried. Councilman Stone moved to issue Mr. 0. W. Stanford a non - conforming permit for a mobile home on his lot at 1580 N. Paddock. Councilman Irwin made the second. Motion carried. Councilman Loudermilk moved to approve the amendment to Section 7 -G, page 19, of the Zoning Ordinance,' with;, the amendment to read "Must have permission in Writing from all property owners X within 200 feet of the boundary lines to be filed with the Building Inspector." Councilman Riggins made the second. Motion carried. The Zoning Board had recommended making an amendment to Section 6 -B, page 15, of the Zoning Ordinance to read "Building Height shall be determined by the Zoning Board to conform with surrounding property." After discussion, it was the decision of the Council to refer this amendment back to the Zoning °oard for clarification on the 'Building Height." It was moved by Councilman Smithey to change the zoning from Residence 2 to Business 1, the property on W. Washington St. from the Chateau Apartments to Clinton St. Councilman Curtis made the second. Motion carried. City Administrator Shelton reported that along with the Radia:.Tone Alert system being installed in the Fire Dept. we could activate four Civil Defense sirens if we so desire at a cost of $1,967.00. The Civil Defense will pay 50% if we will set up an emergency plan which we would have to have anyway. Councilman Anderson moved that we activate the four Civil Defense Sirens and accept the 50% grant. Councilman Loudermilk made the second. Motion carried. Mr. Charlie Walker, Mr. Olen Fenner, and Mr. C. N. Merrill were suggested to act as Election Judge for the upcoming City Election. Councilman Irwin moved to appoint Mr. Olen Fenner as Election Judge for the annual City Election to be held April 3, 1973. Councilman Smithey made the second. Motion carried. Councilman Anderson suggested appointing Mr. C. N. Merrill as alternate Election Judge, in the event that Mr. Fenner cannot serve, and it was approved by the Council. Councilman Irwin moved to appoint Mr. E. A. Blanchard, Mr. Jack Arthur and Mr. Dean Cox to serve on the Equalization Board. councilman Smithey made the second. Motion carried. The Mayor appointed a committee of Councilmen Stone, Riggins, and,Irwin to confer with City Administrator Shelton to decide on furniture for the new Council Room. r Mayor Jones said the Council needed to make some disposition of the trophy case and its contents that had been in the front lobby of the City Hall and also the wall mural in the City Tax Dept. Councilman Stone moved that we give the trophy case to the Park & Recreation Dept., the contents to the local museum and leave the wall mural as it is. Councilman Irwin made the second. Motion carried. The Council agreed to take no action concerning the complaint of Mr. Ben Young of the City's trimming of the tree in his yard. Mayor Jones read the approval of the Smithey Property and the regulations as set forth by the State for the Sanitary Landfill site. Councilman Irwin moved that the City exercise its option and purchase the Smithey Property for the City Landfill site. Councilman Curtis made the second. Motion carried. Councilman Hammett reported for the Sanitation Committee on the Landfill and -the garbage pickup. After quite a bit of discussion on the regulations imposed by the State, the charges at the gate and all the recommendations of the Sanitation Committee, Councilman Hammett moved that the J Council pass these recommendations and publish them in the local newspaper. Councilman Loudermilk made the second. At this time Councilman Stone asked for more discussion on the prices to be charged at the gate for the independent contractors and charges for packer trucks and dump trucks. After much more discussion, the above motion carried. Mr. Bill Bledsoe was present and came before the Council to discuss and answer questions of the Council on the billing, collecting, pickup and the percentage of rebate he is to pay the City. There was also discussion of the people on welfare and on a fixed income that cannot afford to pay for the garbage pickup. After much discussion, Councilman Hammett moved that the garbage pickup be mandatory, rates to remain at $2.30 per month and that Mr. Bledsoe pay the City 7, rebate of total considerations he receives. Councilman Irwin made the second. Motion carried by a vote.of 6 for, '2 against. Councilman Stone against because of too many problems that will arise. There was more discussion concerning the people on welfare. Councilman Curtis moved that anyone on the welfare roll have their garbage picked up free. Councilman Loudermilk made the second. Motion did not carry by a vote of 2 for, 5 against, 1 abstained. Mayor Jones presented a new City Administrator Ordinance to the Council. Councilman Stone said he objected to Section 3 of the Ordinance which is the Powers and Duties of the City Administrator. Councilman Curtis said he also objected to this section of the new ordinance, as it was giving too much power to the City Administrator. Councilman Stone said he thought the hiring and firing of department heads should lie with the Council. After much discussion, Councilman Irwin moved to accept the new City Administrator Ordinance as written. Councilman Hammett made the second. Motion carried by a vote of 6 for, 2 against. N At this time Mrs. Darrell F. Holmes, Jr. read a letter of resignation from Mr. Darrell F. Holmes, Jr., Chief of Police. Councilman Smithey moved that the Council accept Mr. Holmes resignation. Councilman Hammett made the second. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned. Mayor ATTEST: City ecretary in