[0:12] Call this meeting to order at 5:30
[0:15] p.m. August 4th, 2026.
[0:18] Ask Will Anderson to come up.
[0:26] We all stand.
[0:30] Let's pray together. Father, we thank
[0:31] you tonight for the wonderful
[0:34] opportunity to come together over our
[0:37] great city, for all of these great
[0:38] people, the decisions that will be made
[0:41] tonight. Your word says that you've
[0:43] created us for your glory. So I pray
[0:46] tonight in the name of Jesus that every
[0:48] decision, every line item, God, that you
[0:50] would be pleased tonight. That your
[0:52] spirit would be in this room with us and
[0:54] that all that we do in this in this room
[0:57] tonight would be to serve one purpose to
[0:59] bring you glory tonight. That you would
[1:02] be pleased with all that happens in here
[1:04] tonight. Lord, we thank you for this
[1:06] opportunity. We thank you for every soul
[1:08] that's in here tonight. We pray it all
[1:11] in the wonderful name of Jesus Christ.
[1:13] Everyone said, "Amen." Amen.
[1:16] Pledge.
[1:19] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
[1:22] United States of America and to the
[1:24] republic for which it stands. One nation
[1:28] under God, indivisible, with liberty and
[1:31] justice for all.
[1:42] Yeah, we have one speaker Gary Tremble.
[1:46] >> I'm here. Yes, I know you don't have to
[1:48] » I'm here. Yes, I know you don't have to
[1:48] listen to me. You never have.
[1:51] >> Come up here, please. Thank you.
[1:52] » Come up here, please. Thank you.
[1:52] >> Sure.
[1:54] » Sure.
[1:54] Podiums don't scare me.
[1:58] I'm here tonight representing the Beth
[2:00] Bethany Bethl Baptist Church and uh what
[2:04] they're asking is that the uh commission
[2:09] issue a proclamation and recognition of
[2:12] their church turning 100 years uh in
[2:15] September and uh just black's
[2:18] consideration on that. That's it.
[2:27] And that's the only speakers we have for
[2:28] the open forums and staff.
[2:32] >> Okay. Um well, I'm going to start with
[2:35] » Okay. Um well, I'm going to start with
[2:35] our employee of the month and um Malcolm
[2:40] Buffkin, if you would come down here,
[2:42] please.
[2:44] You're the next contestant.
[2:48] » Um I'm really happy to um acknowledge
[2:54] >> [laughter]
[2:55] » [laughter]
[2:55] >> an extra hand. Malcolm,
[2:57] » an extra hand. Malcolm,
[2:57] >> I'm really happy to acknowledge uh
[2:59] » I'm really happy to acknowledge uh
[2:59] Malcolm Buffkin as our employee of the
[3:02] month. He um exemplifies our bre values
[3:06] and more than that, one of the things
[3:09] about Malcolm and everybody probably
[3:11] knows him well here in town. Um if he is
[3:16] not um giving you a hard time about
[3:18] something, um he doesn't like you.
[3:22] Um he is our resident, give us all a
[3:24] hard time, but um we are so happy to
[3:26] have him on our team. But really truly
[3:28] about his leadership, he is a true team
[3:31] leader for the fire department. He
[3:33] really involves um Christie and of
[3:37] course as the assistant fire chief of
[3:39] West Turner in all the decision making.
[3:42] Um you know when you think about
[3:44] succession planning, he is the epitome
[3:47] of that. He's planning for that
[3:49] succession. um and bringing those people
[3:52] up and involving them in the day-to-day
[3:54] operation. So, Malcolm, we appreciate
[3:57] you and we're glad you're here and even
[3:59] if you have this going on and you made
[4:02] him in, he's been, you know, he's had a
[4:04] procedure. So, we appreciate him
[4:06] tonight. Thank you.
[4:29] Um the other thing and I I won't go over
[4:33] all of this in detail. This is um a new
[4:36] page on our website with our capital
[4:38] projects um that detail the timelines
[4:43] and um what capital projects are going
[4:46] on. Uh one of the a few things I did
[4:49] want to say on most of these are TWW
[4:53] projects with the uh waterline
[4:55] replacement that's going on.
[4:58] when they are replacing a water line
[5:00] like they were doing on Elm Street. Um
[5:02] they're done with Elm Street now, but
[5:04] when they were doing that and now
[5:06] they're on Williams, um they will have
[5:09] to turn off water in sections as we go
[5:12] and that does require boil water
[5:15] notices. So, um
[5:18] many I mean we do have many boil water
[5:20] notices, but many of the ones that we've
[5:22] had in the last several months have been
[5:24] in relation to installing new water
[5:26] lights. So I wanted to bring that to
[5:28] your attention. We also have our
[5:30] wastewater treatment plant projects
[5:33] underway um both at the wastewater
[5:36] treatment plant with the installation of
[5:39] aiators. Um and also our lift stations
[5:44] um that project will be underway soon as
[5:47] well. Um the notice to proceed we just
[5:50] had our first construction kickoff
[5:51] meeting still has to go review. I mean,
[5:54] we go we start here, it goes to the
[5:56] engineers, it goes to TWWDB to get
[5:59] approved and comes back up, but um that
[6:03] is um pretty much all the projects
[6:06] except for the waste the water treatment
[6:08] plant are underway right now. Um and
[6:11] then on the waterline, as reminder, um
[6:15] our street projects, we're in phase
[6:17] three once Elm Street is done, the water
[6:21] line, so that will be paid. This first
[6:23] part is going to be paid from dollars
[6:25] from the downtown revitalization
[6:28] um grant that we got. But then the rest
[6:30] of Elm Street will be done through our
[6:32] street because of the plan phase three.
[6:34] And then same with William Street um
[6:38] once the water line is done there. Um
[6:41] that will be paved and then we've got um
[6:44] East Wheeler that will be the one water
[6:48] line and then paving. So, I just wanted
[6:51] to give you that quick update on
[6:52] projects
[6:56] and then the city secretary has the
[6:58] upcoming uh for upcoming events. Monday
[7:00] we have um another citizens academy.
[7:02] We're almost through with the second set
[7:04] the second session of that. So, it's
[7:06] been a on
[7:09] pickup third Thursday of every month
[7:11] where resident can put three large items
[7:13] on the street. Um and Republic Services
[7:15] will come by and pick that up. They just
[7:17] have to sign up and you can do it um via
[7:19] the web or just calling up city hall
[7:22] who's called the Friday before. Um and
[7:25] we will be setting as one of the agenda
[7:27] items that you have on your agenda today
[7:29] is to set the public hearing on the tax
[7:30] rate that would be scheduled for August
[7:32] the 25th. Um and then something that is
[7:35] not on here that may um brush pickup
[7:37] will begin again in quadrant sections
[7:39] beginning in September. So in September
[7:42] that will start but we'll start putting
[7:44] up dates back up again for residents in
[7:46] quadrants one I believe that starting
[7:51] back
[7:58] » move on to consent agenda any
[8:00] commissioner may request it on the
[8:02] consent agenda to take up individual
[8:04] consideration
[8:05] have a motion
[8:08] >> I move to approve consent agenda items 3
[8:10] » I move to approve consent agenda items 3
[8:10] through as presented.
[8:12] >> A second. All in favor?
[8:19] » Okay, we move on to the public hearing.
[8:22] Open public hearing at
[8:26] 5:38 p.m.
[8:29] And just so that everybody knows that
[8:31] during this public hearing,
[8:36] it's only discussion. There's no no
[8:38] responses under these items. Uh number
[8:41] six, consent uh or conduct a public
[8:44] hearing regarding a table 12 light
[8:47] industrial manufacturing uses section
[8:50] 7.E E use tables of chapter 22 zoning
[8:55] under the break range code of ordinances
[8:57] to add wind turbine recycling facility
[9:00] permissible un uh use in property zoned
[9:04] industrial I district
[9:07] >> there was no one to speak for that item.
[9:12] So we'll go on to seven
[9:16] conduct a public hearing regarding
[9:18] amending table two residential uses
[9:20] section 78
[9:22] use tables of chapter 22 zoning of
[9:25] breaker code of ordinances to allow
[9:26] manufactured homes in certain single
[9:29] family residential zoning districts with
[9:31] a conditional use permit.
[9:36] » There was no one to speak on that item.
[9:38] Eight.
[9:40] >> Eight. Conduct a public hearing
[9:41] » Eight. Conduct a public hearing
[9:41] regarding request for a conditional use
[9:43] permit for a manufactured home on
[9:45] property known as 309 Dallas zone as
[9:50] single family residential SF7.5.
[9:54] If the uh amendment to the zoning
[9:57] ordinance amending table two residential
[10:00] uses section 7.e use table uh chapter 22
[10:05] zoning is approved.
[10:07] We do have one speaker for that item.
[10:09] Will
[10:12] » good evening.
[10:14] We're requesting to y'all to I guess
[10:17] pass item seven and eight, but I'm here
[10:19] talking about eight. You have
[10:25] might help me out a little bit. Uh this
[10:26] piece of property sits between Rose and
[10:28] Dallas Street. It's on five acres by
[10:32] itself. where the home will actually sit
[10:34] is the next closest property is 300 ft
[10:37] away and there's a free line that will
[10:39] be blocked as well. Um entry way from
[10:43] Dallas Street so there's not going to be
[10:44] traffic impedance the utilities are
[10:47] already there you have to pay for a
[10:49] meter take a water meter and t
[10:54] the lines are there seems like a simple
[10:57] bill to be and there's when you get to
[10:59] the the agenda item Cynthia will go over
[11:02] several things that we needed to meet to
[11:04] make that acceptable under the zoning
[11:07] rules and I think we've met all those in
[11:08] this particular situation but when the
[11:11] agenda item comes up you'll see some
[11:13] pictures
[11:18] there
[11:22] have more questions maybe
[11:32] Nine. Conduct a public hearing regarding
[11:34] amending chapter 22 zoning recrench code
[11:37] ordinances by amending table 8 general
[11:39] business retail uses to add vape shops
[11:42] as a use which is prohibited all zoning
[11:45] districts and amending section 30
[11:47] definitions to establish a definition
[11:50] for vape shop. There is no speaker.
[11:55] » 10. Conduct a public hearing regarding
[11:58] whether the building on the buildings on
[12:01] the following properties are dangerous
[12:03] buildings pursuant to chapter 5, article
[12:05] one of the Breen Ridge Code of
[12:07] Ordinances,
[12:09] 411 West Wheeler.
[12:13] » There are no speakers for that.
[12:17] Brie Northview.
[12:18] >> We do have one speaker, Charity Sil.
[12:24] So, that
[12:26] is you look at the photos, it's
[12:28] horrible. I'm going to be 100% honest
[12:30] with y'all. It's horrible. Um, my
[12:33] grandfather gave it to me at the tip of
[12:34] my toe. He did not tell me like it that
[12:38] that was the property and I didn't
[12:39] really look into it. But uh he says
[12:44] he says
[12:46] that he's already tore down the back
[12:48] half and then there was also like two
[12:50] bedrooms in the bathroom on the side. He
[12:52] tore those down and he's already started
[12:55] building like a the base for the back to
[12:58] rebuild all of it.
[13:00] He says it can be done.
[13:04] Do anything. So that's kind of it. I
[13:09] don't know what else to say about it.
[13:16] » 11:01 North Harvey.
[13:20] >> Shout out. Yeah.
[13:21] » Shout out. Yeah.
[13:21] >> 909 North Smith.
[13:24] » 909 North Smith.
[13:24] >> Mr. Reed, is that the one?
[13:25] » Mr. Reed, is that the one?
[13:25] >> That is me.
[13:26] » That is me.
[13:26] >> Yeah. 911.
[13:28] » Yeah. 911.
[13:28] Well, that's my address right next to it
[13:30] on the same lot.
[13:33] Um, just want to let you know I am
[13:35] making progress on dealing with this
[13:37] pile of rubble. It's not a structure
[13:39] anymore to speak of. There are no
[13:42] utilities attached to it. It's not
[13:43] likely to catch fire
[13:46] cats in the neighborhood. There is not a
[13:47] burning infestation.
[13:50] But
[13:51] as you can see, I have a full-time job
[13:54] caregiver for a disabled wife at home.
[13:57] So I kind of kind of limited but I am
[13:59] making progress on the end of the year.
[14:04] » Guess about all I have to say.
[14:06] >> Thank you.
[14:11] » 601 East.
[14:13] >> There are no speakers for it.
[14:16] » There are no speakers for it.
[14:16] >> 803 West.
[14:18] » 803 West.
[14:18] >> There are no speakers.
[14:21] » There are no speakers.
[14:21] >> Real one North View. There are no
[14:23] » Real one North View. There are no
[14:23] speakers for that.
[14:25] >> 1100 East Wall.
[14:27] » 1100 East Wall.
[14:27] >> There are no speakers.
[14:30] » There are no speakers.
[14:30] >> Go ahead and close this public hearing
[14:32] » Go ahead and close this public hearing
[14:32] at
[14:33] 5:44. Can you
[14:37] » action items?
[14:39] Discussion and any necessary action
[14:42] regarding approval of new gen rate study
[14:45] recommend uh recommendation for water
[14:47] waste rate increase. Mayor and
[14:50] commissioners, um, as you know, um,
[14:53] Newton County, we did our water
[14:54] wastewater rate study about five years
[14:57] ago and, um, we had them under contract
[15:01] to do the rate study again, um, five
[15:04] years later and we've got Chris Eric
[15:07] here and he's going to go through the
[15:09] presentation. We appreciate you being
[15:11] here, Chris.
[15:14] >> Good evening, mayor, members of
[15:15] » Good evening, mayor, members of
[15:15] commission. Chris Eric with New Strategy
[15:17] and Solutions. Pleasure to be with you
[15:18] tonight. I do know you have a packed
[15:20] agenda. So, I will try and keep this
[15:22] brief. I do want to introduce Nick Ahala
[15:25] who's with me as well. He's the primary
[15:27] analyst on this job. So, uh pleased to
[15:29] have him here to to see how this process
[15:32] concludes tonight. Uh as we move forward
[15:35] in the presentation, I I will note in
[15:37] the bottom right hand corner of the the
[15:39] handouts, there should be numbers. I'll
[15:41] try and uh keep up with you as we go
[15:43] through. But moving on into slide two,
[15:45] as we talk about the water and
[15:47] wastewater utility this evening, I I do
[15:50] want to remind you that the utility is
[15:51] tracked in what's called a proprietary
[15:53] or enterprise fund. Why is that
[15:56] important? Ultimately, that fund type is
[15:59] preserved for a business type activity
[16:01] of government. So while we are providing
[16:04] service to our citizens, we are also
[16:06] effectively running a business. For a
[16:09] business to be successful, we have to
[16:11] make sure that our revenue stream is
[16:13] sufficient to cover our expenses. We
[16:15] call that revenue sufficiency. Second
[16:17] thing we have to do in the water
[16:19] business, we literally have to plan for
[16:20] a rainy day. It will rain again at some
[16:23] point. Uh when it does, uh our customers
[16:26] use less water while our expenses
[16:29] continue. They are a fixed cost
[16:31] intensive business. Uh generally when
[16:34] you're talking water utilities they can
[16:36] be 70 to 90% of your cost is fixed and
[16:39] so we price on a volutric basis or at
[16:41] least a portion of our service. So we do
[16:44] have to maintain adequate reserves in
[16:46] the bank. This is also important to deal
[16:48] with contingency issues that arise when
[16:51] we have infrastructure that may go out
[16:53] of service. The third thing we have to
[16:55] do when we're talking about our water
[16:56] and wastewater utilities and thinking
[16:58] about rates is we have to think about
[16:59] reinvestment. We have pipes, plants,
[17:02] pumps, all of these things that break
[17:04] down over time. We have to reinvest in
[17:08] our business. And that's really why I'm
[17:10] here this evening is to talk about that
[17:12] capital reinvestment and make sure that
[17:15] you as council are informed as to
[17:18] actions you can take going forward to
[17:20] ensure the financial stability of the
[17:23] utility. So with that, moving on to
[17:25] slide three. Just kind of a recap of
[17:27] where we've been. Again, as as Cynthia
[17:29] mentioned, we were engaged back in 2021
[17:31] to develop an initial financial plan for
[17:33] the water and wastewater utility. Some
[17:36] of the things that you've heard about
[17:37] tonight uh were part of that study. We
[17:41] talked about the wastewater treatment
[17:43] plant improvements. We've talked about
[17:44] the lift station improvements. All of
[17:46] that capital reinvestment. That was the
[17:49] focus of that study. If you're thinking
[17:51] about this in terms of triage, that was
[17:54] the intent of that study was how do we
[17:56] get ourselves in a solid financial
[17:58] position so that we can make the
[18:00] improvements that are needed. You'll see
[18:02] some of the other items that were
[18:03] addressed in that study as we looked at
[18:05] replacing water meters as we looked at
[18:08] ensuring that we are adequately
[18:09] compensating our staff and competing for
[18:12] staff in the local area. As we come into
[18:16] this study, we are in a good solid
[18:18] financial position. The goal of this
[18:20] study is to maintain that financial
[18:23] position going forward. Your cost will
[18:26] continue to go up. There's just no way
[18:28] around it. There is investment needed in
[18:31] the system. There is no way around that
[18:33] going forward. And so what we've tried
[18:35] to structure for you are some options to
[18:37] consider going forward to how we
[18:39] maintain that financial position. So,
[18:43] moving on on slide four, what you're
[18:45] going to see is just a really graphical
[18:47] representation of where we see your
[18:49] costs going longterm. What this takes
[18:52] into account is inflation, capital,
[18:55] investment, all of the items needed uh
[18:58] as we go forward to run our utility. Uh
[19:01] our scale is a little bit off between
[19:04] what I provided you and what's on the
[19:05] screen right now. But if we can focus on
[19:08] the handout you have uh looking at that
[19:10] bar that's the expense bar that line
[19:13] that is your projected revenue under
[19:16] current rates. Anytime that bar goes
[19:18] above that line we are in a revenue
[19:20] insufficient position. So that's
[19:22] something to note going forward. On
[19:24] slide five, what we look at here on
[19:26] slide five is we look at those days of
[19:28] operating expenses. You have by uh prior
[19:32] council action looking at policies. We
[19:34] want to maintain
[19:36] 180 days of cash on hand. That is basic
[19:40] reserve that we want to maintain. You
[19:43] see, you're in a very solid position
[19:45] right now. I applaud this council. I
[19:47] applaud the decisions that you've made
[19:49] to put yourself in that solid financial
[19:51] position. Our concern is if we don't
[19:54] continue to take measured action going
[19:56] forward yet we incur those costs we
[19:59] would quickly drain those reserves. And
[20:02] so again this also points us to how
[20:04] should we act going forward. On slide
[20:08] six the last thing we look at here is
[20:09] debt service coverage. What debt service
[20:11] coverage is is basically a an assessment
[20:14] of can we pay our debt? We have made
[20:18] promises to bond holders that we will
[20:20] repay that debt. So this is a ratio to
[20:23] say after we pay our on and m expenses
[20:25] can we also pay our debt with sufficient
[20:28] margin here your bond holders require
[20:32] you the Texas water development board
[20:33] requires you to maintain a 1.1 times
[20:36] debt service coverage. What you see here
[20:39] is in 2028 we're actually projected to
[20:41] fall uh slightly below that metric. So
[20:45] again, if we don't meet that service
[20:47] coverage, water development board can
[20:49] come in and force us to restore
[20:51] financial performance to that level. We
[20:54] don't want that to happen. We want to
[20:56] maintain a solid credit position. So in
[20:59] the event we have to access the debt
[21:02] markets in the future, we are able to
[21:04] come in and do that and maintain our
[21:06] system, continue to provide continuous
[21:08] and adequate service to our customer.
[21:11] So what we put together for you on slide
[21:13] seven is really a consideration of three
[21:16] options going forward. Triaging this the
[21:18] highest option scenario one the lowest
[21:21] option scenario three. Scenario three is
[21:24] the minimum option you need to maintain
[21:26] your financial policies that this
[21:29] council has adopted. What that would
[21:30] represent is about a 4.14%
[21:33] increase in rates annually going forward
[21:35] through the course of this study. The
[21:38] higher option scenario one, what that
[21:40] represents is building to 365 days cash
[21:44] on hand even after you've made all that
[21:47] reinvestment. Why did we use 365 days
[21:50] cash on hand? That number comes from the
[21:53] debt rating agencies and specifically
[21:55] Fitch. So when you go to the debt
[21:57] markets, you receive a debt rating. Uh
[22:00] the higher the debt rating, the lower
[22:02] your long-term cost of borrowing. The
[22:05] lower the long-term cost of borrowing,
[22:07] the lower your long-term cost of
[22:09] providing service to customers. So, it
[22:12] is our recommendation that you consider
[22:14] scenario one, but we recognize that we
[22:17] need to be cognizant of the impact we're
[22:19] having on our customers. And I'm going
[22:20] to show you some of those customer
[22:22] impacts in just a moment. But again,
[22:24] scenario three, that is our opinion of
[22:26] the minimum action needed to maintain
[22:28] your financial policy.
