1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,160 Okay, I'm going to look at the right page here. 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:11,200 That's the next thing on the agenda. >> Okay, consent to the agenda items. 3 00:00:08,840 --> 00:00:13,880 Maybe approved by council member. Motion. 4 00:00:12,560 --> 00:00:15,360 » Second. >> All in favor. 5 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:18,280 » Aye. >> Aye. Nice. 6 00:00:20,520 --> 00:00:26,640 » Yeah, that was included in the packet. And 7 00:00:24,600 --> 00:00:30,000 any detailed financial report will be provided by Andrew at that. 8 00:00:28,480 --> 00:00:33,280 » Okay. All right. Uh 9 00:00:30,880 --> 00:00:37,280 any uh community interest items anybody wants to talk about? 10 00:00:35,880 --> 00:00:40,880 Coming up. Want to know about. 11 00:00:39,920 --> 00:00:44,640 Thanks. All right. Uh-oh. 12 00:00:42,280 --> 00:00:44,640 Yes. 13 00:00:48,760 --> 00:00:53,960 » Why don't you do that at citizen participation in just a minute? Yeah, 14 00:00:52,800 --> 00:00:57,800 that's coming up right now. >> That's That's right now. So, we're going 15 00:00:55,840 --> 00:01:01,840 to be any uh community interest items to speak about, so we'll go straight to 16 00:00:59,720 --> 00:01:05,600 citizen participation. So, if you'd like to come up 17 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,200 and >> Yeah, you do. 18 00:01:06,360 --> 00:01:12,960 » Yeah, you do. >> And then, please give your name. 19 00:01:11,120 --> 00:01:15,760 » My name's Jack Brooks. I'm the new 20 00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:18,840 Republican Party Chairman, Franklin County. 21 00:01:17,080 --> 00:01:23,480 And the 25th of August, we're going to have two state representatives 22 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:28,200 and a lady named Krista Shields, who is a expert on this Islamic movement, 23 00:01:26,920 --> 00:01:31,720 coming to give a speech and give a program 24 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:34,960 at 7:00 at the airport here in Franklin County. 25 00:01:32,640 --> 00:01:37,720 Would love to see some of y'all there. Good citizen participation. 26 00:01:37,596 --> 00:01:40,760 » [clears throat] >> Thank y'all. 27 00:01:38,200 --> 00:01:40,760 » Thanks, sir. 28 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:43,960 Anyone else? 29 00:01:44,080 --> 00:01:49,960 All right. So, we'll move on to be 30 00:01:47,760 --> 00:01:55,920 items to be considered. Uh number four here is consider request 31 00:01:53,000 --> 00:02:00,600 for re-plat of property located at 811 Miller Street, 32 00:01:57,680 --> 00:02:06,920 Mount Vernon, Texas 0.465 33 00:02:02,920 --> 00:02:11,760 AC Gabriel Keith Survey A- 261 Mount Vernon 34 00:02:09,000 --> 00:02:14,600 City of Mount Vernon, Texas. >> Mr. Lester? 35 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,800 » Mr. Lester, you want to talk about? >> Would you please come up? 36 00:02:20,520 --> 00:02:25,760 » Yeah, so My name is Alex Lester. So, basically I 37 00:02:24,320 --> 00:02:28,920 need to replat uh piece of property to two lots and 38 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:33,760 we're going to build some single home families here 39 00:02:30,200 --> 00:02:33,760 um for starter homes. 40 00:02:34,680 --> 00:02:42,080 » Okay, on on this replat, the zoning will not need to be changed. It'll still 41 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:47,480 remain um um R2 zoning and and it meets all the 42 00:02:45,760 --> 00:02:51,320 minimum uh setback requirements and meets the 43 00:02:49,560 --> 00:02:56,680 minimum square footage. He's taking a lot that is basically 19,000 square foot 44 00:02:54,360 --> 00:03:01,760 and cutting cutting it in half. And on R2, you have to have a minimum of 45 00:02:59,160 --> 00:03:05,160 5,000 square foot to the lot. So, it 46 00:03:03,800 --> 00:03:07,320 you won't need to come back to change the zoning is what I'm telling you. 47 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:09,640 » Okay. >> Okay. 48 00:03:08,160 --> 00:03:12,680 » Yeah. >> All right. 49 00:03:10,519 --> 00:03:15,519 » Um that's all. Is that about it? 50 00:03:15,560 --> 00:03:18,440 You know. >> Yeah, I need that or that for a motion 51 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:20,600 on that. >> For motion. 52 00:03:19,480 --> 00:03:22,920 » Second. >> I'll second. 53 00:03:21,400 --> 00:03:27,920 » All right. Mayor seconds. 54 00:03:25,160 --> 00:03:32,959 On to the next. Uh number five, in accordance with Texas Tax Code. 55 00:03:30,200 --> 00:03:37,720 » Uh so, we've had new numbers which y'all have been provided and the new uh 56 00:03:37,000 --> 00:03:44,200 uh voter approved rate is 0.58 57 00:03:42,120 --> 00:03:48,200 um Help me there. 102, 58 00:03:46,840 --> 00:03:52,040 correct? Which is 0.000014 59 00:03:53,760 --> 00:04:05,280 um since less than what was originally published. 