City of Richland Springs  Minutes of City Council Meeting on April 15, 2024  Meeting: Discussion of the ongoing projects and regular business of the city  Council Members: Aaron Bessett, Franky Soto, Jessica Scales, Larry Crump, and. Jason Lewis  Council Attendees: Aaron Bessett, Franky Soto, Larry Crump  Absent: Jason Lewis, Jessica Scales Called to Order/Location: 07:00pm at City Hall Note Taker: Kristy Perry, City Water Employee  City Officials Present: Mayor, Frank Pearce; City Water Manager, Chris Perry  Guests/Citizens Present: Pat Wilson, Oncor Representative; Kristy Perry, City' Water Employee  7:00pm 1. Franky Soto opened the meeting with a prayer.  7:01pm 2. No citizen participation.  7:04pm 3. Discussed and approved previous minutes. Motion to approve minutes as corrected, was 7:06pm 4. We discussed the payment of bills for the City, and the Water, Sewer, and Garbage. Motion to accept reports and pay bills was made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Larry Crump. Motion passed by  made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Larry Crump. Motion passed by unanimous vote.  unanimous vote.  7:09pm 5. Discussed city and water reports. Chris Perry discussed that the Eclipse went well. We had a number of people that was here on the day of the Eclipse. All facilities appeared to be well cleaned after the event. Backflow preventer has been tested sO all corrections have been submitted to TCEQ. 7:13pm 6. Sheriff's Office Report-No deputies in attendance. Noted no officers worked the city during 7:147. Oncor Representative; Pat Wilson discussed Ordinance 2024-1 Oncor Electric Delivery Franchise Agreement with city. Oncor would like to have a written agreement to use city right of way. There was discussion of Oncor maintaining vegetation management, (tree trimming). This maintenance will be added into this agreement. Cityf franchise fee is based on Kilowatt hours through meter. Wilson stated that through this franchise agreement, the city will not be held responsible in the event someone hits an electric pole. Oncor will be the responsible party. Oncor will also relocate electric poles if there is an  the past month.    issue with water lines, etc. Motion to accept franchise agreement was made by Franky Soto, 2nd by Larry 7:36 8/9. Street lights were discussed. Oncor will no longer install new security lights as they are an investor owned company. They will onlyi install street lights. Discussed the most cost effective way to improve lighting at this time would bei for the city to purchase lights and hire a company' to put in place. 7:43 Oncor Representative Wilson left the meeting. Continued brief discussion on cost of lights for 7:46: 10. Resolution Requesting Financial Participation from Texas' Water Development Board was discussed. This is money left over from 2021. This Grant is for 4.5 million. It will cover 70 % of water line replacement project whereas USDA Grant, which is at a standstill waiting TCEQ approval, will cover 62% of project. By using Texas Water Development Board, the city will pay 10 years less, $12,000 less per year, bypass TCEQ approval after received. It will take 30-45 days to approve after alli information is 7:55 Called Engineer, Dena Sealy regarding questions. Council wanted to confirm TCEQ would not need to be involved with the Water Development Board. Sealy stated Water Development Board would approve plans as our line replacement project is not considered a major project. (Putting in a new system from the scratch is considered a major project.) Motion to proceed with' Water Development Board was made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Franky Soto. Motion passed unanimously. 7:59: 11. Discussed Application Filing and Authorized Representative Resolution. This will allow us to proceed with the grant from the Texas Water Development Board and discussed resolution. Franky made motion to approve resolution 2nd by Aaron Bessett. Motion passed unanimously. 8:04pm 12. The need for an audit was discussed as required by Texas Water Development Board. TWDB requires a 3-year previous audit. Discussed that it has been difficult to find a CPA1 that could do a3y year audit by. July 1, 2024. Cameron Gulley, CPA is the only one who could do the audit in a timely manner. It will cost $25,000 for thet first year, then $18,000 afterwards. It was noted that a yearly audit must be done and a single audit done ifa project is over $750,000. Motion to proceed with audit for 4 years was 8:10: 13.Old' Water Office update. Phase 1 has been approved. Trusses have been ordered and willl be here in 1-2 weeks. Also, have hose bib with water connection on back wall of old water office. Electrical 8:11 14. Financing for old water office with Government Capital Corporation. Items noted: Cityi is nota mechanism to borrow money for project. Will look at assets and willl loan money on these things, which isa collateral type loan. There would be al loan of $120,000 and could be a 2,3,or5 5 year pay off. It was decided to table this item until all council members could be present for more discussion and vote.  Crump. The motion passed unanimously.  Council did not enter street light agreement with Oncor.  Brown St. and Hwy 190/Carter St.  received. A3 year audit is needed by July 1, 2024. Grant will pay for audits  made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Larry Crump. Motion Passed unanimously.  service has been purchased for the building.    8:15 15. Mayor Report--Upgraded PLC controller, back-flow preventer completed andi inspected. Water tower #2 (on hill), has had improvements made. Berm has been reinforced and pipe extended past berm  tor remedy issue caused by occasional over-flow ofv water tower.  8:35 16/17 No Executive Session eradicate weed problem.  8:35 Briefly discussed weed situation at the park. Willl look into weed killer or weed and feed to 8:38 18 Motion to adjourn made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Larry Crump. Motion passed unanimously.  dcalur Scales, Secretary  Mayor, Frank Pearce  hoi