[22:29] >> Question real quick.
[22:30] » Question real quick.
[22:30] >> Yes, sir.
[22:31] » Yes, sir.
[22:31] >> This 3.831 31 million number. Um, is
[22:34] » This 3.831 31 million number. Um, is
[22:34] that at the end?
[22:35] >> That's at the end of 10 years. That is
[22:37] » That's at the end of 10 years. That is
[22:37] the end of forecast. Yes, sir.
[22:39] >> Gotcha. Yes, sir.
[22:40] » Gotcha. Yes, sir.
[22:40] >> Good question.
[22:40] » Good question.
[22:40] >> Counting debt service.
[22:41] » Counting debt service.
[22:42] >> That's counting the debt service. That's
[22:43] » That's counting the debt service. That's
[22:43] counting the capital reinvestment. That
[22:45] is counting long-term inflation into
[22:48] those numbers. That is taking into
[22:49] account everything.
[22:50] >> Okay.
[22:51] » Okay.
[22:52] >> So, this is just a speculative number
[22:53] » So, this is just a speculative number
[22:53] basically because you obviously can't
[22:55] figure into anything like that. This is
[22:57] just your best guess. uh so it's an
[23:00] educated uh I would be careful with the
[23:02] word speculative again we are
[23:04] forecasting into the future uh so it is
[23:07] it is based on what we know today I will
[23:10] say that there may be a time when your
[23:13] rate increases have to be higher than
[23:15] what we show here in the event we have a
[23:17] significant infrastructure failure or if
[23:20] costs change more than what we're
[23:21] anticipating right okay
[23:26] looking at slide eight uh what we're
[23:28] looking at here is that estimated uh
[23:30] bill impact under scenario one. This is
[23:33] that 4.8% increase. What we're looking
[23:35] at here is a 2,000galon customer. A
[23:38] 2,000galon customer is uh generally a
[23:40] single individual living in a home by
[23:42] themselves potentially. This is somebody
[23:44] on a fixed income. Uh we look at this
[23:46] level because this can often represent
[23:49] our senior citizens or those on fixed
[23:51] income. right now that that 2,000galon
[23:54] water and wastewater bill 96 excuse me
[23:58] 96.669 69 per month. Under the scenario
[24:01] one increase, that would increase to
[24:03] four by $4.67
[24:05] a month to 10136. Again, that's that's
[24:08] the high side. Going on to our next
[24:10] slide here, we look at that 5,000galon
[24:13] bill. The reason we use 5,000gallon
[24:15] bill, that represents our average
[24:17] residential customer over the course of
[24:19] a year. They may be slightly lower in
[24:21] the winter, slightly higher in the
[24:22] summer, but monthly average over the
[24:25] course of the year, 5,000 gallons here.
[24:27] uh that bill right now is1856.
[24:30] Under scenario one, that would go to
[24:31] 12428. So that's about a $5.72
[24:35] increase. Again, that is the highest
[24:38] scenario that we put together. You will
[24:40] note this does uh continue year after
[24:43] year after year. Uh obviously, as we're
[24:46] looking at rates, we look at rates every
[24:48] year associated with our budget. There
[24:50] may be times that we have to adjust. Uh
[24:53] but your costs will continue to increase
[24:55] going forward. So we have baked that
[24:57] into uh our numbers for you this
[25:00] evening.
[25:01] >> A question. So that is dealing with the
[25:03] » A question. So that is dealing with the
[25:04] infrastructure that we actually have
[25:05] right now and all everything that goes
[25:08] entailed for our infrastructure the
[25:10] water and wastewater infrastructure
[25:12] built in.
[25:13] >> So this is on and expenses. This is
[25:15] » So this is on and expenses. This is
[25:15] wholesale expense. This is your existing
[25:17] debt service. This is projected capital
[25:19] projected going forward as well. Yes
[25:21] sir. Okay.
[25:25] As we look at scenario two, that same
[25:26] 2,000galon impact here again 90 9669
[25:31] increasing by $4.33
[25:34] going into 2027. On our next slide, we
[25:37] have that 5,000galon customer. That
[25:40] 5,000galon customer increasing $5.32.
[25:43] And I do have a comparison of all three
[25:45] of these scenarios here uh at the end of
[25:47] the presentation. So that'll that'll
[25:49] that will be coming through on slide 12.
[25:52] Scenario three. This is the lowest
[25:54] scenario to us based on what we know
[25:56] today. This is the lowest action we can
[25:59] take. And $4 a month would be the
[26:01] increase for that 2,000galon customer in
[26:04] uh 20.7. That 5,000galon customer on
[26:09] slide 13. Here it's $4.90.
[26:14] On slide 14, again we we tried to
[26:16] compare these together. I want to focus
[26:18] on the left hand side here. We're
[26:19] looking at that 2,000galon customer. Uh
[26:22] the highest increase we had for the
[26:24] 2,000galon customer was $4.67
[26:27] under scenario one. Scenario three, the
[26:29] low end was $4. Now, there's not a big
[26:33] difference there in 2027. What you see
[26:36] on the right hand side, that's the 2036
[26:39] number. And that's that's where this
[26:40] does become stark as you look at those
[26:43] increases going forward. But again,
[26:45] putting you in the best financial
[26:47] position relative to your credit rating,
[26:50] we're recommending scenario one, the
[26:52] minimum to meet your financial
[26:54] requirements, we're recommending
[26:55] scenario three.
[26:58] On slide 15, what we have here is that
[27:00] 5,000 gallon customer. Again, the the
[27:03] low scenario, scenario three for 2027,
[27:06] $4.90.
[27:08] The high scenario, scenario one, $5.72.
[27:15] But on slide 16, uh, let me stop here.
[27:18] Every commission I'm in front of, every
[27:20] council or board I speak to wants to
[27:22] know how do we look compared to
[27:24] everybody else. And I I use the same
[27:25] language every time I I present this.
[27:28] You have to be careful when you look at
[27:30] presentations like this because every
[27:32] community is different. Communities have
[27:33] different water supplies. They have
[27:35] different wastewater treatment options.
[27:37] They're at different places in their
[27:39] growth and capital plans. And so with
[27:42] that, there's any number of reasons this
[27:44] chart looks the way it does. So be
[27:46] careful. We have to do what's right for
[27:48] our community. We don't base our action
[27:51] based on what other communities are
[27:52] doing. But right now, the 2,000galon
[27:55] customer, as I said before, 9669. The
[27:58] blue bar is your water bill. The green
[28:00] bar is your sewer bill right now. Uh
[28:03] going to the highest point here,
[28:05] scenario one, 10136.
[28:07] The lowest point, scenario 3, 169. And
[28:11] again, we not sure why our charts are
[28:13] not showing up right on the screen, but
[28:15] we will make sure we get a solid PDF of
[28:18] that that you can put on your website.
[28:21] On page 17, uh this is that same
[28:24] comparison, that 5,000galon bill here.
[28:27] Currently 11856, that's the current
[28:29] bill. And you see you really don't move
[28:31] within this comparison. One thing I
[28:33] would note though is as you look at
[28:36] these future bills, I'm projecting your
[28:38] future 2027 bill compared to everybody
[28:41] else's bill today. Communities all over
[28:44] the state are going through this same
[28:46] exact exercise right now as they go in
[28:48] to adopt their budgets for next year.
[28:51] They are looking at what rate action is
[28:52] needed to maintain the financial
[28:55] position of their utilities. Uh so
[28:57] again, I'm showing your 2027 bill
[29:00] against everybody else's bill today. If
[29:02] we rerun this in October or January, it
[29:05] will look different. So, please keep
[29:07] that in mind.
[29:09] Final comparison I have for you tonight
[29:11] is on slide 18. This is the commercial
[29:13] bill. Your average commercial customer
[29:15] 13,000 gallons. Right now, that bill is
[29:18] 25178.
[29:20] Uh, in the event we went with the
[29:21] highest option, scenario one, that bill
[29:23] would go to 26390.
[29:26] The lowest option 26219.
[29:29] Again, there are providers that are
[29:31] higher than you on on this list.
[29:36] So, with that, I know I've thrown a lot
[29:39] of numbers at you this evening, but I'm
[29:41] happy to answer any questions. It is our
[29:43] recommendation that as you go into
[29:45] adopting your budget for this next year,
[29:48] which will be effective October 26, uh
[29:51] that you identify a an option and take
[29:53] action on rates going forward. Again,
[29:56] you've done a great job managing your
[29:58] utility up to this point. Uh it is our
[30:01] hope that by taking measured rate action
[30:03] every year going forward, you will
[30:05] maintain that financial position which
[30:08] again will maintain the viability of
[30:10] your business, allow you to rein
[30:11] continue to reinvest in that
[30:13] infrastructure.
[30:15] What questions can I read this evening?
[30:17] >> Um so I started on this commission back
[30:19] » Um so I started on this commission back
[30:19] in I guess right after this original
[30:22] rate study began. Were you part of that
[30:24] first one?
[30:24] >> Yes, sir. Was that a fiveyear plan or
[30:26] » Yes, sir. Was that a fiveyear plan or
[30:26] that was a fiveyear plan?
[30:28] >> I just wanted to make sure why this
[30:29] » I just wanted to make sure why this
[30:29] one's 10 versus five.
[30:31] >> We went ahead and ran this one out a bit
[30:33] » We went ahead and ran this one out a bit
[30:33] longer because again, you're now past
[30:35] that initial response stage. Uh I would
[30:39] recommend that you come in and revisit
[30:41] any plan at the 5-year mark because we
[30:43] don't know exactly what's going to
[30:45] happen. We are we are using our
[30:47] knowledge of past practice uh to come in
[30:49] and project going forward. But as we've
[30:52] seen recently, inflation has been
[30:54] running a little hotter than than maybe
[30:56] what we anticipate on a long-term basis.
[30:58] So again, I think it's important to
[31:00] revisit about every five. What about
[31:03] every year? I do have some communities I
[31:06] work with every year. I've got about I'd
[31:08] say about 14 communities that I do this
[31:11] with every year going through the budget
[31:13] process. This is just part of their
[31:14] standard process.
[31:16] uh you are fortunate that you are in a
[31:19] position that the action that the
[31:21] council previously took and some of
[31:23] those increases which I understand were
[31:25] were were on the higher end you have put
[31:28] yourself in a good financial position.
[31:30] Uh with that said I don't know that you
[31:32] need our services every year but if you
[31:34] do we're we're happy to help. Um, so
[31:37] it's it's one I would just carefully
[31:40] monitor your financial performance and
[31:42] if you start to see things dip, it would
[31:44] be good to revisit at that time.
[31:46] >> Currently is the water and wastewater
[31:49] » Currently is the water and wastewater
[31:49] are they earning income that they are
[31:51] right now? Is that
[31:53] >> what do you mean earning income?
[31:55] » what do you mean earning income?
[31:55] >> The funds are they going up even
[31:57] » The funds are they going up even
[31:57] currently right now?
[31:58] >> I don't the increases what I would what
[32:01] » I don't the increases what I would what
[32:01] I would tell you is the increases they
[32:03] were substantial. So five years ago, I
[32:06] wasn't here when it was when the council
[32:08] took action, but the rate increases like
[32:11] for the first year, I want to say it was
[32:13] like 19 and then it was 17 and then it
[32:16] went down to five and like the last one
[32:18] was only um like a dollar or something.
[32:22] Um so when you right now I mean that
[32:26] those were the increases.
[32:28] >> What I'm saying is right now at the end
[32:30] » What I'm saying is right now at the end
[32:30] of this year will there be an income
[32:32] into the water and wastewater funds?
[32:33] Will we be above what we started last
[32:36] year? So I think the issue this year is
[32:39] uh with rainfall uh and we at least a
[32:43] couple of months ago we were still
[32:45] behind uh going into 2027. We are
[32:48] projecting you will be cash flow
[32:50] insufficient into the fund at that
[32:52] point. So in 27
[32:55] >> yeah so I'm sorry. Yeah, that that's
[32:56] » yeah so I'm sorry. Yeah, that that's
[32:56] your question. I mean this year because
[32:58] we do base our budget on projections.
[33:01] They are educated projections because we
[33:03] look at what has gone before and we're
[33:04] looking ahead. However, um this year it
[33:07] was a wet year and so we have not been
[33:10] selling as much water. This year we have
[33:12] had more expenses than we expected. So
[33:16] we have less revenue and more expenses.
[33:19] So, um I will say every year, yes, we've
[33:23] been gaining and that's why we have just
[33:24] about 2 million in each fund the uh in
[33:28] our fund balance for water fund and
[33:30] wastewater.
[33:31] >> And you spoke to that previously that's
[33:32] » And you spoke to that previously that's
[33:32] the buffer you were attempting to build.
[33:34] >> Yes.
[33:37] » But one of the things I I just want to u
[33:40] a couple of things to consider and we've
[33:42] talked about them, but um we have aging
[33:45] infrastructure. Everybody knows that we
[33:47] have an oversized infrastructure. Our
[33:49] infrastructure is just not in good
[33:52] condition. So for instance, I mean right
[33:55] now um and I'm just pointing to one
[33:57] thing. Even though we have a lot of
[33:59] projects on board, they're not
[34:01] addressing everything. So um we have our
[34:05] at our water treatment plant, we have
[34:07] two clarifiers and both clarifiers are
[34:10] limping along and we've been investing
[34:12] money in them. But to replace just one
[34:15] clarifier is $1 million.
[34:18] So if they both went down, we would have
[34:21] just enough to replace both clarifiers
[34:24] and our fund balance would be wiped out.
[34:26] I mean that's how fast it can go.
[34:31] Another thing and I I'll talk about this
[34:33] in budget but um I mean these are just
[34:36] the increases of CPI that's happening
[34:39] every year. Um our water our collections
[34:43] and distribution gravel and dirt has
[34:46] gone up 40%.
[34:48] Because of the data center 40% and so
[34:52] that is a staple supply that we have in
[34:56] our water wastewater fund
[34:59] every every minute for water and sewer
[35:02] life affairs. So the the years that
[35:05] you've been here, you actually have been
[35:07] putting in as in making this safe so in
[35:10] case something does happen, we do have
[35:13] the refund the resources to fix those
[35:16] things.
[35:16] >> Yes. Because of the decision that the
[35:18] » Yes. Because of the decision that the
[35:18] commission made, you know, five years
[35:20] ago, we are in a better financial
[35:23] position than we've ever been. Not only
[35:25] that, but it also provided um as he
[35:28] alluded to, it provided us resources to
[35:31] be able to we bought um we have a new
[35:34] Vtor truck. We're getting a new Vtor
[35:37] trailer. Um I mean those are big
[35:39] purchases. Yeah.
[35:40] >> Um we we are buy we told you we are
[35:43] » Um we we are buy we told you we are
[35:43] going to be using fund balance to use a
[35:45] dump to buy a dump truck. Um so we're
[35:48] getting that information together bring
[35:50] to you guys. Um, so there's been some
[35:53] capital purchases as well,
[35:55] >> needed capital. We uh we've bought back.
[35:59] » needed capital. We uh we've bought back.
[35:59] We have um
[36:03] » one one thing I think we need to think
[36:05] about is um we're always going to have
[36:07] debt always. So
[36:10] >> we is the professional that is
[36:12] » we is the professional that is
[36:12] recommending a 1.1 debt ratio. um said,
[36:17] >> so if I can clarify that that is
[36:19] » so if I can clarify that that is
[36:19] required by the Texas water development.
[36:21] So if you want to maintain access to low
[36:24] interest loans and to fund through the
[36:26] water board, you have got to maintain
[36:28] that level of ratio. Ideally, we would
[36:30] love to improve that over time. Uh some
[36:34] of the debt rating agencies right now
[36:36] want to see 1.5, 1.75. I've actually
[36:39] seen some recommend two or higher. I
[36:42] think that's a little aggressive overall
[36:44] because we we do have to realize that as
[36:46] we hit these metrics, we're having an
[36:48] impact on customers. So again, we
[36:50] structured this plan to stick with that
[36:52] 1.1 and maintain that. So it's safe to
[36:55] say that we're on an up uptrend in due
[36:58] to our
[37:01] infrastructure that's that's
[37:04] not the best, but we're on an uptrend as
[37:07] in fixing those things, having money
[37:10] just in case anything does happen. and
[37:12] then and then moving on and addressing
[37:14] those issues. And so your recommendation
[37:18] is helping us keep on that uptrend.
[37:21] >> Yes, sir.
[37:22] » Yes, sir.
[37:22] >> You are in much better position than
[37:24] » You are in much better position than
[37:24] when I was here in 2021. I will say
[37:26] that. Uh as you're talking about rolling
[37:28] stock, u I believe you had as a
[37:31] community the distinction of having the
[37:33] oldest piece of rolling stock that was
[37:36] still working when I was here here with
[37:38] you in 2021. Uh so uh you keep your
[37:41] things a long time and you keep them
[37:43] running but what you've been able to do
[37:45] is invest in that system and you have
[37:48] you now put yourselves in a position
[37:50] where you can uh basically take smaller
[37:54] annual rate action. You don't have to
[37:55] have those big jumps because that's what
[37:57] we want to avoid. We want to practice
[37:59] what we call rate gradualism. We want to
[38:01] avoid rate shop which this allows you to
[38:04] do that but still maintain where you are
[38:07] and continue to make gains going
[38:09] forward.
[38:10] >> Yeah.
[38:10] » Yeah.
[38:10] >> Yes sir.
[38:12] » Yes sir.
[38:12] >> Last meeting we approved a grant.
[38:15] » Last meeting we approved a grant.
[38:15] Correct.
[38:17] >> Application for a grant 100% funded.
[38:19] » Application for a grant 100% funded.
[38:19] >> What was that grant for?
[38:21] » What was that grant for?
[38:21] >> Water.
[38:22] » Water.
[38:22] >> It was for waterline.
[38:23] » It was for waterline.
[38:23] >> Waterline.
[38:30] Yeah,
[38:31] >> it's just the application. Um, so yes, I
[38:33] » it's just the application. Um, so yes, I
[38:33] mean to your question and uh Mr. Hunting
[38:36] and to your question, I mean we've got
[38:38] TWWDB projects, right? We've got the
[38:40] rural water loss assistant fund um at
[38:43] 5.7 million um 4 million which was grant
[38:47] and then 1.7 million is a low interest
[38:50] rate loan. And then we applied for um in
[38:53] the WSIG TWWD project, we applied for 10
[38:56] million um and that would be 100%
[38:59] funded, which is great. Meaning that's
[39:02] >> Yeah.
[39:06] » I mean, because we're dealing with a
[39:07] system that's very very
[39:10] brittle. Um you shut up and you have
[39:13] some spread out somewhere down the line.
[39:15] Um and then we're now marking those very
[39:19] um where those lines all of our lines
[39:22] are. We're going in and finding out
[39:24] where our lines are lined what lines
[39:26] that we have not known that it was
[39:28] there. Um so I I believe that um their
[39:32] recommend recommendation is yeah
[39:37] and your your description of the system
[39:39] is brutal as is at [laughter]
[39:44] » and again that's why we talk about
[39:46] reinvestment because utilities are out
[39:48] of sight out of mind. We don't think
[39:49] about them until the water stops flowing
[39:51] or the waste water stops uh you know
[39:53] going out of our home. So uh that's why
[39:56] we do have to think of it as a business
[39:58] and reinvest in our infrastructure
[40:00] >> and we have had to deal with that when
[40:02] » and we have had to deal with that when
[40:02] the water stops in our community.
[40:04] federal su
[40:06] but I will say u you're not you're not
[40:09] unique as a community in this this is an
[40:12] industrywide problem uh where we've
[40:16] installed systems and then we've just
[40:18] not done anything with them for years
[40:20] and years and years and now we are the
[40:22] recipient of that and and we have to
[40:24] address those problems. So uh please
[40:26] don't uh I I don't want to come across
[40:29] as critical because again you are not
[40:31] unique as a community being in the
[40:33] situation you're in. One thing that is
[40:36] unique is you have taken a hard action
[40:38] uh which has put you in a good position
[40:40] going forward.
[40:48] » I'm not for a 10-year plan with a
[40:51] compounding 4% cost. I personally would
[40:55] like to see this revisited every year
[40:57] and put a vote because I may not be on
[40:59] the commission one year.