60 00:04:00,640 --> 00:04:09,600 The net effect of that is about $2,800. But given that this document has been 61 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:15,200 put out there according to uh we need to go ahead and 62 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:18,640 redo this next week. And and the council doesn't take any action 63 00:04:17,160 --> 00:04:24,000 on this. They will uh they will propose a rate 64 00:04:21,160 --> 00:04:30,200 next week after we have had this just out in the public again. Okay? So, I'm 65 00:04:26,919 --> 00:04:35,200 grateful for all the work that Melissa's done on this and Andrew's done on this. 66 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:40,760 And folks, this is a very complicated calculation. It's very time-consuming. 67 00:04:38,160 --> 00:04:43,600 And um you know, I I wish everything could be perfect 68 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:46,040 when when 69 00:04:44,480 --> 00:04:51,040 we put it out there, but sometimes it's just not. So, um Melissa gave us the new 70 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:56,560 numbers or the correct numbers today at about 4:00. So, they're out there. 71 00:04:53,919 --> 00:05:01,520 The good news is is that they the tax rate has actually dropped. 72 00:04:59,320 --> 00:05:07,480 So, that's always that's always a good thing. 73 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:07,480 Anybody have any questions on that? 74 00:05:13,680 --> 00:05:18,440 » We have a motion on that one there? >> No No action. 75 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:20,560 » No action needed. Okay. I didn't hear it. 76 00:05:19,200 --> 00:05:24,320 I apologize. Uh 77 00:05:22,160 --> 00:05:31,760 Six from six. Yes. Uh number six, consider contract for the 78 00:05:27,320 --> 00:05:32,960 municipal judge uh I believe Mr. Sears. That's you. 79 00:05:32,400 --> 00:05:36,200 » That's me. >> Would you mind giving us a little 80 00:05:33,960 --> 00:05:39,560 background about yourself and kind of let us know 81 00:05:38,000 --> 00:05:44,080 » I know a lot of people My name is Stacy Sears. Uh 82 00:05:41,919 --> 00:05:47,960 I grew up here in Mount Vernon. Went to East Texas State University, 83 00:05:46,120 --> 00:05:51,200 graduated with a bachelor's degree there at Texas A&M 84 00:05:49,480 --> 00:05:55,280 Commerce now. I was working for the Sheriff's Office. 85 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:58,720 I spent about 5 years working at the Sheriff's Office. 86 00:05:57,240 --> 00:06:03,520 Got employed by Texas Department of Public Safety. Was a state trooper there 87 00:06:00,520 --> 00:06:09,360 for about 25 years and then after retiring from there 88 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:15,880 managed the Preifert Logistics safety department for them for about 10 years. 89 00:06:12,880 --> 00:06:20,400 Been retired for about 5 months now from that and of course we 90 00:06:18,320 --> 00:06:24,040 my wife and I own a real estate company here 91 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:27,800 in Mount Vernon. They approached me about doing this and 92 00:06:25,520 --> 00:06:30,840 I thought it might be a good fit for me and be able to help 93 00:06:29,240 --> 00:06:36,040 the city of Mount Vernon also, so 94 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:41,200 that's kind of where we are today. I'll answer any questions if anybody has 95 00:06:37,919 --> 00:06:45,520 any that I can answer. >> I I have a a couple things that I want 96 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:50,600 to say. We searched for months to find somebody that we felt would be a good 97 00:06:47,400 --> 00:06:56,760 fit for this or was qualified for this and I'm just very grateful that Stacy 98 00:06:53,280 --> 00:07:00,000 stepped up with his experience as DPS trooper 99 00:06:58,000 --> 00:07:03,360 experience in law enforcement and his connection 100 00:07:01,400 --> 00:07:08,200 with the community. I just felt like he is a great great fit for us and we 101 00:07:06,080 --> 00:07:11,800 really look forward to working with him. 102 00:07:10,160 --> 00:07:17,160 We met with him, Christie has met with him and we're you know, got a plan ahead 103 00:07:14,480 --> 00:07:21,475 of us and we're looking forward to having you 104 00:07:18,520 --> 00:07:23,495 calling you your honor, okay? >> [laughter] 105 00:07:24,280 --> 00:07:29,335 » Leanne's going to do that now, too. >> Yeah, yeah. 106 00:07:27,160 --> 00:07:33,200 » You know how far that'll go. >> [laughter] 107 00:07:30,520 --> 00:07:33,200 » That ain't happening. 108 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:41,160 So, yeah, so Council, do you have any questions on 109 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,160 the agreement? 