City of Richland Springs  Minutes of City Council Meeting on August 14th, 2023  Meeting: Discussion oft the ongoing projects and regular business of the city Council Members: Aaron Bessett, Franky Soto, Larry Crump, Jessica Scales, and. Jason  Lewis  Council Attendees: Mayor Frank Pearce Note Taker: Jessica Scales Absent: Treasurer, Franky Soto  Called to Order/Location: 07:02 PM at the RS Community Center  City Officials present: Mayor, Frank Pearce; Mayor Protem, Aaron Bessett; Secretary, Jessica Scales; Larry Crump; Jason Lewis; City' Water Manager, Chris Perry Guests present: Jody Lewis, Mark Terry, and Cydney Pearce 7:02pm 1. We opened the meeting with a prayer.  7:03pm 2. We held a public meeting about this years taxi rate. We discussed previous years rates and the highest amount before a vote is required. Frank advised everyone we had chosen a number lower than last year and below the highest rate allowed, $0.41. No questions or commentary from anyone, general approval by all present. Mark: He came to watch the proceedings. He left following citizen participation. 7:05pm 4. We discussed and approved the previous meeting minutes. A motion to approve the minutes was made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by Larry Crump, passed by 7:10pm 5. Discussed payment of bills for the city and the water department. A motion to approve the bills was made by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by. Jessica Scales, passed by 7:15pm 6. We discussed the monthly reports for the city, and the water sewer and garbage department. Deena had no new information from TCEQ about water project. TCEQ advised the cityt that we would need to redo our lead and copper samples because they were not received before submission deadline, despite being sent well beforehand. Now we are required to submit 2 samples for 2 six-month periods, starting date TBA. The pump trailer is still waiting on new logo application. TruClear still needs to setup a trailer at the install site. As solar evaporation company, through TruClear, has requested access to our pond to take samples of the water for their own tests as they try to gain TCEQ operations approval as well. The K9 temperature system we ordered for the Sheriffs Office was ordered ASAP but still had an eight-week shipment.. As an aside, Patrick's training started today. The Sheriffs Department has requested use oft the RS  7:04pm 3. We had Guest and Citizen Participation: Jody: He is here for agenda item.  unanimous vote.  unanimous vote.    community center for their National Night Out, scheduled Oct. 3rd countywide. Permission was granted. We discussed salinity and chlorine level requirements. 7:21pm 7. We discussed the taxi rate and publici input. We discussed evaluations remains  yearly causing our rate to go down yearly. At this rate, income to city  increasing  still  forward with 0.411 tax rate. Motion made to approve  about the same. We are going passed by unanimous vote. 7:23 Cydney Pearce arrived. and ongoing projects. We still  Crump and Aaron Bessett,  the new taxi rate by. Jason Lewis, 2nds simultaneously by Larry  were able to make it tonight for their report on the area  7:25pm 8. No sheriffs' deputies discussed all the citations given out, and thei income from  fines. 7:29pm 9. We rainfall amounts locally.  discussed the drought contingency plan and its current stage. Discussed Welll level now sits around 16'. Will keep at current stage.  this week shows rain daily and cooler  Reiterated water schedule. Forecast to refill. Will discuss again as needed.  temperatures, a chance for our aquifer 7:32pm 10. Per the city's checks. They need document specifying discussed adding authorization for Chris Perry Jessica Scales, and. Jason Lewis to sign checks for the city, permission Crump, and passed by unanimous vote. for his property located off W. Hwy 190, across the Mask property, also on Brown St, to run water pipe  bank, we need to clear up who all has permission to sign  all current individuals with permissions. Also to access all banking information. A  Soto, Larry Crump, made by Jason Lewis, 2nd  motion was made to allow Frank Pearce, Aaron Bessett, Franky and to give Chris Perry  to access city! bankingi information. The motion was  by Larry  with. Jody Lewis, the request for an out-of-city water meter  7:35pm 11. We discussed  from Marion St.. Jody. He advised us of meter installed for the  his plan to first get permission from the city to get a city Then he can get an easement from property, on Brown St, across from the fire hydrant. through the property along the fence line. Once all that is done, he plans on selling the property. determined, we do have an that whoever owns the property, whether road, but willf first provide the city with a installation costs and the costs of repairing the meter to a line that crosses someone copy oft the easement, to verify we are providing for a future line issues on the private else's property, legally, sO we aren'theld! liable Lewis or future property holder to property side. A motion was made to allow. Jody after providing a copy of the easement, agreeing to pay all thei installation costs and road repair Lewis abstained, and the vote  Jody has already road.. agreed Jody  discussed costs and logistics with Chris. It was  previously access point there,  buti it would require digging up across the paved  that bel him or the next owner, will pay: all the  install water meter for the W Hwy 190 property, Bessett made the motion, 2nd by Larry Crump, Jason  costs after