July 20, 2021 – City Council Meeting Minutes

Sep 14, 2021

 CITY OF SEYMOUR CITY COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2021

A Regular City Council Meeting was held on Tuesday, July 20, 2021, at 7:00 P.M. at 800 E. Morris Street, Portwood Art & Civic Center, Seymour, Texas 76380.

1. Call to Order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Jon Hrncirik at 7:10 p.m.  

Council present: Mayor Jon Hrncirik, MPT Monty Glass, Council Member Lan Winn, Council Member Les Hons, Council Member Jay Hudson

Council absent: Council Member Brian Broome

Counsel present: City Attorney was not present at the meeting.

City Staff present: City Administrator Jeffrey Brasher Ed. D, City Secretary Conchita Torrez, Economic Development Director Lauren Bush, Water/Sewer/RO Plant Supervisor Robert Torrez, Finance Director Mary Griffin, Water & Sewer Department Colby Frost, Anthony Arjes, Greg Shumate, Seymour PD Sergeant Bryce Sawyer, Chris Jimenez

Guest(s): Samantha Chumley (Grantworks), James Miller, Jo Miller, Charlie Rose, Tammie Glass, Mark McCord, Jack Miller, Sherry Shumate, Jarrod Lemons, Tim McMath.

2. Announcements from the Mayor:

Upcoming Council Meetings:

a. July 20, 2021,           Regular Called Meeting          7:00 p.m.

b. July 27, 2021,           Special Called Meeting          7:00 p.m.

c. August 5, 2021,         Special Called Meeting          7:00 p.m.

d. August 26, 2021,       Regular Called Meeting         5:00 p.m.

At this time, Mayor Hrncirik asked that we move the order of the meeting and allow Samantha Chumley (GrantWorks) to explain the American Rescue Plan and authorize the City of Seymour to issue requests for proposals (RFP) for administrative services and (RFQ’s) for professional services.

11. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding The American Rescue Plan, by authorizing the City of Seymour to issue requests for proposals (RFP) for administrative services and requests for qualifications (RFQs) for professional services for the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Samantha Chumley, a representative for Grantwork and out of Lubbock Texas, spoke regarding the American Rescue Plan for the City of Seymour. The City of Seymour is projected to receive $555,999.00. These funds may be used for providing aid to local businesses, households, or non-profits. A city may provide increased premium pay to essential workers, provide government services that may have been reduced due to reduction in revenue, or choose to make investments in water, sewer, or broadband infrastructure.

These available funds must be fully dispersed by December 21, 2024. Although limited program information is currently available, grant administration services could include management of procurement processes, developing program priorities and determining eligibility, maintain regulatory programmatic compliance, and providing accurate routine reporting to the Treasury Department. For more information go to https://tdem.texas.gov/clfrf.

City Council did not have any questions; therefore, public comments were allowed at this time.

Mark McCord

Mark asked was there a fee involved and how would Grantworks get paid ?

Samantha stated that unfortunately, that figure was not known yet. They were still working on figures.

Charlie Rose

Mr. Rose asked if there was a program or grant that would help with the winter storm, that occurred, because the City is still trying to recoup some of this money and figure out how to pay the outstanding million dollars that is owed. .

Samantha stated unfortunately this grant would not help with this. This program has specific use guidelines. Grantworks is still working on information that is related to these issues. A lot of the cities will be using their money to help with water/ sewer infrastructure,

2. Announcements from the Mayor:

Upcoming Council Meetings:

a. July 20, 2021,           Regular Called Meeting          7:00 p.m.

b. July 27, 2021,           Special Called Meeting          7:00 p.m.

c. August 5, 2021,         Special Called Meeting          7:00 p.m.

d. August 26, 2021,       Regular Called Meeting         5:00 p.m.

At this time, Mayor read the upcoming City Council meeting minutes and the scheduled times for each of them.  The Council meetings are all scheduled for 7:00 p.m., unless out of town guests are on the agenda and the time will be moved up to accompany our speaker to return home at a reasonable hour.

