Scott Glaze and Darrel Lackey honored by City Council in Sept. 12 meeting

Public Works Director Scott Glaze and Street Department employee received special presentations at the September 12th City Council meeting.

Scott Glaze, Public Works Director, was selected as Supervisor of the third Quarter. City Manager Scott Edmonson and Alderman Michael Nelson presented Scott with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

Darrel Lackey, Employee working in the Street Department, was selected as the Employee of the Month for September. Scott Glaze, Public Works Director and Alderman Michael Nelson presented Darrel with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.

The information included in this article was provided by Sabrina Maultsby, City Secretary.

Special Called City Council Meeting & Budget Workshop, August 22, 2023

In Mayor Ken Jordan’s absence, Mayor Pro Tem Robert Whitten called the meeting to order, announced a quorum present, gave the invocation, and led in the pledges to the American Flag and the Texas Flag.

There were no Public Comments or Presentations.

was to Discuss and consider approving Ordinance No. 202307, an Ordinance of the City of San Saba, Texas, to permanently close the undeveloped unopened 0.719 portion of Pierce Street and Hope Street located in the Industrial Park and selling the 0.719 portion of Pierce Street and Hope Street to Jacob Stone Products, Inc. Attorney Marcus Wood was present representing Jacob Stone Products and addressed the City Council explaining, after the last Council meeting, he revised the Ordinance and Easement to address the concerns the Council had. Mr. Wood also explained that Tony Jacobs, Jr. and Scott Glaze met at the property and discussed and agreed to the concerns the City had regarding the closure. City Secretary Sabrina Maultsby also explained that she sent the documents over to the City Attorney for review, and the City's Attorney said the Council's concerns were addressed and corrected by Mr. Wood. Ordinance No. 2023-07 was unanimously approved by a 4 to 0 vote.

The second discussion/action item was to Discuss and consider approving Ordinance No. 202308, an Ordinance of the City of San Saba, Texas, Amending Ordinance No. 2023-04 and setting fees for various City services and consolidating those fees for convenience; amending various City Ordinances; and Containing a Severability Clause and an Effective Date. City Manager Scott Edmonson explained that a rate comparison was made regarding the surrounding cities and the increased services would be near or even below most of the surrounding rates. He also explained, the City has not increased Base Service Rates since 2017 and with overall increases in material etc., it is necessary to do the increase to help balance the 2023-2024 FY Budget. Ordinance No. 2023-08 was unanimously approved by a 4 to 0 vote.

The third discussion/action item was to Discuss and consider approving Resolution No. 202330, a Resolution of the City of San Saba, Texas, by and between the City of San Saba and Motorola Solutions regarding a contract for the purpose of financing 'Police Radios.' Resolution No. 2023-30 was unanimously approved by a 4 to 0 vote.

The fourth discussion/action item was to Discuss, consider, and approve the percentage amount to increase for the FY 2023-2024 regarding Dispatch Service Salary. This item was unanimously approved on a 4 to 0 vote.

The fifth discussion/action item was to Discuss, consider, and approve the Economic Development Corporation Budget for FY 2023-2024, that was unanimously approved by the Economic Development Corporation at the meeting held on 07/12/2023. This item was unanimously approved by all.

City Manager Scott Edmonson reported on the following activities in the City of San Saba: Kudos to Chief John Bauer, the PD Officers, and the San Saba Volunteer Fire Department for getting the fire at Chase Pecan under control and keeping a watch on it throughout the night, and would also like to thank all of the surrounding Volunteer Fire Departments that showed up to help; Wayne Yarbrough has the hole for the Splash Pad tank dug and making progress toward the installation; everything is dry and keeping things going.

Other Reports

Scott Glaze, Public Works Director, reported that Jake with Splash Zone called regarding places to purchase cement in our area and also inquired about local concrete contractors, and I recommended Damian Gomez and Travis Ringo, the two I knew of.

Chief John Bauer reported that Chase Pecan Surveillance video showed that the fire started due to oil on cardboard boxes by the empty plastic pecan containers that were stacked on the North side of Hwy 190 West; great Rodeo Parade this last Saturday and there was a large attendance at the Rodeo on Saturday night.

As there was no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:23 p.m. and immediately began the Budget Workshop. City Manager Scott Edmonson presented the 2023-2024 budget for Debt Service (Revenue and Expenses), the Revenue portion of all department budgets, with the exception of Golf will be discussed.

No final decisions were made regarding budgets at this meeting.

Being no further business, the Budget Workshop adjourned at 6:36 p.m.

San Saba City Council Meeting, September 12, 2023

At 6:00 p.m. Mayor Jordan called the meeting to order, announced a quorum present, and Alderman Michael Nelson gave the invocation and pledges.

Public Hearing

The first public hearing was opened to consider adopting a proposed budget for FY 20232024 and tax rate for 2023 tax year. The proposed tax rate was increased to last year's effective tax rate, $.344000 per $100 evaluation. Property taxes collected in 2023 will be $60,162.00 more than what was collected in 2022 due to an increase in the total tax roll. No citizens were present to express their views on either the budget or tax rate. Mayor Jordan explained that the City's tax rate did not increase, no new taxes, and the City has not had a tax rate increase in several years. However, the actual Tax Revenue did increase due to an increase in property values.

The second public hearing was opened, Scott and Shelia Meador are requesting that the Planning and Zoning Commission and the San Saba City Council approve a Variance to the Zoning Ordinance in regard to the City of San Saba's minimum building line setback requirements for property located at 1101 W. Commerce Street, San Saba, Texas, Legal Description, Harwood and Fentress Subdivision, Block Number 56, Lot Number and Size NE 1/4, for a Variance to construct a new carport to the existing structure, zoned One-Family Residence District (R-1).