110 00:07:41,760 --> 00:07:47,680 » I'll make a motion to approve that. >> I'll do a motion to approve. 111 00:07:46,120 --> 00:07:52,120 » I'll second. >> Motion approved. 112 00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:56,240 All right, on to number seven. Consider suggested ordinance amendment. Ordinance 113 00:07:54,720 --> 00:08:00,840 number 2026-03 114 00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:05,080 regarding officers appointed by council. In order to make day-to-day operations 115 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:11,640 more efficient, this amendment does not create any entitlement 116 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:11,640 or take away from any existing roles. 117 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:20,360 » Uh if you look at the proposed changes to 118 00:08:16,560 --> 00:08:26,320 the ordinance, you'll see that um the appointed officers of the city um 119 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:30,320 will include a municipal judge, a city administrator, city attorney, chief of 120 00:08:28,120 --> 00:08:34,440 police, and other officers that the city council deem necessary. 121 00:08:32,400 --> 00:08:39,719 The big change here is that it has removed the city secretary from being 122 00:08:37,599 --> 00:08:42,680 appointed by the council uh and placed her uh 123 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:46,240 uh in the organizational chart under the 124 00:08:44,400 --> 00:08:51,080 city administrator. And that is the only change on this on 125 00:08:48,120 --> 00:08:51,080 this ordinance. 126 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:58,640 » Anybody got any questions about it? Motion to approve. 127 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:02,760 Motion. >> I'll second. 128 00:09:00,360 --> 00:09:07,040 » That's two motions All right, number eight. Uh 129 00:09:05,160 --> 00:09:11,839 Consider the ordinance amendment amendments ordinance number 130 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:15,480 2026 -04 regard regarding defining and 131 00:09:14,440 --> 00:09:19,000 clarifying the role of city administrator. 132 00:09:16,760 --> 00:09:24,000 This role has been a job held in the city for at least 20 years. This 133 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:28,240 ordinance serves to memorialize and codify those roles. 134 00:09:27,000 --> 00:09:30,320 So, it kind of goes to the same thing, right? 135 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:34,080 » Right. The The city has budgeted and paid for a 136 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:39,200 city administrator for at least 20 years, but it's never been in the 137 00:09:36,800 --> 00:09:43,960 ordinance to have a city administrator. This actually officially creates the 138 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:48,440 position of city administrator. And as you saw by the ordinance that was just 139 00:09:46,040 --> 00:09:54,440 that y'all just passed, the council has the authority to appoint whoever they 140 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:59,480 want to to that position. Uh if you've read through this, you'll you'll see 141 00:09:56,720 --> 00:10:05,480 that the city administrator serves at the will of the council. And uh the 142 00:10:02,120 --> 00:10:10,400 ordinance also describes the the duties and authority and responsibilities of 143 00:10:08,600 --> 00:10:14,720 the city administrator. So it it basically codifies the position. It 144 00:10:12,480 --> 00:10:18,240 makes it legit. So Um once this is done, I will actually be 145 00:10:17,000 --> 00:10:21,520 legitimate instead of being illegitimate. So 146 00:10:22,080 --> 00:10:25,560 » I should motion to approve that. >> I'll make a motion to approve that. 147 00:10:25,120 --> 00:10:30,560 » I'll second. >> Second. All right. Motion approved. 148 00:10:28,040 --> 00:10:33,200 » Thank you. I feel so much better. >> You're official. 149 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:41,880 » That's it. Um yeah, I will bring up I'll I 150 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:47,320 Council, I wanted to bring you up to speed on where we are with the Little 151 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:52,440 Creek Park project. Um I want to get a little background out there in the 152 00:10:48,640 --> 00:10:57,400 public about this. Um just to kind of maybe clarify any any concerns or 153 00:10:54,880 --> 00:11:01,360 questions that that folks may have about this. Uh those of you that have been 154 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:07,960 serving on the council for a while uh know that uh back in 2024 155 00:11:05,000 --> 00:11:12,440 uh we applied for a grant for what was phase one of the Little Creek Park uh 156 00:11:10,640 --> 00:11:17,000 project. And that basically was some