[41:01] It's I completely agree with what you're
[41:03] saying absolutely with our
[41:05] infrastructure like uh Commissioner
[41:06] Huntington said it's brittle or
[41:09] personally witnessed this for 15 years.
[41:11] Um but
[41:13] I think the compounding part of the 4%
[41:16] >> um that might be a little steep. We are
[41:19] » um that might be a little steep. We are
[41:19] a single community in a very large
[41:22] county and
[41:25] money doesn't go as far as understand.
[41:28] So
[41:31] is it possible?
[41:34] I guess that would be a question that we
[41:35] could table this and see if that we can
[41:39] move this to a like a one-year plan
[41:42] instead of a 10 year.
[41:43] >> Well, I wouldn't recommend tableabling
[41:45] » Well, I wouldn't recommend tableabling
[41:45] it. I mean, you can take any action
[41:47] tonight, but when you say I mean, it's a
[41:50] 10-year plan, you still the
[41:53] recommendation for every for 10 year to
[41:57] take action and raise the rates. You
[42:00] still have to um approve that every
[42:03] year. So, that's what you're asking. We
[42:05] can we can do that. And we actually do
[42:08] with our um
[42:11] uh schedule of fee. So, we put it in our
[42:14] schedule of fee and and it has to be
[42:16] approved. So, we can revisit this at the
[42:18] budget and say this is what we're
[42:20] proposing and
[42:23] make sure that you the commission is on
[42:25] board with that and then
[42:27] >> move forward that
[42:29] » move forward that
[42:29] >> action the budget
[42:32] » action the budget
[42:32] but it's going to be revisited.
[42:34] >> Yes. Right. Every year that's in your
[42:36] » Yes. Right. Every year that's in your
[42:36] plan. It's it's revisited no matter
[42:38] what.
[42:38] >> Right.
[42:39] » Right.
[42:39] So what what you're suggesting of us be
[42:41] revisiting what you're saying is we
[42:44] already are revisiting it every year of
[42:47] of dealing with the wastewater and water
[42:50] management and what we're doing with
[42:52] that. And so we do visit it every year.
[42:54] We do check on it every year. So when
[42:57] that does happen
[43:00] as in we set a rate for 10 years but
[43:03] every year in those 10 years
[43:04] >> we're not locked in. It's a suggestion
[43:06] » we're not locked in. It's a suggestion
[43:06] right suggestion.
[43:08] >> Okay. And like he said, he we have
[43:09] » Okay. And like he said, he we have
[43:10] scenario one and we have scenario two
[43:12] and we have scenario three. And
[43:14] whichever one that we adopt into our um
[43:20] or enforce at this time, uh we have to
[43:24] think about whether it's going to
[43:25] benefit our community.
[43:29] » So this is just a suggested 4.1%.
[43:32] 4.1% is our projection of what will be
[43:35] needed every year to meet your minimum
[43:37] financial requirements. Again, to your
[43:39] point about revisiting annually, I
[43:41] strongly recommend that you look at this
[43:43] with the budget every year uh at least
[43:45] internally because there may be times
[43:48] when you have capital needs in that year
[43:50] that are higher than what we projected
[43:51] here. We don't know what's going to fail
[43:54] in four years, in six years, in 10
[43:57] years. Uh so again, this is what based
[44:00] on what we know today. Uh so revisiting
[44:02] annually makes a lot of sense as you
[44:04] look at what is needed in each year.
[44:06] >> So it's recommended is what you're
[44:08] » So it's recommended is what you're
[44:08] saying.1%
[44:09] 4.4 or 4.8 but revisiting every year
[44:13] potentially could go higher or lower
[44:15] depending on our need.
[44:16] >> Depending on your need
[44:18] » Depending on your need
[44:18] >> just output
[44:21] » just output
[44:21] I sure
[44:36] I have a motion.
[44:38] What are What are we thinking? I'm
[44:40] thinking
[44:41] >> three.
[44:41] » three.
[44:42] >> Yeah. Three for now. Mhm.
[44:45] » Yeah. Three for now. Mhm.
[44:45] >> And then as we revisit it again um in
[44:49] » And then as we revisit it again um in
[44:49] the following years we'll determine
[44:54] I think we come back and we revisit this
[44:56] in another year because council may
[44:59] change in I don't know lot
[45:03] expected
[45:05] revisit I agree too. I think we need to
[45:07] it needs to be brought up every year
[45:09] because you know where we started what
[45:11] we have in the bank account I mean we've
[45:14] had grown a bunch and then now we're
[45:17] adding more to somebody's water bill and
[45:19] we got 40% of our customers they can't
[45:22] pay no water bill right now
[45:24] >> and now you're just adding five more
[45:26] » and now you're just adding five more
[45:26] dollars $500 and we just added for trash
[45:28] we just added
[45:30] >> so I mean we just give them more in debt
[45:33] » so I mean we just give them more in debt
[45:33] you know if the That's
[45:38] what was already raised. Get money into
[45:40] the account.
[45:41] >> And that was my my question for Morg is
[45:44] » And that was my my question for Morg is
[45:44] if we're still able to put money into
[45:46] that account, then I don't see a need to
[45:48] raise it too high.
[45:51] >> Right.
[45:52] » Right.
[45:52] >> Well, and yes, I would agree. And um one
[45:55] » Well, and yes, I would agree. And um one
[45:55] of the things that I would say, I mean,
[45:57] and we look as staff, we're evaluating
[45:59] this year. So, of course, we're going to
[46:01] bring it back every year um because
[46:04] every year is different. But if you guys
[46:07] can, if we did this this year, one of
[46:09] the things that we're looking at, I
[46:11] mean, next year that I would be
[46:13] recommending um is looking at our debt
[46:16] and paying off um and uh 2012, we have
[46:20] basically about 550,000.
[46:23] So, we could pay that off. Again, you
[46:26] still want to maintain a four to six
[46:28] month operation in your u fund balance
[46:32] for each fund. Um but we would have that
[46:35] opportunity at that point I think to
[46:38] start paying down some of that debt. But
[46:40] you still want to maintain
[46:43] that fund at a level because as I said
[46:46] if a a clarifier does go down I mean
[46:50] that's a million dollar we are required
[46:52] GCEQ will require us to make that
[46:56] expenditure.
[46:57] I mean we have to do it. So and if we
[47:00] didn't have it I mean when I got here I
[47:02] would have said unbalances 300 400,000.
[47:06] Yeah. Now, I mean, thank God we're we're
[47:08] getting grants and we're in a position
[47:11] where we are investing more money in
[47:14] system improvement in the budget um
[47:17] itself and then having this this in case
[47:20] something catastrophic happen.
[47:22] >> That was my question on the grant from
[47:23] » That was my question on the grant from
[47:23] last year too and I believe it was that
[47:25] $10 million in full infrastructure. So,
[47:28] if we can get some of these lines
[47:30] replaced like they're necessary as Mr.
[47:32] or honey are brittle. This may be one of
[47:36] those times in the next few years we may
[47:38] able to lower that percentage increase.
[47:41] >> Sure. Yeah, absolutely. And we can we
[47:43] » Sure. Yeah, absolutely. And we can we
[47:43] can yeah I mean we will analyze that
[47:45] over the year
[47:47] >> but with the fund balance of where it is
[47:49] » but with the fund balance of where it is
[47:49] um we are in a somewhat of a a good
[47:53] space just in case we do go out without
[47:57] water like we did you know and we had
[48:00] the funding to actually fix those things
[48:02] whatever messes up in that. Um, so I I
[48:07] agree with uh going and revisiting every
[48:10] year, which we already do, but um I
[48:14] think is to have in mind for anything of
[48:17] a rainy day, if you want to call it a
[48:19] rainy day. Um, you know, because like
[48:22] you said, you not might not be on the
[48:24] commissioner board at that time, but
[48:26] we're setting up future commissioners to
[48:30] not be in a rock or hard place.
[48:31] >> Correct.
[48:34] » Correct.
[48:34] I move to approve option three
[48:37] of the new generate study for the water
[48:39] wastewater rate increase of October 1,
[48:42] 2026.
[48:43] >> Second all.
[48:47] » Thank you.
[48:47] >> Thank you so much, sir.
[48:49] » Thank you so much, sir.
[48:49] >> Thank you, sir.
[48:50] » Thank you, sir.
[48:50] 2012. Discussion and any necessary
[48:53] action regarding whether the buildings
[48:55] on the properties are dangerous
[48:57] buildings pursuing to chapter 5, article
[48:59] one of the break code of ordinances. And
[49:02] if so, discussion and any necessary
[49:04] action regarding issuing orders to evade
[49:08] the dangerous buildings or accepting
[49:11] obeyance of properties
[49:14] from owners.
[49:24] 41 West Clear
[49:29] 41.
[49:33] » Sorry about that. Um, so I just did want
[49:36] to remind you guys, um, I put, um, a
[49:40] piece of paper at each of your places
[49:42] for what the procedure is, um, when we
[49:46] declare a substandard building. And this
[49:49] is pursuant to chapter um, five, article
[49:52] one. And you can see that I mean, and I
[49:55] just shortened this down from our
[49:57] ordinance. Basically, it's inspection,
[50:00] staff determination, notice of
[50:02] abatement, request for a public hearing,
[50:05] and then that action has been staff
[50:09] action that has taken place on all these
[50:11] homes. And now we are at number five,
[50:14] enforcement of the city commission. So
[50:17] the list that you have here A through B
[50:20] is not exhaustive, but these are the
[50:23] options, potential options you can take
[50:25] on these buildings that we have before
[50:27] you tonight. Um staff is recommending
[50:31] um demolition on all of them that are
[50:34] brought before you tonight. All of these
[50:37] buildings are vacant. So I just did want
[50:40] to let you know that um no one's living
[50:45] these buildings. So, they've been vacant
[50:47] and they've been um non-livable for
[50:51] quite some time.
[50:52] >> It's it's much better for the city and
[50:55] » It's it's much better for the city and
[50:55] the owner if they deed it over to us
[50:58] first. Correct.
[50:59] >> We work with them if we can get them to
[51:01] » We work with them if we can get them to
[51:01] do that because then we can get we can
[51:03] demo it. We have an interlocal with the
[51:05] county and we can um demo it and then uh
[51:09] dispose of it in our monofil which is
[51:12] right here. If not, um, we will have to
[51:15] budget. We've budgeted just a few, but
[51:17] we'll have to budget to haul it.
[51:20] >> And every owner is well aware that it is
[51:22] » And every owner is well aware that it is
[51:22] in their benefit to beat it over to the
[51:24] city.
[51:25] >> We that we work that really hard. And I
[51:27] » We that we work that really hard. And I
[51:27] will say Christie does a good job.
[51:30] Malcolm, Christy, Jay, that's the team
[51:32] there. Um, they do a good job trying to
[51:35] get that.
[51:38] >> This particular owner we didn't hear
[51:39] » This particular owner we didn't hear
[51:39] from at all. So
[51:40] >> right, you have in your background
[51:43] » right, you have in your background
[51:43] information, you have I mean the
[51:45] enforcement history and then the dates
[51:48] that we sent out the notice
[51:51] >> and all of these are sent out certified
[51:54] » and all of these are sent out certified
[51:54] and then they're also posted on each.
[51:57] >> So when it comes to 411 West Wheeler, no
[52:00] » So when it comes to 411 West Wheeler, no
[52:00] communication.
[52:02] >> Didn't they do that to their daughter or
[52:04] » Didn't they do that to their daughter or
[52:04] something? Well, that's who the letter
[52:08] was to the current owner.
[52:10] >> Nothing. No response. No response. No
[52:12] » Nothing. No response. No response. No
[52:12] response to the certified mail or
[52:14] anything like that.
[52:15] >> So, it's just a property sitting there.
[52:19] » So, it's just a property sitting there.
[52:19] >> It used to have a donkey living in it.
[52:21] » It used to have a donkey living in it.
[52:21] >> Yeah.
[52:22] » Yeah.
[52:22] >> What? It used to have a donkey living in
[52:24] » What? It used to have a donkey living in
[52:24] it.
[52:24] >> Yeah.
[52:26] » Yeah.
[52:26] >> It had a dog up in this place like
[52:30] » It had a dog up in this place like
[52:30] >> Oh, there he is. They're getting by that
[52:32] » Oh, there he is. They're getting by that
[52:32] place all the time.
[52:33] >> So, has a donkey responded to us?
[52:35] » So, has a donkey responded to us?
[52:35] [clears throat]
[52:36] >> No, just ask. Okay. No. All right. Okay.
[52:39] » No, just ask. Okay. No. All right. Okay.
[52:39] >> Uh, I move to declare 411 West Wheeler a
[52:42] » Uh, I move to declare 411 West Wheeler a
[52:42] dangerous building order that the owner
[52:43] demolish and remove the building within
[52:45] 30 days.
[52:45] >> I second.
[52:47] » I second.
[52:47] >> All in favor?
[52:53] » Most view.
[52:55] >> Um, you see a picture there and she'll
[52:57] » Um, you see a picture there and she'll
[52:57] scroll through some of the pictures. Um,
[52:59] again, we've emailed um the owner
[53:02] applied for a building permit in 24, but
[53:05] now we started the construction. Um, and
[53:08] again, June 26, another building letter
[53:11] was sent. Dangerous building letter was
[53:13] sent
[53:15] 14 hours of hearing
[53:17] >> and that was the one that was given to
[53:18] » and that was the one that was given to
[53:18] the granddaughter.
[53:19] >> Yeah, this is the she was hearing smoke.
[53:21] » Yeah, this is the she was hearing smoke.
[53:21] She was here.
[53:22] >> Yes.
[53:24] » Yes.
[53:24] >> Well, they make a comment that they had
[53:26] » Well, they make a comment that they had
[53:26] been working on repairs and foundations.
[53:27] How long ago was that?
[53:29] >> Well, they never brought their permit
[53:30] » Well, they never brought their permit
[53:30] application back to do anything. That
[53:32] was in 24 and um in June this year.
[53:37] >> We give them bu if they do six months
[53:40] » We give them bu if they do six months
[53:40] and if they don't get anything done,
[53:42] we're kind of getting off that
[53:44] >> because they just they'll let it go for
[53:45] » because they just they'll let it go for
[53:45] years. So, we're working on it, but
[53:47] that's what you see.
[53:48] >> So, how long does it look like that?
[53:51] » So, how long does it look like that?
[53:51] >> At least 22 20
[53:53] » At least 22 20
[53:53] >> 20 probably not longer.
[53:55] » 20 probably not longer.
[53:55] >> Okay. So like the work that she's saying
[53:58] » Okay. So like the work that she's saying
[53:58] that there has taken place
[54:01] >> technically has work took place.
[54:04] » technically has work took place.
[54:04] >> She did say
[54:06] » She did say
[54:06] that picture that was two weeks ago.
[54:09] >> I don't
[54:13] work from what I understand. They just
[54:15] tore some boards off
[54:16] >> one at a time. And could you guys could
[54:18] » one at a time. And could you guys could
[54:18] you guys come up on the front row?
[54:19] >> Yeah, I'll stand back.
[54:21] » Yeah, I'll stand back.
[54:21] >> Stand back there. [laughter]
[54:22] » Stand back there. [laughter]
[54:22] Your arm hurting you today.
[54:25] Well,
[54:26] >> been here longer than I have working on
[54:27] » been here longer than I have working on
[54:27] some of these buildings. So, his
[54:30] knowledge is going to talk, but it's
[54:31] from what I understanding is it was just
[54:33] a tore off like this on the be the south
[54:37] side of the uh that's the north, excuse
[54:39] me, north side of the building and it's
[54:42] set there for the time I've been here.
[54:44] It's looked this way.
[54:45] >> How long?
[54:46] » How long?
[54:46] >> Uh started in almost two years ago now.
[54:50] » Uh started in almost two years ago now.
[54:50] A little over a year and a half.
[54:53] And have they applied for that permit
[54:54] like to they asked for one but they have
[54:58] not brought a permit back in telling us
[55:00] exactly what they want to do with it or
[55:02] anything else
[55:02] >> in 24
[55:03] » in 24
[55:04] >> and in 24 they got one and never
[55:08] » and in 24 they got one and never
[55:08] >> well I did email Mr. Snowball one the
[55:10] » well I did email Mr. Snowball one the
[55:10] owner in June and he never brought in
[55:12] the application. I emailed him an
[55:14] application.
[55:14] >> The young lady that was here was any of
[55:15] » The young lady that was here was any of
[55:15] these notices sent to her or they sent
[55:17] to the previous owner
[55:18] >> sent to the owner on the county listed
[55:23] » sent to the owner on the county listed
[55:23] the owner. Yes,
[55:24] >> we didn't give her information just now
[55:26] » we didn't give her information just now
[55:26] to see what her intent was with
[55:30] >> no.
[55:31] » no.
[55:31] >> So technically does she own the
[55:33] » So technically does she own the
[55:33] property?
[55:33] >> No grandfather owns the property. So the
[55:37] » No grandfather owns the property. So the
[55:37] great lies on the grandfather.
[55:41] >> We got the she actually came up here to
[55:43] » We got the she actually came up here to
[55:43] speak to us.
[55:45] Doubt on that.
[55:46] >> Is it connected to water service? We
[55:48] » Is it connected to water service? We
[55:48] know that.
[55:48] >> No.
[55:49] » No.
[55:49] >> Any power going to it?
[55:51] » Any power going to it?
[55:51] >> Yeah.
[55:52] » Yeah.
[55:52] >> It's not disconnected.
[55:53] » It's not disconnected.
[55:53] >> It's not disconnected.
[55:54] » It's not disconnected.
[55:54] >> It's not on me there.
[55:55] » It's not on me there.
[55:55] >> Yeah.
[55:56] » Yeah.
[55:56] >> See it?
[56:00] » It's completely gutted. So, is there any
[56:03] way to send some of the like send a
[56:07] a notice if you want to do any future
[56:11] um I mean shadow of doubt she came and
[56:14] she asked about it. Um is there any way
[56:18] to send her this information instead of
[56:20] her grandfather? Can we send it to her?
[56:23] >> She's not the owner.
[56:25] » She's not the owner.
[56:25] >> Only the owner can get surely there's
[56:27] » Only the owner can get surely there's
[56:27] communication between her and her
[56:28] grandfather or she wouldn't know to be
[56:30] here.
[56:30] >> I don't know. It looked like she had the
[56:33] » I don't know. It looked like she had the
[56:33] the laminated sheet that was staked up
[56:35] there.
[56:36] >> Yes. She handed it to me outside.
[56:41] » Do we have when she requested to speak,
[56:43] did she give any information?
[56:45] >> We have her information.
[56:46] » We have her information.
[56:46] >> That's true. Yeah. But one one of the
[56:48] » That's true. Yeah. But one one of the
[56:48] things I want to let you I mean to let
[56:49] you guys know
[56:51] >> to get to this point
[56:54] » to get to this point
[56:54] the number of staff hours that have been
[56:57] put into this and not only that but the
[57:00] advertising we advertise all of this and
[57:04] so um we haven't gotten to it yet but um
[57:08] our advertising costs are going to be
[57:11] going up and I mean it's just another
[57:14] cost of doing business and again you
[57:16] guys Yeah, I mean that is one of your
[57:18] options. You can permit a repair, but I
[57:21] would
[57:23] highly recommend that you put a time
[57:26] frame to it because this again, these
[57:28] are eight homes and this is just there's
[57:31] a long list after this to bring to you
[57:33] and a long list before this that we
[57:35] brought you.
[57:36] >> I've I've been here for three or four
[57:38] » I've I've been here for three or four
[57:38] cycles of this and from my experience,
[57:41] 95% of the people that come here and say
[57:43] they'll do something do not. I will be
[57:46] the bad guy and I will move to declare
[57:48] 310 North View Dangerous Building and
[57:50] other and order that the owner demolish
[57:52] and remove the building within 30 days.
[57:55] >> I don't have to, but I second.
[57:58] » I don't have to, but I second.
[57:58] >> All in favor?
[57:59] » All in favor?
[57:59] >> I
[58:03] 11:01 Winorth Harvey Street.
[58:08] >> You see the history there. Um,
[58:12] » You see the history there. Um,
[58:12] and Jay, I don't know if you have
[58:14] anything else, you know, input into
[58:16] that.
[58:18] >> That's basically the history right now.
[58:19] » That's basically the history right now.
[58:19] Lauren Carl's back in June and said he
[58:21] was going to try to plan to demolish the
[58:23] home, but never contacted again. And
[58:27] I've sent letters for high and weeds and
[58:30] stuff. I know that's nothing for the
[58:31] building, but I'm always have to
[58:32] maintain make sure the owner cuts that
[58:34] one, too.
