The San Saba City Council held a regular meeting on Tuesday, September 14th, in the City Hall Chambers. Mayor Ken Jordan called the Council to order at 6:00 p.m. and welcomed everyone. Alderman Marcus Amthor gave the invocation and led everyone in the pledges to the American flag and the Texas flag.
The following Council members were in attendance: Kenneth Jordan, Mayor; Robert Whitten, Mayor Pro-Tem; Oleta Behrens, Alderman; Marcus Amthor, Alderman; and Shawn Oliver, Alderman. Others present at this meeting were: Sabrina Maultsby, City Secretary; Charlene Lindsay, Finance Director; Scott Glaze, Public Works Director; Michael Wadsworth, Code Enforcement Officer; Scott Edmonson, City Manager; Sarah Saldivar, KSSB/EDC; Kim Wilson, Financial Assistant; Luke Van Diest, Jacob & Martin Engineer; Ken Coignet, VP and
Business Development Director, Public Management; Javier Baez, citizen; James Castleberry, Retired Pastor - United Pentecostal Church; Esther Hunt, United Pentecostal Church Pastor; Kevin Shahan, Gail Bruner, Patty Shaw, and Devon Hoyt from Planning and Zoning; and Djuana Payton, Reporter for San Saba News & Star. Alderman Michael Nelson was not present at this meeting.
Open Public Hearings - Mayor Ken Jordan opened the Public Hearings.
PUBLIC HEARING
1) The City of San Saba will hold a Public Hearing at this time to consider adopting a proposed budget for FY 2021-2022 and tax rate for the 2021 tax year. The proposed tax rate increased to last year's effective tax rate, $.344000 per $100 evaluation. Property taxes collected in 2021 will be $91,668 more than what was collected in 2020 due to an increase in the total tax roll. All citizens are invited to express their views on the proposed City budget and tax rate.
No public comment.
CLOSE PUBLIC HEARING
Mayor Jordan closed the Public Hearing.
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
James Castleberry, retired pastor of United Pentecostal Church, introduced the new pastor, Esther Hunt, who is also his daughter. In addition, he brought three requests to the Council:
1. The church wants to rent a city dumpster. The Mayor told him he did not
The Mayor told him he did not need approval for the rental; he just needed to contact the City to get the dumpster rented.
2. The church owns four lots and wants to turn lots two and three into gravel parking lots. (1000 & 1002 Cherokee)
3. The church would like to set up a storage building (10 [or 12]X 20). Mr. Castleberry stated he knows they cannot build too close to the fence line.
Mayor Jordan told him that the first step for items two and three would be to get with the Planning & Zoning Committee. These kinds of changes would need to go to them first to be approved. If approved by Planning & Zoning, it will be placed on the agenda for the City Council.
PRESENTATIONS:
1. "Supervisor of the Quarter" Award for Third Quarter:
Michael Wadsworth, Code Enforcement Officer, received recognition as the Supervisor of the Third Quarter. Mr. Glaze said Michael has one of the toughest jobs. Mr. Glaze said Michael handles himself really well with others. His name was engraved on a dedicated “Supervisor of the Quarter” plaque. In addition, Michael received a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
2. "Employee of the Month" Award for September:
Kim Wilson, Financial Assistant, received recognition as September’s Employee of the Month. Charlene Lindsay, her supervisor, said Kim has worked at the City for six years and described Kim as an excellent employee and hard worker. Kim’s name was engraved on a dedicated “Employee of the Month” plaque. In addition, she received a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
3. Luke Van Diest, Engineer with Jacob & Martin, LLC, and Ken Coignet, Vice President and Business Development Director with Public Management, to give a presentation and overview regarding the San Saba Planning Project.
Mr. Van Diest and Mr. Coignet gave a lengthy presentation to the Council followed by a discussion.
CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:
1. Minutes from the August 10th Planning & Zoning and City Council Joint Workshop; August 10th City Council Meeting and Budget Workshop; and August 24th, 2021, Special Called Council Meeting.
2. Payment of bills presented to the City Council.
3. Approve the Dispatcher Services Interlocal Agreement between the County of San Saba, Texas and the City of San Saba, Texas.
4. Approve an Interlocal Agreement between City and County for the Emergency Management Coordinator position.
5. Approve updated contract with appointed Municipal Judge, Sharon Blossman.
6. Approve Resolution No. 2021-37, a Resolution of the City of San Saba, Texas Approving the Resignation of Keep San Saba Beautiful Commission Member Nikki Darnold and appointing one (1) member (Lucia Martinez) to the Keep San Saba Beautiful Commission, term expiring January 2022.
7. Approve Resolution No. 2021-38 a Resolution to waive an ordinance defining noise nuisances for Charles Dyess, September 25, 2021 at Mill Pond Park Gazebo.
8. Approve Resolution No. 2021-39 a Resolution to waive an ordinance defining noise nuisances for Ida Esquivel, October 9, 2021 at Mill Pond Park Gazebo.
