MINUTES CITY OF AMES, TEXAS REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING RDAV,ANUARY2L22  The City Council of the City of Ames, Texas met in a regular meeting in council chambers at the Ames City Hall at 6:00 p.m. Mayor Cornelius Gilmore call the meeting to order at that time. Mayor Gilmore led the prayer, and the Pledge of Allegiance was recited. At the time the members ofthe City Council were present: Mayor Cornelius Gilmore, Audrey Harrison, Barbara Domain,  Carlton Rollins, and Eddie White. By zoom: Michael Trahan  CITIZEN APPREANCE  Mayor Gilmore thanked the citizens for being here and asked them to silence their phones.  MINUTES  Minutes tabled at this time. OLD BUSINESS None.  REGULAR SESSION BEGINS  2022-01: DISCUSSANDTAKE ACTION ON REMOVING ALL MAYOR EXECUTIVE Councilman Rollins started the discussion by saying due to some information from county commissioner about some things he took pictures and videos of to let the council know that there are somethings that have been going on and that council have not been doing enough. That there ist taxpayer money that is being spent without the council's knowing or giving permission to some ofit. Icame up with some ideals for council to vote on to try and combat this fora little while to help because we were told we are not doing enough so to them it looks like we agree with what's going on and now it's out of our hands and we are going to have to answer to things we don't know what's going on because me personally, I'm kind of scared ofit. Councilwoman Harrison wanted to know what county commissioner are you talking about? Councilman Rollins answer with Bruce Karbowski. Councilwoman Harrison stated that Bruce Karbowski has nothing to do with what goes on in the city' of Ames. Let's get that clear. Councilman Rollins said he brought it to our attention. He proposes that the mayor have his keys surrendered to the city hall; he proposed that the mayor surrender his bank card; he proposes that there are two signatures added tot the banking account and checks to administer payment; and we reduce his monthly salary from  OFFICER DUTIES.    five hundred to fifty dollars. Councilwoman Harrison asked the Mayor if he would like to speak on that, which he said yes I would. Mayor Gilmore asked what is the main accusation that have you SO flustered on? Councilwoman Domain said that we are not just making accusations, every dime and every dollar that is spent needs to be approved by city councilman, it needs to be on the agenda, and it needs to be in the minutes and we've discussed this several times and at the end of the day we are going to be held accountable. I've been told by several people that ignorance of the law is no excuse, we can't go in there and say we didn'tknow, did you try and find out SO now we are going to be responsible for this stuff. The only way we can find out is that city council needs to step up and take over until we can get everything figured out ironed out and straightened out. At the end of the day, we didn't sign up to get in trouble. Mayor Gilmore said nobody did. Councilwoman Domain said it ain't no one thing, its several things and the straw that broke the Idon't give a damn ifit's a nail, you don't take it, ifyou didn't pay for it you don'ttake. And again, Ic don't care how'si its handled ifyouj just post it on the website, hey, we are getting ready to dig the ditches, free backfill dirt will be available, ifanybody would like any, contact Ms. Jennifer at the city hall. Once you've done that and nobody has reached out to Ms. Jennifer and you can dump every last load of dirt on your property then you have made the initiative to make it known to the people, that's where the problem comes it because there is no correspondence with the people in the community as to whati is available to them before one ofu us as an elected official took an entire possession, that's the problem, that's what I heard. (Several people talking). Councilwoman Domain, said Cornelius, Ia am on the councilIcan talk as long as I want to okay? Iam not nobody in the general public okay. Mayor Gilmore asked if anyone else had anything Mayor Gilmore said, first ofall let me tell you all I did get dirt on my property let's just clear the air. At our last public meeting we approved that we were going to get the ditches dug. Ihave been pushing this for a long time and we: finally approved it. So, we didn't] know exactly, but they had to get a P.O. to start digging the ditches but once we approved it we did not know the exact start date. I get a call on my job and say "Hey we are digging your ditches out on Tip Top, what do you want us to do with the dirt? Isaid, two things, hold on for a second and let me make a call. I have to admit, I don't bug John White much but every time I have asked him, he is forthright with knowledge. So, what I did, Icalled him and said hey you all dug the ditches out nine years ago, what did you do with the dirt? He said yes, we did dig the ditches out, we didn't do all oft them, but we did a few of them. He said that the dirt is for the city and anybody that wants it can have