The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, June 26, 2000 at 6:30 P.M., in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 605 Spring Street, Columbus, Texas, with the following present:
| Mayor | Paula Frnka |
| Mayor Pro-Tem | Earl Joe Frnka, Jr. |
| Councilwoman | Ester Chandler |
| Councilman | Donald T. Churchill |
| Councilman | Ronnie Rogers |
| Councilman | DeWayne Kotrla |
| City Manager | John Brasher |
| City Secretary | Jill Ready |
1. Call to Order:
Mayor Frnka called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M., June 26, 2000.
2. Invocation: Mayor Frnka
3. Consent Agenda:
a. Approval of invoices.
b. Approval of minutes from June 12 and June 19, 2000.
c. Approval of financial statements.
Councilwoman Chandler moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilman Rogers seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler
The motion passed.
4. City Manager's Report:
City Manager Brasher reported the following:
The City began pulling the casing at the Spring Well last week. The contractor was scheduled to begin televising the well to see what might have caused the problems and if any of the screens have collapsed. Oil was not getting to the bottom of the well. A camera will be sent down to the bottom of the well to look for other problems.
The contractors will begin putting in forms and pouring the curb and gutters this week. There is approximately 820 feet of curb and gutter to be installed.
City management and the project engineer held a pre-construction meeting with the contractor on the Bowie Street sanitary sewer line project. Sewer pipe is currently being delivered and the project is scheduled to begin either late this week or next week.
Weather permitting, Glidden Roofing has tentatively scheduled the week of June 26th to begin work to replace the roof at City Hall.
Bids will be opened for the infrastructure improvements in the industrial park on Thursday, July 6th. This is being paid with a Texas Capital Fund grant.
In regards to the HOME Grant Program, all five projects have been completed. Final inspections were conducted on the three rehab projects and there is a punch list of minor details that need to be taken care of. A final walk through still needs to be done on the two reconstruction projects but the families have been able to move back into their new homes.
Citizens can access the city web page at columbustexas.net. The web site is still under construction but should be completed soon.
The City is scheduled to convert to the Windows Utility Billing System on July 12th.
City Hall, the Nesbitt Memorial Library and the Recycling Center will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th. There will not be any garbage collection service on the day of the holiday.
5. Police Chief’s Report:
Police Chief Connor reported the following:
The department is applying for a Tobacco Grant and needs council’s approval to submit the application.
A new law being proposed will require an officer to have thirty semester hours before becoming a peace officer. The requirements will continue to increase over time. Local law enforcement officials will be writing letters expressing the hardship this will place on small departments.
Officer Hepner and Officer Thompson were introduced to council.
A report on drug activity was presented by the Commander of the Task Force.
Charles Dippel has been contracted to mow the weeded lots in Columbus.
Medical expenses related to prisoners continue to increase. It is the Department’s policy to not detain an injured criminal unless he has committed a felony.
The 1999 crime report for Columbus and the monthly statistical report were given to council for review.
Chief Connor requested that Council consider increasing salaries for the Police Officers.
At this time Mayor Frnka moved to Item No. 7.
7. Consider and Act to Authorize the Columbus Police Department to Apply for a Tobacco Grant:
Councilman Frnka moved to authorize the Columbus Police Department to apply for a tobacco grant for 2000. Councilman Kotrla seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler
The motion passed.
8. Consider and Act on Request to Install Stop Signs at Railroad Avenue and Preston and Railroad Avenue and Live Oak:
City Manager Brasher stated that, with the development of the MidTown Park, stop signs will be needed on Railroad Avenue. Councilwoman Chandler moved to install stop signs at Railroad Avenue and Preston and Railroad Avenue and Live Oak. Councilman Rogers seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler
The motion passed.
6. Presentation by Citizens:
Mr. Brian Hale with Central Power and Light appeared before council to say good-bye as he retires and thanked council for working with him and Central Power and Light Company.
9. Consider and Act to Authorize the Library Director to Apply for a Program A Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Grant:
Bill Stein, library director, was present to answer questions from council concerning the grant application. Councilman Rogers moved to authorize the library director to apply for a Program A Telecommunications Infrastructure Fund Grant. Councilman Churchill seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler
The motion passed.
10. Consider and Act on Recommendation of the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Board to Appoint Pauline Hicks to Fill an Unexpired Term on the CCVB Board:
Councilwoman Chandler moved to appoint Pauline Hicks to the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau Board to fill an unexpired term. Councilman Rogers seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:
AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, Kotrla, and Councilwoman Chandler
The motion passed.
11. Consider and Act on Proposals for Solid Waste Services:
Two bids for solid waste services were received. The overall lower bid was received from Total Roll-Offs L.L.C. Mr. Eric Rast was present to discuss the bid submitted by Total. He also requested that council consider lowering the bond required.
Councilman Frnka recommended that city management investigate the reputation of the company, the landfill closure, and the amount of the bond needed.
12. Items From Council:
Councilwoman Chandler reported that the MidTown Park ground breaking ceremony went well.
Councilman Frnka requested that a stop sign be placed at the Columbus Plaza driveway.
Councilman Churchill requested that consideration be given to placing a stop sign somewhere along Preston Street, either at Prairie or Live Oak.
Councilman Kotrla questioned the progress of the building demolition on the Williams property at the corner of Rampart and Walnut.
13. Announcements:
City of Columbus pins were presented to each council member.
Mayor Frnka called for a brief recessed at 8:12 P.M.
14. Budget Workshop:
Mayor Frnka opened the budget workshop at 8:25 P.M.
Lawrence Dungen stated that some small water lines need replacing. He also informed council that the city will possibly need to drill a new water well in the near future.
Councilman Rogers suggested that council consider moving the ambulances to county land and utilize that space for the city offices.
City Manager Brasher recommended contributing next year’s budget for economic development to the Chamber of Commerce since they receive many of the calls and inquiries. He also requested that council consider adjusting the rate charged to Glidden Fresh Water District for sewage treatment. City Manager Brasher requested that the remaining funds in Public Works Improvements be used to purchase the storm sewer pipe for the entire Butler Addition drainage project. It was the consensus of council to proceed with the purchase of storm sewer pipe out of the current budget. City Manager Brasher questioned setting the ad valorem tax rate for the next budget year. It was the consensus of council to have the same rate as the previous year.
15. Adjournment:
There being no further business, Mayor Frnka declared the meeting adjourned at 9:45 P.M.