February 2024, I'll now call this Regulated Schedule meeting of the Big Spring City Council to order.
We have with us tonight the pastor of the Baptist Temple, Rick Wilson, who will lead us in an invitation.
So if you'll please stand.
Would you pray with me? City Council members, thank you for allowing me to be here to pray with you and for you and for the citizens of Big Spring.
Heavenly Father, we thank you for allowing us to gather here.
Lord, as the city council does business, I pray that you would guide them in all that they do.
Let them do the business of the city that will be best for all citizens.
Father, watch and guide over them.
Help them to make the decisions you want them to make.
Help them to do nothing out of selfless ambition, as your word guides us.
Help them to think of others before themselves.
And Father, we trust in You that You will guide us in all things.
We thank You for this great city that we live in.
We thank You for the citizens and I pray for them.
Lord, that You would just bless each citizen of this city.
That You would watch and guide over them and help them to prosper as this city prospers.
And Father, we want to say thank You for the many blessings
For it's in Christ Jesus, namely, pray this. Amen.
Amen.
To the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
I want to thank you for that. I pledge allegiance to the city of Texas, one state under God, one indivisible.
Thank you, sir.
Okay. At this time, I'm going to announce that members of the public
are entitled to speak on any topic. It may become before Council of the Night. Additionally,
members of the public may comment on any topic as it is brought before the Council. There's
going to be certain items that are going to be discussed individually. And if you're
here to address one of those items, let us know at that time you will need to
approach the podium, fill out a form there showing your name and address, and it may
be that you wish to address counsel about something that's not on the agenda tonight,
and you should feel free to do that also.
But you may, if there's anyone here who wishes to address the council at this time, feel
free to approach the podium.
But again, if you are here to address a particular item that may be acted upon, you may choose
to wait until we actually take up that item.
Is there anyone here at this time wishes to address Council about any matter?
Okay, seeing no hands, we will proceed on.
We do not have any abatements on the agenda tonight,
so there be no necessity of opening the meeting for public hearings in that regard.
So we'll go directly into item number five on the agenda.
City Manager's Report, Mr. Darden.
Thank you, Mayor and Council.
large-item pickup, gone as we had District 2, 17 times.
I think that leads us for the year on the amount of times being picked up.
Thank you and your constituents for this position.
We had attended some recent job fairs at UTEP and higher college today,
hoping to do some more recruiting through the school system
and attend in other work centers or work job fairs in the future.
Just to give you an update, we have seven folks that passed the written exam
in the physical agility test.
They'll be going through the rest of the steps in the hiring process
and hopefully get our numbers down from 15, what we are today,
to less than that with the seven that hopefully come through
on the application process through the fire department.
Chief, I don't have the numbers how many years down,
and currently, 17 down in police,
and we have another testing coming up on March 7th.
So you're wishing to come to work for the city of Big
Spring and find a good career in professional services,
a police or fire, a police company, and that's all I have
at this time unless you have any questions,
Mayor Counselor.
Okay, anyone have any questions for counsel to Mr. Darden about his report?
We will have a siren test tomorrow, Monday, excuse me, before us.
So if you hear the sirens going off, it is for a test.
We are also hosting a meeting here for Storm.
It's a group of individuals that assist us in watching for storms and that's all with
The emergency management county will be hosting that meeting here in the council chambers,
and if you want to come to that, you're welcome to.
That's all I have.
Thank you.
Any member of the public have any questions of Mr. Darden about his report?
Mr. Ronellis?
The Siren Strel.
What time is that going to be?
Do you know?
It'll go throughout the day.
I have to test them one at a time.
Okay.
Thank you.
Any further questions about the city managers report?
Okay.
Okay, next item on the agenda is items number 16 through, excuse me, six through 16.
These are all consent items.
Does anyone desire to have any of those items pulled for individual consideration or may
we consider approving all of them in mass?
What is your pleasure?
I make a motion that we approve consent items number six through 16.
A second.
Okay.
Okay, most have been made and seconded that we approve all of the items under the consent
agenda.
That is item 6 through 16 is appearing in the agenda.
All in favor?
Is there any further discussion about that?
All right, I'll call the question all in favor of that.
Yes, all opposed?
No.
Mine's a yes.
Okay, that passes unanimously.
Going then to item number 17 on the agenda, vouchers.
Vouchers for February the 1st, February the night, February the 16th, February
during the 23rd of this year, Miss Giannis.
Yes, I was able to view all the vouchers
and I found no discrepancy on them,
so I make a motion to approve the vouchers
for February the 1st, February the 9th,
February the 16th, and February the 23rd.
Any questions, Miss Giannis?
Okay, most been made and seconded.
We approve her examination of those vouchers
out in favor and to keep her voting yes,
I'll oppose by no.
