[0:00] It is 6:00. I want to welcome everybody.

[0:04] This is our regular meeting of the City and City Council.

[0:07] It is Tuesday, September 1st, and it has been posted as prescribed by statute.

[0:12] As I call this meeting to order, I want to welcome you.

[0:15] We usually begin with a prayer and invocation and pledge of allegiance, and we

[0:19] invite you to stand and join us as Councilwoman McCurry leads us in prayer.

[0:25] Almighty God, we thank you today for the privilege of gathering here tonight in

[0:30] service to our city. Thank you for our mayor, our city council members, our city

[0:36] staff, and all the first responders who work hard to maintain this city and

[0:42] make it a place where we can call home.

[0:45] Grant this council tonight wisdom, discernment, and clear minds as we discuss the

[0:51] issues and agenda items before us tonight.

[0:54] Lord, we ask that each one of us have respect for diversity,

[1:00] ideas, that we have seeking solutions that will benefit this entire

[1:05] community. We thank you tonight that you would also protect our city and keep our

[1:10] public servants safe. We ask these blessings in the holy name of Jesus, we pray.

[1:15] Amen.

[1:16] Amen. Our pledges.

[1:19] I pledge allegiance to the flag of United States of America, and to the Republic

[1:24] for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice

[1:30] for all. I honor the Texas flag. I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one

[1:36] state under God, one and indivisible.

[1:39] Thank you. The city secretary will call the roll to certify quorum.

[1:45] Mayor Bielski, present. Councilman Decker, present.

[1:51] Councilman Noak, present. Councilman Miller, present.

[1:57] Councilwoman McCurry, present. Councilman Zabelec, present.

[2:01] Councilman Virgil, absent. Mayor certified the quorum.

[2:04] Thank you. Under our petitions and public comments, I've asked Jennifer to sign up

[2:09] on behalf of the library and just introduce herself.

[2:12] And if you'll stand, please, so the council knows you are our new library director.

[2:15] You can stand right there. And you've got your board members, if you want to

[2:18] introduce them.

[2:20] Absolutely. Jennifer Coxhere. I'm the new manager of the library, and I'm hoping to

[2:24] carry on what the board and Adam did in the past, and I think I have those because

[2:28] I've been trained very well. This is Terri Arnold, she's our chair, and we have a

[2:33] new board member, Tracy Zinn-Zinn.

[2:35] Zinn-Deck .

[2:37] So I take the library if I train. This is our new board member, Tracy.

[2:41] And by the way, Jennifer's been with us for four years, and this has been a very

[2:44] wonderful organic approach.

[2:46] Okay, thank you. I appreciate it. And your agenda item is on the consent agenda,

[2:52] so hang on.

[2:53] Yes. I have it. Thank you.

[2:55] Under discussion of possible action to either approve the agenda order or to

[2:59] reorder anything, Council?

[3:01] May I make a motion to approve the agenda as presented, but removing

[3:07] consent? Well, we'll do that in the consent item, approving it as presented.

[3:11] Second.

[3:12] We have a motion and a second to approve the agenda order.

[3:14] All those in favor, please say aye.

[3:16] Aye.

[3:17] Any opposed? Motion carries. Under our proclamations, remembrance of 9/11.

[3:23] A&M has been a faithful, patriotic servant business community here, and

[3:29] is giving T-shirts away to those who show up, Never Forget.

[3:33] And so we again are honoring our public servants with the proclamation.

[3:37] That whereas the United States of America was brutally attacked on our own soil on

[3:42] September 11th, 2001, through a senseless and cowardly act of terrorism, whereas

[3:48] innocent people were killed and injured, and our citizenry was threatened as a

[3:52] result of these horrific acts. And whereas the death and destruction did not weaken

[3:57] the spirit of the American people, but instead it united our citizenry and resulted

[4:02] in public and private expressions of heroism, compassion, and patriotism.

[4:08] And whereas we salute those who responded to the tragic events with their courage

[4:13] and selfless determination, resources, and skill, and in some instances, their

[4:17] lives. Now therefore, the City Council proclaims September 11th as a day to

[4:22] remember and reflect on the tragedies that occurred 24 years ago, and that the

[4:27] citizens of Sealy, in honor of the individual and collective victims of September

[4:32] 11th, observe a moment of silence at noon on September 11th.

[4:36] And we signed this this first day on behalf.

[4:38] And so if you guys will show this, again, if you'll just come forward and just take

[4:43] this. Thank y'all very, very much for what you do, and she can turn around.

