The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, May 22, 2000 at 6:30 p.m., in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 605 Spring Street, Columbus, Texas, with the following present:

1.  Call to Order:

 Mayor Frnka called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M., May 22, 2000.

2. Invocation:     Mayor Frnka led the Lord's Prayer

3.  Consent Agenda:

     a. Approval of invoices.
     b. Approval of minutes from May 9, 2000.
     c. Approval of financial statements.
 
 Councilman Rogers moved to approve the consent agenda.  Councilwoman Chandler seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:   Councilmen Frnka, Williams, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

4. City Manager's Report:

City Manager Brasher reported the following:
1. The City repaired a sinkhole on Malleck Street that was caused by a sewer line collapse.
2. The City received a sales tax refund for the month of March in the amount of $50,007.14, which was 12.82% less than the amount received at the same time last year.  For the fiscal year, sales tax refunds are 2.44% less than at the same time last year.
3. City crews spent most of last week cleaning and preparing the city for the Live Oak Festival.
4. A pre-construction meeting will be held on June 13th with contractors who will be replacing the sewer line on Bowie Street from Washington to Preston.  This project is scheduled to begin in mid-June.
5. The limestone coated rock the city will be using for the street seal coating program has been delivered.  This project is scheduled to begin in mid June and should only take a couple of days to complete.  The project is scheduled to begin next Tuesday.
6. The County began preparing the gravel road under the Highway 71 overpass for paving.  This will allow vehicles to loop under the Highway 71 overpass to get to the industrial park.
7. City Hall, the Nesbitt Memorial Library and the Recycling Center will be closed Monday, May 29th for the observance of the Memorial Day Holiday.  There will be no residential garbage collection on the 29th with regularly scheduled routes resuming Tuesday.  Those residents who did not have garbage collection due to the holiday will be allowed ten items on Thursday.

5. Administer Oath of Office to the Newly Elected Officials by Municipal Court Judge Dodie Dungen:

  Municipal Court Judge Dodie Dungen administered the oath of office to newly elected officials and they assumed their duties as follows:

   Donald Churchill - Councilman Place No. 3
   Ronnie Rogers  - Councilman Place No. 4
   DeWayne Kotrla - Councilman Place No. 5.

6. Presentation of a Plaque of Appreciation to Martin Williams for 20 Years of Service on the Columbus City Council:

  Mayor Frnka presented outgoing Councilman Martin Williams with a plaque of appreciation for twenty years of dedicated service to the City of Columbus.

7. Appointment of a Mayor Pro-Tem to Serve for a Period of One Year:

  Councilman Rogers moved to appoint Councilman Earl Joe Frnka, Jr. to serve as Mayor Pro-Tem for a one year period.  Councilman Kotrla seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:   Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed. 

8. Public Comments:

  No one appeared before council for public comment.

At this time Mayor Frnka recessed the regular meeting and entered into executive session at 6:46 P.M.

9. Executive Session for Consultation With the City Attorney Pursuant to the Provisions of the Open Meetings Law, Chapter 551, Government Code, Vernon's Texas Code Annotated, in Accordance With the Authority Contained in Chapters 551.071 and 551.072, to Discuss a Proposed Agreement With the Swalm Foundation to Construct a Teen Center in Columbus:

The Executive Session was recorded on audio tape and sealed in an envelope marked "May 22, 2000 - Executive Session to Discuss a Proposed Agreement with the Swalm Foundation to Construct a Teen Center in Columbus".

10. Return to Open Session for the Purpose of Discussing and Taking Action in Reference to a Proposed Agreement With the Swalm Foundation to Construct a Teen Center in Columbus:

The Executive Session was adjourned at 7:29 P.M. and the City Council meeting reconvened in Open Session.  Mayor Frnka reported that no action would be taken at this time and that council had instructed the City Attorney to continue negotiations with the Swalm Foundation.

11. Consider and Act to Award a Bid to Replace the Roof at City Hall:

City Manager Brasher reported that the following bids were received and it is the recommendation of management that the low bid be accepted:

Councilman Frnka moved to accept the low bid of $19,680.00 from Glidden Roofing and Sheet Metal to replace the roof at City Hall.  Councilwoman Chandler seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:   Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed. 

12. Consider and Act to Appoint Rob Thomas to Fill the Unexpired Term of Donald Churchill on the Board of Adjustments and Appoint Modina Mangini to Replace Rob Thomas as an Alternate:

Councilwoman Chandler moved to appoint Rob Thomas to fill the unexpired term of Donald Churchill on the Board of Adjustments and appoint Modina Mangini to replace Rob Thomas as an alternate.  Councilman Rogers seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:   Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed. 

13. Consider and Act to Adopt a Resolution Authorizing the City Secretary and City Manager to Act as Signatories for the Texas Capital Fund Number 719212:

 Councilman Rogers moved to adopt a resolution authorizing the City Secretary and City Manager to act as signatories for the Texas Capital Fund Number 719212.  Councilman Kotrla seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:   Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

14. Consider and Act to Reject or Award a Bid to Construct a New Police Department Building on FM 806:

   The following bids had been received for the construction of a new police department building:

Councilman Rogers moved to reject all three bids and make null and void all previous action related to the construction of a new police department building.  Councilman Churchill seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:  Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, and Kotrla
        NOES: Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed. 

15. Review and Make Additions or Deletions to the Request for Proposal for Solid Waste Services and Authorize Management to Advertise for Bids:

City Manager Brasher presented the following options for the City's solid waste services:
1. Haul garbage to the Weimar transfer station at $10.50 per cubic yard.
2. Seek bids to privatize the garbage collection.
3. Stay in the garbage collection business and haul to another landfill and upgrade all equipment.

City Manager Brasher discussed various items to be include in the contract and specificationss if bids are sought for privatizing collection.  The number of items to be collected, price quotes for in-town and out-of-town pickup, the purchase of equipment owned by the City, and hiring of city employees who are currently in the garbage department were all considered. 

Councilwoman Chandler moved to authorize city management to prepare the RFP and advertise for bids for solid waste services.  Councilman Kotrla seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:  Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed. 

16. Budget Workshop - Presentation of Capital Outlay Requests for Fiscal Year 2000-2001:

  City Manager Brasher presented capital outlay requests for administration, parks, pool and library departments.  Public Works Superintendent Joe Beyer presented capital outlay requests for public works and garbage departments.  Utility Superintendent Lawrence Dungen presented capital outlay requests for the water, sewer and gas departments.

17. Motion to Adjourn:

   There being no further business, Councilman Rogers moved to adjourn the council meeting at 8:32 P.M.  Councilman Churchill seconded the motion.  The vote was as follows:

        AYES:   Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.