Norman Pierce - Named City Supervisor of the 2nd Quarter in June 12th City Council Meeting

The City Council met at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, June 12th. The following information was provided by Sabrina Maultsby, City Secretary.

Mayor Jordan called the meeting to order, announced a quorum present, and Alderman Marcus Amthor gave the invocation and pledges.

Presentations:

Susan Kisko with San Saba Garden Club addressed the City Council representing the San Saba Garden Club, and there were several members in attendance supporting her. She gave a brief overview about the Garden Club and about Farrel Whitley and his dedication, hard work, and efforts he put forth with a vision to make Mill Pond Park a beautifully landscaped park. The San Saba Garden Club would like to honor Farrel Whitley by naming a road within Mill Pond Park after him. There were several suggestions made, and a former Mayor was to name the road that runs beside the waterfalls after Farrel, another is to name the road beside the Garden Club's clubhouse/Old Mill house after him. Susan reviewed Chapter 6.07 of the City Ordinances and do not see a problem regarding City Ordinances. She hopes the Council will agree that Farrel is deserving of this recognition. Mayor Jordan explained to Ms. Kisko and the Garden Club that the City Council will discuss this and bring it back for an agenda item and vote at the next Council meeting. He thanked the Garden Club for coming.

Stephen Owens with LEHNE Construction working on the Chase Pecan Project addressed the Council regarding a noise variance for early morning Cement pours, Discussion/Action agenda item No. 2 with the hours between of 1:00 am to 7:00 am. He also explained that the neighbors would be notified via email, text, or door hangers prior to the date and time of pours. Mr. Owens said they are looking to do eight pours. Employee of the Month for June was moved to the July meeting.

Norman Pierce, Shop Maintenance Supervisor was selected as Supervisor of the Quarter for the second Quarter. Alderman Marcus Amthor, and Public Works Director Scott Glaze, presented Norman with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

Public Comments

Brian Rogers signed up to speak asking where the alleyway was located on the Discussion/ Action item No. 3. Mayor Jordan explained that it is located North of the railroad tracks by Riggs Fuel and it will be discussed further when we get to item No. 3.

Consent Agenda:

On a motion by Alderman Shawn Oliver, seconded by Alderman Marcus Amthor, Council unanimously approved the following: minutes from the May 9, 2023 Council meeting; and payment of bills.

Discussion/Action Items: The first discussion/action item was to Discuss and take possible action to award a construction contract related to the TxCDBG #7220420 Water Improvements Project contingent upon TDA approval of Amendment #2 extension request submission. Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten made a motion to award the Construction Contract to Llano Environmental and Energy Group, LLC dba Permian Energy related to the TxCDBG #7220420 Water Improvements Project contingent upon TDA approval of Amendment #2 extension request submission, seconded by Alderman Michael Nelson and was approved on a 5 to 0 vote.

Continued - The second discussion/action item was to Discuss and Consider approval of Resolution No. 2023-18 a Resolution waiving Ordinance defining noise nuisances for LEHNE Construction, Inc. conducting work on the Chase Pecan Project, located at 2803 W. Wallace Street, San Saba, Texas regarding early morning concrete pours from 1:00 a.m. till 7:00 a.m. for the dates of June 22nd, June 30th, July 6th, July 13th, July 19th, July 27th, August 4th, and August 10th, 2023. Alderman Shawn Oliver made a motion to approve Resolution No. 202318 a Resolution, seconded by Alderman Michael Nelson, and Council unanimously approved.

The third discussion/action item was to Discuss, Consider, and Approve Ordinance No. 2023-05, an Ordinance of the City of San Saba, Texas, to permanently close for public use a portion of Santa Fe Street, also known as Alleyway per the San Saba County Appraisal District; making finding of a fact; providing for the vacation, abandonment, closure of this portion of platted right-of-way; providing for the sale of the right-of-way; and except for any public utility easement, releasing any and all public rights, title and interest in such right-of-way; providing for authorization for the City Manager to take necessary action; and providing a severability clause and an open meeting clause. Alderman Michael Nelson made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-05, seconded by Alderman Oleta Behrens, and was unanimously approved by all.

The fourth discussion/action item was to Discuss, consider and approval of Resolution No. 202319, a Resolution of the City of San Saba, Texas, regarding a Finance Contract between Government Capital Corporation and the City of San Saba for the purchase of a Police Responder and Equipment for the Police Department. Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2023-19, seconded by Alderman Shawn Oliver and was unanimously approved by all on a 5 to 0 vote.

City Manager’s Report: City Manager Scott Edmonson gave a brief report on the following activities in the City of San Saba: ATMOS will be don a Safety Survey tomorrow from 7:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.; the Golf Course received fifteen (15) new Golf Carts today, and I'm sure Michael is happy; the Golf Cart Sheds are complete and really look nice; we have been meeting with AT&T and Verizon regarding new Cell Phone service, but they won't be able to port the numbers until August; working on the Street Paving and how we plan to move forward; met with Mason to see how they did their paving project; workivng with the Youth Sports regarding the baseball and soccer fields; Splash Pad is moving along, and the contractor will be meeting with us sometime in August to see where the electric, water, and sewer lines need to be extended to; been meeting with Supervisors regarding their budgets; still meeting about the Eclipse, and we booked 25 port-a-potties; will be attending a Legislative Update Conference in Georgetown on Thursday.

Other Reports:

Scott Glaze, Public Works Director reported: ATMOS is pressure testing the lines; Buddy Whitley is doing a great job in the Parks and with the flowers.

Michael Wadsworth, Code Enforcement Officer reported: the house on the property Riana Bass owns, there is more to it, there are four or five people involved and there is a tax lien on the property so the City isn't going to move forward at this time and waiting to see what transpires after July 5th.

Chief John Bauer reported: the District Attorney's Office seems to be stepping it up, they presented 30 years on a recent case for 139 gm of cocaine still in brick form to a known gang member and the District Judge gave him 10 years probation, which is unheard of. We are still dealing with the same people over and over due to not being prosecuted for the crime committed. It's a daily battle we are fighting. The Police Officers are doing their job, but what happens past that point, they have no control of.

As there was no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:42 p.m. and Council Members took a brief recess before beginning the Budget Workshop and Executive Session was moved following the Budget Workshop.

The Budget Workshop began, and Jason Vogel presented Animal Control Budget along with Michael Wadsworth presenting the budget for Code Enforcement; Norman Pierce presented the budget for the Shop Department; and Luis Rios, Street Department Supervisor, presented the Street budget, expenses.

The next Budget Workshop is scheduled for Tuesday, June 27, 2023.

The Budget Workshop adjourned at 6:53 p.m.

At 6:54 p.m., the City Council convened into Executive Session pursuant to Section 551.074, Texas Government Code, to evaluate the City Manager’s Performance.

At 7:08 p.m., the City Council adjourned from Executive Session back into open session. No action was taken.

The meeting adjourned at 7:08 p.m.