[4:49] She's going to get... Get your partner up here.

[4:59] Take a look.

[5:01] Perfect.

[5:04] And three, two and one.

[5:08] Okay. Thank you all very, very much. Appreciate you.

[5:10] Thank you.

[5:10] Okay.

[5:13] Under our consent agenda, it is appropriate at this time that routine matters

[5:18] thought to require little or no deliberation may be placed on a consent agenda and

[5:22] treated as one item. At any time before we vote, a council member can pull items

[5:27] that need to be handled individually.

[5:29] And we do have a couple we would like to pull.

[5:35] Item K and M, if the council will approve pulling those, and then we'll go

[5:41] forward and read the rest. Do we have a motion to a pull K and M at this time?

[5:46] So moved.

[5:47] Second. We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye.

[5:50] Aye.

[5:51] Any opposed? Motion carries. So under the consent agenda, approval that Virgil and

[5:57] Josephine Gordon Memorial Library Agreement, accept the transfer of deed from the

[6:02] SCDC to the City of Sealy for the downtown parking lot located at 125 Second

[6:08] Street. Approve the interlocal agreement for law enforcement with Austin County,

[6:13] City of Bellville, City of Sealy, Town of San Philip, City of Wallace, and Sealy

[6:18] Independent School District. D, accept the third quarter investment report.

[6:23] E, approve the August 4th, 2026, regular meeting minutes.

[6:28] Approve August 18th regular meeting minutes.

[6:31] G is approve our professional service agreement with Steven Kutra.

[6:36] H, approve renewing the contract for gas department regulatory compliance service

[6:42] by InServe Solutions.

[6:45] I, approve the Strand task order for the downtown elevated storage tank and Ward

[6:50] Ben ground storage tank rehabilitation project.

[6:54] J, accept a $1,000 donation from International Paper for public safety.

[7:00] L, approve a change order, number one for the W.E.

[7:05] Hill Community Center project bathroom renovation with EP Services.

[7:12] Those are the consent items that we have at this time.

[7:14] Mayor, I'll make a motion to approve the consent agenda without items K and M.

[7:20] Second.

[7:21] Motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye.

[7:23] Aye.

[7:24] Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay, K is just kind of a routine matter, a

[7:30] $2,000 donation from our own council member, Robert W.

[7:34] Necker, for the Sealy Police Department that has restricted use for a drone.

[7:38] So we wanted to pull that so he could abstain if he so chose.

[7:42] Yes, I'd like to abstain from the vote.

[7:44] Okay.

[7:45] So do we have a motion to approve the donation and accept it?

[7:50] I'll make a motion to approve.

[7:51] Second.

[7:52] We have a motion and a second to accept and approve the donation from Councilman

[7:56] Robert W. Necker. All those in favor, please say aye.

[7:59] Aye.

[8:00] Any opposed? Motion carries. And M, approve Strand Associates-

[8:04] One abstention. Correct on that?

[8:06] Yes.

[8:07] I think he said that. M, approve Strand Associates change order number one for the

[8:13] Seventh Street Water Line and Roadway Improvement Project, which includes water,

[8:17] sewer, and sod restoration. And I think our engineer and public works director are

[8:23] ready to address that. Give us the status.

[8:26] Yes. So this is change order number one to the Seventh Street Water Line and

[8:31] Roadway Improvements Project. I would like to highlight that this project includes

[8:36] work on some additional streets,

[8:40] including work on Hardiman, and then some

[8:47] work, I think we're going up to Atchison Street.

[8:50] But it includes water, a portion of sewer, and then also street

[8:55] reconstruction.

[8:57] And I know that that project has been sitting for about a month with little

[9:03] activity, but I would like to just let everybody know that construction,

[9:09] the asphalt paving, is scheduled to move forward next week.

[9:14] They do have a construction progress meeting scheduled for later this week, where

[9:18] they're going to be getting all their ducks in a row to make sure that everybody's

[9:22] ready for the paving operations. But we will be able to move forward with paving

[9:27] and get that project closed out here very soon.

[9:30] This change order, number one, is just to adjust some of the quantities from what

[9:36] was included in the bid. And then one of the larger items there was to

[9:42] install some sod restoration work.

[9:45] The change order total is $26,170,

[9:51] bringing the contract price up to

[9:55] $1,037,865.50. And then there

[10:01] were 11 days that were added as part of this change order.

[10:06] Questions or comments from the council?

[10:10] I'll make a motion to approve change order number one for Seventh Street Water Line

[10:14] and Roadway Improvement Project.

