Council Meeting Minutes February 12, 2024, at 6pm Townhall  1. Opening Ceremonies:  Mayor Jolly called meeting to order at 5:30pm  Those in attendance were City Secretary Nacona Martinez, City Administrator Derek Stephens and Councilmembers S. Braddock, S. Henderson,J. Craig, J. Forsythe, and S. Overstreet via Zoom  2. Town Hall discussion with the public on Utility/Water bill increase  Derek- There is nobody that is going to be happy about their water bills going up, but itis Belew- Town hall meeting is to address things to the public, but my question might be reserved. Ok, 5O we pay for 5,000 gallons of water each month whether we use it or not. Where does that extra credit go when we don't use it? Does it go into our general fund? Is there any wayi it cang go into at fund where the people that actually use it, I kind of doubt that that would ever happen but, Ithink we need to address how much of that is being paid for but not being used. That is my Belew-Yes, because lonly used 4,000 last month and you know it was still the same. Another thing, I know that there may be some that it's difficult for them to pay this $9 but there is some that have assistance with their utility bills. Could we find out, not a name but a percentage of how many meters that are getting assistance so that we would know those of us that are paying Derek- When they get assistance, they are: still paying the full bill. Right Gloria? Gloria- Yes, its still the full bill that is coming out of their account. Rather they pay it or South Plains Community Action pays it, its still the full amount. It's not at a discounted rate or anything  necessary.  first question.  Ronny- Are you talking about the 4 or 5,000 minimum.  full price will even make a dent into the money' we need.  different. Belew- Oh, Ijust thought. Derek- It'sr not a discounted rate. Belew- So, they get Community Action to help play their $9 right. Derek- Yes, its their whole entire bill gets paid.  Gloria- So Community Action isn't always helping them they only get funded sO much per year. This is only the second year that we are using South Plains Community Action. And they do have a criteria they have to go by that people have to meet in order for them to get assistance. So, what they do is they have to go down there and provide Birth çertificates, Social Security, and everything to them and then they are told "Yes, we can help you." Or "No, we can't.". Nowi it has gotten to where it used to be where they can only help you once a year but here recently, a couple months ago they started helping the same people, there is al lot of people that are on Social Security that are on ai fixed income and those are the ones that they are helping pay their  bills.    Belew- That's good. Ijust thinki if we are, going tol have another revenue created from the $9 from everyone. Is this going to be enough or is this going to happen again in 6 months? Thati is Debbie- What happens to the donations to the Fire Department. Not everyone can afford that. Karen-Icalculated how much luse which is about 1,000 gallons a month so that's about 30,000 gallons a year. That's pretty stiff. I lived in Denver, and it wasn'tthat much. Is this absolutely necessary because that's about $152,000 in revenue. What happens to all of that. And Iknow there are al lot of them that can't pay that so let's give them al break. Ross-I Iwant to knowi if this is even going to be enough to fix what we have to fix. Derek- Sol let's get toi it. Youl have about 3 options. We keep doing what we have been doing, playing cat and mouse with TCEQ. We have multiple lift stations that are down. We can keep on doing what you're doing and eventually what willl happen is the State will come in and take your water system away. And to your credit about water in Denver. Every water system is unique in whati it is. We are very fortunate to have the system that we dot from CRMWA. The other side is that you can sell your water utility and wel have been approached by that by CSWR that came in. You're going to get pennies on the dollar for your water system andy you can, get online, and you can read the reviews about what that is actually going to do for you. Your water bill is going to go up to about $150, K, and ify you lose Ito the state your water billi is going to go up to whatever they what it to be and: start making the necessary improvements. To your credit as to what the money is going to go to, just in lift stations, you have $440,000 ofi improvements left ont them. Derek- Yes, and so and people talk about grants, grants, grants, grants. There is only about 2 grants anymore that are true grants. There is the CDBG grant and then your USDA grants. The other ones are low interest loans but even the USDA and the CDBG they are still grant matched. So, you're paying your interest up front. So, in orderi for us to start making these improvements! have tol have some money to be able to make those improvements. Iwish that it wasn't necessary, Iwish we could do it on just what we had bid but there isn'ta utility in the world that is working with 2015, 2011 prices. The City of Lubbock has gone up on us for what they charge. CRMWAI has gone up. Our electricity has gone up. Ouri fuel. Everything else has gone upi int the world. This is the only utility that will give youa a voice to comment on and givey your reasoning. Ross- In reality what does it really need to bei to be able to do what we need to do for those lift Ross- Ok, nobody likes to pay any higher than what we are paying now than do except, one thing! 