3. Citizen’s Comments:  (At this time, interested citizens are encouraged to indicate their interest in speaking, and upon being recognized by the Mayor, approach the podium to express your commentsfor a length of time not to exceed five minutes. Neither Council action nor discussion may take place on any matter, until such matter has been placed on an agenda and posted in accordance with law.)

Charlie Rose

I want to thank Jeff and the city crew for cleaning up some of the lots and filling in potholes around town.

Mary K. Fair

Stated she wanted to thank the council for not wanding citizens before the meeting.

Neon sign was going to have a hail protector and it still doesn’t have one.

It is an icon for downtown and a lot of people appreciate it.

4. City Administrator Jeffrey Brasher Ed.D, will present award to a City of Seymour department and employee.

City Administrator Jeffrey Brasher presented certificates to the Seymour Water/Sewer Department for their outstanding work. He stated he has worked with a lot of teams and employees, but the City of Seymour has some of the best employees.

Supervisor Robert Torrez stated the he  had one of the best departments working with him. He was very fortunate to have Colby Frost, Anthony Arjes and Greg Shumate, who is the overseer of the Wastewater Treatment Plant.

Also recognized was Mary Griffin in the Finance Department. She has been with the City since 1998 and works hard every day.  We are very fortunate to have her on board, stated City Administrator Jeffrey Brasher.

5. 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.)

a)  Approve meeting minutes from June 10, 2021, June 15, 2021, June 17, 2021, June 29, 2021.   

b)  Monthly Investment Report

c.) Peoples Bank Texas account report summary

d.) Employee & Contract List/ Salt Fork Golf totals  (100 members)

e.) Written reports by City Administrator and Supervisors

f.) Approve accounts payable bills for the month of June 2021

g.)  Appoint Jeffrey Brasher, City Administrator to the Seymour Municipal Airport Advisory Board.

Mayor Hrncirik and City Council reviewed the Consent Agenda as presented.  Mayor Hrncirik and City Administrator asked that we remove the meeting minutes from the consent agenda as city secretary was not finished with them.

Council had no questions regarding the consent agenda.

At this time public comments were allowed by guests

Mary K. Fair

Mary K. Fair stated she would like to know the total of the accounts payable bills paid the month of June 2021.

City Secretary Conchita Torrez stated that it was $453,566.10

No more questions were asked by guests

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council Member Les Hons, to accept the consent agenda as presented, with the exception of council meeting minutes from June 10, 2021, June 15, 2021, June 17, 2021, and June 29, 2021.  Motion carried 4/0

6.City Secretary Conchita Torrez to appoint Jeffrey Brasher, Ed.D, to the Airport Advisory Board

At this time, City Secretary Conchita Torrez appointed Jeffrey Brasher, Ed. D. to the Seymour Municipal Airport Advisory Board.

7.  Public Hearings

a. The City of Seymour to hold a Final Public Hearing regarding PINNACLE requesting a Specific Use Permit, concerning Parcel 38329, Lots 3-7, Block 1, of the McCord Addition in Seymour, Texas.

Economic Development Director Lauren Bush stated that she had received 15 signatures against the Specific Use Permit, concerning Parcel 38329, Lots 3-7, Block 1, of the McCord Addition in Seymour, Texas, those were just given to her by Mr. Jack Miller, so they were not in the council packets.   This request was from PINNACLE to place a tower at the stated location.

Also, of the 5 people that were sent letters, I got 1 yes, 4 no’s and 2 responses.  One of the responses was from Carl Kisinger who stated that he was against the tower being placed at said location.  Comments from Jamie Miller were received as well, against the tower.  She stated it would de-value their existing homes.

At this time public comments were received by guests

Jack Miller

Stated he was not against towers, progress, just against towers being located in their back yards.  He was hoping that city council had time to consider this and would they want it in their back yard.

Mary K. Fair

She stated that she had signed the petition against, and she was still against it. I live just east of Mr. Miller.