Does that also include the drafts?
going to the next items on the agenda we have two items under bids number 18 and
number 19 I'm informed that we are not going to be considered number 19 and
that there's been some product problems with that particular mower so we're not
be taking that up number 18 consideration and possible action awarding
a bid for lighting at the wastewater treatment plant and authorizing the
manager or his designated executing necessary documents.
Mr. Bowles.
Thank you, Mayor and Council.
As you stated, this is for lighting-upgraded needing
not the wastewater treatment plant.
As you know, both of our plants are 24-hour operations,
so our night operators utilize these lights to be able
to maneuver through the plant, grab their samples
as needed throughout their shifts.
We're going to be utilizing quality sports,
We've actually used them at the Sports Complex to replace the lighting out there.
This is a budgeted project through the Water Enterprise Fund, and it's our recommendation to approve.
Any questions, Mr. Bowles, about this matter?
I've got a couple questions.
Yes, sir.
This is new lighting as opposed to replacing existing?
Some of them are going to be replacing existing poles and lights.
Some of them are new poles for new areas of the plant that are currently dark and have
never been lit before.
And so normally on things like this, we're bidding and that's not the situation here.
No sir, this is utilizing a co-op, like a buy board, this is through TIPS USA, which
is a buy board cooperative that cities utilize so that we can avoid the bidding process
and utilize pre-bidding.
And then how was the determination made about how many lights to install, what the wattage
would be, where they would be installed, how was that determination?
We invited Fall Light Sports to come out and see our facility.
We showed them the areas we were having trouble seeing, showed them the current lighting
structures and walking them through, they provided this proposal to us on our recommendations
of what was needed.
Do they offer more than one solution to the problem or is it just the one recommendation
that they made?
They provided one recommendation on the specs that we asked them.
Okay, thank you.
Any further questions, Mr. Bowles?
Any questions from any member of the community about this matter?
Yes, sir?
If you need to approach the bench, give your name and address, please, sir.
My name is Bradley Garrison, and I'm at 1507 Todd Road.
So this gentleman just opened the door in regards to something into the park out of the complex.
Is that correct?
No, it has nothing to do with the complex.
Nothing to do with the complex.
Okay.
Sorry to interrupt.
Any further questions or Mr. Bowles about the bid for lighting at the wastewater treatment
plant?
What is your pleasure?
I'll make a motion to approve.
Oh, I'll second.
All right, most have been made and seconded to approve the awarding of the bid for the
lighting and wastewater treatment plant, as requested by Mr. Bowles, all in favor indicate
by voting yes, all opposed by no,
and that passes unanimously.
Going then next to item number 20 under the heading of New Business, first reading of
the resolution authorizing the acceptance of the City of Big Spring 2024 Master
Park's plan and providing an effective day.
Ms. Lewis.
Thank you, Mayor and Council.
This is the resolution that we have to have
according to Texas Parks and Wildlife
to approve our master parks plan.
I'll be happy to answer any questions.
I'll make a motion that we approve
item number 20.
One second.
Any further questions of Ms. Lewis?
Hi, Dave.
When will we have a complete and correct copy
of the master parks plan?
I spoke with Chelsea Valdivia from SPAG asking her for that and I have not got an update.
So we will get it.
She was working on making sure all the updates were completed the last time we talked, which
is the last meeting.
So as soon as I get an update on that, I will put it on the website and give it to
the board.
Thank you.
Mr. Tomkins?
Would it not make some sense for us to review the plan in advance prior to accepting it?
I did note all of the changes that would be made at the last meeting, but we can do that
if that's your wish.
Is the final copy published, posted?
Like I just answered, Mr. Hughes, no, it's not.
We're still waiting on that.
I'm sorry.
I didn't hear it.
Thank you.
Okay.
I take it there's a desire to see a finalized copy of this before we vote on it.
Is that...
It would require...
I'm sorry, Mr.
Mayor.
It would require two readings.
I mean, if you want to review it, pass it.
Of course, it's the council's pleasure to pass it,
but I think it requires two readings.
Do you know if we'll have it by the next meeting?
I never had an update from Ms. Albedia.
I'm sorry.
Can we emphasize that with her to ensure that we can get it by then?
Yes.
Mr. Emerson.
I just heard it as it's something that's required by the parks department,
and it's a formality to go through,
but I think before you voted on it the second time,
you'd have the copy and could not vote on it
if you didn't like what you saw.
Okay.
I'm gonna call the vote with the understanding
that we're voting on it at this time
and that we will not be considering it
on a second reading until we have had
a final product presented, is that correct?
Correct.
All right.
Most have been made and seconded
that we would pass this on the first reading tonight. All in favor indicate by voting yes.
All opposed by no.
Okay, ma'am.
Okay. It passes unanimously on the first reading.