straight shade structures, new 157 00:11:14,160 --> 00:11:24,280 playground equipment. And that was pretty much it uh on that. Um the grant 158 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:29,560 was approved. Um we actually uh got notification of the uh approval of the 159 00:11:26,800 --> 00:11:33,440 grant. We had applied for this probably in September 160 00:11:31,440 --> 00:11:36,440 of 2024. That's when the application was 161 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:40,600 submitted. It was we were notified that there would be a 162 00:11:38,040 --> 00:11:47,520 forthcoming award in January or February of 25. We got the award notification, 163 00:11:44,240 --> 00:11:53,840 the official award notification where we actually it said an award date of 9 15 164 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,960 25. That's when it was actually awarded to 165 00:11:55,720 --> 00:12:01,320 the city. The performance period for the phase one 166 00:11:59,160 --> 00:12:07,840 project began starts on 10 1 2025 167 00:12:04,360 --> 00:12:14,040 and runs through 9 30 2028. During that period around October of 168 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:18,400 2025, we were approached by the representative of the Texas Parks and 169 00:12:16,040 --> 00:12:23,760 Wildlife program and encouraged to apply for phase two of 170 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:27,200 Little Creek Park project during the 2025 171 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:34,600 consideration of applications. We submitted that. We 172 00:12:31,480 --> 00:12:38,800 were not awarded phase two. Our plans We didn't begin construction in 2025 173 00:12:37,280 --> 00:12:41,480 because we were told go ahead and apply and then you do construction at one 174 00:12:40,320 --> 00:12:45,200 time. Get better bids. Everything's done at 175 00:12:43,360 --> 00:12:49,680 once. Save on engineering costs and everything. 176 00:12:46,400 --> 00:12:54,000 We submitted that. We were notified in earlier this year that we were not 177 00:12:51,800 --> 00:13:01,480 awarded phase two. So, that kind of went out the window and 178 00:12:58,360 --> 00:13:07,120 so we got back with the grant and decided to go ahead and start 179 00:13:03,000 --> 00:13:12,280 planning just to do phase one. Good news is is that they have actually started on 180 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:17,680 the design on phase one. They were here Saturday doing surveying at the park. 181 00:13:15,480 --> 00:13:22,080 Identifying where everything was going to be. 182 00:13:18,839 --> 00:13:26,800 The design period will be approximately four to six months. At which time once 183 00:13:24,960 --> 00:13:31,680 that's done, um, they will bring the preliminary design 184 00:13:29,440 --> 00:13:35,840 to council and we'll have a public meeting and everybody give their public 185 00:13:33,800 --> 00:13:40,200 comment about that. If y'all want anything changed, you can tell them, 186 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:45,600 they'll change that. Um, they'll take that back. Two months later, they will 187 00:13:42,000 --> 00:13:53,240 start going out for bid on the actual, uh, construction of of the park project. 188 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:57,480 Uh, I've got a map for y'all's purposes here to kind of take a look at what has 189 00:13:55,680 --> 00:14:01,960 actually been going to be done and what is actually going to be cut. Um, 190 00:14:02,120 --> 00:14:10,840 and as you can kind of see that that we've gone back basically just to some 191 00:14:07,160 --> 00:14:18,080 shade structures and to relocating the, um, playground equipment from, um, 192 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:22,080 uh, down by the tennis courts to up by the splash pad, which makes a whole lot 193 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:25,880 more sense. And, um, 194 00:14:23,520 --> 00:14:29,360 that will be, uh, um, you know, they kids can run from the 195 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:33,800 playground to the splash pad. That just makes it a lot of sense. 196 00:14:31,480 --> 00:14:38,280 Um, and then they'll be adding a couple of shade structures, but that'll be all 197 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:45,360 that's in phase one. Now, we've been encouraged to reapply possibly this next 198 00:14:41,560 --> 00:14:49,960 year for phase two. Phase two included the, uh, resurfacing of the basketball 199 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:55,680 courts, resurfacing of the tennis courts, and also, um, 200 00:14:53,280 --> 00:14:58,800 um, the amphitheater. Um, 201 00:14:57,200 --> 00:15:02,480 we'll we'll see how that goes. We'll apply and see see how that goes out, but 202 00:15:01,440 --> 00:15:07,320 we're not going to slow down the construction on these, 203 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:10,560 uh, and wait another, um, you know, period of time. Um, we're 204 00:15:09,520 --> 00:15:16,800 going to go ahead and get this playground built as rapidly as possible. 