[58:36] So
[58:36] >> the roof is completely and it's starting
[58:39] » the roof is completely and it's starting
[58:39] to cave in on the back side.
[58:41] >> Right.
[58:42] » Right.
[58:42] >> So the water was going to tear down
[58:44] » So the water was going to tear down
[58:44] anyway. Yes.
[58:46] >> He said he was, but it's never started
[58:48] » He said he was, but it's never started
[58:48] or
[58:50] >> um I move to declare 1101 North Harvey
[58:53] » um I move to declare 1101 North Harvey
[58:53] be a dangerous building in order that
[58:54] the owner demolish and remove the
[58:56] building within 30 days. Second. All in
[58:58] favor? I.
[59:02] 909 North Smear.
[59:07] » John, what's your timeline?
[59:09] >> My timeline is I have limited spare time
[59:12] » My timeline is I have limited spare time
[59:12] to work on it, but I'll do it as much as
[59:14] I can.
[59:16] >> How much have you got clean on?
[59:18] » How much have you got clean on?
[59:18] >> Well, I've been clearing trees because I
[59:21] » Well, I've been clearing trees because I
[59:21] talked to maino about coming in there
[59:23] and knocking the house what's left of it
[59:25] completely down and he says I need to
[59:28] clear the trees around it so he can get
[59:29] into it. I've been working on that.
[59:32] Okay.
[59:34] >> Big pan tree on the property.
[59:38] » Big pan tree on the property.
[59:38] >> Almost 11. So you were over there just
[59:40] » Almost 11. So you were over there just
[59:40] last week.
[59:40] >> I live right next door.
[59:41] » I live right next door.
[59:41] >> I know. I know where you live.
[59:44] » I know. I know where you live.
[59:44] >> So you're you're over there as you can.
[59:46] » So you're you're over there as you can.
[59:46] >> Yeah.
[59:46] » Yeah.
[59:46] >> As quickly as you can.
[59:48] » As quickly as you can.
[59:48] >> Yeah. I work full time.
[59:50] » Yeah. I work full time.
[59:50] >> All the driving chores.
[59:52] » All the driving chores.
[59:52] >> I know.
[59:53] » I know.
[59:53] >> My responsibility. You know my future.
[59:55] » My responsibility. You know my future.
[59:55] >> I do. I know you very well.
[59:57] » I do. I know you very well.
[59:57] >> How long you think it take to get that
[59:58] » How long you think it take to get that
[59:58] picture?
[1:00:01] couple months.
[1:00:07] » Yeah.
[1:00:09] >> So, I think it's a dangerous building,
[1:00:10] » So, I think it's a dangerous building,
[1:00:10] but based on your statement, I don't
[1:00:12] You're saying you can't get it done in
[1:00:13] 30 days?
[1:00:15] >> Yeah. Financially, there's no
[1:00:18] » Yeah. Financially, there's no
[1:00:18] >> I know the rolloffs are very expensive.
[1:00:19] » I know the rolloffs are very expensive.
[1:00:19] >> What's the difference in in us declaring
[1:00:22] » What's the difference in in us declaring
[1:00:22] this and if he can't do it, we do it.
[1:00:26] All we pay for it. It's just there's a
[1:00:28] lean against the property. That's it.
[1:00:29] >> There be a lean. I mean that's
[1:00:31] » There be a lean. I mean that's
[1:00:31] >> but that's his correct but that's his
[1:00:34] » but that's his correct but that's his
[1:00:34] property until you were to sell it. Some
[1:00:36] in front
[1:00:42] same lot was my
[1:00:44] >> I don't know how we can divide it up and
[1:00:46] » I don't know how we can divide it up and
[1:00:46] >> on the same property
[1:00:47] » on the same property
[1:00:47] >> be it all
[1:00:48] » be it all
[1:00:48] >> a couple other houses
[1:00:50] » a couple other houses
[1:00:50] >> there's another lot
[1:00:51] » there's another lot
[1:00:51] >> it's on the back side there that belongs
[1:00:53] » it's on the back side there that belongs
[1:00:53] to me apparently he goes over to live
[1:00:56] oak became aware
[1:00:59] >> city the guy who was going to come down
[1:01:01] » city the guy who was going to come down
[1:01:01] in your best interest to to do this and
[1:01:04] the city does it cleaned up. You just
[1:01:06] have a lean on your propert.
[1:01:10] » You're not going to ever sell that
[1:01:11] property.
[1:01:13] >> Had no intention of it.
[1:01:15] » Had no intention of it.
[1:01:15] >> Yeah.
[1:01:17] » Yeah.
[1:01:17] >> It meaning I have to
[1:01:20] » It meaning I have to
[1:01:20] make payments with
[1:01:22] >> we send you a bill first and then
[1:01:27] » we send you a bill first and then
[1:01:27] the cost of would be
[1:01:30] >> well.
[1:01:33] Correct. But if you don't, there's no
[1:01:34] lean on it and then there's no I don't
[1:01:36] think there's any financial
[1:01:38] responsibility.
[1:01:40] >> Are you So are you interested in beating
[1:01:42] » Are you So are you interested in beating
[1:01:42] it over to us?
[1:01:45] >> I don't know how it's on the same lot as
[1:01:46] » I don't know how it's on the same lot as
[1:01:46] your
[1:01:48] house.
[1:01:50] >> Right.
[1:01:50] » Right.
[1:01:50] >> Right.
[1:01:51] » Right.
[1:01:52] >> How big is the property? I believe the
[1:01:54] » How big is the property? I believe the
[1:01:54] deed said 95 ft by 190 ft
[1:01:58] which extends from North Smith Street in
[1:02:01] front of my house to live oak street.
[1:02:03] >> Mr.
[1:02:05] » Mr.
[1:02:05] had any issues communicating with him?
[1:02:07] >> I hadn't had when I sent the letters or
[1:02:09] » I hadn't had when I sent the letters or
[1:02:09] anything sir.
[1:02:14] » What do you mean out of my
[1:02:20] point? somebody to tell them
[1:02:23] >> what they already
[1:02:25] » what they already
[1:02:25] give a little grace.
[1:02:27] >> Okay. Um, can we can we have you come
[1:02:30] » Okay. Um, can we can we have you come
[1:02:30] up? I mean, I just we we're recording. I
[1:02:32] want to make sure we get conversations.
[1:02:34] We got a lot of side conversations
[1:02:36] going. Um,
[1:02:39] okay. So, Justin, I I'm not sure I'm not
[1:02:42] sure what the conversation was. Can we
[1:02:45] >> So, I was asking him and Mr. POS about
[1:02:48] » So, I was asking him and Mr. POS about
[1:02:48] the the amount of communication. Um, Mr.
[1:02:52] Reed is saying he didn't quite
[1:02:53] understand what abatement and such
[1:02:54] things meant. Mr. Pots was saying he Mr.
[1:02:58] Cole and what it's not really there.
[1:03:02] >> Yeah. No, I get it. And my my point is
[1:03:04] » Yeah. No, I get it. And my my point is
[1:03:04] is if he is in the process, if he was
[1:03:07] over there just a couple days ago, what
[1:03:09] can we do to assist him in cleaning this
[1:03:10] up without having to just lactate give
[1:03:14] him 30 days, which he is saying is not
[1:03:17] feasible in his
[1:03:18] >> You could give them more time.
[1:03:20] » You could give them more time.
[1:03:20] >> But we can give him more time.
[1:03:22] » But we can give him more time.
[1:03:22] >> Uh but I would I would give them a
[1:03:24] » Uh but I would I would give them a
[1:03:24] timeline.
[1:03:25] >> Oh yeah, I'm definitely for that.
[1:03:27] » Oh yeah, I'm definitely for that.
[1:03:27] >> So you could give them more time.
[1:03:29] » So you could give them more time.
[1:03:29] >> So how long do you think it would take
[1:03:31] » So how long do you think it would take
[1:03:31] to clear it? It depends on when I can
[1:03:34] afford to get a backho over there and a
[1:03:37] dumpster
[1:03:39] like paycheck to paycheck.
[1:03:41] >> You know my situation too.
[1:03:43] » You know my situation too.
[1:03:43] >> Yeah. Yeah.
[1:03:46] » Yeah. Yeah.
[1:03:46] There's
[1:03:48] >> I don't think the urgency
[1:03:52] » I don't think the urgency
[1:03:52] >> Well, it's
[1:04:05] just worried about others is
[1:04:06] >> Can I have Mr. Pots respond to that?
[1:04:08] » Can I have Mr. Pots respond to that?
[1:04:08] >> One of the reasons we're looking at when
[1:04:10] » One of the reasons we're looking at when
[1:04:10] we look at a building that looks like
[1:04:11] this and it's like you said lean there.
[1:04:14] lo and behold as the teenager or
[1:04:17] somebody or kid decide to go inside
[1:04:20] there and they accidentally fall down on
[1:04:21] and stuff. So that's why we ask for
[1:04:24] these type things on these type
[1:04:25] buildings. Uh, not saying they'll ever
[1:04:28] happen, but we have to also think about
[1:04:30] those type of things as well
[1:04:33] >> cuz there was somebody living in the
[1:04:35] » cuz there was somebody living in the
[1:04:35] house behind me which is across from you
[1:04:37] >> and they did have teenage and stuff. So
[1:04:39] » and they did have teenage and stuff. So
[1:04:40] they were who knows what they were doing
[1:04:42] back there but you know um for the
[1:04:45] safety
[1:04:46] >> know the legal
[1:04:47] » know the legal
[1:04:47] >> yeah of it I don't feel particularly
[1:04:51] » yeah of it I don't feel particularly
[1:04:51] bound to be responsible for the actions
[1:04:54] of trespassers
[1:04:58] » good point that is a good point
[1:05:00] >> well that the legal question that we
[1:05:01] » well that the legal question that we
[1:05:01] won't get into but the bottom line is
[1:05:03] the reason why these ordinances exist is
[1:05:06] for the health and safety of the
[1:05:08] community And so when we have a
[1:05:11] dangerous building like this, I mean
[1:05:14] it's a danger and it's the health and
[1:05:16] safety you you it wasn't hurting but we
[1:05:19] have that is that is the danger. So we
[1:05:23] have to look at risk analysis and I mean
[1:05:25] that would be um I don't want to get
[1:05:27] into legal complication with you know
[1:05:29] what your responsibility would be. We
[1:05:31] just don't want anyone um you know to
[1:05:35] >> anybody get hurt either. But like I
[1:05:37] » anybody get hurt either. But like I
[1:05:37] said, I don't feel that it's a danger. A
[1:05:41] few walls that still remain standing or
[1:05:43] being propped up by the trees that I
[1:05:45] need to cut down before I can get heavy
[1:05:47] equipment in there to understand that.
[1:05:49] But I mean the ordinance defines what is
[1:05:51] dangerous and so you have in your
[1:05:53] background material what I mean the
[1:05:56] items that are considered. Could we if
[1:05:59] we give you six months, could you do
[1:06:02] some?
[1:06:03] >> I'm sure I could do
[1:06:05] » I'm sure I could do
[1:06:05] a lot of possibly all of them.
[1:06:08] >> Six months.
[1:06:08] » Six months.
[1:06:08] >> Yeah.
[1:06:09] » Yeah.
[1:06:09] >> Are you going to say I'll give him six
[1:06:11] » Are you going to say I'll give him six
[1:06:11] months?
[1:06:11] >> Sure.
[1:06:13] » Sure.
[1:06:13] >> Great.
[1:06:14] » Great.
[1:06:14] >> So, we're give them six months to take
[1:06:15] » So, we're give them six months to take
[1:06:15] care of that
[1:06:16] >> that action.
[1:06:17] » that action.
[1:06:17] >> Make the motion. So, yeah. So your your
[1:06:21] » Make the motion. So, yeah. So your your
[1:06:21] action on this would be to give to
[1:06:23] declare it a dangerous building
[1:06:25] >> and give the owner six months to clear
[1:06:30] » and give the owner six months to clear
[1:06:30] to demolish the building or demolish it.
[1:06:34] I got it.
[1:06:34] >> Well, but if it's not, we would ask you
[1:06:37] » Well, but if it's not, we would ask you
[1:06:37] would have in that that if it's not so
[1:06:39] that we don't have to advertise that you
[1:06:41] would that you would it would become
[1:06:45] building if it's not resolved by the
[1:06:47] property. Well, I'm going to move to
[1:06:49] being a dangerous building and I'm going
[1:06:50] to give 180 days.
[1:06:52] >> Yeah.
[1:06:52] » Yeah.
[1:06:52] >> So, move to declare I move to declare
[1:06:54] » So, move to declare I move to declare
[1:06:54] 909 North Smith a dangerous building and
[1:06:57] order that the owner demolish and remove
[1:06:58] the building within 180 days.
[1:07:02] >> All in favor?
[1:07:10] » 601 East Gatis.
[1:07:16] No, there is
[1:07:18] >> this is a home that's on 601 East Gas.
[1:07:22] » this is a home that's on 601 East Gas.
[1:07:22] There's actually a second home on this
[1:07:24] property as well. This is the house to
[1:07:27] the east side of the property that's
[1:07:30] completely fallen. It's hard to see in
[1:07:32] the bunch of my pictures, but it's
[1:07:33] completely falling in on itself. And and
[1:07:36] it's the same situation kind of previous
[1:07:39] case before.
[1:07:40] >> No any contact
[1:07:40] » No any contact
[1:07:40] >> no contact from the owners. Letter sent
[1:07:43] » no contact from the owners. Letter sent
[1:07:43] out. Buildings will be posted by us.
[1:07:48] » I move to declare 601 East Gatis as a
[1:07:51] dangerous building in order that the
[1:07:52] owner demolish and remove the building
[1:07:53] within 30 days. I second. All in favor?
[1:07:57] I
[1:07:58] 803 West Holland.
[1:08:00] >> So on this property, you'll notice from
[1:08:02] » So on this property, you'll notice from
[1:08:02] your u background information, the city
[1:08:05] commission did order this house to be
[1:08:07] torn down back in 23. the county sold
[1:08:10] the property in the tax sale before it
[1:08:12] was able to be demolished. So, the
[1:08:14] county notified the buyers at the tax
[1:08:17] sale that it was a substandard home. Um,
[1:08:20] but we have to start that process all
[1:08:22] over, which we did. And
[1:08:27] >> you said,
[1:08:28] » you said,
[1:08:28] >> when was the tax sale?
[1:08:30] » when was the tax sale?
[1:08:30] >> Jmber, it was December 2024, I believe.
[1:08:33] » Jmber, it was December 2024, I believe.
[1:08:33] Yeah, 24th.
[1:08:36] >> Yeah.
[1:08:36] » Yeah.
[1:08:36] >> 20 days after I started or 15 days after
[1:08:38] » 20 days after I started or 15 days after
[1:08:38] I even started work. It's been a while.
[1:08:40] And the company has not ever responded
[1:08:43] to any of the letters we sent to them.
[1:08:46] And I've even had to send letters for
[1:08:51] » I move to declare 803 West Holland a
[1:08:53] dangerous building in order that the
[1:08:54] owner demolish and remove building
[1:08:56] within 30 days. I second. All
[1:08:59] >> in favor? uh
[1:09:03] 301 Corp.
[1:09:06] >> This is also another property that
[1:09:08] » This is also another property that
[1:09:08] actually has two residents on it. And
[1:09:10] number one gives this trailer house a 90
[1:09:13] I mean a 303 address, but it's actually
[1:09:16] all on 301 North. So that's why I've had
[1:09:19] to address it under the 301 North
[1:09:21] property.
[1:09:22] Um the trailer, all the skirting around
[1:09:25] it is falling apart. The windows, uh I
[1:09:28] think there's a few missing. Um, no
[1:09:30] electrical, no water, and uh, continues
[1:09:35] to have the grass and stuff around it at
[1:09:38] that time, too.
[1:09:39] >> Yeah, this little kind familiar. Was
[1:09:41] » Yeah, this little kind familiar. Was
[1:09:42] this This is 301 North View. Um, was
[1:09:45] there another trailer on that property?
[1:09:48] >> Yes, there's two trailers. Two trailers
[1:09:51] » Yes, there's two trailers. Two trailers
[1:09:51] and one is like
[1:09:51] >> This is the one on the north side.
[1:09:53] » This is the one on the north side.
[1:09:53] >> Yeah. And so wasn't this like a shock
[1:09:55] » Yeah. And so wasn't this like a shock
[1:09:55] that the the owner said that
[1:09:58] >> like his son is
[1:10:00] » like his son is
[1:10:00] >> No,
[1:10:00] » No,
[1:10:00] >> there's a house trailer. No.
[1:10:03] » there's a house trailer. No.
[1:10:04] >> Okay.
[1:10:04] » Okay.
[1:10:04] >> There's a house on the corner of
[1:10:06] » There's a house on the corner of
[1:10:06] >> You know which one I'm talking about.
[1:10:08] » You know which one I'm talking about.
[1:10:08] >> Okay.
[1:10:09] » Okay.
[1:10:09] >> And then this house, this is the trailer
[1:10:12] » And then this house, this is the trailer
[1:10:12] north on the same piece of propert.
[1:10:13] >> Any contact?
[1:10:14] » Any contact?
[1:10:14] >> No contact.
[1:10:16] » No contact.
[1:10:16] >> Okay. I move to declare 301 North but a
[1:10:20] » Okay. I move to declare 301 North but a
[1:10:20] dangerous building in order that the
[1:10:22] owner demolish and remove the building
[1:10:24] within 30 days.
[1:10:26] >> All in favor
[1:10:30] 1100 East Walker.
[1:10:37] » This is As you see the house is also I'm
[1:10:41] pretty sure they purchased this during
[1:10:43] one of the
[1:10:44] >> county tax sales and stuff. They went in
[1:10:47] » county tax sales and stuff. They went in
[1:10:47] and then they started working on it and
[1:10:50] then they've just stopped and now it's
[1:10:52] got siding off of it, missing windows.
[1:10:56] >> Um,
[1:10:58] » Um,
[1:10:58] >> structurally it does not seem to be safe
[1:11:01] » structurally it does not seem to be safe
[1:11:01] at all.
[1:11:01] >> I believe this building was owned by
[1:11:03] » I believe this building was owned by
[1:11:03] Dane Alford's dad.
[1:11:06] >> Yes.
[1:11:07] » Yes.
[1:11:07] >> Yeah. And they were working on it cuz
[1:11:08] » Yeah. And they were working on it cuz
[1:11:08] the whole front end was like all messed
[1:11:10] up and so they did something but now
[1:11:12] county
[1:11:15] >> tax sale tax sale bought it and now he's
[1:11:19] » tax sale tax sale bought it and now he's
[1:11:19] gone this far.
[1:11:20] >> He bought like five or six properties
[1:11:22] » He bought like five or six properties
[1:11:22] with that tax sale.
[1:11:23] >> It's for sale.
[1:11:24] » It's for sale.
[1:11:24] >> It's currently for sale.
[1:11:27] » It's currently for sale.
[1:11:27] >> Okay. Um
[1:11:29] » Okay. Um
[1:11:29] has there any contact?
[1:11:31] >> No contact letters did come back.
[1:11:34] » No contact letters did come back.
[1:11:34] >> Yeah.
[1:11:37] » Yeah.
[1:11:37] been signed for one of the
[1:11:42] signatures.
[1:11:54] Okay.
[1:11:59] » Have you seen anybody over there?
[1:12:02] >> Anytime recently?
[1:12:03] » Anytime recently?
[1:12:03] >> Not anytime recently. Not in the last
[1:12:05] » Not anytime recently. Not in the last
[1:12:05] year probably.
[1:12:07] >> We cut his grass line this year.
[1:12:10] » We cut his grass line this year.
[1:12:10] >> Oh, we did that for
[1:12:11] » Oh, we did that for
[1:12:11] >> Yeah, we actually had to do that because
[1:12:13] » Yeah, we actually had to do that because
[1:12:13] Yeah.
[1:12:14] >> Keep in mind this is on walk,
[1:12:17] » Keep in mind this is on walk,
[1:12:17] >> right? And near
[1:12:20] » right? And near
[1:12:20] and we're trying to beautify my
[1:12:22] >> correct. Um
[1:12:24] » correct. Um
[1:12:24] >> I move to declare 1100 East Walker
[1:12:26] » I move to declare 1100 East Walker
[1:12:26] dangerous building and order that the
[1:12:27] owner demolish and remove the building
[1:12:29] within 30 days.
[1:12:31] >> Second.
[1:12:31] » Second.
[1:12:31] >> All in favor?
[1:12:33] » All in favor?