Item number 21, first reading of a resolution declaring the unopposed
candidacy for the May the 4th, 2024 general election for city council.
Member District 2 has elected as elected to office,
cancelling the general election for city council position District 2
and providing for an effective date.
Ms. Davis.
Okay, apparently Ms. Yonis did not draw an opponent. I move that we pass this
resolution. Is there a second? I'll second. Congratulations. Thank you.
Thank you. All in
favor indicate by voting yes.
Passes unanimously. Item number 22. First reading of an ordinance
submitting the ordinance number 49-2023, which adopted the annual budget for the City
of Big Spring, Texas for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2023, ending September 30, 2024
by increasing the general fund budget for the purpose of adding a position to the sports
complex staff, providing for severability, providing for publication, and providing
an effective date.
Mr. Medina.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council.
Well, last previous council meeting, the City Council
directed staff to bring back a budget amendment
for an additional employee at the sports complex.
And we estimated that the remainder of the year
will be at a cost of $24,830.
That's a pro-rated for seven months.
For a full year, it's $43,000 estimated.
That's what this ordinance is.
So we'll answer any questions you might have on the item.
I move that we approve item number 22.
Okay,
I'd like to debate this a little bit.
Somebody, I'd like to hear the pros and the cons
on this before I vote.
Do we need to do this and why do we need to do it
and what purpose are we going to accomplish by doing it?
And somebody can say, well, we talked about all that last time, but that's not good enough.
I want to hear it again tonight.
What, why do we need to do this?
What purpose are we, you know, if somebody comes in on any department at this time, say,
we need another employee, I'd like to know a little bit more about this.
I voted against it last time.
I don't know what I'm going to deny, but unless I know more about what I do right
Right now, well, in any event, somebody tell me the advantages of doing this, why we should
do it, and I want to hear why we should do it, and I'd like to also hear why we should
not do it.
Is that unreasonable before I vote?
The advantages are the kids get an extra season of soccer, that is what was presented
to us by a couple of the constituents.
I know it's what was presented, but is that the truth?
To have two seasons?
Yeah.
That's what they indicated they wanted.
Well, how does adding another employee equate
into having two seasons?
In order for us to have two seasons,
we would have overlap of some of the other youth sports
that are activities that go on at Sports Complex
and to have somebody available on the field
in the hours needed by that event
We'd need an additional poi now. I guess the cons would be that that's not the only cost
We're going to have some other costs associated with it in the field maintenance, and I can just tell you that
based on budget and and numbers we looked at it could be about
$8,000 in revenue and other 23,000 in
that we'd have to bring back budget amendments for as they occurred.
We're not sure how long the season's going to go,
but right now it would take an additional ploy to be able to handle that other sports event.
Is that, Mr. Darden, is that mainly because of the soccer program?
Yes, sir.
It would be overlapping with one of the other
Support events that we have out there from what I understand
We only have one person out there, and they're having to be there each
Event. Oh, it was loose address. We have three employees currently. They have one supervisor and two employees
We also pull a parks employee over to work as well
Because baseball and softball are going on at the same time that we would be having a spring soccer season
in. Baseball and softball roughly are usually Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday sometimes,
which averages out to about 20 extra hours a week. And then soccer is on Saturdays and
it's about a 12-hour day. So we would be, if we added an additional
employee, we would probably, we would still have to bring over a Parks Department employee.
and currently we have parks department positions frozen because of the budget so
we are then would be short in the parks department as well.
Mr. Darden, I'd like to
hear more about the possibility of getting families involved. I know we
used to do that and it worked out not beautifully but it worked out well. I
know there's a liability. I'd like to hear how we can work around that
liability. We can certainly visit with the members of each of these sports and
see how they could assist us. Yeah. You know the big problem is being on
equipment that's the liability for us is having them on our equipment. Well we
would have a shock box or you know picking up trash or things like that
certainly painting. We've just been talking the last six months about
need for firemen and need for police and and we've been talking about we didn't
have funds I know last time I agreed with this but after thinking about it and
thinking what it was gonna cost us and thinking what we're giving up to do
this I just think we're kind of shooting ourself in the foot maybe without
some more thought so I would like to hear how it would work to have
families involved.
The school district, my understanding is not going to open the
season for soccer until next year. Now that doesn't say that kids can't be
learning the sport but you know I'm pro any sport for our youth. I think the
timing for it right now with things that we have going on as you suggested
it might not be a good idea, and I would have to recommend against it that we're upside
down already in our budget.
Yes, sir?
I think the question is that of Matthew Grayson.
Your address?
2002, Reynolds.
Yes, sir.
Go ahead.
I think the question is, one of efficiency, how many children or kids take advantage
of the additional person for the cost of being invested into the endeavor?
