MINUTES CITY OF AMES 3041 MARTIN DR. - AMES, TEXAS SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING NOVEMBER 27, 2023 6:00 p.m.  The City Council for the City of Ames, Texas met in a special meeting in council chambers at the Ames City Hall at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Barbara Domain called the meeting to order at that time. Councilman Eddie White led thej prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Mayor Domain conducted the roll call, at that time the members of the City Council who were present were: Mayor Barbara Domain, Michael Trahan, Elizabeth (Liz) Hardy, Eddie White. Alfred Freeman  Jr. and Audrey Harrison were absent. CITIZEN APPREARANCE citizens is attached.  Mayor Domain thanked the citizens for being present, asked them to silence their phones, and if any oft the citizens would like to take three (3) minutes to speak to the council. AI listo ofattending Citizen Jocelyn Wright was] present and stood to voice her conçerns about the rancher who owns 500 acres. Hel has been clearing al lot ofthel land and she isi really concerned about air quality. The rancher has some humongous piles on the 2-acre plot right across from South Main Lane. He's got about half an acre of trees and rubbish, and she wanted to know if anyone had spoken with him to see what his plans are. Mayor Domain said that she could talk to him and ask him because she was] planning to speak to him about the excessive dirt ont the road again. Mayorl Domain explained that shei thought that they had an understanding that they would keep the road clean ifthey had the trucks coming in and out, but they didn't keep their end oft the bargain. Mayor Domain stated that she can ask them what their plans are with the disposal of the brush. Ms. Wright stated that ifthey burn the brush, it is going to be a humongous fire and it will be a fire hazard. She also discussed the effect it would have on the air quality. Ms. Wright was also concerned because they live in old Caribbean houses, and ift the wind blows that way. She stated that they burned 2 sets ofthe piles this past weekend and her my whole yard and house was full of smoke which caused her to have a headache all day. Lastly Ms. Wright stated that she called the Fire Marshall to ask what her rights were, and she was told that becauset they are: farmers, their rights superseded  everyone else's rights. REGULAR AGENDA ITEMS:  1.CITY COUNCIL TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING TO DISCOSS AND OBTAIN COMMENTS REGARDING A PROPOSED PERFORMANCE STATEMENT AMENDMENT TO ITS 2021 TEXAS CDBG PROGRAM COMMUNITY Mayor Domain stated that what happened was GrantWorks had to amend the contract because, the original contract included repairing two streets (Martin and Donatto). It was determined that due to the amount of work required, that we can only afford the cost oft the products and labor to repair one street. Mayor Domain stated that GrantWorks is requesting to amend the contract to reflectrepairing one streeti instead- oftwo.At this time Mayor Domain opened the floor for  DEVELOPMENT CONTRACT CDV21-0476.    comments or concerns from anyone present at the meeting. There were not any comments. A roll call vote was conducted at this time. All council members present were in favor. Passed 2.CONSIDER AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 2023-0S.ANORDINANCEOFTHE CITYOFA AMES.TEXAS. ESTABLISHINGAN APPLICATION AND FEE FOR SEWER TAPS; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES AND VIOLATIONS: PROVIDING FOR A SEVERANCE CLAUSE: AND PROVIDING AN Mayor Domain explained that this ordinance: is due to us changing the sewer tapi rate from $800.00 to $450.00 for residents in our community. The council members took ai moment to look over the  unanimously.  EFFECTIVE DATE.  ordinance. A motion was made to approve Ordinance NO. 2023-005.  Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All ini favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0  3.CONSIDER AND IF APPROPRIATE, TAKE ACTION TO ADOPT A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF AMES, TEXAS, AUTHORIZING THE SUBMISSION OF A CONTRACT AMENDMENT REQUEST: FOR TEXAS COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM (TxCDBG) CONTRACT NUMBER CDV21-0476 BETWEEN THE CITY OF AMES AND THE TEXAS DEPARTMENT OF Mayor Domain explained that this resolution is what the public hearing was about. The resolution is to approve the amendment to change the contract from two streets to one street. A motion was made to adopt a resolution oft the City of Ames, Texas, authorizing the submission of a contract  AGRICULTURE.  amendment to contract: number CDV21-0476. Passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael. Trahan Seconded by: Councilwoman Elizabeth "Liz" Hardy All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0  4.CONSIDER AND IF APPROPRIATE. TAKE ACTION TO HIRE EYE GOT IT PHOTOGRAPHY FOR PROFESSIONAL HEADSHOTS FOR ALL ELECTED Counciwoman Hardy asked ifthis is something we were wanting to do this year? Mayor Domain explained that the photos would be posted on the city's website, and they will be sent to TML: for when they have conferences and training. Councilman Trahan asked ifthe cost was for one photo. Mayor Domain explained that the costincluded headshots for 8j people int total. This would include all oft the council members, herself, the city. judge, and the city secretary as well as a group photo. A motion was made tol hire Eye Got It Photography for profession headshot for all elected official  OFFICIALS FOR $320.00.  for $320.00. Passed unanimously.  Motioned by: Councilwoman Elizabeth *Liz"Hardy Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0    MAYOR'S REPORT.  Mayor Domain stated that wel have been working on trying to clean up the community. We spray painted some of the manhole covers and cleaned around them. She stated that she spoke to SPI, and they gave us a little rundown of what our problems were, and hopefully within the next maybe couple weeks ahead they will have something showing us what it would cost to move forward on fixing some of the problems and issues that wel have. SPI showed us some oft the issues with the manhole covers and the sewer taps in people'sy yards. They also gave us al list and some pictures oft the problems that they found in the people's.yards detailing ifit was on our side or on the customers side. So, by the end oft the end oft this week, early next week I will have the guys going out to work on those issues and contacting the residents to seel how they want tol handle fixing the problem that are on their side. Councilman Trahan asked about overages due to the rain. Mayor Domain stated that she would check and see what the numbers looked like on the days that it rained. She stated that we did have one bill that came in from October to November the gth from the City ofLiberty for about $4600 and we included the additional $1500 that we agreed to pay on the past overages. Also, It rained like 3 days in ai row and we went over 354,000 gallons. On the date now we didn't go over monthly. That was just daily. One oft the overages was like 554,001 for the day. Mayor Domain also explained that the City ofLiberty increased the price as well. Itused to be like $12.12 per gallon and nowi it's at $13.08 per gallon. Mayor Domain concluded by explaining that her and the maintenance crew are working on trying to help with the overages. She will be out in the field with the guys for the next couple ofweeks checking manhole covers and checking to see what they can find and make necessary repairs.  5. ADJOURNMENT.  AI motion was: made to adjourn the meeting at 6:15 PM. Motioned by: Councilwoman Elizabeth "Liz" Hardy Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan  /  Domain  BD Barbara Mayor  hllona Wellona Godfrey City Secretary