The City Council of the City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, March 26, 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.
Councilwoman - Ester Chandler (Arrived at 7:46 P.M.)
Councilman - Donald T. Churchill
Councilman - DeWayne Kotrla

City Manager - John Brasher
City Secretary - Jill Ready

and the following absent:
Councilman - Ronnie Rogers

1. Call to Order:

Mayor Frnka called the meeting to order at 6:30 P.M., March 26, 2001.

2. Pledge: Mayor Frnka led the Pledge

3. Consent Agenda:

a. Approval of invoices.
b. Approval of minutes from March 12, 2001.
c. Approval of financial statements.

Councilman Churchill moved to approve the consent agenda. Councilman Kotrla seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

City Manager Brasher reported the following:

The City is currently advertising for bids to purchase a head works screen for the old sewer plant. Bids will be opened on April 5^th. The screen will filter out undesirable material before it enters the plant. Also, bids will be opened April 4^th for street seal coating.

The utility department has been greasing all fire hydrants in preparation of flushing them. The flushing of the fire hydrants will take place on Wednesday and Thursday, March 28^th and 29^th of this week. The utility department repaired a section of sanitary sewer line on King Drive that was damaged when installing the storm sewer.

The Columbus Volunteer Fire Department has paid off the balance on the grass truck and paid for the add-on at the back of the bay on the north side of the building.

The City was informed that there is a very good possibility that the current gas supplier, Mid-Coast Energy Resources, will be sold to Enbridge, Inc., which is a Canadian pipeline and utility company. This action will have no affect on the City’s gas supplies and the only change that will be noticed is the name change on the invoices.

The City of Columbus received an outstanding rating of 93% on a recent gas audit compared to a 92% rating from the previous year. Utility Superintendent Lawrence Dungen and all of the utility department employees are commended for the hard work and effort to achieve this excellent rating.

The 2000 Census results for Columbus show the current population to be 3,916, an increase of 549 compared to the 1990 census of 3,367.

5. Presentation by Citizens:

No citizens appeared before council at this time.

Audience to Rusty Theut Requesting Closure of Streets During the Columbus Live Oak Festival:

Council requested that all businesses affected by the street closings be notified of the closings. Councilman Frnka moved to approve closure of the following streets: The 400 block of Spring Street between Milam and Travis and the 1100 block of Travis Street between Walnut and Spring from 5:00 p.m. Friday, May 18^th until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 20^th; the 1000 block of Milam Street from Walnut north to the Union Pacific railroad tracks from 3:00 p.m. Saturday, May 19^th until 12:00 a.m. Sunday, May 20^th; and Milam Street between Walnut and Spring from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. Saturday, May 19^th and from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 20, 2001. Councilman Churchill seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

Consider and Act on Resolution 1-01 Approving an Agreement Between the City and the State of Texas for the Closure of the 1100 Block of Milam Street (Spur 52) Between Walnut and Spring from 6:00 A.M. to 9:00 P.M. on Saturday, May 19^th and From 8:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. on Sunday, May 20, 2001 for the Columbus Live Oak Festival:

Councilman Frnka moved to adopt Resolution 1-01 approving an agreement between the City of Columbus and the State of Texas for the closure of the 1100 block of Milam Street (Spur 52) between Walnut and Spring from 6:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 19^th and from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, May 20, 2001 for the Columbus Live Oak Festival. Councilman Kotrla seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

Consider and Act on a Local Agreement Between the County Attorney’s Office and the Columbus Police Department for Disposition of Forfeited Contraband Seized Under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures:

City Manager Brasher explained that both the county and state require that this agreement be in place. Councilman Churchill stated that he did not want handguns to be resold. Councilman Kotrla moved to approve a local agreement between the County Attorney’s office and the Columbus Police Department for the disposition of forfeited contraband seized under Chapter 59 of the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures.