So how many kids are we talking about that actually get to effectively put to use
this additional person is at 100, then you're going to divide that by the cost that you're
looking at. You'll know that per kid, right?
You could do it that way. So what is the number
of kids that take advantage of this? I have no idea. Our revenue is about $8,000 a year
from stock. So if there's just a couple of kids versus a lot of kids, we would probably
want to know that value, right? Sir? So if it was just a couple of kids versus a whole
lot of kids, we would probably want to know that value to make a good decision on whether
or not to spend that money. And that's 8,000 each time they have a season. It's not just
8,000 for the total year. Right. So the cost-effectiveness goes into the efficiency
of what that person provides as a service to how many kids.
Okay. Yes, sir?
Did
Did you wish to speak, sir?
If you'd be circumcised.
My name is Bradley Garrison.
I'm 1507 Todd Rowe.
I was just elected president of the Big Spring
Little League North of Town.
I've recruited about 75 more kids than what we had
this time last year.
We opened the door to bring the spirit of Little League
Baseball back in North of Town.
The fields are dead out there.
There's nothing been done, and we lost about 175 kids
to go 10 miles away to play at Cahoma.
We want to bring heads and beds in here.
Let me continue doing what I'm doing.
Let's focus on getting these fields ready, and then we can bring 200 or 300 teams in.
Feel heads and beds, and do what needs to be done like Midland, law book, San Angelo,
Abilene does.
It's all about the kids.
When you say let you do what you're doing, what is that?
Well ma'am, I'm actually volunteering and doing what's supposed to be done with Little League.
I have taken the initiative in spraying the baseball fields, bringing some life back into them.
Of course I have lots of volunteers helping me out that is started with the league, so we are covered under insurance.
With that being said,
we want to see a lot of color out there.
We've got a lot of diversity of kids in this town.
I've heard many times they don't have anything to do.
We're opening the door for them now.
Instead of having them go to Kahoma,
we want them to come out here to Big Spring.
I'll take a piece of carpet tomorrow
and go drag the ball fields because there's
so many thorns.
I don't have a problem in doing it whatsoever.
Okay. Does adding another employee address the problem
Mr. Garrison poses or is it, I mean,
But separate sports, separate sport and soccer.
Okay.
Anyone have any questions, Mr. Garrison?
Mr. Emerson.
Yeah, I'll play the young man that was here last meeting.
I believe what changed some of y'all's votes was Hailey
explaining that she had three employees that were getting
20 hours of overtime a week each.
And we've all had a crash course in overtime
time in the city due to the budget and the fireman. And I believe the young man was like
if we hire this person, won't that overtime be relieved? And therefore, if three employees
are getting 20 hours a week but they're making time and a half, that turns into what?
Gosh,
20 hours would be 30 hours, so that turns into 90 hours of regular pay. So that would
in turn pay for the irregular employee. I think that's the argument that made some of
y'all vote no or vote yes last time. Since he's not here, I'm playing him. Thank you.
Do we pay three employees 20 hours over time every week?
They don't all work every week because of burnout and that would be, but that would
also be adding another sport. So you're actually adding more time. We add another person and
don't add another sport, then we're not adding more time. Yes, overtime would go down. But
if you're adding in an additional sport, then overtime would probably stay the same.
Ms. Hedy, with the sports we have right now, what is your average of overtime per
employee?
I don't have that off the top of my head, but I can get that for you.
Just I thought it was 20 per employee. Well, it's I mean if they so like I said soccer
softball baseball is
20 hours, so it's a 60 hour work week.
It takes 20 hours. It's Monday Tuesday Thursday Friday
Five hours so five to ten
yes,
sir
so this is just a function of running a report on
Basically what the employees are paid right now from a given time to now?
And then comparing that to what you want to project that's just a budget analysis and the effectiveness of efficiency against what you're
Going to spend the money on that's pretty straightforward, right?
You further discussion
Call the question all in favor and most been made and seconded to approve the
Ordinance amending the budget all in favor indicate by putting yes. I'll oppose my no
Repeat that motion again, please
Okay, the motion is to
amend the budget to increase the general fund budget for the purpose of adding a
position to the sports complex staff.
Okay, it passed four to three. Going to the next item on the agenda, first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 24 of the Big
Spring City Code entitled Fire Prevention and Protection, Article II, Fire and Rescue Service Fees, Assessment of Fees, Mr. Holt.
Chief Holt.
Thank you, Mayor and Council. I respectfully request and Council to approve the Fire Billing Ordinance so that we may pursue the additional
revenue stream. This ordinance addresses fees and services we feel will best
benefit the City of Big Spring by billing insurance companies for services
that we already perform. The company I'm requesting we contract with is called
Emergeifier, which is a subsidiary of the current company we used to do our EMS
billing. Because we're already using their services this will be an easy
transition as well as a discount and cost for service. I'll be happy to
answer any questions. Okay anyone have any questions to Chief Holt about this
matter? Mr. Holt, Chief Holt. Yes, sir. Will that include billing and everything? Yes, sir.