11 thought about last night, keep in mind, the difference in our property taxes for most of us got a huge break. Some of that money' we were paying in our property taxes, for me trading off $1,500 ay year than $15 dollars or whatever it is a month if that is what it needs to be than its not that big a deal. And if you want to talk about what Gloria was talking about with the people that are having trouble with their bill, they're not. We need to fixi it the right way and not band aid this thing for 3,4or 5 years itj just needs to be done right. Ifi it needs to be $151 it should be Derek-I think $9 and let the city do their due diligence and make the cuts especially in those enterprise funds. We are already down 7% in this first bit from where we: should be sO we are at 25% in our expenses, and we should be at 32%. So, that's months into the year andi that's where Karen- Are we, going to borrow the money? Do wel have a good credit rating with the city?  my question.  Karen- Soi its going toi take 3 years just to pay for the lift stations?  Ross- Is going up $9. Is that the only option?  Derek- Yes. stations? Derek- 15  considered sO we can fixi it.  we are at.    Derek- So, when we had' TCEQ in here thati is one of the things that when you go out fort these water grants you will send the application off to Austin and its similar to like a poker game. They will consider criteria to what fits best for our community. AI lot oft these lowi interest loans there isa lot of forgiveness in them. But we don'te even have the means to even make a payment. I'm just telling your right now. We just don't have the means. Yall have seeni it. They! have done it for years. Everybody here can remember the days oft the water leaks. Yall made the investment then to improve your waterlines. This is no different. It's the same type of project. We can! keep doing what we are doing and keep getting slapped on the wrist or we can do something about it and sustain ourselves. It'sreally up to them at this point. But that's where we are at, at this JoJo- Me personally aint speaking for anyone but me. Going up $9 might not bel hard for some people but it is for somebody like me. It wouldn't bother me but if we don't pay our bills right on the 15th y'all put 10%. And Ithink giving that $3 to the Fire Department is very important because one dayl I might need them. Ast far as the water goes, Ican't drink the waterlhave to buy the water. Sometimes when I'm taking al bath, Ican't smell anything but chlorine. But I'm sorrylo didn't put the cityi int this mess. Years ago, the Council allowed the City to get into this and know it's not your fault that they are where they are. But, going up on our water bill and: still wanting to charge that 10% because we might be a dayl late, Idon't like that. And it's hard when Mike- What about those who have more than one meter. You going to hit me every time for that? You stuck me every time Ineeded a meter and needed a meter, I had to give a deposit for everyone. Even though I'm drafted you still wanted a deposit for each meterlp puti in. That's kind Sam-Ithink: at that point b/c you and It talked on the phone yesterday. Gloria ifl I'm not  point.  you're living off Social Security check. It's not easy.  of bogus, isn'ti it? What do you do with all that money? mistaken, that has since been fixed with Gary House, hasn'tit?  Gloria- What?  Sam- That exact issue he'st talking about. Gloria- As far as having different meters? Sam- No. Mike will you reiterate what you just said. Glora- Asi far as another meter for what?  Mike- Correct, so iflgo and get another meter, you're going to hit me with another deposit. Gloria- So you can have a water meter. So, there are al lot of people that have meters that run to their homes for their water and then they fill like the need a meter for their lawn b/c Iwant to water my lawn. So, they get another meter. So yea we have people that have different meters. Mike- So put another meter for my barn, and you hit me with another deposit on that. Andl I think Monicia has the same situation where you have multiple meters and you) just keep adding  Mike- Anything!  deposit, deposit, deposit. Mike- So where does that money go? your deposit is still sitting there.  Monica- No, Ihave rent houses thatIneeded to check to see iflhad water.  Gloria- What we have done is and this is since. Julie was here. Ifit'sala landlord, we give it to you for $751 the deposit b/c that deposit stays on' your home. Even though your tenants move out Mike- So, that's my other thing. Like my barn you're charging me for sewer and garbage, and I Gloria- Soi ify you are just going to have water at your barn then it's up to you to tell us that. Derek- Mike, ify you're being charged for a garbage bill and you aren't usingi it come and tell us  don't have sewer b/ct there is no sewer lines there.  