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09/15/2008-CC-Minutes-RegularMINUTES: CITY COUNCIL MEETING SEPTEMBER 15, 2008 PRESENT: Mayor Joe Higgs, Councilman Glenn Ervin, Councilman Robert Patton, Councilman Mike Walker, Councilman Thomas Muir, Councilman Andy Garza OTHERS PRESENT: City Manager Mike Brice, City Secretary/Asst City Manager Rose Chavez, Shannon Graves with the Sanger Courier, Billy Ezell, Dennis Engelke, 1.Call Meeting to Order, Invocation, Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor called meeting to order, Councilman Patton led the Invocation, followed by Councilman Ervin leading the Pledge of Allegiance. 2.Citizens Input: Citizens are allowed 3 minutes to speak. The City Council is unable to respond or to discuss any issues that are brought up during this section. a) Presentation of Check from CoServ Charitable Foundation to Replace the Sanger Fire Department Command Unit Dennis Engelke, Executive Director Co-Serve Charitable Foundation, addressed the Council concerning this item. Mr. Engelke indicated that they had received an application from our Fire Department concerning funding for a Fire Truck and repairs. Mr. Engelke indicated that Co-Serve is a member owned cooperative. A few years ago they conducted a survey of their members. In this survey they discovered their members like to be part of an organization that gives back to the community. In November of 2004, Co-Serv created the CoServ Charitable Foundation. It is funded by the Co-Serv employees through payroll deductions, donations of jury duty fees, conducting raffles, special fund raisers, and their biggest source of funding comes from their Co-Serv members. In November of 2005 they started a program called “Operation Roundup” in which they rounded up their residential customers utility bills to the next whole dollar. Those pennies automatically come to the foundation. The promise they made to their members was that every penny collected through “Operation Roundup” was to stay within the service area. These funds add up over time and are made possible by the members of Co-Serve. Mr. Engelke presented the Council with a check for $25,000 to support the Sanger Fire Department. In conclusion the foundation has awarded grant funds in the amount of $1,579,487 to fund 84 projects in thirty communities. The Council Member gave applause of appreciation for the generous grant funding. Councilman Muir stated that the Co-Serve foundation has funded the Sanger School Foundation several times, and they were one of the original donors to get the foundation started. b) Steven Louden, Administrator for the Care Inn of Sanger, introduced David Lee and Sergio Flores (residents of the Care Inn). Mr. Louden addressed Council concerning a request for repairs on Maple Street, between Care Inn of Sanger and Ray Roberts Plaza. He asked the Council consider repairing this road. They wrote a letter to the City in July, and visited with Mr. Brice and a couple of other people concerning this road. At that time, they were told the street was part of the Care Inn’s property. Mr. Louden indicated they have research their property and they believe this street is a City street. He presented some documents to the Council and asked they consider this street for repairs. CONSENT AGENDA 3.a) Approve Minutes:September 2, 2008 - Work Session September 2, 2008 - City Council b) Disbursements c) Approve Ordinance #09-31-08 - Changing the Name of Ridgecrest Drive to Kincaid Drive d) Approve the Following Board Appointments: Billy Ezell as an Alternate on the Board of Adjustments, Allen Chick to the Parks Board and Jarrod Link to the Library Board e) Approve Sewer Main Pro-Rata Reimbursement Agreement Between the City of Sanger, Texas and S&T Custom Homes Regarding the Marion Road Lift Station Councilman Walker asked that Item “c” be pulled for discussion. Motion was made by Councilman Patton to accept the consent agenda as presented with the exception of item “c” for open discussion. Seconded Councilman Ervin. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Ervin asked how long is Ridgecrest, who requested the change, and why. The City Manager advised it is the entire street, and it is the second to last street in Quail Run going north. This situation came up during the platting. The intent was to change the street to Kincaid Drive during the filing of the plat, and the plat apparently got filed with Ridgecrest Drive. There are four new houses addressed as Kincaid Drive. The Post Office prefers it to be Kincaid, since they already have a Ridgecrest east of town. This corrects the plat and allows the information to be forwarded to the County, to 911, and to the Post Office. Brief discussion continued. Motion made by Councilman Garza to change the street name of Ridgecrest Drive to Kincaid Drive in honor of Tommy Kincaid by Ordinance #09-31-08. Seconded by Councilman Patton. Motion carried unanimously. 4. Consider and Possible Action on Resolution #R09-14-08 - Change in the Tariff of Atmos Energy Corporation, Mid-Tex Division (“Atmos”) as a Result of a Settlement Between Atmos and Texas Municipalities. City Manager advised this was a negotiated settlement between the group of cities which includes Sanger, and Atmos Energy over the rate increase. The positive change is the base rate for residential customers was reduced from $10.69 to $7.00 a month. This will lessen the impact on those residents who are on fixed incomes. There was also a reduction on the small commercial accounts. Councilman Ervin made a motion to approve Resolution #R09-14-08 changing the tariff of Atmos Energy Corporation as stated. Seconded by Councilman Walker. Motion carried unanimously. Councilman Muir indicated Atmos provided information in their enclosed materials concerning educating their customers in the handling of rising energy bills. They offer energy efficiency options for controlling costs and other valuable information. He would like to encourage the local media to highlight the fact that there are different options for people to sign up for and options for controlling costs during the winter time frame. 5.Consider and Possible Action on Development Agreement in Lieu of Annexation Between the City of Sanger, Texas and Elaine Kerr. The City Manager indicated that the Council approved a Development Agreement in lieu of annexation on June 16th with Elaine Kerr. The agreement only mentioned 36.84 acres out of a 80 acre tract. The problem occurred when they went to file this at the County and they discovered the 80 acre tract had never been platted. There were two different “R” numbers with two different surveys. Ms. Kerr was contacted and was asked if she would consider the entire 80 acre tract and she agreed. The term of the agreement is for 15 years, and the City agrees not to annex this property as long as it does not develop. It must also be used for agricultural purposes. Motion was made by Councilman Ervin to approve the development agreement in lieu of annexation between the City of Sanger and Elaine Kerr. Seconded by Councilman Walker. Motion carried unanimously. 6.Consider and Possible Action on Approving Budget Amendments. The City Manager advised this is an end of the year process to make sure that none of the individual departments will end in a deficit. This does not balance every line item. The adjustments are necessary to balance the total expenditures in certain departments. Motion made by Councilman Patton to approve the budget amendments as presented. Seconded by Councilman Ervin. Motion carried unanimously, 7.Items: Councilman Patton indicated last week as the City moved forward with the “Streetscape Project” we were also in preparation for the “Sellabration”. There were concerns that the possibilities of bad weather the event might not come through. He personally witnessed John Henderson, the Street Supt. supervise the project from its inception all the way through. He commended John Henderson for his 110% effort for overseeing the project. He quailed the anxiety that was present in a timely manner. Councilman Patton asked if a letter of commendation be placed in his file. Councilman Patton indicated John Henderson withstood a storm other than the rain and came through like a champion that he is. Councilman Ervin indicated he would like Maple Street to be on the next agenda. Councilman Walker requested that they possible get a status update on the new Sewer Plant at the next meeting. He expressed a concern in the possibility of the rising cost for labor and material in delaying the project. City Manager advised that it will definitely have it on the work session agenda for the next meeting. a) City of Sanger Investment Report b) Monthly Financial Statement c) Monthly Library Report d) Letter Regarding Library Grant Award 8. Adjournment. Mayor declared meeting adjourned.