Yes, so they extract the data from our fire reports and then build the insurance companies
for the services that we perform.
Thank you. Any questions from the public of Chief Holt?
This is the ordinance that establishes new and additional fees. The contract with
the merge of fire will be next meeting.
No problem, but that's,
we were trying to get everything done at once,
but we'll have the second meeting
and the contract for next time.
All right, I do have a quick question.
So, on this,
so, I'm sorry.
So, if the insurance company,
you bill them out $10,000, for example.
And the insurance company says,
oh, we're only gonna pay you five.
Do you after the citizens for the additional five?
No, it's my understanding that it's only only for the insurance. Okay
Think I would like that clarified because we're already paying a lot of taxes for the service
Make sure thank you mr. Emerson. Yeah, I just wondered if this would have any effect on
Citizens insurance rates that you know up because as far as I know we have never billed for a fire
I could be wrong
Right, no, I don't know the answer to that.
Scott, this is something that a lot of cities do.
They build, and it's minor fees. You can look at the fees in the ordinance.
I mean, it's minor stuff for user tools. I mean, then command staff.
How that would affect the end-users' insurance rates.
I don't know.
Well, being a fireman, old school fireman, it's always kind of been the
because it never had a revenue stream
and this would really change it.
I like the idea.
I just don't know what it'll do to my insurance bill.
Does that affect our ISO rating or anything like that?
It will not affect ISO at all.
Okay.
This is an existing ordinance.
We're just amending it to add these new fees.
Okay.
Mr. Hagen?
This ordinance does not put fees on fire control services
is within the city of Big Spring.
It's everything else, however.
Fire control services outside the city of Big Spring,
vehicle fires, rescues, many other things
that the fire department does.
But not residential fires.
Or commercial.
Neither residential nor commercial within the city of Big
Spring.
No structure fires in the city limits.
Is that right?
That's great.
Unless it's in the illegal burn, but then it would be on the arsonist.
I think the majority of the income you're going to see is from motor vehicle accidents.
Okay, any further questions or debate about this matter?
Any further questions or debate from the public?
Okay, I'll call the question.
All in favor of amending the ordinance to provide...
We need motion.
Oh, I'm sorry.
All right.
Seconded?
Is there a second?
I'll second it.
All right.
Motion been made and seconded to approve item number 23.
For being no further debate, I'll call the question.
All in favor indicate by voting yes.
All opposed by no.
This is unanimously.
Item number 24 on the agenda has been taken off.
We'll take that up at a later date.
Item number 25, consideration and possible action
on an interlocal cooperation agreement with South Plains Association of Governments, SPAG,
for the downtown revitalization program and authorizing the city manager or his designee
to executing the necessary documents.
Mr. Medina.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council.
We're seeking approval from Council to pursue this grant.
It's a half a million dollar grant.
The city's participation for this would be 17,500, which they've changed.
means they've dropped that down from previous grants. What's different about this grant
is we don't have to identify a project right now. It's going to go through two phases of
selection. This would be the first phase. We'd like approval to enter into an agreement
with SPAG so they can do the administrative and file for this grant by April the
third. So we're asking for permission to pursue it and enter an agreement with SPAG.
One of the things that I did provide in this memo on page 72 under the heading of Project
Activities, we'll kind of outline the projects that are available for this grant.
Everything from demolition to sidewalks and lighting, water and sewer.
So it's very flexible.
Once we get into the second phase, then we would identify a project.
So we recommend we would like permission to pursue this grant and into agreement
payment with SPAG on the administrative services. I'll answer any questions you might have.
What's the cost of the city?
17,500, and that would come out of general fund.
Okay, that's to match the grant, correct?
Yes, sir.
What's the cost of the city for SPAG's involvement?
That's going to be the last amount that we paid SPAG was 5% of the grant.
So we expect 5% again?
That's what we expect.
Yes, sir.
Any further questions for Mr. Medina?
Mr. McDonald?
When they say rubialization downtown, do they have already a particular spot, building,
street, something, or is this the grant?
And then they go pick what they want to.
Yes.
Basically, once we get into the second phase, we can identify something.
It could be sidewalks that we still need to upgrade or water them.
and sewer lines downtown, so it'd be for the downtown area.
Any questions from the public?
Mr. Medina, when you say downtown area,
what specifically downtown area?
Is it just here within the plaza, or is it further down?
Further down. Anywhere down where we had sidewalks down,
Main Street, Scurry, Lancaster, what?
Not Lancaster, Scurry, Main Street, Johnson, Nolan.
Anything down in this area?
Okay. Thank you.
Okay. What is your pleasure?