[10:16] Second.

[10:16] We have a motion and a second. I'll call for the vote. There's no discussion.

[10:20] All those in favor, please say aye.

[10:22] Aye.

[10:23] Aye.

[10:23] Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you.

[10:26] Under our business items, discussion and possible action regarding the public works

[10:30] director's recommendation of the annual nomination for the purchase and sale of

[10:34] natural gas for Gas Gate one and two, and Gas Gate three.

[10:39] Good evening. This agreement, it's every year.

[10:44] For the past three years, we went up to 50 MMBtu's, City Gate one and City Gate

[10:50] two. This year we are going to leave it at 850.

[10:55] In the packet, there is a

[10:59] graph that we use. We only went over less than 30 days out of the four months.

[11:05] Exactly what we want to look at. Now, the City Gate three is going to be bumped up

[11:10] to 75 MMBtu's per day. It was 50 last year.

[11:15] I did get a call today that everything sounds good with the contracts, so hopefully

[11:20] we will have them tomorrow.

[11:26] Questions, council? Anybody ready to make a motion to approve the nomination for

[11:31] the purchase and sale of natural gas?

[11:32] And that would be to bring the contract back as well-

[11:35] Yes

[11:35] ... to that meeting, correct?

[11:36] Yes.

[11:36] Thank you.

[11:37] I make a motion to approve the public works director's recommendation for the

[11:41] annual nomination for the purchase and sale of natural gas, Gate one and two, and

[11:45] three, and to bring it back with contract language.

[11:49] Second.

[11:49] A motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye.

[11:52] Aye.

[11:53] Aye.

[11:53] Any opposed? Motion carries. Number two, discussion and possible action regarding a

[11:59] resolution of request for reduction of TXDOT speed limit on FM 2187

[12:05] between FM 1094 and Highway 36. And the resolution is in your

[12:10] packet. With the growth out there, the new subdivisions,

[12:16] cars are driving too fast, and we've had several concerns on that.

[12:20] So we definitely need to ask them to consider reducing that speed limit out there.

[12:27] The resolution is in section number one, city council request TXDOT conduct a speed

[12:32] limit study to reduce the current normal speed limits on FM 2187

[12:38] from Farm to Market Road 1094 to State Highway 36.

[12:42] The city manager is hereby authorized to take all necessary steps to implement the

[12:46] provisions of this resolution, and it will immediately take effect upon its

[12:51] adoption for new speed limit reductions.

[12:54] The council finds all of the recitals to be true and correct, and incorporate the

[12:58] same into this resolution.

[13:01] Make a motion to approve a resolution for a request for reduction of TXDOT speed

[13:05] limit on FM 2187 between FM 1094 and Highway 36.

[13:11] Second.

[13:11] We have a motion and a second. Questions, comments? I'll call for the vote.

[13:16] All those in favor, please say aye.

[13:18] Aye.

[13:19] Aye.

[13:19] Any opposed? Motion carries. Number three, discussion and possible action regarding

[13:25] the Texas Department of Transportation State Highway 36 and Loop 350

[13:30] modification and construction project scheduled for letting in November 2026,

[13:36] including consideration of the removal and/or relocation of the city banner

[13:42] hanging poles located at South Loop 350.

[13:46] And as you know, we have used those poles, all our

[13:52] nonprofits to post their fundraisers, the county fair, anything of

[13:58] significance. And with the new modification on State Highway

[14:03] 36, Patrick is ready to bring us up to date on the meeting.

[14:07] So, during the meeting with the TXDOT engineers, they did approve to...

[14:11] On your packet, there's a current part where the poles are.

[14:15] There's a proposed that's 300 feet, maybe closer to Highway 90.

[14:20] The north side, that's the poles, those will still be there.

[14:24] Just trying to figure out if that's something we're going to have to, if y'all want

[14:26] to go through with council. But remember, we're still going to have to have a

[14:29] permit for that. So once this goes, then I'll have to give it to TXDOT to get a

[14:34] permit approved.

[14:35] The photo is Dollar General, or what is the photo?

[14:39] Say that again?

[14:40] Which store? There's two different places. Where are we?

[14:42] So the current one is basically by McDonald's, right before McDonald's.

[14:47] The new one would be in between Dollar General and then where Tony's, that

[14:53] first parking lot coming from 90 would be.

[14:56] It's 300 feet from the old going back to Highway 90.

[14:59] And that would accommodate there all of what they plan to do?

[15:02] Yes.