and we can take it off.    Mike- But Itried to do that, and it hadn't been done yet, that's my point. Iguess my pointi is, Derek- It goes to the General Fund and then when you close your water account you geti it back. Jojo- When they puti ina all those new pipes. They didn't put any new pipes where Ilive. They  where does that money. go.  brought the pipes but never did anything. Derek-lwasn't here for any oft that. Jojo-lknow you weren't.  Ronny- There are some down there for sure. The main thing that they did with those water lines Jojo- I'mj just saying, down there wherelstay, we never get any attention. We pay taxes like Ronny- Iknow that int that waterline project that everything was supposed to have gotten done with the exception of Avenue. J. Everything else should've been done on the east side oft the Jojo- Also we were supposed to be working on the street and wherel I stay there are more holes than al little bit. lalways said that ifltear up my car, Iwas going to sue y'all. I'm sorry but I'm angry b/cl Ijust can'ta afford the water bill that I'm already paying but it aint nothing thatlcan do Ronny- we got our roller fixed and we are starting to fix the potholes. Felix and Istarted fixing the ones on South 1sta and Ave E.It'sal big one. We also started on North 7th, and Ave KIbelieve. Cyndi- My last water bill showed thatlhad used 0 water, so I called, and she: said that something happened with our system. So, when it gets fixed am Igoing to be screwed and have to paya huge water bill b/ciknowidontusualy have a high bill. But now what? Wasl Ithe only one that Derek- No, there was al huge problem with our system last month and they ran an update. They are supposed to be working on the issue and getting back with us this month on that. Cyndi- Soiflgo over then Ishouldn't be charged for that correct? Derek- I don't know that you won't be charged but, you will be charged b/cyou used the water. Mike- How did we get to this point that we weren't sO proactive that we are where we are. Ronny- Ibelieve a lot of the problem is thati it's kind ofl like the Perfect Storm between. Jerry Mike- But how do you go so long without anyone noticing anything. Because now you are ata problem that is going to cost you double b/cyoul let it get to this point rather than working on it Ronny- So what I was getting at ist that Webster put a band aid on everything and wouldn't fixi it sO when he retired and came. Julie who she went in there andj just spent money on1 top of money JoJo- So over the years Julie hadn'tr made this mess that we are in. It's been going on for years. So, who ever was the Councilmen or whatever they allowed this to happen. I'm not sayingt that Derek- Ijust think over the years they have just tried to keep costs down and tried to keepi it where it was manageable for everyone. You can fixi it and fixi it and fixi it until one dayy you are  was replace the main feeder lines. The smaller lines didn't get replaced. everyone else, but we don't get treated the same way.  highway.  ify'all choose to raise it up.  So, we are trying to get started on the big ones.  had 0 usage?  Gloria willj just adjust it. Webster.  as the years gol by. and tried to fixe everything. itv wasy'all.  just going to have to repair it and that's just where we are at. Mike- what is your life expectancy for a lift station?  Derek- 20 years    Mike- So, we knew well in advance that we would get at least we 20 years out oft them. So how  long! has it been since we have done anything with them? Mike- SO, that's what I'm saying we aren't! being proactive. Belew- Had. Julie repaired any of the lift stations?  Derek- 50 years  Derek- Yes, she put a new one in North of the Gin, you have a new well on gth street and the well was required by TCEQ that you have to have to be able to supplement yourselves in the summer  when the demand it high and she also did al lot of other things. Belew- What happens to the usage that we don't use? Derek- It goes back into the General Fund.  Karen-I use about 4,000 a month. Couldn't that money go to a different account that the city Derek- Imean you probably could but it would be a very difficult task to try and sift through just Derek- The grants are kind of, let mej just put this out there, the grants sound good but its not a way of life. Itsj just not a way to run a city hoping that you can get a grant. You at least have to runy your water and sanitation like the enterprise that it is. Imeani those things HAVE to generate Belew- So, my sewer on my water bill is $28.25. Does that mean we don't have any breaks or Derek- well when youl have $440,000 inl lift station repairs and you have to lift it and such to get to the lagoons in order to picki it up and elevate it and migrate it all and the sewer rate hasn't Judge Braddock- Ife everyone were to disagree and try and burn the City Hall down and decide not to raise this $9 where is the money going to come from to cover it? Are youj just going to Ronny- Ift they burn the City Hall down, we won't have anything but the money from the  runs to help people? to try andi figure out which ones.  