I make a motion to accept this grant. I'll second it.
Most have been made and seconded to pursue this grant with SPAG.
All in favor indicate by voting yes. All opposed by no.
Passes unanimously. Item number 26 on the
agenda. Consideration is possible action to enter into an agreement with Jacob Martin, LLC,
for the 2024 Crack Seal and Seal Coat Projects,
authorizing the city manager his designated
executing necessary documents.
Mr. Bowles.
Thank you, Mayor and Council.
Once again, for our Seal Coat and Crack Seal Project,
we wanted to enter into an agreement
with Jacob Martin LLC for these services.
You have a, Council, you have a printout
that was handed to you at the beginning of the meeting.
The reason for the handout
is actually related to the next item.
It allows Jacob Martin to pass fees to Harris College if we approve the interlocal agreement
within which is, again, our next item.
But for us doing $750,000 worth of crack seal and silk coat in the college wanting to participate
with half a million dollars worth of silk coat, we're going to see a cost savings
not only from Jacob Martin, but also with whichever contractor we award this to in
the future. And I can answer any questions regarding the agreement at this time.
Now, Mr. Bowles, will this include the parking lot for Memorial Stadium or?
That is the college is part, yes, sir.
Yes, sir. Okay.
Any further questions, Mr. Bowles? From the community?
What's the cost of the city for engaging Jacob Martin?
Our cost of the city is actually Tasker at B at the very back for crack sale and silk
coat.
I want to say it was $18,000.
What is Jacob Martin's scope of work for $18,000?
They put together the set of plans to provide to bidders.
They handle the bidding services and then the contract documents.
Once the bid is awarded, owning the contract liable to the scope of work.
We also have in here what is not included on that scope, which we've done in the past which I believe would do.
There's also an inspection portion of it, which is additional $15,000.
We saw great success with that.
That is actually having an inspector on site for the week or two that they are sale coding the streets.
They follow the contractor street by street, making sure they don't miss anything,
making sure that the materials they're using is what was scoped and specked out
and so that we get the best product for our money.
Thank you.
Yes, sir.
Any further questions, Mr. Bowles?
What is your pleasure?
Make a motion to approve.
Second.
Must be made and seconded to approve entering into an
agreement with Jacob Martin for the crack sale projects.
All in favor indicate by voting yes.
All opposed by no.
Yes.
Next unanimously, item number 27, consideration possible action to enter into seal code interlocal
agreement with Howard County Junior Colleges.
This is a reference to 26, Mr. Bowles and Mr. Medina, I'm sorry.
Yes, thank you, Mayor and Council.
This is housekeeping after the Council did approve the agreement with Jacob Martin.
Basically this interlocal agreement allows the Howard College to participate in our
project and using our engineering services as well. It also allows any other, I guess,
government entity if they wanted to participate by passing an interlocal with their governing
body. So it's housekeeping. I'll answer any questions you might have.
Any questions of Mr. Medina about this matter?
I guess could you clarify that statement?
Sure.
Which part?
Something other than government ease.
Well, let's say, for example, the City of Cajoma wanted to come in and say, hey, you
know what?
That sounds like a good idea.
You'll get a good price.
Can we participate?
The answer is yes, with this interlocal agreement.
They would have to approve an interlocal agreement with their governing body.
I don't see that happening, but it does have that language built in.
So right now, the only entity that's going to share this project with the city will
be the college.
So that knows us to get a beer discount because of all the material.
Yes, what happens is, and the college was very pleased last year with the project because
if they went at it alone, it'd be so much more.
The economy's a scale.
The large amount, the quantities that we're using, the volume, that means the prices
per unit is smaller.
Their portion, assuming it's going to be their parking lots, I mentioned the Memorial
Field.
I would say their portion would pay for the engineering of that.
Yes, that's built into that agreement that Mr. Bowles has handed out.
Thank you.
Mr. Emerson.
I'm just going to use this here because there's no other place to say it.
But when it comes time to bid this work out, can we allow Danny's asphalt to be a part of it?
Have y'all ever had a dirty car and washed one fender?
That's what Bartle looks like from FM 700 to 25th.
It sure makes the rest of our streets look bad.
Please allow Danny's paving an asphalt to bid on your work.
They have done an excellent job.
I agree.
Mr.
Emerson, I did suggest to the city manager
that that crew take a left on 25th and just keep heading east.
We're working on that.
Yeah, yeah, right
Okay, most have been made and seconded to approve the agreement with Harrod College regarding the
CO code and interlockatory agreement. All in favor indicate by voting yes. All opposed by no.
Fast unanimously. Item number 28, discussion of possible action of approval of a mural painted
by the Big Spring Little League and Big Spring High School Art Club on the concession stand at
Roy Anderson Sports Complex. Ms. Lewis. Thank you, Mayor and Council. The Big Spring Little
League approached me about wanting to paint a mural at the
Moranersen Sports Complex. And I believe that we do have some
members of the board here to explain this project further.
