April 23, 2020 – City Council Meeting Minutes

May 27, 2020

CITY OF SEYMOUR MEETING MINUTES

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

APRIL 23, 2020

A Regular City Council Meeting was held on Thursday, April 23, 2020, at 7:00 P.M. at City Hall Auditorium, 301 N. Washington Street, Seymour, Texas, 76380.

Note: The City of Seymour was live on Face Book.

Call to Order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Jon Hrncirik at 7:00 p.m.

Council present: Mayor Jon Hrncirik, Council members Lan Winn, Mary K. Fair, Brenda Miller and MPT Monty Glass.

Council absent: Council member Brian Broome

City Staff present: City Administrator Steve Biedermann, City Secretary Conchita Torrez, ED Director Lauren Bush, Finance Director Mary Griffin and SFRC Supervisor Todd Hrncirik.

Proclamation: Child Abuse Prevention Month read by Mayor Jon Hrncirik

Announcements from Mayor: Mayor Jon Hrncirik presented the following announcements:

I would like to make a few comments on the crisis we have all been facing.

First of all, thank you for everyone listening, and I praise the citizens of Seymour for the great job they have done in keeping Seymour a safe place to live.

We have had a total of 20 tested for the COVID-19 with 19 negative and 1 positive in Goree, Texas. 15 of the 20 tested were local and all have come back negative.

This virus is real and it does kill people. I know of 2 gentlemen that have passed due to the virus. One in Wichita Falls, Texas and 1 in Bryan Texas.

I would like to thank all the businesses for their support and compliment them for a job well done. Our convenience stores are doing great . United Supermarket has done an exceptional job in complying with all that has been asked of them.

Dollar General, Allsups have worked hard as well to abide by the regulations and the city has requested of them.

Regarding the curfew, I am very much aware of the continued breaking of the curfew and the request of social distancing that takes place regularly by a group of local minors. It’s been in town or at Lake Kemp. Just know that we know and your safety is our main concern.

John Hostas, our Emergency Management Coordinator has done a great job and working hard every day to keep the County and City informed of the latest information.

Governor Abbott announced today that he will start loosening restrictions.

He will hold a conference call on Monday, April 27, 2020. Plans to discuss those and possibly going into effect on May 4, 2020. Standard and regulations will be put in a plan for everyone to follow. Hair salons , restaurants and movie theaters will be discussed.

We as a council will re-evaluate the declaration passed a few weeks ago after we hear on Monday what Governor Abbott will advice.

I take this time as well to thank the City Council and Staff for all their hard work. This is not an easy job and is stressful at times.

I would like to thank MPT Monty Glass, Council member Lan Winn, Council member Mary K. Fair, Council member Brian Broome, who is absent tonight and Council member Brenda Miller. I would also like to thank our City Administrator Steve Biedermann and our City Secretary Conchita Torrez.

In closing, we as a community have done excellent. I know some of you are not happy about the regulations that were put in place. I want everyone to know that no one is trying to take away your rights or civil liberties. We have everyone’s well being in mind.

Thank you for listening.

Citizen’s questions and/or Comments: There were a few comments on Face Book during our meeting. No one signed up for Public Comments .

CONSENT AGENDA: (Items listed under the Consent Agenda are considered routine and are generally enacted in one motion. The exception to this rule is that a Council Member may request one or more items to be removed from the Consent Agenda for separate discussion and action.)

1. Consider Approving The Consent Agenda As Follows:

a) Approve meeting minutes for Regular Council meeting on March 19, 2020 and

Emergency Meeting on April 2, 2020.

b) Accept Reports

1. First Bank and Trust report summary for March, 2020.

2. City of Seymour Employee List/Contract list & Golf Course Membership

Report

3. Administrator and Supervisor Reports

End of Consent Agenda

After reviewing the Consent Agenda a motion was entertained. Motion made

by MPT Monty Glass and a second by Council member Lan Winn. Motion

pass unanimously.

Public hearing begin at 7:14 p.m. and ended at 7:30 p.m.

2. The City of Seymour will hold a Public Hearing to discuss whether to raise

the electricity by 2 cents, or leave as is. A second and final public hearing will

follow at a future meeting.

City Council stated that as citizens of Seymour they don’t like seeing our

electricity go back up, but, as City Council members we are aware that the City

has lost close to 400 thousand during this time. As a city we have to have the

funds in order to operate.

No one else had any more comments or questions. This meeting was not the

determining factor, there will be a final public hearing regarding this issue at

the May 21, 2020 scheduled council meeting.

