“This is Fairfield. This is not a booming metropolis where revenues are coming in like crazy,” said Fairfield Councilman Jeffrey Price, who walked into last week’s Council meeting as discussion was winding down on agenda item #13:

Discussion and possible action on a Resolution Authorizing Publication and Posting of Notice of Intention to Issue Certificates of Obligations (CO Bonds) to Finance City Capital Improvement.

“I’m all about getting city hall,” continued Councilman Price. “I like the plans, and I appreciate the work that’s been done on this, but that is way overboard for what Fairfield needs.”

“I honestly don’t think we’ve gone overboard,” said Councilman Arland Thill. “It is up to $3 million. That doesn’t mean that’s how much we’ll spend.”

“It can’t be just a metal building thrown up like what you’re in now,” said former council member James Tyus, who listed some of the requirements, such as bullet-proof glass. “Stuff like that in a commercial building is not cheap.”

Fairfield Council has been considering the issuance of Certificates of Obligations of up to $6 million, allocating at least $3 million for rebuilding at least eleven streets, and spending no more than $3 million for a new structure to house the City’s police station, municipal court, city hall, and administrative offices.

Earlier in the discussion, Council members Angela Oglesbee and Bobby Nichols, as well as City Hall Committee member Vance Oglesbee expressed their support for the project.

“The time has arrived that we have to do something,” said Council member Oglesbee. “It’s a good time to do it.”

“Some of these roads can’t be maintained anymore,” said Council member Nichols. “They have to be completely redone.”

City Hall Committee member Vance Oglesbee described the process they went through to come up with a design for the new building, which included road trips to tour city halls at other towns and interviewing city departments heads to identify their needs.

“The building is over-designed,” said Vance. “It should be very nice, and it’s what the taxpayers wished.”

As Mayor Kenneth Hughes called for a vote, the measure passed 3 to 1 with Councilman Price voting against. Councilman Stephen Daniel was not in attendance.

For more information about the proposed project, click here for the January 19, 2022 article, or here for city documents and maps.

In other business, City Administrator Nate Smith noted in his Department Head report that Sales Tax for the month of January was 47.66 percent higher than the previous year. “When inflation is considered at 8.22 percent, sales tax receipts would be 36 percent higher.”

City Administrator Smith reminded Council that next month will begin to see sales tax receipts from the new Tractor Supply Company store.

–Approved request for $16,960 to Texas Multi-Chem for the Rotary Sandlot fields for Fairfield Little League.

–Tabled request for $10,000 to Freestone County Go-Texan Scholarship Committee to be spend on supplies judges, food, entertainment for their BBQ Cookoff event in April. This request is listed on Council’s next meeting agenda, dated for Tuesday, February 8, 2022.

–Approved resignation from Police Officer Aldo Hernandez. Chief Davie Utsey commented that he went to Navarro County because he needed more money.

–Approved agreement with Texas State Coon Hunter’s Association to host hunts on Feb. 4-5 and April 15-16. Agreement puts in writing the $5,000 budgeted for the association, and excludes use of the Green Barn Civic Center as renovations are not yet complete.

–Mayor Removed agenda item #10 concerning Express Wireless putting equipment on water tower, due to inadequate paperwork.

–Table vote to reappoint Justin Turner to Fairfield Economic Development Corporation Board as only three Council members in attendance at that time, and Councilman Bobby Nichols would need to abstain as he is a current member of the FEDC Board.

–Approved retirement letter from 14-year Streets Department employee, Mark Taylor.

–Tabled consideration of possible ordinance to add four additional stop signs on Reunion Street.

–Approved authorizing staff to negotiate a Service Agreement with RRCJ Architecture, Robert Cline, for Design / Build consulting services as part of the City Hall project. Final negotiated contracts will be brought back to Council for final approval.

Following a Closed Executive Session, the following action was taken by Council:

–Marilyn Bland was hired as a new Dispatcher.