[15:02] Okay.

[15:05] They pay the city a small fee for our public works to hang those and devote the

[15:11] time to take care of it. And we have the bucket truck and the means to still do

[15:15] that.

[15:16] Mm-hmm.

[15:17] Follow the safety protocols.

[15:18] Yes.

[15:19] I just have one question. So I do remember them talking about, I don't remember

[15:23] where the barricade goes down the lanes.

[15:27] Is that past the-

[15:29] It's past the... It's close towards 90.

[15:31] So basically, if you're going towards Wallace-

[15:35] Yep

[15:35] ... okay, where the poles are, that piece is going to be further up, but the poles

[15:39] will be moving back towards Highway 90.

[15:41] Okay. So it won't be where it says the-

[15:43] No, it will not be.

[15:44] Okay.

[15:47] So the motion would just be for relocation of the poles, yes?

[15:49] It's better, or get rid of them entirely.

[15:51] Or get rid of them. But if you get rid of one side, you need to do both sides.

[15:55] Yeah.

[15:56] Because we have the north side and then we have the south side.

[15:58] So if you're going to remove, as staff, we recommend to remove both if you're going

[16:03] to remove. If you're going to relocate it, then we'll keep both.

[16:06] And when you say north side, you're talking about over by Allen-

[16:09] Yes

[16:09] ... Equipment?

[16:10] Yes.

[16:10] Okay.

[16:12] I think they're necessary to draw public events that we have in the city, so I

[16:17] think we need to keep them.

[16:20] Yeah, I'm saying unless there's been a problem with them, I don't see any reason we

[16:23] can go away.

[16:24] So do we get the new location approved before we move the current ones, or?

[16:28] So what I'll have to do is I'll have to get a permit first, but remember, TXDOT is

[16:32] the one that came up with this picture saying they were going to be okay.

[16:36] Okay.

[16:36] So seems like it's going to be just a permit fee that we'll have to take care of.

[16:41] Okay.

[16:41] And we'll have to buy new poles, of course, because those poles are no good.

[16:46] I'll make a motion to direct staff to

[16:50] move forward with relocating city banner hanging poles located at South Loop 350.

[16:56] I second.

[16:57] We have a motion and a second. Further discussion?

[17:00] I'll call for the vote. All those in favor, please say aye.

[17:03] Aye.

[17:04] Aye.

[17:04] Any opposed? Motion carries. Number four, discussion and possible action regarding

[17:09] amending the master fee schedule ordinance, and that would impact the solid waste

[17:13] rates effective October 1st that we discussed at a prior meeting when we were

[17:17] working on our budget. And as you can see in your packet, the change from the

[17:22] budget, and I want to see the news to get this, because the residential one cart

[17:27] showed we were going to do the 4%, and we're going to 2.0.

[17:31] So we're not going to go up the full recommended amount to...

[17:36] We felt like that those seniors and those people who don't fill up their one cart

[17:41] certainly didn't need to pay the 4%, and anybody with two carts, well then it'll

[17:46] all take care of itself. So council, anything else on there?

[17:53] Make a motion to approve amending the master fee schedule ordinance for solid waste

[17:59] rates effective October 1st, 2026. It's the first two readings.

[18:03] I second.

[18:04] We have a motion and a second. All those in favor, please say aye.

[18:08] Aye.

[18:08] Any opposed? Motion carries. Okay, thank you.

[18:15] I know we have a large crowd. We have several items in executive session, and these

[18:19] are our closed meeting, and it's Texas Government Code excuse me,

[18:24] 551087, deliberation regarding economic development negotiations.

[18:29] It does not require a governmental body to conduct an open meeting to discuss or

[18:34] deliberate regarding commercial or financial information that the governmental body

[18:39] has received from a business prospect, that the governmental body seeks to have

[18:43] stay, locate, or expand in or near the territory of the governmental body and with

[18:49] which the governmental body is conducting economic development negotiations.

[18:53] R2: To deliberate the offer of a financial or other incentive to a business

[18:58] prospect described by subdivision one.

[19:01] Then we will be discussing manufacturing incentives.

[19:04] And then under B, consultation with attorneys, Section 551071, seeking private

[19:10] consultation, seeking the advice of our attorney about pending contemplated

[19:15] litigation, settlement offer, or on a matter in which the duty of the attorney

[19:19] under the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct clearly conflicts with

[19:24] Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code.

[19:27] Those two items will be manufacturing incentives and interlocal agreement, utility

[19:32] billing, and a lease with Austin County Emergency Service District.