The Planning and Zoning Commission met in Open Session on September 5, 2023, and voted with a 4 to 0 Vote in favor of approving this Zoning Variance. The City encourages citizens to make their views known at this public hearing.

The public hearings were closed at 6:02 p.m.

Public Comments

Tom Murray residing at 204 Burkett Drive, San Saba, Texas, addressed the City Council regarding property located at 201 Burkett Drive, San Saba, Texas, owned by Potomac Equities out of Dallas, Texas, regarding unsightly and unsafe conditions as referenced in the City's Code of Ordinances and provided paperwork regarding violations. He also provided pictures of the unsafe and unsightly conditions. Mr. Murray explained that this is a fire hazard, attracting rats and snakes. He said that he and Marcie Butler have both visited with the Code Enforcement Officer on numerous occasions, and Marcie has been to City Hall about this situation. Mr. Murray said this has been going on for about a year and one half, and they would like to see something done. Mayor Jordan explained that the City Council can't take any action on this, but we will sure see where it is at this point and what we can do about it.

Consent Agenda Items

On a motion by Alderman Michael Nelson, seconded by Alderman Oleta Behrens, Council unanimously approved the following: minutes from the August 8th, 2023, City Council Meeting and Budget Workshop, and August 22nd, 2023 Special Called Meeting and Budget Workshop; payment of bills; Approved the Dispatcher Services Interlocal Agreement between the County of San Saba, Texas, and the City of San Saba, Texas; Approved an Interlocal Agreement between City and County for the Emergency Management Coordinator Position; Approved the Interlocal Agreement between the City of San Saba and San Saba County for Flood Plain Management; Approved updated Contract with appointed Municipal Judge Sharon Blossman;Approved an Interlocal Agreement between the County of San Saba and the City of San Saba regarding Emergency Medical Services; Approved Resolution No. 2023-31 waiving noise ordinance on September 30th, 2023, for Krystel Russ at Mill Pond Park Gazebo;Approved Resolution No. 2023-32 approving an extension 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. from September 12, 2023, through October 31, 2023; Approved Resolution No. 2023-33 appointing Cade McBee replacing Dario Jimenez of the San Saba Economic Development Corporation, term expiring January 2024; Approved Ordinance No. 2023-09 temporarily closing Cherokee Street from E. Wallace Street to E. Commerce Street on September 15, 2023.

Discussion/Action Items The first item for discussion/ action was to Discuss and Consider Approval of Resolution No. 2023-34 approving the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2023, and ending September 30, 2024. A record vote was taken with the Council members unanimously approving Resolution No. 2023-34.

The second discussion/action item was to Discuss and Consider Approval of Resolution 2023-35 ratifying the increase in property tax revenues reflected in the budget. Adoption of a budget that requires raising more revenue from property taxes than in the previous year also requires a separate vote of the governing body of a city to ratify the property tax increase reflected in the budget. A record vote was taken with Council members unanimously approving Resolution No. 2023-35.

The third discussion/action item was to Discuss and Consider Approval of Ordinance No. 202310 levying a tax rate of $.344000 for the City of San Saba for 2023. This rate will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than this rate raised last year. The property tax will increase to last year's effective tax rate, $.344000 which is effectively .01% increase in the tax rate based on the increase in property values. A record vote was taken with Council members unanimously approving Ordinance No. 2023-10.

The fourth discussion/action item was to Discuss, Consider, and Approve Ordinance No. 202311, an Ordinance of the City of San Saba, Texas, approving the purchase and closing of a 20'X100' portion of alleyway located on Block 12 in the RiversideAddition between lots 5 and 6 on W. Pierce Street and lots 11 and 12 located on W. Lewis Street for Tony Jacobs, Jr. This item was approved by the City Council on October 8, 2019, as an action item only. Tony was to have the alleyway surveyed and paid for prior to the Ordinance being prepared for approval. He recently had the alleyway surveyed and paid for, and he is the property owner on both sides of the alleyway. Ordinance No. 2023-11 was unanimously passed by a 4-0 vote.

The fifth discussion/action item was to Discuss and Consider Approving Ordinance No. 2023-12, an Ordinance Granting a Variance to the Existing Zoning Ordinance in regard to the City of San Saba's minimum building line setback requirements for property located at 1101 W. Commerce Street, San Saba, Texas, Legal Description, Harwood and Fentress Subdivision, Block Number 56, Lot Number and Size NE 1/4, for a Variance to construct a new carport to the existing structure, zoned One-Family Residence District (R-1) for Scott and Shelia Meador. Ordinance No. 2023-12 was unanimously passed by a 4-0 vote.

City Manager’s Report

Scott Edmonson, City Manager, gave a brief report on the following activities in the City of San Saba: Splash Pad Equipment will be shipping out tomorrow; the Rock the EDC will be having installed on the corner across from the Visitor's Center is coming along; Play is up at the Golf Course; EEP Stage 2 was reported by ERCOT regarding tight Grid conditions and was asking everyone to conserve energy due to the next stage going to rolling brown-outs; the first Eclipse will be in October and looking to have a Public Meeting in late October regarding the April 2024 Eclipse; gave a brief update regarding Mr. Murray's situation, and the letter has been sent out and will go to Judge Blossman next.

Other Reports

Scott Glaze, Public Works Director, reported: It has been an extremely hot month; the house moving was the excitement of the City; there has been a record amount of water used.

As there was no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:28 p.m.