Councilman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

9. Consider and Act to Designate the Chief of Police to Administer the Laws Regulating Junked or Abandoned Motor Vehicles According to V.T.C.A., Transportation Code 683.001:

Mayor Frnka announced that it is the recommendation of Municipal Judge Dungen for the City to have clearly stated in its records who is to administer the laws regulating junked or abandoned vehicles. Councilman Frnka moved to appoint the Chief of Police of the City of Columbus to administer any and all laws regulating junked or abandoned motor vehicles within the city limits. Councilman Churchill seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

10. Consider and Act on the Recommendation of the Nesbitt Memorial Library Advisory Board to Appoint Virgil Thompson to Serve a Term on the Board:

Councilman Kotrla moved to approve the appointment of Virgil Thompson to serve a term on the Nesbitt Memorial Library Advisory Board. Councilman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

11. Discussion and Action Regarding a Request to Purchase a New Chlorine Injection System for the Swimming Pool:

City Manager Brasher explained that the lines at the pool were clogged with a buildup of caustic soda. The existing system also uses chlorine gas, which can be very dangerous. A chlorine injection system, currently being used by Weimar, uses HTH, which is safer than chlorine gas and requires no caustic soda, eliminating the buildup problem. City Manager Brasher stated that $1850 is currently in the pool budget and additional funds are available in the contingency fund to make up the total cost of $2985 for the chlorine injection system. Mayor Frnka also mentioned that city employee Chester Shepard had devised a method to drill out the buildup in the pipes resulting in a major time and cost savings for the city. Councilman Kotrla requested that various suppliers be contacted to get the lowest cost. Councilman Kotrla moved to authorize the purchase of a new chlorine injection system for the swimming pool. Councilman Churchill seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

12. Consider and Act to Amend the Curb and Gutter Policy Requiring a Party Wishing to Construct Curb and Gutter to Remit a Deposit Equal to the Amount Designated by the City Engineer for the Engineering Study:

City Manager Brasher recommended that the amended policy contain no set dollar amount to avoid having to amend the policy every time the cost changes. Councilman Churchill moved to amend the curb and gutter policy requiring a party wishing to have curb and gutter installed, to remit a deposit equal to the amount designated by the city engineer for the engineering study. Councilman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

13. Presentation of Plaque of Appreciation to City Manager:

Mayor Frnka thanked City Manager John Brasher for his service to the City of Columbus and presented him with a clock and plaque of recognition.

14. Items From Councilmembers:

Councilman Kotrla congratulated Utility Superintendent Dungen and his crew for the excellent rating in a recent study of the gas system.

Councilman Frnka as commended the utility department for the excellent rating.

Mayor Frnka responded to Councilman Frnka’s letter to the editor, stating that she preferred to have open dialogue with her council if they have a problem with something she is doing. Mayor Frnka said that each council member has the right to abstain, but she believes that they are each on council as individuals representing the city not representing each other or their personal opinion. She stated that she believes everyone should vote on the beliefs of the citizens, not their own beliefs.

15. Announcements:

Mayor Frnka reminded council of the upcoming Volunteer Dinner on March 29^th.

Mayor Frnka recessed the regular meeting at 6:57 P.M. and entered into Executive Session.

Executive Session for the Purpose of Discussion of 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 26, 2001 – Executive Session to Discuss Personnel Matters".

The Executive Session adjourned at 8:46 P.M. and the city council meeting reconvened into Open Session. Councilman Kotrla moved to appoint Utility Superintendent Lawrence Dungen and City Secretary Jill Ready as Interim Co-City Managers until May 14, 2001. Councilman Frnka seconded the motion. The vote was as follows:

AYES: Councilmen Frnka, Churchill, and Kotrla

ABSENT: Councilman Rogers and Councilwoman Chandler

The motion passed.

There being no further business, Mayor Frnka declared the meeting adjourned at 8:47 P.M.

______________________________

Mayor

ATTEST:

___________________________

City Secretary