Charles Rose

Allowing a tower in a residential area is not a good decision for the city, citizens, or anyone else that lives close to it.

No one else spoke therefore, Mayor Hrncirik continued with the meeting.

b. The City of Seymour to hold a Final Public Hearing regarding Loy Studer requesting a Specific Use Permit, concerning Lot 13, Block 18 of the Original Seymour Addition, comprised of .1 acres in Seymour, Texas. Property also known as 201 N. East Street.

Economic Development Director Lauren Bush stated that this was the Final Public Hearing for Loy Studer’s request. 11 letters were sent, with 3 responses received back with yes, 0 no’s, and 0 comments.

Council did not have any questions or comments therefore public comments were allowed by guests.

Charlie Rose

The location is behind United Grocery Store. Loy did a real good job in cleaning it up and I recommend you vote yes and grant him the permit.

Mary K. Fair

I have mixed feelings about this.  The lot was cleaned and cleared but there is no gravel on the place.  If it rains it will cause a lot of ruts. I think the surface should have gravel so the surface can look cleaner.

c. The City of Seymour to hold a Final Public Hearing regarding Danny Hrncirik requesting a Re-Zone Request, concerning Lots 7-10, Block 30 of the Original Seymour Addition, comprised of .643 acres in Seymour, Texas. Property also known as 406 S. Tackitt Street, this will change from a B-1 to a B-2.

Economic Development Director Lauren Bush stated that this was the Final Public Hearing for Danny Hrncirik.  8 letters were sent with 3 responses to yes, 1 no and 1 no opinion. This property is zoned on the north side as a B-1 and the south side as a R-1.  It needs to be properly zoned.

Council did not have any questions or comments; therefore, public comments were allowed by guests.

Charles Rose

Mr. Rose stated that Mr. Hrncirik has had a commercial business for about 25 years at that location. It needs to be properly zoned and make all the property a B-1.  Lauren stated it would be a  B-2. 

d. The City of Seymour to hold a Public Hearing regarding an application for a Specific Use Permit from Jessie Moore, concerning Lots 7-12, Block 3 of the Original Seymour Addition of Seymour, Texas, also known as 221 S. Main Street. This permit would issue a Salvage, Wreck, Junk and Scrap permit to the requestor.

Economic Development Director Lauren Bush stated this was the first of two public hearings. Mr. Moore applied for his Specific Use Permit and is trying to get his permit application done.

He has his TDA License and Certification. 

There were no questions or comments from the council.

Public Comments were allowed at this time by guests.

Charlie Rose

He stated that Jesse Moore is an outstanding citizen, who works hard and is trying to do the right thing by the city. He would suggest that council grant him his Salvage, Wreck, Junk and Scrap permit, when it comes time to issue his permit.

Mary K. Fair

Mary K. stated the Jesse had put up a fence and she appreciated what he did.

8. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding Specific Use Permit for PINNACLE.  

Motion was entertained by Mayor Hrncirik to allow PINNACLE a Specific Use Permit.  This request died for lack of motion.

9. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding Specific Use Permit for Loy Studer, for property at 201 N. East Street.

Motion made by Council Member Les Hons, seconded by Council Member Jay Hudson, to approve Specific Use Permit for Loy Studer at location described as 201 N. East Street.  Motion carried 4/0 and providing that requestor place gravel on location.

10. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding Re-zone request from Danny Hrncirik, for property located at 406 S. Tackitt Street.

Mayor Hrncirik entertained a motion.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council Member Jay Hudson to grant a re-zone request to Danny Hrncirik as a B-2, for location described as 406 S. Tackitt Street.  Motion carried 4/0.

12. Adjournment of meeting

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Council Member Les Hons, to adjourn meeting at 7:56 p.m.   Motion carried 4/0.

Passed and Approved on this the 26th day of August 2021.

Mayor Jon Hrncirik

Attest:

City Secretary, Conchita Torrez-TRMC