Election returns will be canvassed, and certificates issued, for newly elected Fairfield City Council this week, during a Special Called Meeting on Tuesday, November 17, 2020. Also on the agenda will be appointing a Mayor Pro Tempore.

Two council meetings have been held since our last report in The “Times.”

First, three weeks ago during the October 27th Regular Session, Fairfield Council approved the purchase of three pieces of equipment for Fairfield EMS that will be utilized to help prevent the spread of COVID-19 and protect the life and safety when responding to calls with high patient contact:

–Two O-Two Medical Technologies E 700 Electronic Transport Ventilators for a total of $13,539.88

–Three Lantern UV Disinfection Systems for a total of $11,700.00

–Six Versaflo Easy Clean PAPR (Powered Air Purifying Respirator) kits for a total of $5,480.94

These items are both non-budgeted purchases that will be reimbursed from the City’s Coronavirus Relief Fund, part of the federal C.A.R.E.S. Act that was signed into law back in March.

“We are really glad we could do that for Fairfield EMS,” said Fairfield City Administrator Nate Smith. “This is what the coronavirus fund is to be used for.”

Also approved during the October meeting was a three-year agreement with IamGIS mapping software.

According to City Administrator Smith, this was previously purchased for the City through a HOTCOG grant, but was not renewed. “We still had the data, but couldn’t view the files,” he said.
After exploring several options, the IamGIS platform was found to have the capabilities, and ease of use by everyone, at a significantly lower cost.

Other items approved during the October meeting:

–Resolution to create a Reserve Program in the Fairfield Police Department,

–Purchase request for preventative maintenance for Engine 82 by the Fairfield Volunteer Fire Department in the amount of $5,614.77,

–GrantWorks, Inc. awarded a contract to provide Texas CDBG application and project-related administration services for the 2021-2022 Texas Community Development Block Grant Community Development Fund project (rehabilitation of the water tower in the center of the City).

During a Regular Session held November 10, 2020, Fairfield Council members heard from the City’s financial adviser, Dusty Traylor, who recommended withdrawing Fairfield’s Issuer Rating with Moody’s Investor Services.

Traylor cited three reasons:

First, the rating is not “doing” anything, because the City currently has no outstanding publicly traded debt.

City Administrator Nate Smith confirmed this, stating that the City’s only outstanding bond is one purchased by the Water Development Board, a private placement. Moody credit ratings do not apply to this kind of debt.

Second, withdrawing the rating would free up staff time in working with Moody’s.

And third, if the City were to issue new debt, it would require a new rating, anyway.

Financial Adviser Trayor further advised that Fairfield use another rating agency, such as Standard of Poor’s (S&P), who would have a better understanding of smaller communities.

Council approved withdrawing issuer rating with Moody’s.

Also approved during the November meeting:

–Additional concrete work at the Walking Trail for a total of $7,725

–User agreement with Intellichoice, Inc. for report management for the Police Department for a total of $38,563.19 (which will be reimbursed through grant from the Office of the Governor

Not approved was the request to accept Virginia Street in the City Inventory.

No action was taken during discussion of the future of Market Days at the Park. According to City Administrator Smith, the Council has plans for a workshop on November 24th to discuss options.