installation. Aaron    passed 4-0. This motion is to be put on back burner until propertyi is ready for install of 7:45pm 12. We discussed what action to take with the water, sewer, and garbage Int today's economy, the costs of living and operational costs continue to rise, even for the city. Discussed current rates on all utilities, and the WSG dept finances. We remain in the positive most months, but not enough to store up emergency funds for problems that crop up often. We are currently spending more of our surplus than we are bringing in, in revenue. Currently our water department has less than $15,000, with our average emergency costing $3,000-5,000. We have atl least one emergency: a month. We discussed howi it has been publicly known for almost two years already that water rates would need to increase by at least $25, if not more, when the water project begins, to make enough to pay backt the USDAI loan for our new water system. We discussed increasing it partially now, and then tot the full amount, when the water project actually starts. We still have not been provided a new start date for the water project, we are only being advised its been pushed back yet again. Original start date had previously been Fall 2022. With no specific date given, we do not wanti to raise full rate for system we don't yet have. Discussed how eventually sewer rates must also increase as we have more disposal costs as well. Went over suggested amounts and total water bill costs. Decided not to go over a $10 dollar increase at this time, to try to accommodate all citizens. Water rate will increase $5, and we will raise sewer rate $5as well to try to help city utility costs. Once water project begins we will raise the water rate by at least $20, with citizens having been made aware well in advance. No changes made to garbage rate ($20) at this time. We will also make citizens aware of these changes ASAP via online media and officially mailed out letters from the city. This isto A motion was made to change the city water rate to! $23 per month, and to change the citys sewer rate to $21 per month, making the monthly bill a minimum of $64, effective Nov 1s 2023.. Jason Lewis made the motion, 2nd by Aaron Bessett, and passed by 8:07pm 13. We discussed law enforcement pay. It has now been 90 days since the temporary pay rate increase. We have seen the deputies cover more shifts and give out more citations monthly. There has been a visible decrease in speeders as well all over town, with numerous tickets and warnings given out. Their presence seems tol help keep crime at bay. Cydney asked about speed limits and why they are what they are. Advised thati is municipality minimum based on the main street and should we want to lower, would require evaluation study of all streets in town, and approval from the state before and after, ift they determine its needed, at our cost. The city currently has no plans to do SO. Cydney then asked about: stop signs on her street(Center St at the Hall intersection, and. Jason asked about speed bumps on his street(Hall St at the Center St intersection), Chris advised the same type of study would need to be requested and approved as well for evaluations for both oft those requests. The: stop sign only because  meter after meeting requirements.  costs.  (WSG)  go into effect Nov: 1s, 2023.  unanimous vote.    the city does not have a stop sign there on record in the past, and it would be considered new to the roadways, therefore requiring evaluation. 8:13pm 14. We discussed the ongoing renovation of the old water office. Only one company replied to our job request and they specifically stated after inspection that they cannot attach anything to the walls. They also did not provide a bid. With no local contractors or builders willing or able to work on thel building, we will expand our 8:14pm 15. Wel briefly discussed the eclipse, and local area events added to the calendar. We discussed sending out necessary safety and merchandise reminders about purchasing viewing sunglasses a few months in advance to start getting locals ready for  search. No action taken at this time.  that weekend. 8:16pm 16. Mayor Reports:  -We repaired al leak on the east side of town ini front of G. Stewarts property, had to replace some line, will eventually need to replace another long section further down as As just discussed, the pole barn estimates are currently at a standstill while we attempt toi find someone to repair it. Side note: Franky S has construction team currently that he mentioned the old water office to, and they! looked at it and said it was something they could do, if we wanted to reach out to them. They roughly estimated the flash removal at $2,000. We decided to reach out, will add to next month's agenda, to see if they have 8:21pm 17. We entered into Executive Session per Chapter 551 of the TX Gov't Code to discuss possibly entering into an agreement to purchase property (551.072). 8:31pm 18. We exited executive session. We discussed the action to bei taken. A motion was made to allow Mayor Frank Pearce to negotiate an offer on a property the cityi is interested in downtown, and grant him permission to enter the cityi into an agreement for purchase if the price is reasonable. Aaron Bessett made the motion, 2nd by Larry 8:31 pm 19. Not further discussions or action need tol bet taken at this time. Motion made to adjourn meeting by Aaron Bessett, 2nd by. Jessica Scales, passed by unanimous vote.  well  formal bid.  Crump, passed by unanimous vote.  babrr Jessica Scales  KR  k