City of Richland Springs  Minutes of City Council Meeting on December 11+h, 2023  Meeting: Discussion of the ongoing projects and regular business oft the city Council Members: Aaron Bessett, Franky Soto, Jessica Scales, Larry Crump, and. Jason Lewis Called to Order/Location: 7:00pm at the R.S. Community Center  Council Attendees: Mayor Frank Pearce Note Taker:. Jessica Scales Absent: Jason Lewis  City Officials Present: Mayor, Frank Pearce; Mayor Protem, Aaron Bessett; Treasurer, Franky Soto; Secretary, Jessica Scales; Larry Crump; City Water Manager, Chris Perry  Guests/Citizens Present: Paige Moats 7:00pm 1. We opened the meeting with a prayer. Market and reminded city of bank building cleanup.  7:01pm 2. Guest and Citizen Participation: Paige thanked city for street closure for Christmas 7:03pm 3. We discussed and approved the previous minutes. Ar motion to approve the minutes was made by Franky Soto, 2nd by Larry Crump; Aaron abstained from voting for absence last 7:08pm 4. We discussed the payment of bills for the City, and the Water, Sewer, and Garbage Dept (WSGD). Extra costs for the cityi included citys signs, rock dumps for gravel streets, and associated maintainer fees for spreading. WSGD extra costs included large electric bill for sewer pond. Aaron Bessett made a motion, 2nd by Larry Crump, passed by unanimous vote 4-0.  meeting, passed by unanimous vote 3-0.  7:17pm 5. We discussed ther monthly reports for the City, and' WSGD:  -Monthly bank balances still OK to get water to meet requirements meters totaling 187 active water meters.  -TruClear won't be meeting TCEQ: standards, they are already aware; we will need more filters -Road Repairs: we did the sections of road that were the worst with all the loads we had -WSG new rates brought in "$1,0001 for water, and "$2,000 for sewer; we also added at few new -Cavallo Energy: we were on a gov't-funded program, but that program ends at the end of this year. We will automatically be switched to Champion Energy, but rates are high. We will begin -Elections coming upi in May. Everyone who wants to rerun need to submit papers between Jan 1Bh-Febi7-.freruming up for election are Larry Crump, Jessica Scales, Jason Lewis, and Amotion was made by Aaron Bessett to approve the reports, 2nd by. Jessica Scales, passed by  looking for best rates and new provider fori the city.  Frank Pearce. unanimous vote 4-0.    7:23pm 6. Rolling Agenda Item: Sheriff's Office Report incidents with EMS. No action taken at this time.  No deputies in attendance for area wide report. Briefly discussed reçent local ongoings and 7:25pm 7. We discussed possibly putting a new. ordinance, Ordinance 2023-1, into effect for public nuisance animals involving noise, sanitation, and excrement issues. Read over ordinance. We discussed what incidents merit this new ordinance. Frank. stated while at SUD office downtown, dogs on private properties nearby could be heard barking for 40 minutes. Discussed circumstances around that, whether cars, animals, or people were around alerting the dogs. He: states no onei is around, dogs just barking. No other examples given. No excrement problems known att this time, ordinance based on other cities and their common inclusions. Discussed whether we are required to have a public meeting with a Q&A for citizens, and whether we: should. Discussed legalities and wording of specific passages. Edited two sections (cand d) to remove mention of private property, so they apply to public property only. Discussed whether citizens have been callingi in to report any animal noise or excrement issues, was advised Sheriffs Office would have record oft the calls, will looki into them. Ar motion was made to accept this initial reading of the ordinance, make edits, and have city lawyer looki it over and edit as well, to be brought back to council to reread and decide upon at next meeting, 1/8/24. Motion made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Franky Soto, passed by unanimous 7:47pm 8. We discussed purchasing: a generator for the Community Center to make it an official emergency shelter for local use in times of winter emergencies or local disasters. It would allow constant power for heating and cooling, along with restrooms, running water, and kitchen area for food prep. The large area can fit many people already. Discussed who would benefit locally from a shelter. Discussed the elderly, those with electric only, and poverty levels possibly affecting running services of some. We will be using Comm. Center as al local headquarters for alll law enforcement agencies andi first responders during the eclipse April 2024 as well. We had one local bid from Brady for generator and itsi installation and maintenance for a period only of time. Price of generator is reflective of other market prices, total cost $11,183.85. The price does not include a necessary propane tank. Discussed quantities, sizes, and prices. 125 gallons isa adequate for approximately 3 days. We decided we would want a weeks worth of runt time if necessary, would want 250 gallon tank instead. Decided if we want it running for the upcoming winter months, we would want to install ASAP. Discussed purchase. We were not alli in agreement on necessity. Amotion was made to accept the bid and purchase and install a generator for the RS Community Center. The motion was made by Franky Soto, 2nd by Aaron Bessett, Jessica Scales voted for, Larry Crump voted against, passed with a vote of3-1. 8:00pm 9. We discussed the purchase of a flagpole for City Hall. Briefly discussed flag laws, weather, and appropriate times to be up, down, and at half-staff. Discussed who would be assigned job of daily flagpole duties. Discussed cost. This does not include installation in the cement on the property or possible lighting to reduce time needed to raise and lower  Action taken:  vote.  Discussed  daily.  