Although three councilmen were absent at the beginning of last week’s Regular Session, a shuffling of agenda items allowed for the official canvassing returns and declaring the results of Fairfield’s City Election, held the first Saturday of May.

According to the Election Code (67.004), only two officers are needed for a quorum for a canvassing meeting.

After taking their Oath of Office and signing the official documents, newly elected councilman took their places to complete the quorum and continue the meeting.

Elected to Council this year includes:


–Place III: Bobby Nichols (at top with Mayor Kenneth Hughes)


–Place IV: Landis Bayless (above)


–Place V: David Watson Steward (above)


During Department Head Reports, Public Works Director Clyde Ridge stated that the Love Street Elevated Water Storage will need to be repaired within the next twelve months, based on an inspection of the City’s water tank storage units by Dunham Engineering.

Also, Mosquito fogging begins this week in the City and Lakewood area. Fogging will be conducted next week in the Westwood Utility area.

Brenda Walker of Oncor Electric gave Council an explanation of the proposed Ordinance for denying the proposed change in rates. This allows the City’s case to be consolidated with Oncor’s proceeding before the Public Utility Commission of Texas.

This action is required as Fairfield is an Original Jurisdiction City.

Council approved denying the proposed change in rates with a unanimous vote.

Council also approved an Ordinance amending the budget to create a line item for Prisoner Transport and funding it by $10,000 as the Freestone County Jail has been de-populated, requiring arrests to be booked into the Limestone County Jail in Groesbeck.

Police Chief David Utsey additionally informed Council that the Juvenile Facility in Groesbeck, the closest to Freestone County, has also been depopulated.

According to City Manager Nate Smith, preliminary work on the Fiscal Year 2019-20 Budget has begun with priorities being identified by Department Heads, Council Members, and Citizens.

“A good budget has four objectives,” said Smith. “One, it’s a financial document; Two, it’s a planning document (city goals); Three, it’s a policy document (management of city); and Four, it’s a communication took (statement of City values).”

A Strategic Planning Meeting was set for May 21st to gather ideas from citizens. However, the meeting has since been cancelled with no future date set, as yet.

Budget Workshops with City Council are planned for the months of June, July, and August, with the final proposed budget to be filed on August 6, 2019.

Proposed Tax Rate will be discussed July 30, 2019 with Public Hearings in August and final adoption on September 10, 2019.

Final action for the evening was to approve the purchase request to Walker Process Equipment for repairs to Mims Creek Clarifier #1 in the amount of $6,405.

Council met in Executive Session to consult with attorneys regarding the City of Teague v. City of Fairfield lawsuits. No action was taken when Council reconvened in Open Session.