Public Hearing begins at 7:31 p.m. and ended at 7:33 p.m.

3. The City of Seymour will hold a Final Public Hearing regarding a request

from Jeff Groves to close streets on Bantau, Clements and Oregon Street.

This was the second public hearing held regarding the street closures on Bantau,

Clements and Oregon Street. Maps had been provided to City Council. A

sewer easement would have to be given to the City. Mr. Groves understood this

prior to the meeting.

No one had any questions or comments regarding this public hearing.

Public Hearing begins at 7:33 p.m. and ended at 7:35 p.m.

4. The City of Seymour will hold a Final Public Hearing to re-locate the

placement of Solar Led Yellow Flashing Lights. Lights to be placed on the

corner of McLain Street and Cedar Street, with light facing the South and light

placed on the corner of W. Pecan Street and Cedar Street, with light facing the

North.

Public hearings close and regular meeting will resume

5. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Ordinance No. 2020-02, of the

City of Seymour to close streets on Bantau, Clements and Oregon Street, as

requested by Jeff Groves doing business for Greg Miller.

Motion made by Council member Mary K. Fair and seconded by MPT Monty

Glass, to approve Ordinance No. 2020-02, closing streets on Bantau, Clements

and Oregon Street, with a deeded easement for the City of Seymour to have

access to sewer line located in the vicinity. Motion passed unanimously.

6. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Ordinance No. 2020-03, of the

City of Seymour, to re-locate the placement of Solar Led Yellow Flashing

Lights on the corner of McLain Street and Cedar Street and W. Pecan Street and

Cedar Street.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council member Lan Winn,

to approve Ordinance No. 2020-03, re-locating the placement of Solar Led

Yellow Flashing Lights on the corner of McLain and Cedar Street and the

corner of Pecan Street and Cedar. Motion passed unanimously.

7. Discuss and take action to approve City of Seymour bills paid the month of

March 2020. Motion made by Council member Lan Winn, seconded by

Council member Brenda Miller, to approve City of Seymour bills paid the

month of March 2020. Motion passed with 3 yeas and MPT Monty Glass

abstaining from vote or discussion.

8. Discuss all options regarding the City Pool and Salt Fork Recreational Pool,

for the 2020 Pool Season, due to COVID-19.

Mayor Hrncirik and City Council discussed the options we are facing regarding

he City Park Pool and the SFRC Pool for the 2020 pool season, due to

COVID-19.

The Mayor and City Council feel that while we should take precautions and

follow the regulations, we should also prepare ourselves by advertising for Pool

Manager, Assistant Pool Manager and lifeguards. In the event restrictions are

lifted by Governor Abbott, the City will be prepared for citizens to enjoy the

pool. City Council was all in agreement.

9. Discuss, consider and take action regarding bids received for the City of

Seymour Mowing Contract for the City Park and around the hospital where the

city owns property, The Sound Garden, Portwood Pavilion area and SISD

Auditorium located on Idaho Street. .

The City of Seymour received two bids for this job.

Josh Sosolik for the amount of $42,000

T- T Mowing (Todd Hrncirik) for the amount of $32,000

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council member Lan Winn,

to accept the bid from T-T Mowing for the amount of $32,000. Hrncirik will

also provide proof of property liability insurance in the amount of $2,500.00.

Motion passed unanimously.

10. Discuss the pros and cons regarding the location of future Council Meetings

to be held at the Seymour City Hall Auditorium or continue at the Portwood

Pavilion.

Seymour City Council has been meeting either at the Seymour Auditorium or

the Conference Room, due to renovations being made at the Portwood Pavilion.

Discussion of whether to move the meetings to City Hall or go back to

Portwood were entertained. A comment was made by a listener that Council

should remain at Portwood Pavilion due to handicap accessibility, which is the

major concern of Council member Mary K. Fair.

No decision was made, due to discussion only at this point. City Secretary

advices the Mayor that if a decision to move meetings to the Seymour

Auditorium, a resolution would need to be drawn up. Everyone understood.

11. Discuss, consider and take action to approve Resolution No. 1494,

declaring a local disaster, regarding COVID-19.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council member Lan Winn,

to approve Resolution No. 1494, declaring a local disaster, regarding COVID-

19. Motion passed unanimously.

12. Adjournment of meeting by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council

member Lan Winn to dismiss meeting at 8:25 p.m.

PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS THE 21^ST DAY OF MAY, 2020.

Jon Hrncirik, Mayor

ATTEST:

Conchita Torrez

City Secretary, TRMC