March 23, 2017 – City Council Meeting Minutes

Apr 24, 2017

CITY OF SEYMOUR

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

March 23, 2017

A Regular City Council meeting was held on Thursday, March 23, 2017, at the Portwood Art & Civic Center, 800 E. Morris Street, Seymour, Texas 76380.

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

Proclamation: Fair Housing Month read by Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis.

Council present: Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis, Les Hons, David Horton, Jon Hrncirik, Mary K. Fair and MPT Monty Glass.

Counsel present: Jonathan Whitsitt

City Staff: City Administrator Steve Biedermann, City Secretary Conchita Torrez, Finance Director Mary Griffin, Chief of Police Mike Griffin, Code Enforcement Officer John Byrket, Water/RO and WWTP Supervisor Robert Torrez, SFREC/Pool Supervisor Todd Hrncirik, Animal Control Officer Rob Clay and EDD Lauren Bush.

Guest(s): Baylor Co. Judge Rusty Stafford, Commissioners Rick Gillispie, John Ed Nelson, Larry Burnett.

Announcements from the Mayor: Mayor Mathis announced the Lions Club/Child Welfare Board Cake Auction which will take place at the Portwood Art & Civic Center on April 10, 2017.

The Baylor Co. Free Library is also having a bake/book sale on April 15, 2017. There will also be a RSVP/AAA Car & Truck Show in Wichita Falls, Texas on Saturday, April 22, 2017 at the Galaxy Center Parking Lot, Jacksboro Hwy @ Hatton Road.

Citizen questions or comments: No one had questions or comments 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.)

Consider approving the consent agenda as follows:

(a) Approve February, 16, 2017 Regular meeting minutes

(b) First Bank & Trust accounts report summary

(c ) Employee List and Salt Fork Membership Total

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Jon

Hrncirik to accept the Consent Agenda as presented by City Staff.

Motion carries.

END OF CONSENT AGENDA

Discuss and hear monthly supervisor reports from the following departments: Administration, Finance, Police, Economic Dev. Development, Electric, Water/Sewer/RO, Street and Park, Salt Fork & Pool and Emergency Management.

Supervisors gave their respective monthly reports. No action was taken on this agenda item.

Discuss, consider and approve the City of Seymour accounts payable bills paid in February, 2017.

Council reviewed the February bills and a motion was entertained.

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty Glass to approve the bills paid in February, 2017. Motion carries

Regular Meeting Closes and Public Hearing will begin at 7:28 p.m.

The City of Seymour will conduct a Public Hearing regarding the City of Seymour Drought Contingency Plan.

City Administrator Steve Biedermann informed the Mayor and City Council that he had spoken to Allen Phillips with Jacob and Martin, Tommy Holub with Special Utility District (SUD) regarding the Drought Contingency Plan. His suggestion was to change the plan from stage 3 to stage 2 with a few modifications which are listed below on agenda item #5.

No one spoke for or against this Public Hearing.

Public Hearing closes and Regular meeting resumes at 7:37 p.m.

Discuss, consider and take action to change the Drought Contingency Plan from Stage 3 to Stage 2, effective date of April 1, 2017, with modifications listed below.

Motion made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by Council member Les Hons, to allow City Administrator Steve Biedermann to change the plan from stage 3 to stage 2 with modifications as follows:

Even numbered addresses will be allowed to water their landscaped areas and gardens on Sundays and Thursdays by any method.

Odd numbered addresses will be allowed to water their landscaped areas and gardens on Saturdays and Wednesdays by any method.

Washing of personal vehicles by City residents at their homes between noon and five o’clock is allowed on their assigned watering days.

Washing of paved areas by residents and businesses is also allowed on their assigned watering days.

Filling of swimming pools using the City’s drinking water is still prohibited.

Customers should check for leaks, dripping faucets and running toilets.

Note: Please understand that the City of Seymour reserves the right to tighten restrictions if drought conditions return to the area or if any other occurrences negatively impact the Seymour aquifer. Also bear in mind that increased water usage will result in a higher utility bill, so use our water resources wisely.

Discuss, consider and take action on mowing fees regarding the Baylor County Appraisal District properties.

Judge Rusty Stafford addressed the Mayor and City Council regarding the mowing fees that are billed by the City. Judge Stafford felt that the City should only charge what is actually worked and not charge any administrative fees. After a lengthy discussion, this agenda item was tabled.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Les Hons, to allow City Administrator to contact all the entities and schedule a time where everyone could meet and call a Special Called meeting so that this issue can be resolved. Motion carries.

A Resolution to acknowledge a potential conflict of interest between Conchita Torrez and the Home Program Applicant Gloria Leal.

City Administrator explained that this resolution stated that City Secretary Conchita Torrez made no decisions regarding the Home Grant Applications. GrantWorks determines who qualifies and makes all the final approvals. Gloria Leal has applied for this grant and is the mother to Conchita Torrez.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Mary K. Fair to approve Resolution No. 1443, Conflict of Interest Acknowledgement. Motion carries.