Cathy- Is there not grants that we could get for this?  revenue, just to sustain themselves.  repairs?  been adjusted since 2011 raise taxes? insurance company.  Braddock- Will you have to raise City taxes? Derek- We would have to do something.  Braddock- Ok, soi ini that prospective if this $9 that means everyone that has a meter pays fori it, that's owners, that's renter, that's everybody. Ify you raise taxes, then that means there are only going to bes selective ones that own property is going to doi it. So, I'mi for raising water b/ci it goes all the way across the board, sO everyone is going to have to payf for ita and not just a few JoJo- I'm going to ask the question that everyone wants to ask but they are scared to ask. The payroll, some are saying it's too much and some think that some of them don't deserve a dollar, but they have to get paid. Ik know thaty y'all didn'tgive a raise this year. But what about next Derek- They only thing Ithink about that is that not everyone is out at 2or3 o'clock in the morning fixing a water leak, its not everyone out at2or3o'clocki in the morning dealing with drunk people. Iseey your point I do but there are like the water guys, they do take al beating, they do some things and I'm just going to say that most ofy'all wouldn't want to do the things  selected ones.  Cathy- so if we do that can you guarantee our taxes won't be raised.  year.  they do.  JoJo- I'll get in the sewer, it don't bother me.    Sally- Raymond can't be everywhere at once. Al lot oft thei time some of these guys are seen parked for an hour or two not doing anything. And thati is taking up City gas and City time or just Sally- oh but they have. We are thinking they could be helping some of the other guys that are Raymond- Sometimes you might see them sitting there b/c we are having to wait on parts b/c we sent the other worker to go get it to fix whatever we are fixing. It's not that they are sitting Mac- Would you be able to drink this water afteri this project is complete? B/c everyone in here is having to pay for water twice. So once the project is complete will we be able to drink the Derek- You should be able to drinki it now, bathe in it, cooki ini it. A lot ofi it is b/cc our wateri is hard, and we probably aren'tgoing to like it. Imean that is what an RO system is for. But honestly, it's the same water that comes out of Lubbock. Lubbock blends it andi iti is sent through ap pipeline. The only time that iti isn't from Lubbock is int the summer when we are running off of  on their phones. Derek-I Ihaven'ts seen that.  needing their help. But we have seen at few who have just been parked. there not doing anything, it's just we are having to wait for these things.  water?  the supplement. Derek- April 1st part of CRMWA. and utility billing.  Benny- Ift this passes, how long before we. start having to pay for that. Ronny- Ihave Shallowater's water bill and it's $179.  Derek- Did y'all hear that? Shallowater's' water billi is $179. We are very, very fortunate to be a Ross- When II lived in Odessa our water bill was $150 and that was 2 years ago. Belew- So, Ihave another question. So, we have 2 separate people hired for accounts payable Derek- wej just have one for accounts payable. So, Utility biller is money coming in and Accounts Derek- Your really want to have those things separate b/c that is where money starts going Janet-I Ijust wanted to bring this to everyone thatIthink we are fortunate that our water bill hasn't gone up and we do have a good City Manager now who is really working on trying to look at all aspects tol help. Ib believe hei is doing a great job. Ithink we need to rally behind him and have his back for everything that he has done for us this far. If he thinks our water bill needs to go up, Ithink we allj just need to listen b/c hel lives here and he really wants to see growth and JoJo-1o don't want him to go anywhere just want to speak my peace and He knowslalways speak my mind but I'm going to have his back. Why does the city! have al housekeeper. Can't  Payable is the one that pays our bills sO she would be the money going out.  Belew- So, couldn'tt that just be one person.  missing.  development and Ijust feel like Iwould hate to see him go.  some of the city! ladies clean up? Derek- Ohl Isweep and mop. Derek- Yes  Ross- I'm going to go back to what lasked earlier. Is $9 going to cover it? Mike- But are we sure in a couple months from now we aren't going to be back here. Ross- Ithink with everything going up and it has to be set up like al business andithink that is what Derek is doingi is running the cityl like al business and it has to stay that wayi in order to see Derek-Ithink the $9i is going to be good b/c I'm not going to do that to people with the $15.  ac difference.  JoJo-So Derek, would it be better to do the $15 or the $9 dollars.    