The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday January 8, 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
Councilman - Curtiss Schonenberg
Councilman - Milton Wavra
City Manager - David Meisell
City Secretary - Patti Glaeser
And the following absent:
Councilwoman - Lori Sprague
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 December 26, 2006 Regular Meeting.
Councilman Schonenberg asked if the invoice from Act Pipe and Supply included the pipe for the Montezuma Street Project. David Meisell, City Manager, said that it included pipe for the Prairie Street Improvements. He said he does not believe that it includes pipe for Montezuma. Mayor Heffley asked if the invoice from International Diving Services was for the gauge for the Industrial Park. Mr. Meisell responded that it was. Mayor Heffley asked how the City pays the Chamber of Commerce; i.e., from the different funds. Patti Glaeser responded that this breakdown was done like this in the past years. Councilman Rankin asked if the City had ever received anything from the Chamber describing how the Chamber used the money. Mr. Meisell responded that he had not. Councilman Rankin said he met with the Chamber and would like to know how it reflects on their budget. He said he would ask Mr. Fox for this information. Councilman Wavra agreed that the City should know how the money is being spent. Mayor Heffley asked where the plaque for $426 was going. Mr. Meisell responded that it was at the Library. Councilman Berger asked if the carpet cleaning was at the Library. Mr. Meisell confirmed this. Councilman Wavra asked what the expenses were for the 1981 Mack. Mr. Meisell responded that they were preparing the truck for its trip to Waco for the conversion to a bucket truck. Councilman Rankin asked if the aerator work was part of the water/sewer project. Mr. Meisell said that it would be charged to the project. Patti Glaeser clarified that the coding was incorrect on the Accounts Payable sheet and would be corrected.
There were no corrections to the minutes.
Councilman Schonenberg moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilman Berger seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Rankin, Schonenberg, and Wavra
Absent: Councilwoman Sprague
The motion passed.
4. Consideration and Action to approve invoice from Curtiss Automotive.
Councilman Rankin moved to approve the invoice from Curtiss Automotive. Councilman Wavra seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
Ayes: Councilman Berger, Rankin and Wavra
Abstain: Councilman Schonenberg
Absent: Councilwoman Sprague
The motion passed.
5. Citizen’s presentations and comments.[i]
There were no citizen presentations or comments.
6. Discussion of City Manager’s Report including Water Delivery Project, Drainage Project, Aerator Repairs, Rampart Street Project, Groundwater Committee, Schedule for Bids, TMRS Participation.
David Meisell, City Manager, presented his City Manager’s Report, which is attached to these minutes. In addition to #5, Mr. Meisell explained that he briefed the Commissioner’s Court today on the progress of the committee. He also said that there will be a meeting in Weimar tomorrow night; at the Facilities Building on Thursday night; and in Eagle Lake next Tuesday. He said that they will continue with another meeting next Thursday at the Facilities Building. The Committee’s Report will be presented to the Commissioner’s Court on Monday, January 22. He continued to explain the steps the Groundwater Committee is taking. He also explained the major topics that will be included in the Legislation. Those topics are as follows:
1. Eminent domain would be prohibited.
2. Access to private property is restricted.
3. Ad valorem taxes would be capped at 3%.
4. Water meters on exempt wells are prohibited.
5. Directors are limited to 2-4 year terms.
6. The directors would receive no compensation.
7. The Groundwater District could be dissolved by an election.
Mr. Meisell went on to explain the 2007 Water Plan from the Texas Water Development Board to State Leaders, dated January 5, 2007. He said this document said that the total water demand will increase over the next 60 years by 27%. It also said that the total volume of water to be produced will decrease 18% over the same term. He said the document also discussed how this problem could be solved. It said that water conservation alone cannot meet the needs. Additional Groundwater use is part of the solution.
Mr. Meisell continued to explain the census history and how the cities from Houston to Columbus to Austin have grown over the past 30 years. He said Columbus has grown the least at 17%. He explained that the growth is occurring from Houston and Austin. He said Columbus is land locked by the River to the North and East, Glidden to the West, and the gravel pits to the South.
He continued to explain the growth of Colorado County and the three cities in the County.
He presented the populations projections of the Texas Water Board which is based on birth rate growth. He said they think the cities and the County will grow slightly over the next 50 years with a slight drop in population in the following 10 years. Mr. Meisell said he does not agree with the Texas Water Board. He believes that the population will continue to grow as presented in the attached chart. He believes the growth will come from people moving in. He believes the Texas Water Board has underestimated the growth of the City of Columbus and they would be underestimating our need for water in the future, which tells them there is excess water for them to pump out. Councilman Rankin said that it appears that they are saying they see us as a source of water.
Mr. Meisell said that unless we find a way to deal with it, the County will be a big target for water marketers.
Mayor Heffley asked Mr. Meisell if what he meant when he said that we need a seat at the table was at the table at the Regional Water Planning Board. (Groundwater Management Areas, GMAs). Mr. Meisell confirmed this. He said the County is in Region 15. Groundwater Districts are at these meetings, planning the future. He said Colorado County is not at these meetings because we do not have a water district.
Councilman Schonenberg asked about the meeting in Eagle Lake. Mr. Meisell said there will be a guest speaker at the meeting which will be held on Tuesday, January 16th
Mayor Heffley commented that Mr. Meisell is doing a good job at these meetings.
Councilman Rankin commented about the Letter to the Editor that was in the Colorado County Citizen titled ”Reagan Still Says No”. He read his response to the letter that the Citizen has not published.
7. Introduction and Administer Oath of Office to New Police Officer – Hollie Shanklin.
Police Chief Danny Jackson introduced Hollie Shanklin as the new Officer. Mayor Heffley administered the Oath of Office to her and welcomed her to the City of Columbus.
8. Items from Councilmembers.2
Councilman Wavra asked if there was a problem with dogs on Milam and Dewees. Mr.Meisell said he did not know of any specific problem. Councilman Wavra also asked if the streets would be swept soon. Mr. Meisell said he would work on it.
Councilman Rankin discussed his meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and the CCIDC. Attending from the CCIDC were Councilman Rankin, Jim Whitcomb, Jerry Henderson and Jerry Haluska. Chamber members in attendance included George Fox, Frank Howell, Steven Theiss, and Mike Ridlin. Councilman Rankin said the Chamber seemed positive about working with the CCIDC on a strategic plan.
Councilman Schonenberg – no comment.
Councilman Berger – no comment.
9. Announcements.
There were no additional announcements.
10. Adjournment.
There being no further business, Mayor Heffley declared the meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm.
____________________________
Richard Heffley, Mayor
ATTEST:
_______________________
Patti Glaeser, City Secretary