Marcus.
Hello, my name is Raul Marquez and I'm a board member of the Big
Spring Little League. And we've been kind of cleaning up the
ball fields, painting them and getting them ready for the new season.
And Mr. Garrison had a great idea of possibly putting some
some kind of some paintings on the concession stand just to kind of give
it a little bit more of like a family feel and so I got a hold of Mrs. Feeney
to see if her students would be willing to take on a project like this but
before we can do anything we're going to need y'all's approval because it is
city property so I'm going to let Mrs. Feeney go and tell y'all what she's
planning I'm putting out there, and then we can kind of see how we move forward from here.
Yes, ma'am?
Hi, I'm Andrea Finney. I'm the art teacher at Big Spring High School, and these are
two of my students.
So Raoul contacted me last week, so we hurried and put together
a few rough sketches of some ideas we had. These are just like in the beginning of
planning stages. So if you want to see, Mr. Garrison had talked about red, white, and blue
being the colors, so that's what we kind of went with. And I believe there's two buildings,
right? Yes.
Well, it's one, it's the concession area, but on the two bigger walls we were going
to put something on.
And
we're definitely open to suggestions.
what ball field is this Roy Anderson right
now it's just painted it's a
primer color it's just white right now just white right now okay any further
questions okay I move that we approve I had a consent item number 28 second okay
it's been most been made and seconded to approve the painting of a mural by the
At the Roy Anderson complex all in favor on the concession stand all in favor indicate by voting. Yes, all opposed by no
Okay, that concludes our agenda we need to go into executive session for anything
Yes, sir
Recommended for this item. Why do we have to go into executive session for this? You don't it's
That's council decision if you want you you do need to vote
You so if you just want to vote on the item you could
Is there okay?
EDC has been in
discussions with property owner to buy
Property out west of town that will be adjacent to the 420 acre park
Park.
Recently we sold 300 acres we owned east of town. It doesn't cover all this cost
but what it does is it takes a 420 acre business park and makes it into roughly 550 acre business
park with EDC owning 127 acres and we can pull infrastructure right off where we're
already going to put it and it gives us an opportunity to use that property as an incentive
when we create the TERS to help get an anchor tenant in there.
We had similar property appraised last summer.
This is, and it appraised at $13,005.
We're buying it for $10,000 an acre.
year. So roughly 1.3 million. We made 900,000 off the sale of the other property. And this
is an opportunity that, to be honest, we got lucky to have, but property owners out there
coming to us. So this approves the contract is what you're about allowing us to complete
the contract, then we're going to have to come back with a budget amendment next meeting
to spend the extra money. And we'll have the completed contract for you then. But our
lawyers written up the contract, the property owners' lawyers have looked at it, redlined
it, sent back, everything is in good shape with both sides. And we think this is
a tremendous opportunity for us to expand what we're trying to do out there.
Mr. Willis.
Yes, sir.
Now, this will be where we're going to have water and sewer.
Water and sewer run up Frazier Road right next to this.
Yes, sir.
We will, well, we'll have to redesign a little bit to get water and sewer to it.
It may have required boring under Frazier Road, or we may bring it from the airport.
Don't know yet exactly until we actually own the property.
And the EDC is, will probably, I assume my board will vote to spend some additional money to get water and sewer to this property.
At least I hope so.
But again, it expands the business park we're trying to build.
But more importantly, it gives the EDC the ability to use this as an incentive to get
the anchor tenant that will feed the growth of the rest of that park.
Even with the $8 million we're spending out there, full infrastructure out there, we're
talking another $20 million over the years to get it fully, the whole area, functional.
This is Steppenstone, isn't it?
This one?
This is Steppenstone in the right direction.
It's a game changer for us, because we won't own that 420 acres.
We have an option after a while, again, that contract's not completed yet to buy 40 acres
of it at what it appraised at last summer, assuming the contract gets, but this gives
us 127 acres to manage as an economic development entity.
And again, we're going to propose a TERS tax increment finance district that the some
of the additional property tax that's generated out there will be fed into the additional
infrastructure that's going to be needed out there.
And this gives us a chance to go out and say, come here, put something of real value
down on this property.
We'll give you the property if you come and add enough jobs and property value.
It really is a stepping stone, it really gives us the opportunity to really take a major step forward in development.
Okay, any further questions? Mr. Willis, about this matter from Council?
For anyone from the public, have any questions about this matter?
Okay, I move we approve the, do we need a vote on this?
You would, well, maybe I'll leave that to Andrew as the motion should be that you approve
the, fulfilling the contract, signing the contract by the EDC to purchase this property.
