AGENDA - REGULAR SESSION
TOM BEAN CITY COUNCIL
201 S. BRITTON, TOM BEAN, TEXAS
http://tombean.net
Monday, December 8, 2003 - 7:00 p.m.
On Monday, December 8, 2003 the Tom Bean City Council met in a Regular Session.
1. CALL TO ORDER
Tom Wilthers called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. INVOCATION
Pastor John Hall, First Baptist Church and led the meeting in a word of prayer.
3. ROLL CALL
Council Members present were: Mayor Tom Wilthers, Ben Vincent, Sherry Howard, Tamra Chancellor (left early), Jerry Harris and Debbie Ellis (arrived late due to a previous scheduled meeting).
Staff members present: Chief Dusty Miller and City Secretary Cathy Pugh
Visitors Present: John McGraw, Rubye Eppler, and Janet Schaab
4. APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING
Jerry Harris made the motion approve the minutes from November 3, 2003 with requested corrections. Sherry Howard seconded, Ben Vincent abstained, and Tamra Chancellor was in favor. Motion carried.
5. CONSENT ITEMS - None
6. PRESENTATION BY CITIZENS
6.1 Sherry Howard as Lions Club spokesman stated that 40 signs should be delivered by Christmas to the Lions Club. The cost of the signs is $747.50 this came out to $14.95 each. She stated that she would get a price on caps to fit on the new poles.
6.2 Kent and Paula Lashley asked to be taken off the agenda.
7. PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
8. OLD BUSINESS
8.1 Mayor Wilthers stated that the TCEQ project was nearly finished. He stated that he used the remainder of the money to purchase 31 trees with water drip lines on each tree. He stated that he would send TCEQ the before and after pictures and ask them to finalize the project and dismiss the suit. Tamra Chancellor asked that the Council members have copies of the final paperwork.
9. NEW BUSINESS
9.1 Mayor Wilthers went over the profit and loss report. Ben Vincent asked if we had budgeted for a Prosecutor. Mayor Wilthers stated that we did not budget for a Prosecutor but that the Court was already substantially ahead of the budget for the year. The extra money would cover the cost of a Prosecutor. Mayor Wilthers stated that he set up a new income account 5993 for the Community Center Income. Tamra Chancellor asked about donations from the Chamber. Mayor Wilthers explained that the Chamber had ordered items that the City needed and when the invoices came in the Chamber wrote the City a check for the amount of the invoice. The City then deposits the donated amount and pays the invoice. Mrs. Chancellor asked that a policy be put into place regarding donations so that everyone is required to abide by the same set of rules. Mayor Wilthers feels that a donation is a donation no matter where it comes from and if someone wants to donate to the City they should be allowed to. He asked the Council to give him some feed back. Ben Vincent agreed that the City should be allowed to accept donations. No one else had any comments. Mayor Wilthers stated that he would get a list together of everything that has been donated to the City and put the items on the insurance policy.
9.2 Tamra Chancellor made the motion to apply the matured Street Sign CD to the Lions Club project for street signs and the remaining funds should be designated as needed by the City. Ben Vincent seconded all were in favor.
9.3 Mayor Wilthers stated that both the banks in town had asked for the City’s accounts. He reviewed the contracts and they were both the same. He suggested that the Council stay at the First National Bank of Tom Bean. Tamra Chancellor made the motion to move the City accounts to the Texas Star Bank. Sherry Howard seconded. Jerry Harris and Ben Vincent opposed. Mayor Wilthers broke the tie with a vote to oppose moving the accounts to Texas Star Bank. The accounts will stay at the First National Bank of Tom Bean.
9.4 Mayor Wilthers asked the Council to allow the City Hall to close on December 26, 2003 and to make it a paid Holiday. Ben Vincent made the motion to close City Hall December 26, 2003 and to make it a paid Holiday. Jerry Harris seconded all were in favor.
9.5 Mayor Wilthers suggested that the Council table the plat change on Highway 11 until more information could be obtained. Ben Vincent made the motion to table the plat change. Sherry Howard seconded and all were in favor.
9.6 Mayor Wilthers stated that the State had deeded the right of way along Highway 11 to the City. There is a little section of land that adjoins Lonnie Jones property and he would like to purchase this from the State. The State notified the City and stated that the City had first choice in purchasing the piece of property. Jerry Harris made the motion to decline to purchase the property. Ben Vincent seconded and all were in favor.
10. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Ben Vincent made the motion to take a ten-minute break. Sherry Howard seconded and all were in favor.
Debbie Ellis made the motion to go into executive session at 8:00 p.m. to discuss the City Inspectors resume. Tamra Chancellor seconded and all were in favor.
Jerry Harris made a motion to adjourn Executive Session at 8:38 p.m. Sherry Howard seconded and all were in favor.
Tamra Chancellor left the City Council meeting during Executive Session for personal reasons.
Debbie Ellis made the motion to table the City Inspector’s resume. Jerry Harris seconded and all were in favor.
11. REPORTS OF ADVISORY BOARDS
11.1 Planning and Zoning Board – No Report
12 ITEMS FROM COUNCIL
Jerry Harris asked if we had heard anything from TML regarding changing our health insurance. Mayor Wilthers stated that the information had been sent to them and we were waiting to hear back.
Sherry Howard asked about the outdoor Bulletin Board. Mayor Wilthers said that we are working on that.
13. STAFF REPORTS
13.1 Chief Miller went over his monthly reports. He reported that he was missing two of the officer reports. He mentioned that the tickets were up this month. He stated that he had also changed around the officers’ shifts. He stated that the Chamber had donated two portable breath testers, two flashlights, carport, police patches, and two digital cameras. He stated that the Grant he had applied for had approved the purchase of portable generators. He also stated that he had put on a new Reserve Officer, Officer Widing, who had worked for us in the past.
13.2 Mayor Wilthers went over the Public Works report. He stated that he still has no clue where the unaccounted water is going. He mentioned that they had replaced 27 more meters, which makes a total of 77 meters changed out. Debbie Ellis asked if anyone had contacted Stan Woodruff regarding his back flow prevention on his car wash. She mentioned that the State requires back flow preventions on car washes, sprinkler systems, and swimming pools. Mayor Wilthers stated that he would follow up with Warren Williams.
13.3 Cathy Pugh stated that tickets are up and that she is training Deborah Harris to do the Municipal Court tickets, collections, and paperwork. She also stated that she had written to the State requesting the Failure to Appear Program and they had approved it.
13.4 Mayor Wilthers told the Council that all the employee evaluations and raises had been given. He mentioned that the new Judge, Mike McGraw had started doing our Municipal Court. He stated that he was putting together a map on the streets he has earmarked for repairs. Debbie Ellis suggested that the City post the list on the bulletin board for the public view. Mayor Wilthers stated that the state had donated 675 yards of ground asphalt. He also mentioned that TML is giving us a refund of $1,000 due to salaries being less last year. He also stated that the Lone Star grand opening went very well and was very good for the City. He stated that with the current water wells we could add 300 more homes. Debbie Ellis mentioned that the City had done a good job of keeping up with the maintenance on the wells through the summer. Ben Vincent stated that it was a good idea to use the both the wells during the summer.
14. ANNOUNCEMENTS - None
15. ADJOURNMENT
Debbie Ellis made the motion to adjourn at 9:17 p.m. Ben Vincent seconded and all were in favor.
PREPARED BY: CATHY PUGH, CITY SECRETARY
DATE APPROVED: January 8, 2004
SIGNATURE: ______
Mayor Tom Wilthers
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