MINUTES OF A SPECIAL SESSION

OF THE TOM BEAN CITY COUNCIL

SEPTEMBER 04, 2001

104 S BRITTON, TOM BEAN, TX  75489

http://home.texoma.net/~tombean

 

 

 

 

The City Council convened in Special Session on Tuesday, September 04 2001, in the City Council Chambers of Tom Bean City Hall, 104 S Britton, TOM BEAN, TX. Council Members present: Mayor David Schaab, Mayor Pro-Tem Terry Sorenson, Jerry Harris, Rebecca Blomstedt, Bobbie Moran, and Ruby Barnes. A quorum was declared: The Special Session of the City Council meeting commenced at 7:02 P.M. Jerry Harris opened the meeting with a word of prayer. Citizens present were Debbie Ellis, Ann and Robert Smith.

 

First item on the agenda Benny Souther-Pay in Lieu of Vacation. Ruby Barnes asked if we had the funds available, the Mayor stated vacation is figured in the budget for salary.  Terry Sorenson motioned to pay, Ruby Barnes seconded, and all were in favor. 

 

Chief Mitchell and Sergeant Smith proposal to hire third officer was pulled from the agenda. The officers left a letter* for the council to withdraw from the agenda.

 

Road Project Bids, according to the banks, is far to high based on the tax rate, so there are no road bids to accept at this time. The Mayor stated he is working on some municipal bonds, the city secretary is looking into a grant from USDA,  (rural development grants) in the case we have to re-bid again because no bids were accepted from the banks, the bids may remain open for a period of sixty (60) days, after that period, we will have to re-bid.  Debbie Ellis asked why couldn’t we re-bid with out the culverts. The Mayor stated that because of the streets and rainfall the city would need the culverts. The reason the bid went from $500,000 to $800,000 was because of the road base. Some area would need more than others, and it would be insensible to spend that much on the roads, just to have them need more maintenance at a later time.  Ann Smith, a resident at whispering oaks, stated no name road is a huge problem for her and her family every day. Apparently, water is a rare commodity and she has encountered two leaks on that road and it just keeps getting worse with all the rainfall we have been having lately. Some days she cannot get home, the drainage is so bad. When winter comes, and it ices over, she is unable to get in or out of her home.  The mayor stated the roads might not be finished by winter. Mrs. Smith asked why couldn’t we raise taxes again? The Mayor stated that was not an option.  Ms. Ellis stated, why couldn’t we section the city and bid on each section. The city could zone each section according to need and go from there. Terry Sorenson stated the contractors would not allow that. When the city bids, every road would have to be completed in the project. The Mayor stated we have encountered other options: There may be grant moneys available, matching the amounts we can’t afford. Ms. Smith stated she would be happy at this time if the City could just lay white rock for the time being. Matter of fact, she also said, she has some white rock at the end of no name road that the city could use. Terry Sorenson could not remember where or why the rock was there, the property owners may have put that there to keep out trespassers. Ruby Barnes asked what was the difference between the rock at the ball field and Bub’s. Terry Sorenson said Bub’s rock is bigger, it is not crushed. The city could look into the matter of putting rock on the road.

 

The Mayor explained to the council the current issues with TNRCC. Presumably, at the time the City was applying for a sewer permit, it was a requirement to run an advertisement in the local paper. The advertisement was placed in the Herald Democrat. There was also a requirement to run a second ad, however it was overlooked and not placed properly. The Mayor is currently corresponding with the TNRCC on matters to correct this issue. 

 

The next item was to approve the budget. Terry Sorenson asked if we would be administrating the budget differently than in the past. The separate accounting for each department is a necessity. Mayor Schaab then stated that years of deficit spending have made it difficult to have a healthy budget in the beginning of the fiscal year. The City has assumed all of the past debts.  The council does need to approve the budget and make recommendations to a problem.  Terry Sorenson aid that it is very difficult to figure a budget with late payments, or with a budget that is figured with percentages that reflect bills that have been paid, but in truth they have not.  Also, when we purchase something for the public work or the police department, the city employees need to put some thought into the purchase, as well as the council itself. Mayor Schaab said that with the fiscal budget, the city should consider breaking down each department; for example, the sewer will have its own liability as well as the police dept. There will be mishaps that are not budgeted, that is to be expected. Terry Sorenson motioned to table the budget on the September 10th meeting. Ruby Barnes seconded, and all were in favor.  The Mayor asked the council to review the current budgets prepared for them and have some feedback on the 10th, the budget has to be finished at this time.

 

The Mayor asked for any items from council. Rebecca Blomstedt asked about the phone lines at the lift stations and bills not paid. The City Clerk informed Ms. Blomstedt that the check that were printed, were mailed the week earlier. Rebecca Blomstedt asked if the city could have a representative from GTE at the next council meeting. (To discuss rates at the wells)  The City Clerk replied that would not be a problem. Mrs. Blomstedt also asked why there was not a Sergeant of arms present at the Budget Workshops. The Mayor stated he was not sure, except that perhaps they were either not aware of the meetings, or they did not see the need to be here for the Workshops. The Mayor asked if there were any more items from the council, Terry Sorenson said yes, his item involved the planning and zoning committee. Some complaints have run across in the past few days from some concerned citizens, about the fact the P & Z committee has been tagging house, quoting laws, building zones, etc.… The council should be able to approve and/or agree, but it should come before the council. I am an elected official; therefore I should have the opportunity to speak for the citizens. The Mayor said that the committee is trying to update records and attempting to enforce ordinances that have not been enforced in the past. Jerry Harris stated the police are to enforce laws, not committees. The Mayor said the city can speak with the committee and discuss their issues with them, and could personally speak with Ms. Masias. Terry also stated he could not believe what was being reported to Michael Bryant with his Manufactured Home. The laws the committee was quoting could not be true and correct, especially with the ordinances they have on hand at this time. The ordinances the committee is using at this time are for specifically the older model homes that were not built as they are today. I am not sure what they are telling Mr. Bryant is a true statement, because the council has not adopted them to be, what the committee is using are merely statues for Cities to use as guidelines only. The Mayor stated the only problem Mr. Bryant may have is the time frame of moving the old home out and the new one in. The committee should not have any other discrepancies with Mr. Bryant. He has completed the Specific use permit and paid the fee, the mailings were sent out, and no one has an objection. The City should have no other business with Michael Bryant. The Mayor asked if there were any other items from council, no item from the council.

 

Ruby Barnes made the motion to adjourn, Terry Sorenson seconded and all were in favor. The City Council adjourned at 10:30PM.

 

 

 

PREPARED BY: CATHERINE ROBLES, CITY SECRETARY

 

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