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 20222023 and tax rate for 2021 tax year. The proposed tax rate was increased to last year’s effective tax rate, $.344000 per $100 evaluation. Property taxes collected in 2022 will be $192,533 more than what was collected in 2021 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 the last seven years. However, the actual Tax Revenue did increase due to more people building new homes, etc. Continued on Page 3 - See City Council Presentations:
Ramiro Martinez, Employee working in the Sanitation Department, was selected as the Employee of the Month for September. Sanitation Department Juan Montoya and Alderman Michael Nelson presented Ramiro with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Michael Whitley, Golf Course Supervisor was selected as Supervisor of the Third Quarter. Scott Glaze, Public Works Director, and Alderman Michael Nelson presented Michael with a plaque with his name on it and a gift certificate to a local restaurant.
Consent Agenda:
The City Council unanimously approved the following: minutes from the August 16, 2022, City Council Meeting and Budget Workshop, and August 23, 2022 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 Resolution No. 202230 waiving noise ordinance on September 24th, 2022 for Comie Gomez at Mill Pond Park Gazebo.
The first item for discussion/ action was to Discuss and Consider approval of Resolution No. 2022-31 approving the proposed budget for the Fiscal Year beginning October 1, 2022 and ending September 30, 2023. Alderman Robert Whitten made the motion to approve Resolution No. 2022-31 approving the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2021 and ending September 30, 2022 be passed, seconded by Alderman Marcus Amthor.
The Second discussion/action item was to discuss and consider approval of Resolution 2022-32 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. Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten made a motion to approve Resolution No. 2022-32 ratifying the increase in property tax revenues reflected in the budget, seconded byAlderman Michael Nelson the motion and was unanimously approved.
Arecord vote was taken: Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten – Aye; Alderman Marcus Amthor – Aye; Alderman Shawn Oliver – Aye; Alderman Michael Nelson – Aye; Alderman Oleta Behrens – Aye; with Council members unanimously approving Resolution No. 2022-32 ratifying the increase in property tax revenues reflected in the budget.
The third discussion/action item was to Discuss and Consider Approval of Ordinance No. 202209 levying a tax rate of $.344000 for the City of San Saba for 2022. 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. Alderman Shawn Oliver made the motion to approve Ordinance No. 2022-09 to adopt the tax rate be adopted as presented. The property tax will increase to last year’s effective tax rate of $.344000 which is effectively .01% increase in the tax rate based on property values.Alderman Marcus Amthor seconded the motion.
Arecord vote was taken: Mayor Pro-Tem Robert Whitten - Aye; Alderman Marcus Amthor – Aye; Alderman Shawn Oliver – Aye; Alderman Michael Nelson – Aye; Alderman Oleta Behrens – Aye; with Council members unanimously approving Ordinance No. 2022-09 adopting the tax rate for 2022.
The fourth discussion/action item was to Discuss, Consider, andApprove the Official Ballot for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees Election for Places 6-9 as indicated on the Ballot. This must be approved by City Council Vote. Alderman Shawn Oliver made a motion to approve the Official Ballot for the Texas Municipal League Intergovernmental Risk Pool Board of Trustees Election for Places 6-9 as indicated on the Ballot, seconded byAlderman Marcus Amthor and was unanimously passed by a 5-0 vote. City Manager’s Report Scott Edmonson, City Manager gave a brief report on the following activities in the City of San Saba: Pre-construction meeting regarding theAmerican Rescue Plan Water Line Project on September 14, 2022, at 10:00 a.m.; Parks Department has been mowing a lot in the Parks; Animal Control has been dealing with snakes in houses within the City; The Splash Pad is still in the works, having a hard time finding a contractor for the project; Working on a drainage issue with the Engineers on Sunset and Anita; TML Conference is the first week in October; Street Department has been picking up a lot of brush; Denver Daniel, Electric Department Supervisor, has been working to compile an estimate for the new expansion of Chase Pecan, Tree Trimming, helped with the removal of a large branch in front of the Methodist Church.
Other Reports
Scott Glaze, Public Works Director reported: will be repaving the first two blocks on Commerce, trying cleaner higher grade of gravel; John Bauer, Police Chief reported: the Tahoe is not working, took it to Hamrick's and was told it was not worth fixing, will be using a vehicle from the Water Department temporarily; Michael Wadsworth, Code Enforcement Officer reported: a lot of complaints about the grass since the rain.
As there was no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:21 p.m.