[1:12:33] Can we uh make sure that like number one
[1:12:36] on the list take care of those days
[1:12:41] first.
[1:12:45] » How much is it per 28
[1:12:48] >> for that? [laughter]
[1:12:51] » 28
[1:12:58] hours 28
[1:13:02] I think.
[1:13:03] Number 13, discussion and necessary
[1:13:06] action regarding approval of ordinance
[1:13:08] 2026-11
[1:13:10] regarding a proposed amendment to
[1:13:13] chapter 22 zoning of the breakage code
[1:13:15] of ordinances to add wind turbine
[1:13:17] recycling facility as a permissible use
[1:13:20] and industrial eye zoning district.
[1:13:23] >> So uh the commissioner just uh remind
[1:13:26] » So uh the commissioner just uh remind
[1:13:26] you there's three parts to our zoning.
[1:13:28] We have got our zoning ordinance, our
[1:13:30] use chart and our zoning map. Um this is
[1:13:33] a request to update our use chart to
[1:13:37] allow um this use a wind turbine
[1:13:40] recycling facility as a permissible use
[1:13:43] in our um property zone industrial. Um
[1:13:48] the owner has requested the development
[1:13:51] and operation of a focused on processing
[1:13:54] and recycling the end wind turbine blade
[1:13:57] and related wind energy components along
[1:13:59] with the operation of concrete gas plant
[1:14:03] that will utilize processed wind turbine
[1:14:06] blade material as an aggregate or
[1:14:08] supplemental material in concrete
[1:14:11] operations will be in compliance with
[1:14:13] the portable regulatory agencies i.e.
[1:14:16] PCQ
[1:14:17] and um
[1:14:20] >> the manufacturing operation is promoted
[1:14:23] » the manufacturing operation is promoted
[1:14:23] projected to promote sustainable
[1:14:25] industrial development economic growth
[1:14:28] specifically create jobs and increase
[1:14:29] our tax base support recycling and
[1:14:31] benefits of difficult
[1:14:34] material um and to advance
[1:14:36] environmentally and responsible
[1:14:38] manufacturing practices. CNZ did um rec
[1:14:42] heard this uh uh address this last night
[1:14:46] in their meeting, excuse me, and they
[1:14:49] did recommend um to uh vote in favor of
[1:14:54] approving the ordinance which is
[1:14:56] creating the use for permissible use. We
[1:14:59] do have the u owner of the company is
[1:15:02] here. Um Bob.
[1:15:04] >> Yeah, Rob.
[1:15:05] » Yeah, Rob.
[1:15:05] >> Rob, I'm sorry. What's your
[1:15:07] » Rob, I'm sorry. What's your
[1:15:08] >> Piscatelli? Piscatelli.
[1:15:10] » Piscatelli? Piscatelli.
[1:15:10] I butchered it last night. So, I mean,
[1:15:12] if you want to come up here if you have
[1:15:14] questions, I mean, we do have um
[1:15:16] pictures of what
[1:15:19] what's going on out there. So, if you
[1:15:21] have questions, it's here to answer any
[1:15:23] questions.
[1:15:24] >> Sure. Good evening everyone. Is there
[1:15:25] » Sure. Good evening everyone. Is there
[1:15:26] any specific questions or I could just
[1:15:27] go with a high level overview of
[1:15:29] >> what's your what's your expected water?
[1:15:31] » what's your what's your expected water?
[1:15:31] You I saw in your pamphlet, it talks
[1:15:33] about the dust being a major issue.
[1:15:36] >> Yes.
[1:15:36] » Yes.
[1:15:36] >> What are you expecting? We use about 40
[1:15:38] » What are you expecting? We use about 40
[1:15:38] gallons an hour when we're running full
[1:15:41] that probably five to six hours a day of
[1:15:44] that 40 gallons an hour the whole it's
[1:15:46] not all day every day.
[1:15:48] >> Good.
[1:15:49] » Good.
[1:15:50] >> So there's that was one of my big
[1:15:52] » So there's that was one of my big
[1:15:52] questions. You have fiberglass you have
[1:15:54] carbon fiber things like that floating
[1:15:55] into the air. So obviously the water is
[1:15:57] to keep the dust down as you're
[1:15:59] destroying these things.
[1:16:00] >> Correct. Yeah. So I've already had
[1:16:01] » Correct. Yeah. So I've already had
[1:16:01] discussions with um air division at TCQ
[1:16:04] as well as storm water division at ECQ.
[1:16:07] Um these are all very standard you know
[1:16:10] applications and perish that we would be
[1:16:12] applying for. In general you know
[1:16:14] there's no specific regulation for wind
[1:16:16] turbine recycling. We actually our first
[1:16:18] facility is in Iowa and did help write
[1:16:20] regulation for that where we have
[1:16:22] emission calculations all the way down
[1:16:24] to the dust that's kicked up by the
[1:16:25] trucks that come in and out of the
[1:16:26] facility.
[1:16:28] Um,
[1:16:30] also I know that the some of those
[1:16:32] blades, you know, they're carbon fiber,
[1:16:34] they're fiberglass, and there's resins,
[1:16:36] other things like holding them together.
[1:16:39] Do you dissolve any of that prior to the
[1:16:41] destruction of it, or is that just
[1:16:43] that's all in the destruction?
[1:16:45] >> Oh, yeah. It's all mechanical separation
[1:16:46] » Oh, yeah. It's all mechanical separation
[1:16:46] that we do and then we claim, you know,
[1:16:49] all that material then goes to our as
[1:16:52] well.
[1:16:52] >> Okay. So there's no dissolve of anything
[1:16:54] » Okay. So there's no dissolve of anything
[1:16:54] used to get rid of that resin that we
[1:16:56] made because there's solid part right.
[1:16:59] Yeah. No 100% the process that so we're
[1:17:02] not adding any chemicals or environment.
[1:17:05] >> Yeah. Shredded and then all off. No
[1:17:07] » Yeah. Shredded and then all off. No
[1:17:07] concrete is made on site.
[1:17:09] >> Uh onsite we would be making concrete
[1:17:11] » Uh onsite we would be making concrete
[1:17:11] potentially. So one of the things that
[1:17:13] we've developed in house as use for this
[1:17:15] material is u a pre-cast concrete
[1:17:18] product. So right now we are making in
[1:17:20] Iowa 2 by 2x6 block which is a very
[1:17:24] standard you know industrial right there
[1:17:26] on the right. So any aggregate company
[1:17:29] any municipality uses this type of
[1:17:31] material. Ultimately we'd love to make
[1:17:34] an aggregate that's then just goes to
[1:17:37] larger readiness plants but just like
[1:17:39] any new industry just proof of concept
[1:17:41] we're doing it inhouse on our own right
[1:17:43] now just to that help it you know
[1:17:45] integrate into the larger industry. So,
[1:17:48] um, the company, uh, the city that this
[1:17:51] company, uh, is in Iowa. I called the
[1:17:54] mayor and I talked with him on about the
[1:17:58] company and how they run and he said
[1:18:00] that he had nothing but flying colors
[1:18:02] for them. And he said that they are um
[1:18:05] involved in the community and they
[1:18:08] actually come and they uh talk with the
[1:18:11] community, ask any questions that the
[1:18:13] community has, let alone had they had a
[1:18:15] a lunch in I believe it was a lunch in
[1:18:17] with the community where the owners and
[1:18:18] their children and wives came down and
[1:18:21] they met the community. They poured into
[1:18:23] the community when they poured into the
[1:18:25] fire station, the police station, they
[1:18:27] built a uh they built a a a playground
[1:18:31] for the community. I mean, the community
[1:18:32] that the the company is in wasn't a big
[1:18:35] community. Um, it's 100 people, but that
[1:18:39] makes a big difference in a 100 person
[1:18:42] community. Um, and so, um, I think it's
[1:18:46] it's a what they're doing is it's it's
[1:18:48] needed because we do deal with, uh, the
[1:18:51] the blades and stuff from the the
[1:18:54] windmills, but let alone um, you know,
[1:18:57] provides jobs. um they pour back into
[1:19:00] the community and uh what I've read in
[1:19:03] their um stuff is flying colors.
[1:19:08] >> Yeah. Thank you. Glad glad you called.
[1:19:10] » Yeah. Thank you. Glad glad you called.
[1:19:10] It's a very small town. Yeah.
[1:19:12] >> Uh and again, we we need to be in a
[1:19:13] » Uh and again, we we need to be in a
[1:19:14] place where we have space. We need to be
[1:19:16] close to both where they're coming from.
[1:19:18] So if you look in Iowa, there's
[1:19:19] obviously a significant amount of wind
[1:19:21] turbines there, right? Just like in this
[1:19:23] region of the country as well. So that's
[1:19:24] why we selected this area both for the
[1:19:26] inbound and then the outbound. you know,
[1:19:28] we want to get into the concrete
[1:19:29] industry around here, Dallas Worth. It's
[1:19:32] just a massive, you know, this lawyer is
[1:19:34] exploding. So, we want to be here to
[1:19:36] participate in that.
[1:19:37] >> And one of the things that the mayor
[1:19:38] » And one of the things that the mayor
[1:19:38] dealt with was he had second thoughts or
[1:19:42] he was kind of questioning because there
[1:19:44] were other wind turbine companies that
[1:19:46] came and they just end up making a win
[1:19:48] turbine graveyard and this company
[1:19:52] actually does what they said they're
[1:19:53] going to do with it.
[1:19:54] >> Yeah. ask that company out. Homeland
[1:19:55] » Yeah. ask that company out. Homeland
[1:19:55] County will have one in when they didn't
[1:19:57] follow up.
[1:19:57] >> If we say yes today, what what's kind of
[1:19:59] » If we say yes today, what what's kind of
[1:19:59] your timeline? Just out of curiosity.
[1:20:02] >> Yeah. So, we have the property under
[1:20:03] » Yeah. So, we have the property under
[1:20:03] contract and I think we're probably
[1:20:05] about 15 days out from just, you know,
[1:20:07] all the legal and mortgage, all that fun
[1:20:09] stuff. And then, um, we would, you know,
[1:20:12] do some beautifification of the property
[1:20:14] almost right away. There's some utility
[1:20:16] work that needs to be done. There's
[1:20:17] some, you know, vandalism that's
[1:20:19] destroyed the electric.
[1:20:21] >> The ground is running as soon as
[1:20:23] » The ground is running as soon as
[1:20:23] possible.
[1:20:23] >> Yeah. So, you know, ideally we would,
[1:20:25] » Yeah. So, you know, ideally we would,
[1:20:25] you know, be working here Q4 ideally.
[1:20:28] You know, we don't have any work slated.
[1:20:30] It's a little bit of a build that they
[1:20:31] will come model, but from our customers
[1:20:34] are nationwide. So, we've said, "Hey,
[1:20:35] we're going to open up in this area
[1:20:37] soon." And they kind of said, "How quick
[1:20:38] do we need to be operating?" So, you
[1:20:40] looking
[1:20:43] that's a two-lane road out there. Um,
[1:20:45] and those blades are fairly large in
[1:20:48] size. So, that says truck receiving
[1:20:50] seven to 7-4. be looking for how many
[1:20:53] trucks would you say a day?
[1:20:55] >> So, our trucks, they come in in legal
[1:20:57] » So, our trucks, they come in in legal
[1:20:57] truckloads. So, there's some initial
[1:20:58] sizing done in the field. Um, so
[1:21:00] everything comes in either on a step
[1:21:01] deck trailer like that where it's legal
[1:21:03] height, legal width. Okay.
[1:21:05] >> Um, or sometimes in dump trailers or we
[1:21:08] » Um, or sometimes in dump trailers or we
[1:21:08] we'll cut them flat. So, we selferform
[1:21:11] some of this work in the field and then
[1:21:12] a lot of times our customers will also,
[1:21:14] you know, load the trucks and send them
[1:21:15] to us. But everything's legal truck.
[1:21:17] Everything is cut down to the size you
[1:21:20] require and size easier to transport
[1:21:23] before you ever shed this.
[1:21:24] >> Correct. So this would be the biggest
[1:21:25] » Correct. So this would be the biggest
[1:21:25] you see and when you stand it is
[1:21:27] massive. You know it's the same size as
[1:21:28] a van trailer but instead of the van
[1:21:30] it's you know the the turbine blade
[1:21:32] nested within itself. But yes truckload
[1:21:36] volume wise 6 to 10 a day on a really
[1:21:38] busy day with then you know three four
[1:21:41] outbound. So maximum 14 trucks a day in
[1:21:45] or out. So would have no major impact on
[1:21:48] the traffic patterns of the area
[1:21:50] >> and it's a texttop facility.
[1:21:52] » and it's a texttop facility.
[1:21:52] >> How many
[1:21:53] » How many
[1:21:53] >> It's a texttop facility road.
[1:21:56] » It's a texttop facility road.
[1:21:56] >> How many jobs would this provide?
[1:21:59] » How many jobs would this provide?
[1:22:00] >> It' be six to 10 jobs. So be you know
[1:22:02] » It' be six to 10 jobs. So be you know
[1:22:02] the six when we start going as we get
[1:22:05] more into the concrete application
[1:22:06] that's when the additional jobs would
[1:22:07] come in. Um we literally just two weeks
[1:22:10] ago installed that first plant in Iowa.
[1:22:13] So, just like our shredders, when we
[1:22:15] bought the first one, we knew we needed
[1:22:17] a second, but we wanted to run it for 90
[1:22:19] days because we knew we're going to say,
[1:22:20] "Oh, we wish this was a different angle
[1:22:22] or this was a different size."
[1:22:23] >> So, this doesn't include the concrete
[1:22:25] » So, this doesn't include the concrete
[1:22:25] process. You're saying this is just the
[1:22:27] shredding fix would be the shredding
[1:22:29] process up to 10 then what the contour
[1:22:32] going would again hopefully be very
[1:22:34] quickly because our customers are really
[1:22:36] excited about that product.
[1:22:41] » Good to be good.
[1:22:42] >> Yeah. Yeah. I move to approve ordinance
[1:22:44] » Yeah. Yeah. I move to approve ordinance
[1:22:44] 2026-11
[1:22:46] as presented.
[1:22:48] >> Second favor.
[1:22:51] » Second favor.
[1:22:51] >> Thank you.
[1:22:53] » Thank you.
[1:22:53] >> Coming to town.
[1:22:54] » Coming to town.
[1:22:54] >> Yes. You all very soon. Yes, sir.
[1:22:56] » Yes. You all very soon. Yes, sir.
[1:22:56] >> Yes. Thank you. Number 14, discussion
[1:22:59] » Yes. Thank you. Number 14, discussion
[1:22:59] and any necessary action regarding
[1:23:01] approval of ordinance 2026-12
[1:23:04] a proposed amendment chapter 22 zoning
[1:23:06] of the breakage code of ordinances to
[1:23:07] add manufactured homes as a permissible
[1:23:10] use with a conditional use permit in
[1:23:13] certain additional residential zoning
[1:23:16] districts.
[1:23:18] >> So this is a two-part um action before
[1:23:22] » So this is a two-part um action before
[1:23:22] you tonight. This is this action and
[1:23:24] then the subsequent one is dependent
[1:23:26] upon this one. Again, PMZ met uh last
[1:23:29] night and is recommending approval of
[1:23:32] this. And this would be adding in our
[1:23:35] use chart. Um a conditional use permit
[1:23:39] under for a mobile a manufactured home
[1:23:43] um
[1:23:45] correct because it is not a manufactured
[1:23:47] home um to be in a single family 7.5.
[1:23:51] Single 7.5 denotes the size.
[1:23:56] >> Um And so this there two different one
[1:24:00] » Um And so this there two different one
[1:24:00] would be changing
[1:24:02] to allow
[1:24:03] >> and if you allow this then we've got a
[1:24:06] » and if you allow this then we've got a
[1:24:06] request for addition
[1:24:09] and PSP already approved this
[1:24:12] >> they're recommending you
[1:24:16] » they're recommending you
[1:24:16] >> I'm approal ordinance 2026-12 is
[1:24:19] » I'm approal ordinance 2026-12 is
[1:24:19] presented
[1:24:19] >> second all in favor
[1:24:24] » number 15 discussion and any necessary
[1:24:27] action regarding adoption of ordinance
[1:24:29] 2026-13
[1:24:31] granting conditional use permit for
[1:24:33] placement of a manufactured home on
[1:24:35] property known as 309 Dallas which is a
[1:24:37] single family residential SF7.5 zoning
[1:24:41] district.
[1:24:42] >> So this is um the property and the the
[1:24:45] » So this is um the property and the the
[1:24:45] homeowner request. Um again PMC did
[1:24:48] approve it. Um staff would like to
[1:24:51] remind did remind PL members and would
[1:24:54] like to remind you we just had a a major
[1:24:56] comprehensive zoning plan update and um
[1:25:00] spent considerable amount of time
[1:25:02] looking at zoning and looking at
[1:25:04] manufactured homes um if you when you do
[1:25:09] something like this um you are setting a
[1:25:12] precedent. And so one of the things uh
[1:25:16] we talked about last night was what sets
[1:25:19] this property apart where you you know
[1:25:22] you you would consider a conditional use
[1:25:24] permit. This is a 5 acre track land. So
[1:25:28] if others come and ask the same thing
[1:25:34] remember I mean this you're setting a
[1:25:36] precedent but at least here you can say
[1:25:38] well this was five acres well 4.71
[1:25:41] acres. Um, so that's the track of land.
[1:25:45] You see that? Um, where the star is,
[1:25:47] that's an overview. Where the star is is
[1:25:49] where the mobile home would be placed.
[1:25:51] Um, and remember when we did the zoning
[1:25:54] update, uh, we unfortunately had uh
[1:25:57] zoning classifications that had more
[1:25:59] than one use, which is not best
[1:26:02] practice. And so what we were trying to
[1:26:04] do in that zoning update was uh purify
[1:26:07] those zoning classifications.
[1:26:09] Um so you're going to have this was an
[1:26:13] area um that was if you look to the it
[1:26:18] was are4 um some of these areas that are
[1:26:21] nearby because you have stick bill homes
[1:26:24] and mobile homes. U
[1:26:28] so just FYI that's just your information
[1:26:32] for you to consider.
[1:26:33] >> So what do you mean by we're setting a
[1:26:34] » So what do you mean by we're setting a
[1:26:34] precedent?
[1:26:36] You're setting a precedent for anybody
[1:26:38] else who comes and acts. I mean, you
[1:26:40] have zoning laws for a reason.
[1:26:42] >> Okay. But putting a house on this
[1:26:43] » Okay. But putting a house on this
[1:26:43] property would increase the property
[1:26:45] value, which would generate more taxes.
[1:26:46] Is that correct?
[1:26:48] >> Um, that is not the question before.
[1:26:50] » Um, that is not the question before.
[1:26:50] >> No, that's the point.
[1:26:51] » No, that's the point.
[1:26:51] >> Okay. Well, okay. If you look in I just
[1:26:54] » Okay. Well, okay. If you look in I just
[1:26:54] >> I move to approve ordinance 20
[1:26:58] » I move to approve ordinance 20
[1:26:58] 6-13 as presented.
[1:27:00] >> Second.
[1:27:01] » Second.
[1:27:01] >> All in favor? Right. Did I get everyone?
[1:27:14] » Of course.
[1:27:24] » 16. Discussion of any action regarding
[1:27:27] amending chapter 22 zoning of the direct
[1:27:29] range code of ordinances by amending
[1:27:31] table 8 general business uh retail uses
[1:27:35] to add vape shops as a use which is
[1:27:38] prohibited in all zoning districts and
[1:27:40] amending section 30 definitions to
[1:27:42] establish definition for vape shop.
[1:27:45] >> Okay. Uh you can read the background
[1:27:47] » Okay. Uh you can read the background
[1:27:47] information. PNV approved this and this
[1:27:51] will not allow any more eight shops to
[1:27:54] be um in the city. Right now we have
[1:27:58] six. I will tell you discussion last
[1:28:00] night they are going to want to come
[1:28:01] back
[1:28:03] recommending that you even though they
[1:28:06] took this action and recommended it to
[1:28:08] you tonight. Um they are looking at
[1:28:11] allowing it in recommending that you do
[1:28:14] allow it in uh uh industrial.
[1:28:19] >> So right now this one is to not allow it
[1:28:22] » So right now this one is to not allow it
[1:28:22] at all but come back and revisit it to
[1:28:23] allow in certain locations.
[1:28:25] >> Correct.
[1:28:27] » Correct.
[1:28:27] >> Currently we have six.
[1:28:29] » Currently we have six.
[1:28:29] >> Yes.
[1:28:31] » Yes.