Ross- How did you come up with such an odd number? Why not $10.  Derek- To be honest Iwas just trying to keepi it right at 100 and that was including the Fire Sam-ljust want to add and go back to what. JoJo said and what Mike has said already. All these years have been mandating things. What we are trying to do nowi is set the standards for what we need to do going forward. We are having to play catch upi in the meantime. It's not fair to us, it's not fair to y'all but we need to startsomewhere. We are trying to do the best we can, andl hope everyone can see that. We are trying to meet everyone in the middle. Sometimes that isn't possible. But if we don't start moving forward then all oft this isj just going to swallow us up. But Derek- Al little bit. Dale does a pretty good job being dual purpose. He put in a gas line; he helps with the water. guys. That's kind of been my thing with everyone. Everyone has a dual purpose. And that is the way I'm going to run it from here on out. So as fara as his Code Enforcement not making money, Dales make upi for it in other ways. He patches potholes, he's helped with water  Department donations.  we are doing the best that we can, and hope everyone can see us. Belew- Do we have much income from Code Enforcement?  leaks, he's fixed our plumbing at City Hall. Gloria- He reads meters for us. Sam- He'sa a jack of all trades.  Derek- And one thing I plan on doing with him is TCEQi is going to mandate us to inspect every meter and investigate ifi its PVC or galvanized or ifits led or poly or whatever iti is b/c we must get that submitted by October 16, 2024. And Dale willl be the main one that runs it. JoJo- I'm going to say this and then I'm going to shut up. We don'ts get too much attention where Ronny- One thing Iwant to say while ally y'all are here. Ify'all have a pothole that is bothering JoJo- when Jerry was here, that compress street is terrible. Idon't know who it belongs to, buti it Sally- wel have a little bit of asphalt, and we don'tmind putting it in the holes, but we don'twant Ronny- ify you cover it up with cement, we won'ttell anybody. Anyone else have anything else to Cyndi- Can youj just say anything you want? l'm just wanting to ask; Iknow that. John is leaving, and he's done so much good for the city, and no one ever praises him here. But you can't deny what. John has done. He's leaving and I've looked and there are no adsi in the paper or anything Derek- That's never been said. Let's squash that right now. And. John has not turned in his 2  Ilive. ButIthink we: should be looked at sometimes.  you, call City Hall and tell Gloria. We are trying to get all the bad ones.  isterrible.  to get in trouble. We don't mind helping. say before we move on to the council meeting?  and all 8 get told is we are going back to a 3 dayl kill shelter.  weeks' notice. Cyndi- We alll know he'sl leaving.  Derek- We have asked him. And we haven't gotten anything from him. Derek-Well that is news to me. B/clhaven't, gotten anything from him.  Cyndi- Well wel know that he's leaving March 15t.  Cyndi-But what has been done there wasn't b/coft the cityi if was b/c of him. Yall don'ta act like y'all care at all. Every time that someone tries to do something out there y'all have bashed them  or tried toi take their money. Derek- We didn't try and take their money! Cyndi- Y'all held that $3000.  Derek- No we didn't. Youl have to give an accounting for it. That is simple economics and that's simple accounting. And every dollar that was donated went to that project.    Cyndi- It took al long time. Barbara- No, you did!  Derek- It did not! Itt took a while for them to go get it and the second that they had an invoice we cut them a check right then and there. Barbara, please correct me ifl'm wrong. Derek- So, that is not fair representation of what happened, andidon'tappreciate it. Derek- Well, that's not the truth. And you're sitting here roasting mei in a public forum saying  Cyndi- Well lapologize for that but that is what Iwas told.  that Itried to steal their money. Cyndi- Ijust apologized fori it. Derek- Yes, but thati is the second time.  Cyndi- That's not the second time. When was the first time?  Derek- When you came here the first time and put everybody on blast fort this. Cyndi- Oh, about all the animals in the city. Well, the truth hurts sometimes.  Carson-lwould like to say that this is off topic. The current agenda item is a different item. This  is for a different time. Ronny- It's not an agenda item. Cyndi-lwasi told that it was an open forum. Carson- It is an open forum about the water bill. Cyndi- Well the truth hurts.  Derek- There will be a dual-purpose person that will work with the animal shelter and public Derek- There will be! 5 guys capable of running the shelter. Instead ofitj just falling on one  works. person.  Cyndi- So, no one willl be responsible for the Animal Shelter Ronny- Ok, we are ready to move onto the council meeting. (Townhall meeting was adjourned at 6:30)  These meeting minutes were PASSED and APPROVED on the 4 day of March 2024  ooma  Nacona Martinez, City Secretary  Ronny. Jolly, Mayor  hag  mo