205 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:21,360 So, that's kind of where we're at, um, with grants, I think it's important for 206 00:15:18,680 --> 00:15:25,760 the public to understand that it is not unusual to write a grant 207 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:29,240 and uh, and then finally see the money 3 years 208 00:15:28,280 --> 00:15:33,000 later. Cartel and Arrington is a perfect 209 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:37,880 example of that. We actually wrote the grant for car that 210 00:15:35,440 --> 00:15:42,000 was actually submitted in September of 2021. 211 00:15:39,840 --> 00:15:47,720 We finished the project, completed the project. Um 212 00:15:45,440 --> 00:15:53,720 and that's everything. All the finances going back in in March of 2026. 213 00:15:51,600 --> 00:15:58,160 So, that's the that's federal grant money and this is federal grant money 214 00:15:56,120 --> 00:16:02,680 and this is it just it doesn't happen fast. I'm sorry. I wish it yeah, I wish 215 00:16:00,520 --> 00:16:08,760 it did, but there's a whole lot of hoops to jump through and it just takes time. 216 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:15,880 The the the thing to know here is that on the Little Creek Park, we have until 217 00:16:10,840 --> 00:16:20,440 9:30 2028 to finish this project. This will be finished sometime in 2027. 218 00:16:19,480 --> 00:16:24,200 So, I want to bring everybody up to speed on 219 00:16:22,080 --> 00:16:28,560 that. Anybody have any questions on it? 220 00:16:26,400 --> 00:16:31,400 » Not on that. I got a I got a separate question. You probably answer this 221 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:35,080 pretty quick. Um I got a the email from the TDA go about 222 00:16:33,680 --> 00:16:36,720 the Oscar. About that 223 00:16:35,839 --> 00:16:40,480 that What was that grant for? Did we get that 224 00:16:39,080 --> 00:16:45,720 or did we not get that? >> That that was a that was a C that was 225 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:49,280 still working on that CDBG project. >> Well, it said something about how 226 00:16:47,760 --> 00:16:52,520 you had to fill out the Oscar in order to get the Oscar or something or 227 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:56,400 » The Oscar close out documentation. That was about 228 00:16:54,760 --> 00:16:58,960 our audit. >> Okay. 229 00:16:56,680 --> 00:17:05,439 » And the Oscar has to do with if you receive more than $500,000 in 1 year 230 00:17:02,680 --> 00:17:10,120 uh of federal funds, it has to it has to be audited. We didn't receive more than 231 00:17:07,240 --> 00:17:12,760 $500,000, so we're exempt from that. But you you you 232 00:17:11,600 --> 00:17:16,600 » I didn't read into it. It just said something about it was going to be on 233 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:19,120 hold. I I hardly we read through those, but that one just kind of struck down. I 234 00:17:18,439 --> 00:17:23,120 didn't know if >> And if your funding would be on hold. 235 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:26,839 But I think we've received all the payments on that grant already. 236 00:17:25,319 --> 00:17:29,880 But future funding would be on hold, but that's been taken care of. 237 00:17:28,360 --> 00:17:32,200 » That's a perfect example though. The closeout was 238 00:17:33,400 --> 00:17:37,400 » March. Yeah. 239 00:17:36,280 --> 00:17:41,800 Yeah. And it's you're dealing 240 00:17:39,640 --> 00:17:45,120 with federal money, you're dealing not just with the feds, but you're also 241 00:17:43,360 --> 00:17:49,760 dealing with the state agency that handles the money for the feds. So, it's 242 00:17:47,360 --> 00:17:53,080 triple layer of bureaucracy. And it's just jumping through a whole 243 00:17:51,560 --> 00:17:57,000 lot of hoops. So, um 244 00:17:54,600 --> 00:18:01,200 and even on our criminal justice grants, it takes a while. 245 00:17:59,720 --> 00:18:07,160 And there's a lot of paperwork, Leah. Is that not correct? 246 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:07,160 Even if it's a $10,000 grant. 247 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,400 Can't think of anything. 248 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:22,600 We'll call it in. >> Motion to adjourn. 249 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:26,400 » Motion to adjourn? >> Second. 250 00:18:24,640 --> 00:18:30,320 » 6:21. Motion 251 00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,320 to adjourn. 252 00:18:54,080 --> 00:18:58,960 » Thanks, Mark. >> Okay. 253 00:18:56,520 --> 00:18:58,960 » We'll see you.