[1:28:31] >> And they're grandfathered in. I suppose
[1:28:33] » And they're grandfathered in. I suppose
[1:28:33] >> they're grandfathered in. They're legal
[1:28:34] » they're grandfathered in. They're legal
[1:28:34] non-conform.
[1:28:36] >> Okay. because we have an issue with one
[1:28:37] » Okay. because we have an issue with one
[1:28:37] of them that is built by the school.
[1:28:40] >> Yes.
[1:28:40] » Yes.
[1:28:40] >> Like literally down the street from
[1:28:42] » Like literally down the street from
[1:28:42] schools.
[1:28:43] >> So this will eliminate that.
[1:28:48] » That one it will be legal performing
[1:28:50] still. You have a letter at your place
[1:28:52] put up there.
[1:28:53] >> They're they're currently abiding by all
[1:28:55] » They're they're currently abiding by all
[1:28:55] laws. Yeah. And Eileen's looked at this
[1:28:58] and she Yes. Okay. And
[1:29:00] >> I will say police chief has been over
[1:29:02] » I will say police chief has been over
[1:29:02] there making sure that they are in
[1:29:04] compliance statute.
[1:29:07] I move to approve ordinance 2026-14
[1:29:10] amending chapter 22 the zoning of breage
[1:29:13] code of ordinances by amending table 8
[1:29:16] general business retail uses to add vape
[1:29:18] shops and the use which is prohibited in
[1:29:20] all zoning districts and amending
[1:29:22] section 30 definitions to establish a
[1:29:25] definition for vape shop. I
[1:29:29] >> all in favor.
[1:29:32] Number 17, discussion and any necessary
[1:29:34] action regarding approval of resolution
[1:29:36] 2026-9 accepting the 2026
[1:29:41] certified appraisal role.
[1:29:43] >> So you've got the certified appraisal
[1:29:44] » So you've got the certified appraisal
[1:29:44] role in front of you and all this action
[1:29:47] is um just accepting that certified
[1:29:49] appraisal value.
[1:29:54] » Um I move to approve resolution 2026-9
[1:29:57] accepting the 2026 certified appraisal
[1:29:59] rule. Second. All in favor?
[1:30:02] >> I
[1:30:04] » I
[1:30:04] 18. Discussion, any necessary action
[1:30:06] regarding approval of resolution
[1:30:08] 2026-20,
[1:30:10] May ID homecoming parade.
[1:30:13] >> Mayor, commissioners. Um, every year we
[1:30:15] » Mayor, commissioners. Um, every year we
[1:30:15] do bring this to you. We partner with
[1:30:17] the IND to host the homecoming parade or
[1:30:20] not to host it, but we work with them to
[1:30:22] provide traffic control, things like
[1:30:23] that. And we also have to submit an
[1:30:25] application through tech stock for the
[1:30:27] closure of Walker Street. Um, and so in
[1:30:31] the past couple of parades, we've all
[1:30:32] worked really hard to come up with a
[1:30:34] traffic plan, um, a staging plan, things
[1:30:37] like that that that really seem to work
[1:30:39] for all parades. Um, and so we have
[1:30:42] hoped to keep that, you know, in a
[1:30:44] standard standardized form format so
[1:30:46] that if other parades come in that, you
[1:30:48] know, makes it simple and easy for
[1:30:50] traffic control. This year the BISD is
[1:30:52] hoping to
[1:30:54] Did you
[1:30:56] >> Oh, you point I'm sorry. you know, I
[1:30:57] » Oh, you point I'm sorry. you know, I
[1:30:57] just cuz you had said me and I was like,
[1:30:59] "Oh, this year the um they want to hold
[1:31:02] the parade on September the 2nd from 7
[1:31:05] to 8:00 p.m. and that's on Wednesday."
[1:31:07] And this resolution um will just once
[1:31:10] it's passed, we'll send everything to
[1:31:12] text for approval of the closure of
[1:31:14] walking. And we do have Gentry here who
[1:31:18] and you know or BD here. If y'all have
[1:31:20] anything that y'all would like to add,
[1:31:22] great.
[1:31:24] >> We have the same format as last year.
[1:31:25] » We have the same format as last year.
[1:31:26] We're obviously looking to make sure um
[1:31:28] to approve on that. We thought it was
[1:31:29] really a lot of things pretty went
[1:31:31] smoothly. So again, we'll revisit that.
[1:31:33] We want to start talking about it. What
[1:31:35] would be better? Um we started that last
[1:31:36] year.
[1:31:38] >> So staging second street over by the AFA
[1:31:41] » So staging second street over by the AFA
[1:31:41] now and staging down there and then
[1:31:43] lining up
[1:31:44] >> and then yeah and then lining up down
[1:31:47] » and then yeah and then lining up down
[1:31:47] live oak. So they'll start that. It made
[1:31:49] it easier for the big trucks um which
[1:31:51] was one of the big issues in the past.
[1:31:54] Um, so it works that way down Walker
[1:31:57] Street and then back up. We also stopped
[1:31:59] allowing drop offs on Court Street,
[1:32:01] which was congesting traffic and things
[1:32:03] like that. So hopefully we got a lot of
[1:32:05] those things worked out and
[1:32:07] an easier process moving forward.
[1:32:09] >> And would you say that system that we
[1:32:11] » And would you say that system that we
[1:32:11] that you implemented last year worked
[1:32:13] smooth worked good?
[1:32:14] >> It was better than what it had been. So
[1:32:16] » It was better than what it had been. So
[1:32:16] there's some other pieces that we want
[1:32:17] to improve on. I know. I did. Um
[1:32:22] Stson Dubler, he drives 18 wheels that
[1:32:24] had the football team and he had trouble
[1:32:27] getting his truck back there and then he
[1:32:30] was parked in front of houses where
[1:32:32] there was nowhere else to go. And then
[1:32:34] his complaint was trying to drive back
[1:32:37] on those side roads to go drop off back
[1:32:39] at school.
[1:32:41] You know, I think Chad
[1:32:42] >> I drove last year too. It was I uh used
[1:32:45] » I drove last year too. It was I uh used
[1:32:45] to you drop them off where the ex's and
[1:32:47] it was great. the kids could go to the
[1:32:48] pep rally at the courthouse and it
[1:32:50] worked really smooth and us drivers
[1:32:51] could get back to wherever we were
[1:32:53] going. But having to drop the kids back
[1:32:54] off at the high school was absolutely
[1:32:56] terrible.
[1:32:57] >> Well, I think we we did allow limited
[1:32:59] » Well, I think we we did allow limited
[1:32:59] drop off and we I think we were talking
[1:33:01] about that up by TSTC if there was
[1:33:03] needed. But the reason to stop drop offs
[1:33:06] there at Court Street was that it was
[1:33:08] completely backing up the parade right
[1:33:10] there and then kids running across and
[1:33:12] things like that. It was a tray. It was
[1:33:13] a safety hazard
[1:33:14] >> and we had some miscommunication and
[1:33:15] » and we had some miscommunication and
[1:33:16] there was a bus parked there and the
[1:33:17] band they were getting the band kids to
[1:33:19] take to that rally. So that which we
[1:33:22] didn't anticipate because we didn't know
[1:33:23] that's how that was going to work.
[1:33:24] >> No.
[1:33:24] » No.
[1:33:24] >> So now that we know because your truck
[1:33:26] » So now that we know because your truck
[1:33:26] should be able to stop or exactly where
[1:33:28] the bus was, but now there's a bus and
[1:33:29] there's kids getting on the bus. So now
[1:33:31] that we know that that's a conversation
[1:33:32] have, hey, we're not going to park the
[1:33:33] bus there. So it's just a
[1:33:35] miscommunication. We didn't know what we
[1:33:37] didn't know. But with it being a fiveday
[1:33:39] school week this year, pep rally will be
[1:33:41] on Friday and there is talk of no
[1:33:44] bonfire for homecoming. Bonfire being
[1:33:46] for senior night and so that also will
[1:33:49] allow easier drop off at TSC for like
[1:33:52] the final with all the semis and
[1:33:54] everything like that. Generally, we do
[1:33:56] meet with the ISD and all of the
[1:33:58] entities together to kind of work out
[1:34:00] try to work out some of those kinks um
[1:34:02] with the police chief and the street
[1:34:04] department and everything to try and
[1:34:05] work all of that out so that if there
[1:34:07] are issues that come up, this action
[1:34:09] today really is just the approval of a
[1:34:11] resolution allowing us to host that
[1:34:13] parade and to have the closure for tech
[1:34:16] on Walker Street.
[1:34:17] >> I move to approve resolutions 2026-20
[1:34:21] » I move to approve resolutions 2026-20
[1:34:21] as presented. Second. All in favor? Uh
[1:34:27] 19. Consider approval of resolution
[1:34:29] 2026-21
[1:34:31] designating the Albany News as the
[1:34:34] official newspaper of the city of
[1:34:36] Breenidge for public notices effective
[1:34:38] August 4th, 2026 through September 30th,
[1:34:42] 2026 and designated Abalene Reporter
[1:34:45] News as the official newspaper for
[1:34:48] ordinance publications in accordance
[1:34:51] with section 4.24 to board of the city
[1:34:54] chapter.
[1:34:56] >> So, this action item generally in
[1:34:58] » So, this action item generally in
[1:34:58] October of every year, we do bring to
[1:35:00] you to have our um newspaper of record
[1:35:04] for the year of where we're going to
[1:35:05] post our public notices, things like the
[1:35:07] ordinances, stuff like that. Um but
[1:35:10] unfortunately in July, the Breenidge
[1:35:12] Americans ceased printing a physical
[1:35:14] paper. So, it no longer meets the
[1:35:17] requirements of the government code that
[1:35:18] we need for public notices. So, what
[1:35:20] this opened up was kind of a
[1:35:23] bucket of worms in a way like we um and
[1:35:26] I and I hate to put it in that way, but
[1:35:27] it really did. There was a lot of
[1:35:28] research that went into this into what
[1:35:30] the best options are moving forward for
[1:35:32] us because we don't have a lot of
[1:35:34] physical newspaper options in Breenidge
[1:35:36] currently or that meet the requirements
[1:35:38] of Texas Government Code. And you can
[1:35:40] see at the top those are the
[1:35:41] requirements of Texas Government Code.
[1:35:44] Um and then the requirements of our
[1:35:45] ordinance of our charter are a little
[1:35:47] bit different. Um so I have to meet we
[1:35:51] have to meet both of those. So when we
[1:35:53] were looking at options the Abene
[1:35:54] reporter news was the first option that
[1:35:57] we did look at. Um that one is sold here
[1:35:59] at bracket register as a physical paper
[1:36:01] here and they do meet both requirements
[1:36:03] of the charter as well as the government
[1:36:04] code. The issue with that is when we
[1:36:06] started publishing those the line ad
[1:36:09] rate was $5.19 per line. So where an ad
[1:36:12] was previously costing us approximately
[1:36:15] let's say $150 to $200 to run it was
[1:36:17] upwards of $6 to $700. So that was a
[1:36:20] significant cost inre increase to the
[1:36:23] city. So that created a little bit more
[1:36:25] research on our end where we said okay
[1:36:26] let's see if we can come up with a
[1:36:28] creative way that we can you know fix
[1:36:30] this issue and still remain fiscally
[1:36:32] responsible for our budget. So what we
[1:36:34] did is we did reach out to Albany News
[1:36:36] and they do meet the requirements of the
[1:36:38] government code for things like public
[1:36:40] notices. Where they do not meet is for
[1:36:42] the charter because they do not print a
[1:36:44] physical paper in Breen Ridge and our
[1:36:46] charter requires that that be for the
[1:36:48] past year that they publish in the city.
[1:36:51] Um you can see there their line rate is
[1:36:53] a $150. So it is a huge difference and
[1:36:55] the majority of the things that we do
[1:36:56] publish are public notices. Um, but what
[1:37:00] this would allow us to do is to work
[1:37:02] with Albony News over the next year and
[1:37:04] I have been in contact with them. We we
[1:37:05] have been in contact to try to work out
[1:37:08] a way that they can start having a
[1:37:10] physical paper available in Bragg Ridge
[1:37:12] so that they can meet the requirements
[1:37:13] of the charter in a year. Um, which
[1:37:16] would then allow them to do both. It's
[1:37:18] we don't always want to have two papers,
[1:37:21] but um, we feel that in order to have it
[1:37:23] as one, we're going to spend a whole lot
[1:37:26] more money to do that. So, we do
[1:37:28] recommend using the Albany News
[1:37:30] currently as our newspaper record for
[1:37:32] public notices and the Abling Reporter
[1:37:34] News strictly for ordinance penalty
[1:37:36] postings only in accordance with our
[1:37:39] charter. This resolution in front of you
[1:37:42] today um it just finishes out the
[1:37:44] resolution that was approved in October
[1:37:46] of last year. So, it would come back to
[1:37:47] you again um in October to approve it
[1:37:50] for a whole year ahead of time and then
[1:37:52] we can continue to work those out. Can
[1:37:54] we uh in the future can we change our
[1:37:56] charter to match the Texas government
[1:37:58] code?
[1:37:59] >> You well to change the charter requires
[1:38:01] » You well to change the charter requires
[1:38:01] an election and that is something that
[1:38:04] is our our list to do.
[1:38:05] >> Can we just put it on the next do that
[1:38:08] » Can we just put it on the next do that
[1:38:08] then election?
[1:38:10] >> Well, it's not that simple. [laughter]
[1:38:13] » Well, it's not that simple. [laughter]
[1:38:13] That's okay. Um, you know, but that is
[1:38:16] an option that we because there's
[1:38:17] several things on the charter that staff
[1:38:19] would recommend that change, but um,
[1:38:23] >> that should definitely going to be our
[1:38:25] » that should definitely going to be our
[1:38:25] best option currently in the situation
[1:38:27] that we're in now to remain legally
[1:38:29] compliant um, but still be responsible.
[1:38:33] >> I move to approve 2026-21
[1:38:36] » I move to approve 2026-21
[1:38:36] as presented.
[1:38:37] >> I second.
[1:38:38] » I second.
[1:38:38] >> All in favor? I
[1:38:41] » All in favor? I
[1:38:41] >> number 20 discussion any necessary
[1:38:43] » number 20 discussion any necessary
[1:38:43] action regarding approval of interlocal
[1:38:45] agreement with young county Texas for
[1:38:48] the purpose of funding a bond
[1:38:50] supervision officer.
[1:38:52] >> So this is a renewal that comes to you
[1:38:54] » So this is a renewal that comes to you
[1:38:54] every year annually. Um it is between
[1:38:57] Young County, Stevens County, the city
[1:38:59] of Graham, city of the city of
[1:39:01] Breenriidge. Um and it basically pays
[1:39:04] for um
[1:39:07] an overseer for this program. And so it
[1:39:11] is we do it every year. I will say they
[1:39:15] are the first couple of years there was
[1:39:17] no increase. Um last year there was a 5%
[1:39:20] increase. This year there was 5%
[1:39:22] increase. And um I have talked to them
[1:39:24] and they are projecting that there will
[1:39:26] be a 5% increase on an annual basis for
[1:39:31] this project and primarily sales.
[1:39:39] » You all understand that?
[1:39:41] >> Yeah. Well, right now Blacktock comes
[1:39:43] » Yeah. Well, right now Blacktock comes
[1:39:44] in. He's a principal young he comes in
[1:39:46] and handles on bonds provision for us.
[1:39:48] Anytime Jud falls you
[1:39:52] alone handled anybody on provision
[1:39:54] tracks really well.
[1:39:57] >> So I move to approve an interlocal
[1:39:59] » So I move to approve an interlocal
[1:39:59] agreement with young county for the
[1:40:01] purpose of funding a bonds provision
[1:40:03] officer.
[1:40:05] All in favor? I.
[1:40:09] » 21. Discussion and any necessary action
[1:40:11] regarding approval of ordinance 2026-15
[1:40:14] providing for the
[1:40:16] abandonment of vacation and closure of
[1:40:19] certain streets within the high mount
[1:40:22] addition and providing the for the
[1:40:27] convenience in said property.
[1:40:30] So for us to we've had this request to
[1:40:34] um close this road um to close a road we
[1:40:38] have to take any of the right away that
[1:40:40] is there and um half of it goes to one
[1:40:44] property owner and half goes to the
[1:40:46] other property owner the abuing property
[1:40:48] owner. Um to be clear this was a big
[1:40:53] project. It is an unrecorded cla um
[1:40:56] these uh roads are not there. This is
[1:41:00] bur land and so what the ordinance is
[1:41:04] before you is closing the road and um
[1:41:08] again vacating the road and half of it
[1:41:11] goes to us. We are the property owner on
[1:41:13] the north side of that. This is down by
[1:41:15] Booker T Park and the south side the
[1:41:18] property owner is Chad Townsen and it
[1:41:20] would go to him. Um again these roads
[1:41:23] are not there. There's nothing there. It
[1:41:26] is if you go there it's a drop off. Um,
[1:41:29] so it's virgin land. Um, and that's what
[1:41:33] is before you.
[1:41:36] >> I move to approve ordinance 2026-15
[1:41:40] » I move to approve ordinance 2026-15
[1:41:40] as presented.
[1:41:42] >> I second.
[1:41:43] » I second.
[1:41:43] >> All in favor?
[1:41:44] » All in favor?
[1:41:44] >> I
[1:41:47] » I
[1:41:47] [clears throat]
[1:41:49] >> 22. Discussion. Any action regarding
[1:41:51] » 22. Discussion. Any action regarding
[1:41:51] approval of resolution 2026-22 declaring
[1:41:54] surplus property?
[1:41:56] So, the fire department has received a
[1:41:58] grant for new air compressors. Um, the
[1:42:00] existing um air compressor is 30 years
[1:42:03] old. The Albany Fire Department in the
[1:42:05] need of an air compressor compressor,
[1:42:08] sorry, staff is proposing to exchange
[1:42:10] our old air compressor for air bottles.
[1:42:13] Um, and to do so, we are asking the city
[1:42:16] commission to declare the old air
[1:42:18] compressor surplus.
[1:42:22] I move to approve resolution 2026-22
[1:42:26] as presented. Second. All in favor.
[1:42:32] >> 23. Discussion and any necessary action
[1:42:33] » 23. Discussion and any necessary action
[1:42:33] regarding FY2026-2027
[1:42:37] budget.
[1:42:39] >> Okay. So, um we presented a draft budget
[1:42:42] » Okay. So, um we presented a draft budget
[1:42:42] to you last month based on preliminary
[1:42:46] values. We got the next slide. We got
[1:42:49] our C. Hold on. Hold up. We got our
[1:42:52] certified values in. And so I'm not
[1:42:55] going to go through all these slides. If
[1:42:57] if you would go to the
[1:43:01] Okay. Um but a couple things I wanted to
[1:43:04] go over. Um we start talking about the
[1:43:07] budget in February, March of every year.
[1:43:10] And here in Breen Ridge, we've talked
[1:43:13] about the budget um almost every meeting
[1:43:16] since March. Um, since we have three new
[1:43:19] commissioners on here, mayor and
[1:43:21] commissioner, I wanted to review the
[1:43:23] strategic plan. I have discussed with
[1:43:25] the mayor, probably a good idea maybe to
[1:43:28] review the strategic plan, make sure
[1:43:30] we're still all on board with what these
[1:43:33] goals are. They're very simple. Um,
[1:43:36] invest in infrastructure, invest in
[1:43:38] employees, invest in beautifification,
[1:43:40] promote economic development and
[1:43:42] tourism, promote transparency and
[1:43:44] communication. Um this is basically um
[1:43:48] when we did it the first time it was
[1:43:51] vetted through staff, it was vetted
[1:43:52] through the city commissioners, it was
[1:43:54] vetted through the community leaders,
[1:43:56] including um those at the appraisal
[1:43:59] district, the hospital, the school
[1:44:01] district, the county, um the EDC and the
[1:44:06] chamber um were all involved as well as
[1:44:09] all of the citizens. We had a public
[1:44:11] meeting and we went to the citizens with
[1:44:14] all of this and getting their input on
[1:44:16] what their priorities were um per
[1:44:19] department in Breenbridgeidge and this
[1:44:22] is what u was basically the result of
[1:44:26] all of those meetings. So it's very well
[1:44:29] vetted. However um every year we do u
[1:44:34] review the strategic plan. We talk about
[1:44:36] where we've been, where we are, and
[1:44:39] where are we going, and we're if you go
[1:44:41] back to the next slide that um and we um
[1:44:45] make sure that we're still on track. And
[1:44:47] so we're asking for commission input. Um
[1:44:51] we've been asking that for that input
[1:44:54] for several months. And the reason is, I
[1:44:57] mean, it helps us set clear targets and
[1:45:00] goals. It makes sure that we're
[1:45:02] prioritizing our limited funds. it keeps
[1:45:05] us on track to actually work the plan.