[19:36] Under C, Texas Government Code 551072, deliberation regarding real

[19:42] property in closed meeting to deliberate purchase, exchange, lease or value of real

[19:47] property if deliberation in an open meeting would have a detrimental effect on the

[19:52] position of the governmental body in negotiations with a third person.

[19:57] Council, do we have a motion to adjourn until executive session?

[20:00] So moved.

[20:00] We have a motion.

[20:02] Second.

[20:02] And a second. All those in favor, please say aye.

[20:04] Aye.

[20:05] Any opposed? Motion carries. You're welcome to stay, or you may excuse yourself as

[20:10] your schedule allows for the evening. It may be a little long.

[20:16] Thank you for your patience. We will reconvene into our regular session at this

[20:21] time for any action items for discussion, starting with

[20:28] this item of the executive session before we go to six.

[20:32] Mayor, I'd like to make a motion for our city attorney to continue discussions

[20:38] regarding manufacturing incentives.

[20:41] Second.

[20:42] We have a motion and a second. I'll call for the vote.

[20:45] All those in favor, please say aye.

[20:47] Aye.

[20:48] Any opposed? Motion carries. The sixth agenda item is interlocal

[20:54] agreement, utility billing, and lease with Austin County Emergency Service District

[20:58] Number Two.

[21:03] Yes. For this item, I'd like to make a motion to hold a joint meeting with

[21:09] ESD Number Two regarding the sales tax interlocal agreement, and I'd like for that

[21:14] motion to also state that the meeting is to be held on September 16th here at the

[21:19] Hill Center at 7:00 PM.

[21:23] Second.

[21:23] We have a second. Any further comments or discussion?

[21:26] Yes. I would like to say that we would love for ESD Number Two to come

[21:32] to Sealy so that we could all sit down as a community, concerning the future of the

[21:38] city of Sealy. So yes, we would love to have them come and visit.

[21:42] Anybody else want to make a comment on that?

[21:45] Councilman Ecker, is there anything you want to add?

[21:48] Yeah, so definitely would love to talk to the ESD and let them come

[21:53] forward in public and let's all talk about what's going on.

[21:57] Okay. Anybody else?

[21:59] I think I agree with all that. I think it's important for the city's growth that we

[22:03] have a conversation to make sure that we're in a position to grow.

[22:07] Okay. All right. That's it. I'll call for the vote.

[22:10] All those in favor, please say aye.

[22:12] Aye.

[22:13] Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you.

[22:16] Okay, reports, announcements, or requests from council members. Councilman Zappke.

[22:21] Yeah, I'd like to request agenda item to present the vehicle fleet cost and maybe

[22:27] possibly put something in the procurement policy based on that analysis from Kimbra

[22:31] regarding vehicle fuel efficiency, since we have a lot of vehicles and half the

[22:35] fleet is due.

[22:38] That's it.

[22:39] Okay. Joey, you. Do you have anything?

[22:42] Yeah, I want to talk about doing the banner poles right a little further back.

[22:48] I think it'd be a great opportunity to kind of bring back the conversation around

[22:51] visual gateway signs, so we have kind of two major thoroughfares.

[22:54] We could have one on each end of town to help display things going around in the

[23:00] city.

[23:01] Okay.

[23:02] I don't have anything.

[23:03] Councilman Ecker?

[23:04] I'm good.

[23:05] Okay. I do have a couple. I do want us to get back to the delayed items on status

[23:11] of PTO and the implementation of the software and get an update on that.

[23:15] That's been tabled several times. The personnel policy was tabled.

[23:18] I want that back on. And the vacant building ordinance that we've been begging for,

[23:23] for downtown, needs to be... Hopefully, we can get that pushed through and not wait

[23:29] on a consultant in six years to tell us what's going to happen. And I think that...

[23:35] Oh, and then the yield sign. Get that back on for Second Street over here.

[23:38] There's a yield sign here, and I have witnessed several times people come

[23:44] plowing through across the railroad tracks and too many near misses.

[23:50] So if we can get that with a stop sign, whatever it takes to get that addressed as

[23:54] quick as possible before there's a serious injury and accident.

[23:58] So, okay, do we have a motion to adjourn till our next scheduled meeting?

[24:03] So moved.

[24:04] Got two motions and a second.

[24:05] Second.

[24:06] Thank you. All those in favor, please say aye.

[24:08] Aye.

[24:09] Any opposed? Motion carries. Thank you very much.

Sealy City Council 9-1-2026

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