Decision: The Council unanimously approved all of the above items.
DISCUSSION/ACTION ITEMS:
1. Discuss and Consider approval of Resolution No. 2021-40 Approving the proposed Economic Development Commission budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022, previously approved by the Economic Development Commission Board. Decision: This resolution re
Decision: This resolution required a roll call vote.
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten - Aye
Alderman Marcus Amthor - Aye
Alderman Shawn Oliver - Aye
Alderman Oleta Behrens - Aye
With four Aye’s and no Nay’s, the Council approved the Resolution No. 2021-40 Approving the proposed Economic Development Commission budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022, previously approved by the Economic Development Commission Board.
2. Discuss and Consider approval of Resolution No. 2021-41 approving the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022.
Decision: This resolution required a roll call vote.
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten - Aye
Alderman Marcus Amthor - Aye
Alderman Shawn Oliver - Aye
Alderman Oleta Behrens - Aye
With four Aye’s and no Nay’s, the Council approved Resolution No. 2021-41 approving the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022.
3. Discuss and Consider approval of Resolution No. 2021-42 ratifying the property tax increase reflected in the budget.
Decision: This resolution required a roll call vote.
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten - Aye
Alderman Marcus Amthor - Aye
Alderman Shawn Oliver - Aye
Alderman Oleta Behrens - Aye
With four Aye’s and no Nay’s, the Council approved Resolution No. 2021-42 ratifying the property tax increase reflected in the budget.
4. Discuss and Consider approval of Ordinance No. 2021-08 levying a tax rate of $.344000 for the City of San Saba for 2021. This rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than this rate raised last year.
Decision: This resolution required a roll call vote.
Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten - Aye
Alderman Marcus Amthor - Aye
Alderman Shawn Oliver - Aye
Alderman Oleta Behrens - Aye
With four Aye’s and no Nay’s, the Council approved Ordinance No. 2021-08 levying a tax rate of $.344000 for the City of San Saba for 2021.
5. Discuss and Consider approval of Ordinance No. 2021-09 an Ordinance of the City of San Saba, Texas, approving a request submitted by Kevin Shahan, San Saba ISD School Board President on behalf of San Saba ISD, to temporarily close the 100 Block of North 8th Street located between West Wallace Street and West Brown Street from the hours of 1:20 p.m. to 2:20 p.m., every Thursday beginning September 16, September 23, September 30th, October 7th, and October 14th, 2021 for band practice.
Mr. Shahan explained the situation with band practice having to be so close to the street. The street closure was requested for the safety of the students. They are not actually in the street during marching practice, but they are extremely close to it.
Decision: After a lengthy discussion, the Council decided not to take action and vote on this ordinance. There were many options discussed that the school could pursue.
8. Discuss and provide options regarding the San Saba Health Services Center.
There was a lengthy discussion on what could be done with the property/facility.
Decision: It was decided that more research needed to be done on potential restrictions placed on the City according to the property deed. City Manager Edmonson will research.
City Manager’s Report
• The Collection station is fixed and looks really nice.
• The Street Department and KSSB moved planters around.
• The 9-11 Remembrance Ceremony was this past weekend.
• There will be a City-Wide Clean-up on October 23rd. • Deiz y Seis will be this coming
• Deiz y Seis will be this coming weekend.
• Lowe’s Grand Opening is in the morning at 7:00 a.m.; there will be a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:00. Mr. Edmonson got to go on a tour and said it is really, really nice.
• Family Dollar Tree is to open on Thursday.
• The City Manager did a program at the Rotary and Pioneer Clubs.
• The City Manager met with Mr. Blankenship on the museum board. Research about flood plain issues is being done.
• All is going smooth with the police. There are two interviews this week for the vacant officer’s position.
• There were tree limbs down and tree damage from the last storm. The golf course was hit hard. There were power outages, but the City took care of it. All departments did a great job.
The City Manager said San Saba could be proud of the way the City employees all work together and pitch in and help each other out.
Mr. Glaze said the City crew is in the middle of meter reading this week. Also, there have been a record number of service water leaks (around 30).
Mr. Glaze said the street department has been hit hard because of that storm. Folks are putting a lot out at the curb to be picked up. He noted the Street Department is short-handed and is trying to get things done as fast as they can.
Mr. Wadsworth said he is working on Center Street to get 300 feet of it paved with asphalt. It is scheduled to be laid next Friday. Ms. Saldivar with KSSB stated
Ms. Saldivar with KSSB stated the retaining wall in Mill Pond Park should start next week. The rock is already there, and hopefully it will be finished quickly.
Ms. Saldivar said EDC is pleased to see lots of activity downtown. They have a submission of nomination for Pecan House Grill for a new downtown business with the Texas Downtown Association, and Pecan House Grill is one of the finalists.
Mayor Ken Jordan adjourned the meeting at 7:47 p.m.