[1:45:08] Um, if we go to the next slide, this was
[1:45:10] presented several months ago. Um, but
[1:45:14] what we do is we review the strategic
[1:45:16] plan. We look at those are the five
[1:45:18] goals. Go to the next slide. Um, these
[1:45:22] this was in your packet. I'm not going
[1:45:24] to go over in detail, but I just wanted
[1:45:27] to highlight we went we do this
[1:45:30] different every year. This year what I
[1:45:32] did was department by department what
[1:45:34] we've done in each department that was
[1:45:37] in alignment with the strategic plan.
[1:45:40] And so you see how in administration we
[1:45:43] invested in our infrastructure. This
[1:45:46] commission chambers used to be this with
[1:45:49] the back wall right here. And so it was
[1:45:51] much smaller. So now we have a bigger
[1:45:54] commission chamber. Um we have uh redone
[1:45:57] some restrooms here. business of how old
[1:46:00] is this building, Diane?
[1:46:04] >> I mean, it's been a grocery store. It's
[1:46:06] » I mean, it's been a grocery store. It's
[1:46:06] been a grocery store, right? Um I mean,
[1:46:08] it's been a lot of stuff, but we've had
[1:46:10] it for several years now. um investing
[1:46:13] in employees with the vehicle
[1:46:14] replacement program. Um employee pay,
[1:46:17] employee certification pay, training, uh
[1:46:21] budgets and improving our employee
[1:46:24] culture as far as tourism, transparency,
[1:46:27] communication and administration. How we
[1:46:29] have promoted that is our citizens
[1:46:32] academy where our second one we've
[1:46:34] initiated a fall festival um and
[1:46:37] transparency and communication. We
[1:46:39] updated the website uh four three years
[1:46:43] ago, three and a half years ago and that
[1:46:45] content keeps in um we keep that content
[1:46:49] updated on a daily basis. Um we do live
[1:46:53] streaming. We didn't do live streaming
[1:46:55] of these meetings before I got here.
[1:46:57] When I got here, we started doing the
[1:46:58] live streaming. We have increased our
[1:47:00] social media and digital digital tools
[1:47:03] and our platform and our communication
[1:47:05] across those platforms.
[1:47:08] our police. Um we have improvements to
[1:47:12] the acco facility. We have updated
[1:47:15] radio. We we're updating radios,
[1:47:17] exploring that. Um that's kind of on
[1:47:20] hold because there's a statewide
[1:47:23] um
[1:47:25] statewide initiative to address that. Um
[1:47:28] we have body cam, we got a grant for
[1:47:31] body cams for our police. Um as far as
[1:47:34] employees, we've invested in our
[1:47:36] employees. We've increased acco. We went
[1:47:39] from 2.5 to three and um we have gotten
[1:47:43] our pay in um up to date our um
[1:47:47] certification pay when we commissioners
[1:47:51] approved the certification pay back
[1:47:53] before I got here in 20 I believe 21. Um
[1:47:57] however it was not funded. So we had a
[1:48:00] phased in approach to funding that
[1:48:02] certification pay and at this point it
[1:48:04] is 100% funded as long as our employees
[1:48:08] have the different certifications.
[1:48:10] Uh we have increased our law enforcement
[1:48:13] and increased uh acco enforcement. If
[1:48:16] you look at the next two slide, it shows
[1:48:18] you that those comparisons, the
[1:48:21] citations that were issued in 24
[1:48:23] compared to 25 in law enforcement and in
[1:48:27] our acco operations, um, same thing. The
[1:48:30] citations that were issued in 24 and 25.
[1:48:33] So, there's been a marked in increase in
[1:48:37] our encouragement.
[1:48:39] For public services, we have a new
[1:48:41] playground. We have a new uh little kid
[1:48:44] playground. Um we have disc golf um
[1:48:47] updates and improvements. We have
[1:48:50] updates to pool offices that happened
[1:48:52] this year and the restrooms. Um the
[1:48:56] again the vehicle replacement pretty
[1:48:58] much the investment in employees is
[1:49:00] pretty much the same. Um beautifying
[1:49:03] Breen Ridge we invested in the
[1:49:05] foundation park. Um the biggest thing
[1:49:08] there I mean we do tree trimming every
[1:49:10] almost every year. Um but we did um
[1:49:14] invest things in first which has been um
[1:49:17] great look for the foundation park in
[1:49:19] our downtown area. Um we've increased
[1:49:22] our park amenities sand volleyball
[1:49:24] pickle ball um lights up tea um park and
[1:49:29] then um we are going out we have a
[1:49:32] splash pad grant we applied for it we
[1:49:35] didn't get it we applied for again we
[1:49:36] got it and that is in process right now.
[1:49:39] Um, and the next slide, public works.
[1:49:42] Um, I've talked about the projects. I'm
[1:49:45] not going to go over those. Um,
[1:49:48] employees, um, Unifying Breen Ridge. I
[1:49:52] mean, every year we are, um, we have
[1:49:54] invested in the Consololis Creek
[1:49:56] maintenance and, um, weed eating, um,
[1:50:01] along 183 and 180 and in the downtown
[1:50:04] area. um Lake Daniel's improvements. Um
[1:50:10] and so those are the improvements that
[1:50:12] are in alignment with our strategic plan
[1:50:15] that we've made over the last couple of
[1:50:17] years.
[1:50:19] Um well, economic development.
[1:50:23] Well, we've got um so we've hired, of
[1:50:26] course, our full-time code officer, Jay,
[1:50:28] has done an outstanding job these last
[1:50:30] two years. Um, we brought many ordinance
[1:50:33] updates to you over the last four years.
[1:50:36] Um, beautifying Breen Ridge substandard
[1:50:39] building. We went through some of that
[1:50:41] one round tonight. U, we've done several
[1:50:44] prior to this. Um, we updated, we did
[1:50:48] have a grant to update our comprehensive
[1:50:50] development plan and for those new ones
[1:50:53] that are here, it is online and I would
[1:50:55] recommend that you go through that and
[1:50:57] I'm happy to highlight any of those um
[1:50:59] items for you. Um, it is super
[1:51:02] important. The zoning um was just
[1:51:05] completed um in February and that sets
[1:51:09] the stage for how our community looks
[1:51:12] for years to come. Um, Lake Daniels, we
[1:51:16] do have a five-year plan. Um,
[1:51:18] unfortunately, we haven't been able to
[1:51:20] put too much forward. One of the things
[1:51:22] we're looking at is adding a dock out of
[1:51:24] the lake um and putting um additional
[1:51:28] restrooms and campsite improvements out
[1:51:30] there. We do feel it as u primitive
[1:51:33] camping out there. Um the downtown
[1:51:36] maintenance, we u
[1:51:40] was paying for that. Um and we are um
[1:51:43] we've assumed responsibility for that.
[1:51:46] Um we initiated as far as uh three and
[1:51:49] four we've initiated review development
[1:51:52] review meetings with our developers.
[1:51:55] There is an uptick in our development in
[1:51:58] Breen Ridge which is exciting. I mean
[1:52:01] it's not Dallas for Worth or Houston um
[1:52:04] but we are seeing an uptick in that and
[1:52:06] so um that is exciting. Um we have
[1:52:11] partnerships with the chamber with the
[1:52:14] PEDC and of course the BDDC
[1:52:17] and um we've got the Sage Brush project
[1:52:20] that is ongoing um that will be a
[1:52:24] benefit to our community. Uh we've this
[1:52:28] is the first time in many many years
[1:52:31] that we've actually expanded. We've
[1:52:34] annexed property into the city and not
[1:52:38] only is the school looking at locating
[1:52:41] there but we are looking at single
[1:52:43] family multifamily and retail
[1:52:46] development out on that site of 43 acres
[1:52:49] by Walmart.
[1:52:52] So fire um of course the big news there
[1:52:56] is we've got them in temporary living
[1:52:58] quarters and we are prepping for a new
[1:53:00] fire station which has been a long time
[1:53:02] coming. They were living in substandard
[1:53:05] conditions for quite some time and so um
[1:53:08] that has gone a long way to increase our
[1:53:11] um morale in our fire department. Um we
[1:53:16] we do a good job. U Malcolm and Wes do a
[1:53:19] great job getting grants. U we've got a
[1:53:22] bunker gear grant. Um air air
[1:53:25] compressors and um
[1:53:28] they we we we get grants almost every
[1:53:31] year. So they go out for those pretty
[1:53:33] deliciously
[1:53:35] good getting them. So, we partner with
[1:53:38] Stevens County with the volunteer fire
[1:53:40] departments and emergency management and
[1:53:44] um they do programs with schools as
[1:53:46] well. So, the budget process, I'm not
[1:53:49] going to review that a whole lot. We're
[1:53:51] getting towards the end. I will say that
[1:53:53] these timelines are statemandated
[1:53:56] timelines that we do have to meet. We're
[1:53:59] coming into those deadlines. Go to the
[1:54:01] next slide.
[1:54:04] Um we've gone over these um go to the
[1:54:07] next slide with the certified rates.
[1:54:09] Basically the
[1:54:12] preliminary rates were um last year the
[1:54:15] certified rates were 299 million and
[1:54:18] this uh this year the preliminary was
[1:54:21] 318
[1:54:22] um but the certified rates came at 339
[1:54:25] which is good for us. Um so the numbers
[1:54:30] changed for those no new revenue rates,
[1:54:32] voter approval rates. Um our current tax
[1:54:36] rate is 102893.
[1:54:39] The proposed tax rate. Now if you
[1:54:41] remember last
[1:54:43] week, last month um with the preliminary
[1:54:47] values where we were projecting 1.03,
[1:54:50] which would have been an increase, but
[1:54:52] this is we're um recommending a pending
[1:54:55] decrease. So that proposed tax rate is
[1:54:58] 1.01893
[1:55:00] which is a penny less. Um and you see
[1:55:04] the the no new revenue new rate there.
[1:55:07] The voter approval rate which as a
[1:55:10] reminder is essentially
[1:55:13] um up to a 3.5% increase is what is
[1:55:18] allowed by the state statute. um the
[1:55:21] debt rate was calculated and then the
[1:55:23] minimum rate and that is a rate that is
[1:55:25] available the city's under 30,000. Um
[1:55:29] the next slide you can see this is the
[1:55:32] certified values history and then you
[1:55:34] can see there that now that turn has the
[1:55:36] certified values which is 339
[1:55:40] and some change. This is a 10-year tax
[1:55:42] rate history. Um I think that tells the
[1:55:45] story. We have been making progress over
[1:55:48] the last several years. Um, our tax the
[1:55:50] proposed tax rate is the lowest that it
[1:55:54] has been in 10 years.
[1:55:59] Next slide. Um, again, I'm just going to
[1:56:02] review the funding challenges. Um, the
[1:56:04] audit is up 30%, legal fees are up 30%,
[1:56:08] chemicals are up 20%. Fuel costs are up
[1:56:12] 10%. The young county bond was up 5%.
[1:56:16] Um, workman's comp building insurance is
[1:56:19] up. Everything is increasing. The CPI is
[1:56:22] 30%. Um, as I mentioned, I mean, um,
[1:56:28] gravel, and this is just recently that
[1:56:30] the gravel went up 40% gravel and dirt.
[1:56:34] Um, we talked about the employee health
[1:56:36] insurance. Um, it's going to be a
[1:56:39] substantial increase. What I did here is
[1:56:41] I if you go to the next slide, um, we
[1:56:44] still don't have a final. We did add
[1:56:47] another new with our insurance folks and
[1:56:51] they're going back to Blue Cross Blue
[1:56:53] Shield who is our carrier and they are
[1:56:56] asking for uh other insurance carriers
[1:57:01] to um bid to submit quotes for us. Um we
[1:57:05] have had several that have declined to
[1:57:07] quote because our loss ratio is very
[1:57:10] high. and um Blue Cross, they did come
[1:57:14] back and say our increase was 70%. So
[1:57:18] they were projecting a 50 to 100%
[1:57:21] increase in our employee health
[1:57:22] insurance, which is substantial. Um it
[1:57:25] came in as 70%. We are fairly confident
[1:57:30] they're going to go back and advocate on
[1:57:32] our behalf and they have a lot of clout
[1:57:34] with Blue Cross Blue Shield and we're
[1:57:36] really hoping we can get that down to
[1:57:39] 60%.
[1:57:40] um a 60% increase which if you look at
[1:57:44] that first column the total cost of
[1:57:46] insurance we pay 100% for insurance uh
[1:57:49] employees only and then the employee is
[1:57:52] responsible pickup if they have family
[1:57:54] members or spouse. Um right now we are
[1:57:57] paying 621,000 for employee insurance.
[1:58:01] With a 60% increase, we would be paying
[1:58:04] 688,000,
[1:58:06] which is an increase of about 67,000
[1:58:09] 68,000.
[1:58:10] Um, a 70% increase if we can't get it
[1:58:13] down to 60 um would be 731, which would
[1:58:18] be um an increase of 110
[1:58:21] um,000.
[1:58:25] Next slide.
[1:58:28] So, we always do a health comparison.
[1:58:30] Um, you know, we look at the average
[1:58:32] value from last year, what the tax rate
[1:58:34] was and and what that average tax what
[1:58:37] that tax would have been on an average
[1:58:39] value. Um, this year is a little bit
[1:58:42] different. Um,
[1:58:44] as the average we get that average value
[1:58:47] from the appraisal district. The last
[1:58:49] year it was a 105268.
[1:58:52] The year before that it was 1050.
[1:58:56] This year it's 116. So it has the
[1:58:59] average value has gone up quite a bit.
[1:59:02] Um but with a tax rate of 101.893
[1:59:07] we compare what that average tax
[1:59:09] increase would be at that rate you know
[1:59:11] it would be 106 increase. Go to the next
[1:59:14] slide.
[1:59:18] This is um our sales tax revenue. We are
[1:59:23] projecting that our sales tax we will be
[1:59:26] over what our projections were. Um I
[1:59:30] think we projected about 2.3 and I think
[1:59:33] we're going to end up at 2.5 give or
[1:59:36] take. Um and remember we collect 2% we
[1:59:40] keep 1% in the general funds. um half of
[1:59:44] half um of cent of the other 1% half of
[1:59:49] that percent goes to fund EDC. Um a
[1:59:52] quarter of that other 1% goes to street
[1:59:55] goes to street improvements and a
[1:59:57] quarter of that 1% goes is dedicated for
[2:00:01] reducing property tax. So that's where
[2:00:04] that 2% goes.
[2:00:06] Go to the next slide.
[2:00:09] And this is our our debt. And um the
[2:00:12] total debt payments for this year will
[2:00:15] be 1,580.
[2:00:18] Um
[2:00:21] next slide. And as I indicated earlier
[2:00:24] with the action, I think we can continue
[2:00:28] the road that we are with our utilities.
[2:00:30] I think next year we can come back and
[2:00:32] pay off 2012 debt which is again about
[2:00:36] 570,000.
[2:00:38] Um the next one is about 750,000.
[2:00:43] And so that's something that in two
[2:00:46] years that we'd want to look at. That's
[2:00:48] something that staff will look at
[2:00:50] analyze and bring it um to you if it's
[2:00:52] recommended that we would use some of
[2:00:54] our fund balance to pay off that debt
[2:00:57] that we talked about earlier. I'm not
[2:00:59] going to go through all these uh because
[2:01:01] these charts really didn't change that
[2:01:04] much from what we presented um last
[2:01:06] week. Um one thing I would point to um
[2:01:10] we have made progress with our
[2:01:13] employees. We're still not when we look
[2:01:16] at our employees salaries um we're still
[2:01:19] not um meeting that average rate um for
[2:01:24] those like communities. Um but we are
[2:01:28] making progress and what I will tell you
[2:01:31] I think the first in three years ago we
[2:01:34] had 68 employees and our uh we had about
[2:01:39] 15 vacancies. Um it was hard to keep
[2:01:42] people and we still do have quite a bit
[2:01:45] of turnover um and mostly in public
[2:01:47] works. Um but the fact that we have
[2:01:50] about three vacancies is speaks you know
[2:01:53] to what um you guys have done as far as
[2:01:58] supporting our employees.
[2:02:02] I'm not you'll go I mean I'm not going
[2:02:05] to go over all these slides. We went
[2:02:07] over them last year but you'll go almost
[2:02:11] to the end of this.
[2:02:15] So, I have we've been asking for your
[2:02:17] feedback. You know, we I mean, what
[2:02:19] we're hearing is that we're on right
[2:02:21] there. We're on track. Um, but you know,
[2:02:26] we need feedback from you right now. I
[2:02:28] mean, when you look at the increases,
[2:02:30] not all of these I mean, the only
[2:02:33] increases,
[2:02:37] not all of these are new expenditures.
[2:02:39] Let me put it that way. I mean, I just
[2:02:40] want I like to flag our investment in
[2:02:43] our fleet maintenance program. Um, and
[2:02:47] that's 200,000. Um, that employee
[2:02:50] insurance increase of 68,000. I put that
[2:02:54] there just to pull it out at 60%. That's
[2:02:57] what it would be. But that is actually
[2:02:59] folded into the cost of a three. I did
[2:03:02] increase the employee raise to 3%
[2:03:06] because I felt like we were able to do
[2:03:08] that. Um, so that $282,000
[2:03:12] includes our 3% employee increase and
[2:03:16] the $68,000
[2:03:19] for insurance
[2:03:26] » question discussion be
[2:03:30] >> on the salaries. You said we're getting
[2:03:32] » on the salaries. You said we're getting
[2:03:32] competitive but we're trying to get
[2:03:34] other competitive. Is that all positions
[2:03:36] or certain ones?
[2:03:38] Um most of the positions I would say um
[2:03:44] I mean we're really close we've done
[2:03:47] over the years so for the new ones over
[2:03:49] the last three years we've been able to
[2:03:51] not only do raises so before I got here
[2:03:55] essentially they had had raises for five
[2:03:58] years or more. Um and so that first year
[2:04:01] I did not do that budget. That budget
[2:04:03] was done by an interim. Um, but there
[2:04:05] was the 3% and then we were able to do a
[2:04:07] 4% I think we did 3% 4% now we're
[2:04:11] looking at 3%. So we've been able to
[2:04:13] bring it up. Um,
[2:04:16] but and we have done some equity
[2:04:18] adjustments in again with the on the
[2:04:21] water there's three there's four
[2:04:23] different funds. You got your general
[2:04:24] fund, you got your water fund, you've
[2:04:27] got your wastewater fund and those two
[2:04:29] are supported by utility billing. Okay.
[2:04:33] And then you've got your sanitation
[2:04:34] fund, which is our solid waste fund. So
[2:04:39] with the rate increases that we've done
[2:04:41] on the water wastewater side over the
[2:04:44] last five years, we've been able to not
[2:04:47] only do increases, but we've done a
[2:04:49] small equity package as well. So our
[2:04:52] public works has gotten closer to that
[2:04:55] 50%. Um, one year, it was two years ago,
[2:05:00] we did, uh, two years in a row, we did
[2:05:03] equity adjustments for department heads
[2:05:05] because they were very far off and, um,
[2:05:09] so they are closer, but some of our
[2:05:11] department heads um are are still the
[2:05:15] farthest off. I will say city manager
[2:05:17] and the department heads are the
[2:05:19] farthest off the average.
[2:05:21] >> Is that chart that you usually do for
[2:05:22] » Is that chart that you usually do for
[2:05:22] the TML comparison, is that on here?
[2:05:26] [clears throat]
[2:05:26] It was on the last.
[2:05:29] Yeah.
[2:05:30] >> Um,
[2:05:32] » Um,
[2:05:32] >> so the salary comparison would have been
[2:05:34] » so the salary comparison would have been
[2:05:34] done, you said two years ago for all
[2:05:37] department heads, everything like that.
[2:05:40] >> I'm sorry, what was the question?
[2:05:41] » I'm sorry, what was the question?
[2:05:41] >> So you said two years ago a comparison
[2:05:44] » So you said two years ago a comparison
[2:05:44] was done for department heads. Is that
[2:05:47] >> I mean we're we're looking Yeah. So we
[2:05:48] » I mean we're we're looking Yeah. So we
[2:05:48] use TML and so we look at like cities in
[2:05:53] population and geographical area not all
[2:05:56] in the geographical area but population.
[2:06:00] >> So that is our that's the universe that
[2:06:04] » So that is our that's the universe that
[2:06:04] we're using.
