The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, March 26, 2007 at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 605 Spring Street, Columbus, Texas, with the following present:
Mayor - Richard Heffley
Mayor Pro Tem - Chuck Rankin
Councilman - Brian Berger (Arrived at 6:45pm)
Councilwoman - Lori Sprague
Councilman - Curtiss Schonenberg
Councilman - Milton Wavra
City Manager - David Meisell
City Secretary - Patti Glaeser
1. Call to Order.
Mayor Heffley called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation.
Mayor Heffley led the Pledge of Allegiance and the Invocation.
3. Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of invoices.
b. Approval of Minutes of March 12, 2007 Regular Meeting.
c. Approval of February financial statement.
Councilman Wavra questioned what the termination notices were that were paid for on the invoice from Data Flow. Patti Glaeser explained that they were new notice supplies purchased for the new utility billing system. Councilman Schonenberg asked what the twenty loads to Clean Harbors were. David Meisell explained that twenty loads of old media from the drying beds were hauled to the landfill, Clean Harbors. Councilman Rankin asked about the payable to TML (Texas Municipal League). Ms. Glaeser explained that the invoice was for a combination of rate adjustments and workers comp audit over the past year. All the entries represent the correction to the original costs recorded. Mayor Heffley asked about the Ditch Witch invoice. Mr. Meisell explained that the bullet that bores under the road was rebuilt.
Regarding the Minutes, Mayor Heffley asked about the progress of closing Veterans Drive at Cardinal Lane. Mr. Meisell explained that TXDOT (Texas Department of Transportation) would have to address the issue. Mr. Meisell also mentioned that he would be attending a meeting with TXDOT on Wednesday in La Grange.
Mayor Heffley said the financial statements appeared to look fine.
Councilman Rankin moved to accept the consent agenda. Councilman Schonenberg seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Schonenberg, Rankin, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
Absent: Councilman Berger
The motion passed.
4. Citizen’s presentations and comments.[i]
There were no citizen’s presentations or comments.
5. Discussion of City Manager’s Report including Water Delivery Project, Drainage Project, Drying Bed Construction, Water Well, Swimming Pool, Incode Installation, Water Shut Off, River Status.
City Manager, David Meisell presented his City Manager’s report which is attached to these minutes. In addition to the information in the report, Mr. Meisell explained that there was a problem installing the pipe in front of Valero, next to McDonalds. He said that there was a debris field at that location and when they tried to bore under the road, the concrete wavered. Councilman Schonenberg asked how deep the bores are. Mr. Meisell responded that the bores for the water lines are four feet. The bores for the sewer lines are done by grade and can be deeper.
Mr. Meisell said the Lutheran Church Drainage Project has been put on hold until after the bluebonnets.
Councilman Berger arrived at 6:45pm.
Mr. Meisell said J&S will put in large casing in the next few days at the well site. He hopes that once they get beyond 20 feet, things will move easily. He said that this was a ferry location 150 years ago, so there is no telling what they may have to drill through.
Mr. Meisell said that there were paint problems at the swimming pool on the construction that occurred two years ago. He will update the Council at a later date.
In addition to the information in #8, River Status, Mr. Meisell explained that the readings are taken as of 12:00pm every day.
Councilman Schonenberg asked what the parameters or excess that LCRA can use to pump water. Mr. Meisell explained that without reservoirs, LCRA must pump quickly during the time the river is up.
Councilman Rankin asked if the City had received a response to the resolution from LCRA. Mr. Meisell responded that they had not.
Councilman Schonenberg mentioned the Goliad article where that area is concerned that their groundwater district is not strong enough. He said Goliad had to reassess their water available and send back to the Water Development Board for revision of the amount of water they could pump.
Councilwoman Sprague asked how often plastic recycling is baling. She said is seems like there is a lot piled up. Mr. Meisell explained that it is being done as time is available.
6. Discussion with Rob Thomas, Administrator, Columbus Community Hospital.
Mayor Heffley gave a recap of the impressing things happening in the City over the last year. He mentioned the football field renovations, the Baseball field renovations, the High School improvements and the City’s improvements with the Certificates of Obligation. He also said the hospital was doing improvement then and are doing more now. Mayor Heffley said he would like to continue to ask those people to give the Council updates on their improvements as they occur. Mayor Heffley then introduced
Rob Thomas, administrator, of Columbus Community Hospital who gave an update on the improvements
the hospital is undertaking. Mr. Thomas thanked David Meisell and the City for all their help on the last improvements the Hospital did. He said the current project is on the 2.2 acres adjacent to the hospital on Highway 71. He said the building will be 21,700 sq feet. He said it consists of two pre-engineered buildings. The first will be 8,000 sq feet, single story and it will replace the clinic next door to the City. He said it will have three waiting rooms; one for the sick, one regular and one for children. He said the other part is a two story 13,000 sq foot building. The bottom will have physical therapy, including land and water with a 26 foot pool. The other part downstairs will be an orthopedic office. Upstairs will be for future expansion of doctors. He said Drymalla of Columbus was awarded the bid for this job. He said construction time is approximately one year.