As Mark said.
Okay.
Now move, we approve the actions of the EDC and authorize them to sign a contract for
the purchase of the property as described by Mr. Willis.
Second.
Seconded.
Most being made and seconded.
Any further discussion?
Mr. Emerson?
I hate to be a stick in the mud.
This isn't on the agenda.
It is on the agenda.
It's item 30.
Adjourning to executive session in accordance
with the purposes permitted by the Open Meetings Act.
Yeah, so that is an amendment or something
that can be voted on?
Item number 31.
Yeah, item number 31.
item 31 for the open session.
So the city council does not have to adjourn into
executive session and if there is something that could affect the
negotiating position of the government body then there's an exception to the
usual rule. So that's where we are.
Okay, most of them have been seconded to approve the entry of that contract with the landowner for purchase of that property
All in favor indicate by voting yes.
Question?
I'm sorry, yes sir.
Mr. Hagen, is this council on compliance
with state law and voting on this item?
Yes.
Thank you.
So.
All in favor vote yes, I'll oppose no.
Passes unanimously.
Okay, that concludes all of the agenda items.
We will go back now to council input,
beginning Mr. Anales.
Yeah, okay.
I do have one question for Andrew.
Andrew, if the city owns a property and they're having illegal dumping in the property, what
is the process on that?
So, first, if there can be an investigation, since the city owns it, the city staff can
simply go out to that property and try to find clues to find out who did it.
Or take but let's say that the city is able to do that. That's a municipal court fine of up to
$4,000 per incident and
The city staff would of course be able to clean up that property
Okay, and the reason that I'm asking is because about maybe
Half a year ago. I got with code about a property at 608 Northwest 3rd Street
and it is there is
illegal dumping in that. And I believe that it is owned by the city. I did take some pictures
and I'll show you guys the pictures. I know that I did speak to code and they said that
it was illegal and it's been illegal for a while now. So we have got to figure out
what we're going to do with this. The residents in that area called me last week and I didn't
follow up with it but they say that there's a lot of high traffic at night and then in
the evenings and it's really, really bad. So we need to really push for that.
I just want to thank staff Sandy I know I have four weeks of vouchers to do and I want to thank you for being patient and giving me
Providing me the answers and everything I need to guide me through it every all my constituents
Thank you all my supporters that I have out there and I want to be here without you guys and that's who I work for
Thank you all my colleagues as well
Just one thing, Hailey, can we get some hard numbers on the overtime, on the sports complex
and what that additional would add to it?
Yeah, I can do that.
Thank you.
Anything for them?
Okay, a couple of items.
First off, we want to recognize that our own John Badena turns 63 today.
Thank
you, Mr. Mayor.
Not quite 63, but thank you.
Well, hopefully we'll be here next year doing 63.
And on another note, it's with great sadness that I want to acknowledge the loss of this
community of a real gentleman, John Richard Sparks, has passed away and he is, as you
know, the husband of Dr. Sherry Sparks at the college and he will be sorely missed
and we want to extend our sympathy, condolences and prayers to the family of, he was a real
gentleman.
He's lost to this community.
If anyone would wish to go to his services, there will be Thursday at 10 o'clock at 15th
14th Maine Church Christ, 15th Maine, whichever one.
It's in that block somewhere.
It's only church grass on that block. That's right.
Mr. Stumpkins.
Do you have an input?
I might chuckled earlier when you mentioned the sirens. I don't know how often you test those.
This was entirely your fault, by the way, about six months ago.
I was at the state park on the trail, which is a three-mile interloop with kind of an outback loop that has another mile or two.
I think on the far end of that outer loop there is a siren tower and I was out for running and it's not clearly marked
I didn't intend to be on the outer loop, but I was about 50 or a hundred feet away from that siren when it went off
And I want you to know two things number one it worked quite well, and it's very loud
Number two, I haven't run that fast with my hands over my ears the other direction in a long time
So just saying we test those twice a year
Sometimes more than that
Yes, I'd just like to recognize Stephanie for helping on the legal staff.
She's been very helpful and doing a great job.
Just want to know she's been an asset to our legal staff.
And it's sad about John, Richard Sparks, too.
He was about a part of our community,
and he will dearly be missed,
and our condolences to him, his family.
Also, we do have a lot of folks
that are running in District 6, I say a lot.
I believe three candidates and two.
All right, one dropped out.
Everybody get out and vote.
You have two wonderful candidates that are coming to step
forward and serve in this position here.
And it's been an honor serving.
That's it.
Okay, is there anything further to come
for council tonight. We are adjourned
and it's an enterprise fund and I appreciate
you bringing that to our attention in the future our documents will be a little
bit more thorough on let the council know where the funds are coming from. I know
there was kind of vague in where the money is coming from but this one is
coming from landfill.