[2:06:07] >> Okay. because I did when I did my TML
[2:06:09] » Okay. because I did when I did my TML
[2:06:10] survey with their comparison thing,
[2:06:12] there were several of them that were far
[2:06:14] over, but there were some that were
[2:06:15] under talking about departments,
[2:06:18] >> right? And I took I took an average. So
[2:06:20] » right? And I took I took an average. So
[2:06:20] what I do is I'm I'm taking, you know,
[2:06:22] I'm looking at 10 different cities for
[2:06:24] example
[2:06:26] >> and so yes, some are over and some are
[2:06:28] » and so yes, some are over and some are
[2:06:28] under. So then I take an average and I
[2:06:31] use that. That's the average. And then I
[2:06:33] compare that to what our actuals.
[2:06:36] >> And the
[2:06:41] oh the menry coordinator position.
[2:06:43] >> Yes.
[2:06:44] » Yes.
[2:06:44] >> What kind of grants does
[2:06:47] » What kind of grants does
[2:06:47] having someone in that position? What
[2:06:49] does it allow us? What are the grants
[2:06:50] for? What do they do?
[2:06:52] >> The grants are for Main Street
[2:06:54] » The grants are for Main Street
[2:06:54] improvements. So, some of the things
[2:06:56] that we would be looking at or we could
[2:06:58] look at um even though there's some um
[2:07:02] effort to the place to be. Does
[2:07:05] everybody know where I'm talking about
[2:07:06] with the place to be?
[2:07:08] >> Okay. So, there's some effort to do
[2:07:09] » Okay. So, there's some effort to do
[2:07:10] that. I mean, no funding has really been
[2:07:13] identified. That's something that we
[2:07:15] could get a grant for. We could get a
[2:07:17] grant for wayfinding signage downtown.
[2:07:20] Um, I mean there's a lot of different
[2:07:23] thing improvements in downtown. Um, we
[2:07:26] have we do already have decorative
[2:07:29] lighting. Um, but we could update that
[2:07:32] decorative lighting. Um, we could do
[2:07:35] improvements to foundation part. Um,
[2:07:38] there are different opportunities. Um
[2:07:41] and we would work I mean how I envision
[2:07:44] that position is that they would really
[2:07:48] help to work in partnership with the EDC
[2:07:52] with the BDDC and with the chamber. Um
[2:07:55] the chamber, we want to work with them,
[2:07:58] but we also have to remember the chamber
[2:08:00] is a member organization and so they've
[2:08:04] got a targeted I mean their their base
[2:08:07] is their you know who their members are
[2:08:10] but we do work with them. I mean they
[2:08:12] are they administer our hot funds. So
[2:08:14] we've got a contract with them and they
[2:08:16] administer our hot funds which are
[2:08:18] basically the events that we do. It
[2:08:21] doesn't mean that we can't do events.
[2:08:23] So, there are some main there there are
[2:08:26] events that Main Street coordinator
[2:08:28] could also do. One of the things that
[2:08:30] we've talked about, we've got this
[2:08:32] parking lot over here um with this
[2:08:34] gazebo is having a food truck Friday and
[2:08:38] having a concert on Friday and that
[2:08:40] could be an event that would bring
[2:08:42] people to the area. Uh so having a
[2:08:47] person that could you know work with our
[2:08:50] other entities and put that on would be
[2:08:53] a benefit
[2:08:54] >> with the main street coordinator.
[2:08:56] » with the main street coordinator.
[2:08:56] Wouldn't we get a grant that is 100%.
[2:09:01] >> They're all different. I mean you most
[2:09:03] » They're all different. I mean you most
[2:09:03] of them you're there for you want to
[2:09:06] identify a project.
[2:09:07] >> Yeah. in there for a project and there I
[2:09:09] » Yeah. in there for a project and there I
[2:09:09] mean some of them I mean a lot of them
[2:09:11] there are matching funds but some of
[2:09:13] them aren't depends on just kind of like
[2:09:16] what we get
[2:09:18] with I mean even the body cams that we
[2:09:20] got I mean there was a portion that we
[2:09:22] paid
[2:09:23] >> right
[2:09:24] » right
[2:09:24] >> so I have a question on we talked about
[2:09:27] » so I have a question on we talked about
[2:09:27] it last meeting was the contract mowing
[2:09:29] you said a significant amount like you
[2:09:31] said somewhere between 30 and 50,000
[2:09:34] um and This BEDC cost downtown worker a
[2:09:38] 1099 worker.
[2:09:40] Is it required to have contract mowing
[2:09:42] on these city lots or can city employees
[2:09:45] mow them instead of using contract lo?
[2:09:48] >> Well, when I say that that this is
[2:09:50] » Well, when I say that that this is
[2:09:50] mowing um Okay, remember when Jay said
[2:09:54] we mowed his lawn form?
[2:09:56] >> That's a lot of mowing that we talked
[2:09:59] » That's a lot of mowing that we talked
[2:09:59] about where we're placing a lean. Yes,
[2:10:01] our our employees sometimes they have
[2:10:03] mowed our and not all the time, but
[2:10:06] sometimes they have.
[2:10:07] >> I'm talking you we're talking about the
[2:10:09] » I'm talking you we're talking about the
[2:10:09] lots that people are neglecting, right?
[2:10:12] >> Our city employees can
[2:10:14] » Our city employees can
[2:10:14] >> No.
[2:10:14] » No.
[2:10:14] >> No, they can't.
[2:10:15] » No, they can't.
[2:10:15] >> No, we need to have a contract.
[2:10:17] » No, we need to have a contract.
[2:10:17] >> It has to be a contractor.
[2:10:22] » And isn't that due to to liability?
[2:10:26] >> Well, it's a legal issue of being
[2:10:30] » Well, it's a legal issue of being
[2:10:30] we're not
[2:10:31] We're not a business, you know. So when
[2:10:33] we place a lean, we're using city
[2:10:36] resources to mow and then replace
[2:10:39] the profit.
[2:10:41] >> So it's better to have
[2:10:45] » So it's better to have
[2:10:45] a vendor.
[2:10:48] >> Okay.
[2:10:58] I mean what has helped us in the in the
[2:11:02] maybe not as much this year um but what
[2:11:04] has helped us you know last year and the
[2:11:07] year before and again not those other
[2:11:09] years because we didn't have them but
[2:11:11] having the clients we um have been able
[2:11:14] to utilize clients and it has been a
[2:11:16] huge help for us in the and really where
[2:11:20] we put them to work is on Gonzalez Creek
[2:11:23] maintenance mostly, although they have
[2:11:25] helped, you know, at the top shop and
[2:11:27] they've helped at the cemetery and parks
[2:11:30] as well.
[2:11:30] >> Okay.
[2:11:33] » Okay.
[2:11:33] >> And you're talking about clientele from
[2:11:35] » And you're talking about clientele from
[2:11:35] Walker.
[2:11:36] >> Yes.
[2:11:40] Could
[2:11:43] they be used for any of this contract
[2:11:45] mowing or is that probably
[2:11:48] >> Well, they're not it's not um
[2:11:53] » Well, they're not it's not um
[2:11:53] it's not predictable. It's not
[2:11:55] predictable and consistent.
[2:12:01] » Also, when it comes to that, it's free
[2:12:04] labor. So then we wouldn't be able to
[2:12:06] put any
[2:12:18] on the 3%. You're saying employees, but
[2:12:21] you're also talking about um employees
[2:12:24] that are on salary, right?
[2:12:27] >> Yes. I mean we don't
[2:12:29] » Yes. I mean we don't
[2:12:29] we at most cities I mean best practice
[2:12:32] you don't want to give some employees a
[2:12:33] raise and some not a raise that doesn't
[2:12:35] create a good environment of choice so
[2:12:37] it's systematic
[2:12:40] >> but if some are over and some are under
[2:12:44] » but if some are over and some are under
[2:12:44] we're talking salary
[2:12:47] wages things like that
[2:12:50] then I would
[2:12:51] >> well I will say there's nobody there is
[2:12:53] » well I will say there's nobody there is
[2:12:53] one position that is at 50%
[2:12:57] And that is that I mean
[2:13:00] I hate to get into personalities. I mean
[2:13:03] it's a position but there's one position
[2:13:04] that is at 50%. Everybody else is below
[2:13:08] and that
[2:13:13] we're at but that's the only one that is
[2:13:15] at. I mean, we've gained, we're closer,
[2:13:17] but not
[2:13:20] » my research showed like, like I said,
[2:13:22] when I used TML survey that there were
[2:13:24] several rows that were higher, but far
[2:13:26] higher how you could average those down.
[2:13:32] And so maybe that's a discussion for
[2:13:34] another time, but
[2:13:36] I don't personally see how they're that
[2:13:38] far above how a 3% increase in their
[2:13:41] employment is a good thing. Because if
[2:13:44] they're that high up, 3% is going to be
[2:13:46] far more than it is for someone who's
[2:13:47] selling someone who is making far less
[2:13:50] than the average.
[2:13:53] >> What cities did you use?
[2:13:54] » What cities did you use?
[2:13:54] >> Uh I use TML's salary surve.
[2:14:01] » No, because you can go in there and you
[2:14:02] can set it by population. Um I also
[2:14:05] actually reached out to some of the
[2:14:07] surrounding towns just to figure this
[2:14:08] out
[2:14:09] >> geographically.
[2:14:10] » geographically.
[2:14:10] >> Yeah. people that were in the same
[2:14:13] » Yeah. people that were in the same
[2:14:13] situation. We are a single town or a
[2:14:15] small town in a rural county.
[2:14:24] Is there anything in the budget on
[2:14:26] getting any computers put into the
[2:14:28] actual police vehicles?
[2:14:31] >> Tough books. No. Um we have looked at um
[2:14:36] » Tough books. No. Um we have looked at um
[2:14:36] I mean there are some grants that are
[2:14:38] available um but no we have not that is
[2:14:41] a huge expense and we just have it. I
[2:14:44] mean we've got we take it you know one
[2:14:46] day at a time there's a lot of wands out
[2:14:49] there.
[2:14:50] >> I I get that but when we have people
[2:14:52] » I I get that but when we have people
[2:14:52] that are going out doing things and then
[2:14:55] they have to come back to the office and
[2:14:57] print it all up that's a waste of a
[2:14:58] resource right there.
[2:14:59] >> Right. I don't disagree. It's a lot of
[2:15:02] » Right. I don't disagree. It's a lot of
[2:15:02] travel time, a lot of fuel costs even
[2:15:04] back and forth to their office.
[2:15:06] >> I don't disagree.
[2:15:10] The books would be nice.
[2:15:13] We have been looking for variances.
[2:15:16] >> But then then you're going into a place
[2:15:18] » But then then you're going into a place
[2:15:18] of trying to
[2:15:22] shuffle
[2:15:25] um resources
[2:15:27] through like what's what's over here and
[2:15:30] then you like shuffle over that way, but
[2:15:31] then you're you're neglecting stuff over
[2:15:34] here. And so it's it's better to have a
[2:15:36] budget that's actually um across the
[2:15:39] full board where you're able to deal
[2:15:41] with issues. Now, it might not raise the
[2:15:44] the lowest person who's getting paid
[2:15:47] them that much, but you're you're making
[2:15:49] it across the the board to
[2:15:53] um to deal with the funds and the
[2:15:56] resources that we actually do have,
[2:16:00] but also we are able to acquire
[2:16:03] resources through grants.
[2:16:06] We're trying to stay away from loans,
[2:16:07] but through grants. and some of those
[2:16:10] grants we had to pay also into it. So,
[2:16:14] um
[2:16:18] that's the
[2:16:22] way that I think that I was going to go.
[2:16:35] One thing I would say for the um again
[2:16:38] just to keep in mind on the
[2:16:41] the 3% increase um the CPI is 3
[2:16:46] something% I mean they're not even paid
[2:16:49] because our employees are having
[2:16:51] struggles as well but um and then you
[2:16:54] have
[2:16:56] employee insurance increases as well
[2:17:00] >> that change of insurance is not going to
[2:17:02] » that change of insurance is not going to
[2:17:02] give type.
[2:17:03] >> Well, right. Even with the 3% they're
[2:17:05] » Well, right. Even with the 3% they're
[2:17:05] going to be losing money this year.
[2:17:10] » Yeah. Trying to offset that cost of that
[2:17:13] increase in insurance is
[2:17:16] that's going to be difficult.
[2:17:27] discussion.
[2:17:30] » Well, what is there feedback for
[2:17:33] us? I mean, are we are we on track with
[2:17:36] what how we need to go because we've got
[2:17:39] you got we've got deadlines we need to
[2:17:41] meet. Um,
[2:17:43] >> so I app I approve the number you
[2:17:45] » so I app I approve the number you
[2:17:45] proposed.
[2:17:46] >> Okay,
[2:17:47] » Okay,
[2:17:47] >> I approve that.
[2:17:49] » I approve that.
[2:17:50] >> I mean, this is not formal act,
[2:17:51] » I mean, this is not formal act,
[2:17:51] >> right? I know
[2:17:53] » right? I know
[2:17:53] >> it makes sense of what you have
[2:17:54] » it makes sense of what you have
[2:17:54] presented the numbers that you're
[2:17:56] presenting
[2:17:58] for that. I don't that's I think with
[2:18:02] that I think what
[2:18:06] most everybody if you're saying that
[2:18:07] they agreement to the direction you're
[2:18:10] going to
[2:18:12] >> so the next steps just I mean and you
[2:18:13] » so the next steps just I mean and you
[2:18:13] guys know because you took action I mean
[2:18:15] we'll have a public hearing on the 25th
[2:18:19] and that will be for the public. So
[2:18:21] there there won't be you won't be making
[2:18:23] a decision that night either. Um but
[2:18:26] again if there's changes to what we
[2:18:28] presented we need to narrow so we can
[2:18:30] make those changes so that then you'll
[2:18:33] have input on the 25th and then on
[2:18:36] September 1st um that's when you'll
[2:18:40] adopt the budget. So, do it mean for no,
[2:18:45] you know, I mean, in the next few weeks,
[2:18:49] >> do we know if doing this 3% increase is
[2:18:52] » do we know if doing this 3% increase is
[2:18:52] going to bump anybody into the higher
[2:18:53] tax bracket could actually end up
[2:18:55] cutting their check?
[2:19:17] That would be hard everyone
[2:19:22] and things like that. I mean that their
[2:19:23] their family status things like that. I
[2:19:25] mean that that would be really hard to
[2:19:27] figure for each individual person.
[2:19:31] So like right now the only that's
[2:19:33] meeting off of 50% is
[2:19:37] him. So right now everybody's below.
[2:19:42] So I don't think it would help them over
[2:19:45] a tax bracket but that will require into
[2:19:48] individual
[2:19:51] and all the the things that go into
[2:19:53] individually as in like you know the
[2:19:56] amount of people kids you know in the
[2:19:59] household what they're claiming and what
[2:20:01] they're not claiming.
[2:20:05] » I'm going to go ahead and motion that we
[2:20:06] move on.
[2:20:08] >> Okay.
[2:20:10] » Okay.
[2:20:10] 24 discussion and any necessary action
[2:20:12] the schedule August 25,
[2:20:15] 2026 for public hearing on the proposed
[2:20:18] tax rate discussion tax rate NNR and
[2:20:21] voter approval rate amendment rate and
[2:20:25] take a record vote. I'll make a motion
[2:20:28] to approve scheduling August 25th 2026
[2:20:31] for public hearing on proposed tax rate.
[2:20:36] A motion has been made to approve
[2:20:38] scheduling August 25th, 2026 for a
[2:20:41] public hearing on the tax rate. Ask the
[2:20:44] city secretary to please call the role.
[2:20:46] >> When I call your name, just say yay or
[2:20:48] » When I call your name, just say yay or
[2:20:48] nay. Mayor Treml,
[2:20:49] >> yes.
[2:20:50] » yes.
[2:20:50] >> Commissioner Hamilton,
[2:20:51] » Commissioner Hamilton,
[2:20:51] >> yay.
[2:20:52] » yay.
[2:20:52] >> Commissioner Rose,
[2:20:53] » Commissioner Rose,
[2:20:53] >> yes.
[2:20:54] » yes.
[2:20:54] >> Commissioner Fernandez,
[2:20:56] » Commissioner Fernandez,
[2:20:56] >> and Mayor Pro Tim Huntington,
[2:20:58] » and Mayor Pro Tim Huntington,
[2:20:58] >> yay.
[2:20:59] » yay.
[2:20:59] >> Thank you.
[2:21:00] » Thank you.
[2:21:00] >> 25. Discussion, any necessary action
[2:21:02] » 25. Discussion, any necessary action
[2:21:02] regarding public hearing to consider
[2:21:05] fiscal year 2026 2027 proposed budget on
[2:21:08] September 1st, 2026.
[2:21:11] >> So this is just um calling that public
[2:21:14] » So this is just um calling that public
[2:21:14] hearing um to uh consider uh the
[2:21:17] proposed budget on September 1st.
[2:21:20] >> I move to approve setting the public
[2:21:21] » I move to approve setting the public
[2:21:21] hearing to consider the fiscal year 2026
[2:21:24] through 2027 proposed budget on
[2:21:26] September 1st, 2026.
[2:21:30] Second.
[2:21:34] This time we're going to convene to get
[2:21:35] the executive session
[2:21:39] at 7:51.
[2:21:42] Texas government code a notice
[2:21:45] chapter 551 sub chapter E Texas open
[2:21:48] meetings act. City commission will
[2:21:50] recess into executive session post
[2:21:53] meeting discuss the followup real
[2:21:55] property 551.072 072 Deliberate of the
[2:21:58] purchase of exchange lease or value of
[2:22:02] real property 26 YMCA
[2:22:05] 27 102 West L 28 1305 West first 29 601
[2:22:13] apartment
[2:22:23] » we can be in open session at 8:09
[2:22:29] Commissioners, were there any action
[2:22:31] taken?
[2:22:32] >> I move to approve resolution number
[2:22:34] » I move to approve resolution number
[2:22:34] 2026-23
[2:22:36] authorizing the donation of real
[2:22:38] property located at 300 East Walker to
[2:22:40] the Stevens Memorial Hospital District.
[2:22:42] Read all them at one time.
[2:22:44] >> No, no, just one.
[2:22:45] » No, no, just one.
[2:22:45] >> Okay. Second.
[2:22:48] » Okay. Second.
[2:22:48] >> All in favor? I
[2:22:51] » All in favor? I
[2:22:51] >> I make a motion to rescend the city
[2:22:53] » I make a motion to rescend the city
[2:22:53] commission's action of July 7, 2022
[2:22:55] awarding the bid for 1305 West first to
[2:22:57] Bob Edelman due to inaccuracies in the
[2:23:00] bid summary presented to the commission.
[2:23:03] >> Second.
[2:23:04] » Second.
[2:23:04] >> All in favor? I
[2:23:07] » All in favor? I
[2:23:07] >> I make a motion to approve Kenneth
[2:23:09] » I make a motion to approve Kenneth
[2:23:09] Boyd's bid for the property located at
[2:23:11] 1305 West First and authorize the city
[2:23:13] manager to finalize and sign all
[2:23:15] documents necessary to finalize the sale
[2:23:17] of the property.
[2:23:19] Second. All in favor?
[2:23:22] >> I make a motion to resend the city
[2:23:24] » I make a motion to resend the city
[2:23:24] commission's action of July 7, 2026,
[2:23:27] awarding the bid for 601 North Harvey to
[2:23:30] Director Skidmore due to inaccuracies in
[2:23:32] the bid summary presented to the
[2:23:33] commission.
[2:23:36] >> I second.
[2:23:37] » I second.
[2:23:37] >> All in favor? Uh,
[2:23:39] » All in favor? Uh,
[2:23:39] and I make a motion to approve Bob Ed
[2:23:41] Bob Edelman's bid for the property
[2:23:43] located at 601 North Harvey and
[2:23:45] authorize the city manager to finalize
[2:23:46] and sign all documents necessary to
[2:23:49] finalize the sale of the property. So,
[2:23:52] all in favor I
[2:23:57] requests from commissioners uh from
[2:23:59] commission members staff for items to be
[2:24:02] placed on next meeting agenda.
[2:24:06] We'll
[2:24:10] join
[2:24:12] meeting at 811.
[2:24:15] >> Did you join the meeting at YMCA? I'm
[2:24:17] » Did you join the meeting at YMCA? I'm
[2:24:17] sorry. I didn't Was there any action on
[2:24:19] YMCA?
[2:24:21] >> The first resolution
[2:24:23] » The first resolution
[2:24:23] >> the 300 West Walker, the donation of
[2:24:26] » the 300 West Walker, the donation of
[2:24:26] real property located 300 East Walker.
[2:24:28] Just a blend.