June 18, 2020 – City Council Meeting Minutes

Jul 21, 2020

CITY OF SEYMOUR CITY COUNCIL

MEETING MINUTES

JUNE 18, 2020

A Regular City Council Meeting was held on Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 7:00 P.M. at the Seymour Auditorium, 301 N. Washington Street, Seymour, TX  76380.

Mayor Jon Hrncirik called the meeting to order, along with roll call and Pledge of Allegiance at 7:04 p.m.   

Proclamation was read by Mayor Jon Hrncirik regarding July 4, 2020.  

Council present: Mayor Jon Hrncirik, Lan Winn, Mayor Pro-Tem Monty Glass, Brian Broome, Mary K. Fair and Brenda Miller.

Counsel: Jon Whitsitt

City Staff: City Administrator Steve Biedermann, City Secretary Conchita Torrez, ED Director Lauren Bush, Utility Billing Clerk Ericka Sturgeon and Finance Director Mary Griffin.

Guest(s): Mark McCord, Matt Gwinn, Grant Elliott, Sarah Starnes, and Regan Hollar.

Announcements from the Mayor: Mayor Hrncirik took the time to thank all the city employees for all their hard work and the lots that they have cleaned. He also announced that on June 6-7, 2020, a great turnout had been held at the Salt Fork Recreational Complex.

Citizen’s questions and/or comments: No comments were given, nor questions asked at this meeting.

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 from May 21, 2020 

b)  Accept Reports

1.  Monthly Investment Report- September 2019 through May 2020

2.  First Bank & Trust account report summary

3.  Employee & Contract List/ Salt Fork Recreational Complex Membership Total

4.  Written reports by City Administrator and Supervisors

5.  City of Seymour Quarterly Reports for Oct. -Dec. 2019 & Jan. -March 2020

End of Consent Agenda 

After reviewing the consent agenda, the Mayor entertained a motion.

Motion made by Councilmember Lan Winn, seconded by MPT Monty Glass to approve the consent agenda as presented by City Secretary Conchita Torrez.  Motion carried 5-0.

2. Mayor Hrncirik to swear in Ericka Sturgeon as the Municipal Court Clerk.   

Mayor Jon Hrncirik swore in Ericka Sturgeon as the City of Seymour Municipal Court Clerk.

City Secretary Conchita Torrez has held this position for the last 22 years and stated it was time for someone else to take the reins and is confident that Ericka will do a great job!!

Regular meeting will close, and Executive Session will begin at 7:15 p.m.

3. An Executive Session closed to the public and pursuant to the Local Government Code, Section 551 of the Texas Local Government Code, under Section 551.01; Consultation with City Attorney regarding Gun Range Property.

Executive Session closes and Regular meeting will resume at 7:59 p.m.

4. Discuss and take action regarding deliberations from Executive Session.

Motion made by Councilmember Brian Broome, seconded by MPT Monty glass, to keep shooting range secure and everyone is to follow the same guidelines and rules.  Motion carried 5-0.

Regular meeting closes to begin a Public Hearing.

5.  The City of Seymour to hold a Public Hearing regarding the closure of Kile Street, as requested by owner Rodney Janes at 404 W. Custer. 

At the Public Hearing regarding this request, Council made sure that lines had been located and that the ordinance state that the City would be allowed a right of way access if needed in the future.   No questions or comments were made by visitors at the public hearing.

Public hearing closes and Regular meeting will resume at 8:07 p.m.

6.  Discuss and take action to approve Ordinance No. 2020-06, to close and abandon Kile Street as requested per owner Rodney Janes at 404 W. Custer Street.

City Council reviewed ordinance and a motion was entertained.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Councilmember Mary K. Fair, to approve Ordinance No. 2020-06 to close and abandon Kile Street.  Motion carried 5-0.

7.  Motion to remove tabled agenda item from May 21, 2020 Regular City Council Meeting, on whether to raise Electric Power Cost Factor to .085 or leave as .065.

Motion made by Councilmember Mary K. Fair, seconded by MPT Monty Glass, to remove the Electric Power Cost Factor off the table to re-discuss.  Motion carried 5-0.

8. Discuss and take action to approve Ordinance No. 2020-04, regarding the Electric Power Cost Factor.

Visitor Mark McCord stated that the electricity should remain the same and city should ride it out until the first of January 2021, when the city changes electric company.

Visitor Regan Hollar stated that he agreed with everything Mark stated and for the City to do the right thing for the customers.

After a lengthy discussion and reviewing the figures that were presented by Mary Griffin, Finance Director, council entertained a motion.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Councilmember Mary K. Fair, to allow the City of Seymour to raise the electric power cost back to .085.  Motion carried with 3 AYES and two NAYS by Councilmembers Brian Broome and Lan Winn.  The AYES carried the motion with 3-2.  

9. Review update information received from Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Castilleja.

Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Samantha Castilleja was not present at the meeting but had presented a letter to the City Council regarding all the progress and activities scheduled for the rest of the year.  Council was impressed and satisfied with her letter.   No action was taken on this agenda item.

10. Discuss and approve City of Seymour Accounts Payable bills paid the month of May 2020.

City Council reviewed the accounts payable bills and a motion was entertained.

Motion made by Councilmember Mary K. Fair, seconded by MPT Monty Glass to approve accounts payable bills as presented.  Motion carried 5-0

11. Discuss and take action regarding information received from Economic Development Director, Lauren Bush on Kenning Global building located at 1007 Kenning Drive.

ED Director Lauren Bush stated that the Kenning Global building is up for sale.

The City has the right of first refusal of the property, meaning that if the owner of the land goes to sell the property and has an offer from a buyer that he is willing to accept, he is required to contract the city and notify the city, and if the city wants, it can purchase the property for the same price and under the same terms and conditions as the prospective buyer is going to buy it.

Lauren Bush presented this information to Mayor and City Council.  No action was taken at this time.

12. Discuss and give direction to Economic Development Director Lauren Bush on Zoning Administration, Fire Protection and Construction Codes, regarding changes presented.

ED Director Lauren Bush presented to the Mayor and City Council information regarding the current Zoning Administration, Fire Protection and Construction Code. There are changes that need to be made and updated.   City Council reviewed the proposed changes and directed Lauren to place a Public Hearing Notice in the BANNER so that this could be discussed, and ordinances be writing up.   No action was taken

13. Discuss and give direction to City Administrator Steve Biedermann, regarding the selling of Electric Department 1978 Ford Pickup.

Motion was made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Councilmember Lan Winn, to have City Administrator Steve Biedermann place an ad in BANNER to sell the 1978 Ford Pickup, that is in the Electric Department for $1,000.00.  Motion carries 5-0.

14. City Council to give direction to City Administrator regarding the old decorative streetlights that were removed and replaced.

Direction was given to City Administrator Steve Biedermann, to contact families that had donated the decorative streetlights and ask if they would like to take one. Each family is allowed only one.  City Administrator understood.

15. Adjournment of meeting

Motion was made by MPT Monty Glass, seconded by Councilmember Lan Winn at 9:29 p.m.   Motion carried 5-0.

Passed and Approved on this the 16 day of July 2020.

Mayor Jon Hrncirik 

ATTEST:

Conchita Torrez, City Secretary- TRMC