Mr. Meisell said the City has been working on drainage around this improvement. He said drop inlets have been added. Councilman Berger asked about the drainage from the parking lots. Mr. Meisell explained that water will go into a retention pond.
Mayor Heffley asked Mr. Thomas if all the doctors in the new office would be primary care. Mr. Thomas said that currently all will be primary. He said they hope to have pediatrics and OB/GYN in the future. Mayor Heffley commended all the good people he has working at the Hospital.
7. Consideration and Action to Close Spring Street, between Milam Street and Front Street on June 16, 2007 From 3:30pm until 6:00 pm for a wedding.
Councilman Wavra asked if the Council was sure it wanted to close this street. Councilman Rankin asked if the only resident in the block would be okay with closing the street. Mr. Meisell will check with the Hills. Councilman Schonenberg wanted to be sure the City would barricade the street. Councilman Berger moved to approve closing Spring Street between Milam Street and Front Street on June 16, 2007 from 3:30pm until 6:00 pm for a wedding contingent that the Hills do not have a problem with it. Councilwoman Sprague seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Rankin, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
The motion passed.
8. Consider and Act to Appoint a Presiding Election Judge and Presiding Judge for the Early Voting Ballot Board and an Alternate Presiding Election Judge and Alternate Judge for the Early Voting Ballot Board for the City Election on Saturday, May 12, 2007.
Councilwoman Sprague moved to appoint Fay Elliot as the presiding Election Judge and Presiding Judge for the Early Voting Ballot Board and John Knesek, as Alternate Presiding Election Judge and Alternate Judge for the Early Voting Ballot Board for the City Election on Saturday, May 12, 2007. Councilman Berger seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Rankin, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
The motion passed.
9. Consideration and action to Re-appoint Jerry Krenek as City Fire Marshal for a Two-Year Term Ending January 2009.
Councilman Rankin voiced his concern, not with Jerry, but with the City. Mr. Meisell said the City is in the process of compiling statistics on inspections as part of the audit process. Councilman Rankin moved to re-appoint Jerry Krenek as City Fire Marshal for a Two-Year term ending January 2009. Councilman Schonenberg seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Rankin, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
The motion passed.
10. Consideration and Action to Approve a Budget Amendment for a Ford F-150 Truck.
Mr. Meisell explained the details of the quote for a Ford F-150 Pickup, XLT, and Super cab. Councilwoman Sprague moved to approve a budget amendment for a Ford F-150 pickup. Councilman Rankin seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Schonenberg, Rankin, Wavra
Councilwoman Sprague
The motion passed.
Councilman Berger asked Mr. Meisell to double check that this truck is four full size doors.
11. Discussion of February Police Report.
Police Chief, Danny Jackson, presented his report for February, which is attached to these minutes. Mayor Heffley asked Chief Jackson what he could spend the LEOSE monies on. Chief Jackson answered him that he could spend it on training only.
12. Items from Councilmembers.2
Councilman Wavra asked about the status of the dump truck. Mr. Meisell said hopefully it will be this week. Councilman Schonenberg asked about the status of the conversion of the fire truck to a lift truck. Mr. Meisell explained that it is in the clean up stage.
Councilman Rankin commented on the need for new chairs in the Council Chambers. Councilman Wavra would like to see about renovating the downstairs, old ambulance bay into the Council Chambers. Mr. Meisell said that could be worked on during the budget process. Councilman Rankin also asked about the status of the mobile home on Gegenworth. Mr. Meisell said the City did hookups. Mr. Meisell also said he is making progress with the mobile homes on Bonham/Back.
Councilman Schonenberg gave an update on the Columbus Trash-Off day. He said there has been a lot of interest. He said the probation department will be involved. Mr. Meisell said the event is scheduled two weeks from Saturday. He said the City will look at pricing a roll-off. Mayor Heffley asked Councilman Rankin if CCIDC had done anything to talk to Wal-mart. Councilman Rankin said he had talked to someone there.
Councilwoman Sprague reminded everyone that Little League Opening Day is scheduled for Saturday and the annual BBQ is scheduled for Sunday.
Councilman Berger – no comment.
Mayor Heffley gave an update on his personal condition. He said he is scheduled to go to MD Anderson on Thursday. He said it is a five to seven day process to find out his prognosis. He said he has been assigned a doctor.
13. Announcements.
There were no additional announcements.
14. Adjournment.
There being no further business, Mayor Heffley declared the meeting adjourned at 7:37pm.
____________________________
Richard Heffley, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________
Patti Glaeser, City Secretary