Ever-increasing demand for improvements to Teague’s water infrastructure and review of the yearly budget and tax rate prompted a series of public hearings conducted at the Monday, August 20th meeting of the City Council.
The first hearing called for citizens’ discussion regarding a proposed increase to the City’s water and sewer rates.
The proposed rates would see a $5 increase in water and sewer rates for residential customers, in city and out of city; $10 increase for commercial customers in city and out of city.
City Administrator/Secretary, Theresa Prasil explained that an increase to the current base rates would provide additional funds the City would use to secure additional personnel for the Public Works Department.
Dennis Cox was first to speak. Earlier in the meeting, during a call for public comments, he shared his concern regarding the constant water leaks observed throughout town. He related numerous locations with continuous issues and questioned how much revenue the City loses on water leaks.
Referring to his statement, Cox said that he opposed an increase in rates and repeated his earlier question, “Can you tell us how much [money] we lose with water leaks?”
Public Works Director Jacob Cowling answered that while he did not have a dollar amount, the City loses less than 35% of gallons pumped annually.
Cowling stated that his department is working “seven days a week and twelve to fourteen hour days” trying to address leaks and repair water lines with the Five Star Gutter Team.
He explained that his crew schedules two business days for turn around on leaks, however understaffing and lack of funding are an obstacle.
When asked how many leaks are ongoing, Cowling estimated forty (40) leaks throughout the City.
“We’re paying taxes for water and paying for water that’s leaking,” said citizen, Bruce Butler in opposition of the proposed rate increase.
The next two hearings, one regarding the unchanged proposed tax rate of $0.75, the other the proposed 2018-2019 fiscal year budget, saw no discussion from citizens.
Following the public hearings, Aldermen voted unanimously to approve the budget, and tax rate.
In regular session, Aldermen voted unanimously to accept the consent agenda, with the exception of the final item, the Financial Report from the City of Fairfield for the TDCJ Operation and Maintenance Fund for the month of July 2018.
Alderman Ballew stated that this report, as well as the report for June 2018, received from the City of Fairfield was not satisfactory, as it only provided what he called an unaudited financial statement, with only a summary of one month’s profit and loss.
Ballew made the motion and the Council voted to table accepting the report until a more thorough detail of the fund’s activity is submitted.
The Council held discussion on appropriating funds from the City’s fund reserve to contract a new informational technology (IT) company to perform routine maintenance and repairs to the city’s computer equipment.
Theresa Prasil told Aldermen that the City has been employing the services of Will Owen of Owen Technologies, and while they have been satisfied with Mr. Owen, he is overworked and unable to meet the City’s increasing IT issues and demands.
She explained that due to the delay in service, $5,000 must be allocated from fund reserve to cover the cost of bringing in the new contractor.
Prasil reviewed two bids received from Utilize IT, Inc. of Mexia for $1,730 per month and Extraco Technologies of Waco for $3,187.50.
Aldermen voted unanimously to appropriate the funds, accepting the bid from Utilize IT, a locally based company with a more inclusive service plan.
Chief of Police DeWayne Philpott addressed the Council regarding necessary transmission repairs to the department’s 2008 Dodge Magnum.
He told Aldermen that Chadus Garage has provided estimates of approximately $2,900 to rebuild the transmission with an eighteen month warranty, or supply a used transmission with a twelve month warranty for $1,700.
Aldermen approved the allocation of $2,896 from the fund reserve to supply the Police Department with a rebuilt transmission.
Once again the topic of allowing free access to the City Collection Center for the Teague Thrift Store, operated by the non-profit Teague Historical Society.
Discussed heavily during the last meeting, the Thrift Store currently receives two free passes per month, but have requested more to assist with keeping the outside of the building clean.
With regular donations being received, volunteers regularly come across items that must be discarded immediately. However, with limited access to the Collection Center and no place to store the garbage for later disposal, the Historical Society reached out to the City for more unrestricted access.
Alderwoman Marilyn Michaud voiced concerns that allowing for this kind of access would mean allowing all non-profits, of which she counted nineteen within the city limits, the same.
Since these restrictions were put in place to decrease the amount of dumpster roll offs, and the high costs that come with it, Michaud stated that she believed allowing for extra access was counterproductive.
Alderman Ballew disagreed. He stated his belief that the Thrift Store and Historical Society benefit the community greatly, and that a solitary exception should be allowed.
Michaud shared her concerns that the Thrift Store, while operated by a non-profit, is not itself a non-profit organization and may be considered a business. As such, the Thrift Store would be prohibited from using the Collection Center under the new restrictions, which she believes could create another issue of exception.
Ballew made a motion to amend the current policy to allow for one free pass per month, however the motion died for lack of a second.
Michaud motioned to table the issue, and in the meantime, verify the 501c3 status of the Thrift Store. Her motion also died.
Alderman Chris Nickleberry motioned to table the item, which received a second from Alderman Ron Rasbeary and a vote of 4-0. As a volunteer, Alderwoman Marie Hertenberger chose to abstain from the voting process.
Economic Development Director (EDC) Bill Elliot presented his board’s budget for 2018-2019, as well as a request to award the Teague Historical Society a $4,000 Façade Grant.
Elliot also requested that the Council approve a motion for the EDC to contract the City’s new attorney, Messer, Rockefeller, Fort Law Firm, for their legal representation.
All items were unanimously approved by the Council.
During the public comments portion of the meeting, Dennis Cox addressed water leaks; and Bruce Butler spoke about unanswered reports code enforcement violations in his neighborhood.
Judson Davenport addressed the Council regarding the seizure and ultimate euthanasia of his two dogs. He explained that after researching the ordinance cited to secure a court order to seize the dogs, he believes that the ordinance is not legally valid and therefore constituted a violation of due process.
“I am here to ask you as my duly elected officials to please take a closer look at this issue and possibly address some of the human aspects of this that the law doesn’t usually allow for,” concluded Davenport.
The evening’s meeting began with an immediate call for executive session, during which time Aldermen discussed consultation with their attorney regarding pending or contemplated litigation in reference to City of Teague v. City of Fairfield; and on a matter in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas.
No action was taken following this executive session.
In other business, the Council approved a declaration of compliance with the records scheduling requirement of the local government records act.
The thirteen month rental agreement between the City and the Heart of Texas Workforce Solutions for the Workforce Center at 517 Main Street was renewed.
Aldermen voted to hire John Clifton II for the position of Water/Wastewater Technician.
Megan Hempel reporting