Hear citizen comments from Angela Walling regarding animals at

large in her vicinity and give City Administrator direction on the issue.

Mrs. Walling was not able to attend the meeting. The initial problem

had been resolved and was no longer an issue. Therefore, Mayor

Gilbert-Mathis stated that this item would be skipped.

Discuss, consider and give EDD Lauren Bush direction regarding

trees located on the North side of City Hall.

Lauren Bush addressed the Mayor and City Council regarding the

trees that are located on the North side of the City Hall building.

She stated that she had 2 professionals look at the trees in the

Sound Pocket park and it has been determined that for the health of

the trees, 3 of them need to be removed all together while the

others need professional trimming. She tried her best to locate the

family that donated them, but she was not able to locate or find out

who had donated the trees years ago.

Troy McMorris looked at the trees and gave a quote for trimming,

however the price should go down if we remove 3 of them all

together. This price did not include hauling off of limbs. While Troy

said he could cut them well into July, there were several

professionals that discouraged trimming in the heat and think it

would be better to do it after the first frost and even possibly in

February.

Motion made by Council member Les Hons, second by MPT Monty

Glass, to allow ED Director Lauren Bush to proceed with cutting trees

on the north side of the City Hall building. Motion carries.

Hear and discuss grant information received from ED Director

Lauren Bush.

Lauren informed the Mayor and City Council that she had submitted

a grant application to the J.S. Bridwell Foundation, Fain Foundation,

and Bryant Edwards Foundation for $40,570.20 to complete the

Sound Garden. She will find out in April if she receives this grant.

Discuss and give direction to Lauren Bush regarding Whiteside

Memorial.

ED Director Lauren Bush had expressed to Chris Flis that the City

would like to present a memorial gift to the museum in honor of

Clyde Whiteside. A T.V., along with a mount was needed for the Lab

Room and would benefit the museum.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Jon

Hrncirik to allow Lauren to purchase a T.V. and a mount to be placed

at the museum in memory of Clyde Whiteside. A plaque would also

be purchased with this information from S & J’S. Motion carries

Discuss and give direction to City Administrator Steve

Biedermann regarding Electric, Plumbing and Building Codes.

Mr. Biedermann explained to the Mayor and City Council that these

codes were no longer being used and the advice of our City Attorney

would be best if removed from our ordinance codes. Mr.

Biedermann also explained that if council approval was received, an

ordinance would be drawn up for the April Regular City Council

meeting to amend all electric, plumbing and building codes.

Motion made by Council member Jon Hrncirik, second by Mary K.

Fair, to give City Administrator Biedermann direction to amend

electrical, plumbing and building codes and remove 3.502 to 3.517,

keeping 3.501 electrical code and 3.518 to 3.52 electrical

requirements. Motion carries.

Regular meeting closes at 8:33 p.m. and Mayor Gilbert-Mathis calls

for a recess.

Recess ends at 8:49 p.m. and Executive One begins at 8:50 p.m.

Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter

551 of the Texas Local Government Code under:

551.074(2)Personnel Matters: To hear a complaint or charge

against an officer or employee: Water Supervisor

Executive Session closes at 9:05 p.m. and Executive Two will begin

Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter

551 of the Texas Local Government Code under: §551.074- (1)

Personnel Matters: To deliberate the appointment, employment,

evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, or dismissal of a public

officer or employee: Animal Control Officer

Execution Session two closes at 9:18 p.m. and Executive Session

three begins at 9:19 p.m.

Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter

551 of the Texas Local Government Code under: §380.001-

Economic Development Programs: An update regarding Cook

project per EDD Lauren Bush.

Executive Session three closes at 9:39 p.m. and Executive Session

four begins.

Executive Session (closed to the public) and pursuant to Chapter

551 of the Texas Local Government Code under: §551.072:

Deliberation regarding Sales and Property Tax Agreement

Receive information from Finance Director Mary Griffin, requesting

approval to create a Reserve Fund account for Tax Incentive/

Reimbursement use.

Executive Session closes at 9:40 p.m. and Regular Meeting resumes

Discuss and take action resulting from Executive Session one.

In regards to Water Supervisor position: NO ACTION

Discuss and take action resulting from Executive Session two.

In regards to Animal Control Officer: NO ACTION

Discuss and take action resulting from Executive Session three.

In regards to update from Lauren Bush regarding Cook project:

NO ACTION , this was for information only.

Discuss and take action resulting from Executive Session four.

In regards to Tax and Sales incentives regarding information

received from Finance Director Mary Griffin.

Motion made by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member Mary

Fair, to allow a name and expense budget change to budgeted line

item account number 02-403252. This will change the current

monthly payment into a monthly transfer of funds expense. An

annual payment will be made by Finance Director to ShopKo.

Adjournment by MPT Monty Glass, second by Council member

David Horton at 9:45 p.m. Motion carries.

PASSED AND APPROVED ON THIS THE 20^TH DAY OF APRIL, 2017.

Mayor Nan Gilbert-Mathis

ATTEST:

City Secretary, Conchita Torrez, T.R.M.C.