The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, March 12, 2001 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.
Councilman - Donald T. Churchill
Councilman - Ronnie Rogers
Councilman - DeWayne Kotrla

City Manager - John Brasher
City Secretary - Jill Ready

And the following absent:
Councilwoman - Ester Chandler

1. Call to Order:

Mayor Frnka called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M., March 12, 2001.

2. Pledge: Led by Mayor Frnka

3. Consent Agenda:

a. Approval of invoices.

b. Approval of minutes from February 26, 2001 and special meetings of February 15 and February 25, 2001.

c. Approval of financial statements.

Mayor Frnka requested that payment of the invoice to CyberVision be held back until the website is operating properly. She also requested that the adjournment time of 4:00 P.M. be added to the February 25^th minutes. Councilman Kotrla moved to approve the consent agenda as presented except for the invoice to CyberVision and including the correction to the minutes. Councilman Rogers seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed. Councilman Frnka abstained from approval of the February 15, 2001 minutes due to his absence from that meeting.

City Manager Brasher reported the following:

The Street Department paved a section of Montezuma Street adjacent to the Odd Fellows Cemetery, replaced the street signs on Houston Street, and set a drop inlet on Oak Cluster.

The vibratory roller was delivered last week.

Phoenix Fabricators completed the painting of the water elevated storage tank at the industrial park.

The Utility Department has begun replacing a two-block section of two inch gas line on Milentz Street and is also looking into the possibility of replacing the flotation device in the elevated storage tank.

The Texas Department of Transportation will have the Highway 90 river bridge closed to through traffic tomorrow from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for an inspection. Traffic will be routed down Spur 52.

5. Police Chief’s Report:

Police Chief Connor reported the following:

Several police officers attended a Use of Force Class sponsored by the Texas Police Chief’s Association.

The FFA parade and other FFA activities went without any major incidents. A recommendation for next year’s parade would be to inform participants not to throw candy out at the intersection of Highway 90 and Highway 71 to keep children from running out into the intersection.

The Department will have two officers patrolling during the day shift during Spring Break. The resource officer will be monitoring the activity of juveniles in the community. All officers will be closely monitoring the possession and use of alcoholic beverages by minors.

The monthly statistical reports were presented for council review.

6. Presentation By Citizens:

Mayor Frnka asked the boy scouts present to introduce themselves.

Mr. Bob Stiles appeared before council and reported that he was in the process of buying real estate at 924 Robson. He stated that the city owns property adjacent to this location and he would like to know what the city intends to do with their property.

7. Consider and Act on Application to Permit a Manufactured Home to be Located at 1509 Sunset Drive:

Building inspector Jerry Krenek reported that the application meets all requirements. Councilman Kotrla moved to approve the application to permit a manufactured home to be located at 1509 Sunset Drive. Councilman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

8. Consider and Act to Appoint a Citizens Steering Committee to Study the Feasibility of Developing a City Recreation Center:

Council recommended that the following people be appointed to the citizens steering committee:

Dan Peevey, Jo Ann Venghaus, Carol Manning, Lori Biffle, Lori Sprague, Maybelle Barnett, Nancy and Bob Stiles, and Charles Purnell. A school board and council volunteer are also needed. Councilman Churchill volunteered to temporarily serve on the committee. Mr. Nolan Blaschke will be contacted to see if he will serve as the school board representative. A letter will be sent to each person confirming their appointment.

9. Consider and Act to Appoint Fay Elliott as Presiding Election Judge and Presiding Judge for the Early Voting Ballot Board and Dorothy Fitzgerald as Alternate Presiding Election Judge and Alternate Judge for the Early Voting Ballot Board for the City Election on Saturday, May 5, 2001:

Councilman Churchill moved to appoint Fay Elliott as presiding election judge and presiding judge for the early voting ballot board and Dorothy Fitzgerald as alternate presiding election judge and alternate judge for the early voting ballot board for the city general election on Saturday, May 5, 2001. Councilman Rogers seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, Rogers, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

10. Discussion of Properties Identified by Council:

Chief Connor presented council with a report concerning the investigation of possible junked vehicles. He stated that each person had been contacted either in person or by certified mail. He will continue to follow up on the investigation and removal of these vehicles.

Lawrence Dungen, Utility Superintendent, reported that he had surveyed 175 fire plugs in town. In the near future, he will sandblast and spray paint them. At this time the chains are being removed at the request of the fire department and the heads are being greased. Mr. Dungen stated that the fire hydrants would be flushed as soon as possible.

Mr. Joe Beyer, Public Works Superintendent, reported that it was too wet to do the projects on his list. In the Ward Addition, the fence in question is legal and city management is waiting for a letter from the city attorney concerning this issue.

Mr. Jerry Krenek gave a report on each property council had identified as needing cleaned or destroyed. He reported on the contacts made and the future action proposed for each location.

City Manager Brasher reported that the fallen limbs would be cleaned up but the trees would be left on the MidTown Park property. He stated that the two-story stucco building needs to be demolished and a contractor is looking at the smaller white brick building to determine if the building can be rehabilitated for any use. Mayor Frnka asked that council be invited to the next MidTown Park meeting.

Councilman Frnka reported that on the 25^th the KC’s would be selling barbecued chickens.

Councilman Churchill thanked the department heads for their work on the lists of projects. He stated that Sealy had such a pretty entrance to its city on Highway 36 and Columbus has no approach to it that is nearly that nice.

Councilman Kotrla reported that the electrical board met last Tuesday and a new electrical exam should be prepared within the next thirty days.

Mayor Frnka announced that the Chamber Banquet is coming up. If spouses attend, two tables will be required. Mayor Frnka recommended that council pay for their spouses to attend in order to purchase the second table.

Mayor Frnka recessed the regular meeting at 7:21 P.M. and, after a short break, entered into Executive Session.

13. Adjourn to Executive Session for the Purpose of Discussing Personnel Matters 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 Chapter 551.074:

The Executive Session was recorded on audio tape and sealed in an envelope marked "March 12, 2001 – Executive Session to Discuss Personnel Matters".

The Executive Session adjourned at 8:06 P.M. Mayor Frnka reported that council had reviewed the applications and resumes received for the city manager’s position and had selected some individuals to interview. Interview dates and times will be scheduled.

There being no further business, Mayor Frnka declared the meeting adjourned at 8:07 P.M.

______________________________

Mayor

ATTEST:

___________________________

City Secretary