budget being tight, and no actual need for the pole, and with the large purchase of    generator just! being made, would be unnecessary expense at this time and added dutyi fora a city employee. Decided toi table until February: 2024 meeting when we can see where our finances sit and discuss again at that time. AI motion was made to table discussion by Aaron 8:03pm 10. We discussed excess funds from the Central Appraisal District. They have $3,658.10 for our area, which they would like to keep to reinvest into next year. If they do not keep, the money' would be redistributed by percentage to CISD, SSISD, RSISD, San Saba County, The city of San Saba, and the city of Richland Springs. We have been given option to allow or veto them keeping money. We decided to keep our excess funds. Motion made to veto the Central Appraisal District request to keep funds, and have them returned to us. Motion made by Franky  Bessett, 2nd by Franky Soto, passed by unanimous vote 4-0.  Soto, 2nd by. Jessica Scales, passed by unanimous vote 4-0. 8:06pm 11. Rolling Agenda Item: Drought Contingency Plan  We discussed the drought contingency plan and its current stage. The well is still sitting around 20' with last bit of rain. However the forecasts still do not show large quantities of rain over winter, decided we would leave at current stage, Stage 2. No action taken. 8:07pm 12. We discussed the old water office. No new progress on reconstruction. The crew working out at Rennie Mann's property was supposed to come take al look at location, they did not. 12/8 ouri insurance rep called and discussed our project because the 2-year timeline to use our funds ends in February. We advised her of problems finding people for the rebuild. She advised she would looki into contractors through the insurance company and try to find someone who could come out at no expense to the city. We have also been unable to reach  Ray Clarke for pole barn build. No action taken at this time. 8:09pm 13. Rolling Agenda Item: Eclipse 2024  Chris went to last two area meetings in Lampasas. It is being proposed for counties to declare themselves a disaster area from Fri 4/5- Tues 4/9 in order tol be able to request more resources from the state in case of emergency. At some point our county will be sent letter from Emergency Mgmt Division requesting our counties official declaration ofs status tol be eligible for additional assistance i.e. troopers, EMS, etc. When we make this request we must be able to house and care for all emergency personnel. We are: also preemptively requesting more: state troopers for highway management in all counties. We will have three fuel pods placed in Cherokee, San Saba and Richland Springs for county use in case of widespread fuel shortages, ours to be placed out at sewer pond for discretion and easy access for LEOS. Our RV Park has not been rented out during that time frame, will broadcast on Facebook if anyone still looking. PortAPotties still on reserve and dumpsters will be ready for placement around city.  8:16pm 14. Mayor Reports:  -discussed safety precautions forl local citizens during the eclipse and recommendations the city -Deena advised of our waste water levels at sewer pond 10/4/3 (oxygen demand/Ph/total  will make to keep trespassing at a minimum.  exhaust solid)    -thet float system on the transfer pumps is still having problems starting and: stopping automatically as programmed, we will need to call for direction on what settings need tol be checked and corrected. The floats were replaced within last year, they're basically new, -discussed traffic on S. Hall St. and what it could be related to, discussed possible poaching, -we: spoke with our local Oncor rep, they would like to see where they can assist in removing the old cable lines, because if we do ourselves, and have power line issues, they would be liable and have requested we not attempt to remove on our own. It was suggested and discussed whether they could do for us as a service, at: a low reasonable cost to help out the -discussed people coming from the east, turning north on FM 451 from 190 turning too soon onto Church St. and/or driving through Franky Soto. Jr.'s yard to FM 45; hei is unable to park too close to highway in his own driveway from close calls. Will check with TXDOT to inquire about putting up flashing light with FM 45 turn indicated so people turn at correct location -discussed upcoming meeting with TXDOT requesting closure of North Carter St/FM 451 from 1901 to Main St, on the day oft the eclipse, to route people heading north through Hall St, to keep the two intersections of Main St and Carter St/Fm 45 and Hwy 190 as clear as possible for southeast bound traffic. South Carter St. would still be open, essentially making Carter Sta -discussed the water meter situation and drainage issue on Main St by old wood mill currently being redone. The road needs dirt added toi it, lifted and drain redone to allow meter safe room and still drain properly. We were directed to an Engineer from Brownwood that lives in Algerita, will go from there to discuss how to address properly and permanently. -the old Bench property on Main St by train tracks sold, they will be clearing it up soon. -discussed Robert Mangus purchasing house across from One Stop and renovating for his son.  shouldn't be having any problems. -road repairs looking good baiting, and general drug or illegal activity  -no water repairs this month, hopefully the trend continues  discussed  city.  out streetlight at N. Hall and Hwy 190. will see if needs to be replaced.  southbound one way only, to lesson traffic incidents.  no other topics to discuss.  8:28pm 15. No executive session needed.  8:28pm 16. No other discussions at this time. A motion was made to adjourn the meeting Aaron Bessett, 2nd by. Jessica Scales, passed by unanimous vote 4-0. End of meeting.  by  KA Secretary, Jessica Scales  Pearce  AR  -4