ita and its free for anybody, sol I said okay,Iappreciate that. So, Isaid that sounds good but I have an magnifying glass on me, so I thought I need to call TML. So, Icalled the TML attorney, and I say with are digging ditches for the city and it's a process, when they use grade-all and fill these trucks up they got to have somewhere to dump the dirt, if they cannot dump then they can't dig. The TML attorney said you can store it or give it away to the city. Ifyou givei it away for free you are doing a service to the city, they are getting free dirt to enhance their property. Isaid those guys that are running now, we don't' want them to stop. I have three properties they can use, can I dump on those properties? He said yes, you are a citizen SO what's the problem, you are not breaking any rules and you are not breaking any laws. I said thank you, I appreciate that. Now Mr. Rueben Williams pushed that because Bruce Karbowski called me and told me Rueben was complaining that both sides ofCR 154 was dug out, one side is Liberty, and one side is Ames. If  camel's back is the dirt you had put on your property.  else to add to that? Oh lord.    the city wants to dig the ditches that is their choice and think they are doing a good job and I'm going to tell the Mayor thank you. Rueben didn't like that and saidIneed to show you something else, he has dirt on his property and in his yard. There are other properties that have dirt on them, Several more properties, Sherman LaDay other ones, (interruption), No, let me finish, I let you finish. Bruce called me and told me he had nothing to do with that because technically it's free dirt you can do whatever, but Rueben had a problem and he pushed that to you, that Iknow, to cover my but, Icalled TML and I got it in writing. Passed this out to everyone, sO you can see it. Iwill read it allow for the citizens. Mayor reads email from attorney. If that's a good enough explanation, give them my office number. This is the state attorney for TML, we can't get higher than that. This supersedes Bruce. Before I add one more drop in my yard, I called him. So,I followed protocol, I called TML, sOI Ifollowed the law. Everyone else is getting to benefit from the dirt. So, what law did I break? Like John said we only dug half the ditches. The people on Berotte don'thavea ditch at all which is why they are getting flooded because their ditches haven't been dug at all. (Multiple interruptions). Rueben Williams said that he wanted to make corrections. Mayor told him he was not on the agenda, Rueben said that we have busted the agenda. Several interruptions which Mr. Rueben said that you are lying on me every week. Interruption from citizen in the audience about paying bills. Y'all need to get y'all self together. I'm sick of this. Councilwoman Harrison says paying the bills have to be on the agenda. Interruptions. She said 'no, no,no, it's Friday night and we are not going tol be here all night. We can get the bills paid in 10 minutes. We are all grown-ups, we can come in and approve the bills before you sign anything. Mayor Gilmore said that some of the bills come in after the council Councilwoman Domain said that she can't express this enough that if any dollar is spent before we as council approves the money, I'm taking it to the next level, I'm not playing, do you understand me, I mean that. I'm not done talking yet. The council should take over running this city. The city should be run by the council not the mayor because everything that's been run has been run by you to do what you want and how you want to doit. And right, now Cornelius, that's going to put us in a bind. Mayor asked her why are you yelling. Councilwoman Domain said because I'm getting frustrated, because at the end of the day you are messing with our livelihood, because you are not doing things right. Mayor said that Councilwoman Harrison just made a good suggestion. Councilman Rollins made a motion. Mayor asked motion to do what? He asked Matthew Gott if he had anything this. Matthew did you get the list on what they want to do? Councilwoman Domain said we've already spoken to Matt. (Multiple interruptions again). Councilwoman Domain asked Councilman Rollins to read the list again. Councilman Rollis said one: to have the mayor surrender his keys to the city hall; two: surrender his bank card; three: have two city council members added to the checking account and checks to administer payments; four: to have his pay reduced to $50.00 a month. Councilwoman Domain said this is until we get everything straighten out and we can go back and review everything. I'm not talking to you Eric. (Multiple interruptions) Councilman Rollins said that you should not be here on your daughter's job anyway. (MULTIPLE INTERRUPTIONS AND SCREAMING AND YELLING AND  Charles Ray, Ms. Audry'sbrotherinwlav.  meeting.  CUSSING). Mayor motion to adjourn. Meeting is adjourned at 6:45 p.m.    MULTIPLE INTERRUPTIONS - EVERYONE TALKING AT ONCE. THERE IS A LOT OF MR. MORRIS AND COUNCILMAN ROLLINS ARE MAKING STATEMENTS MADE TO MEETN ME OUTSIDE, YOU BETNOTPUTYOURHANDS ON ME, YOUTALKINGTOME. HELL YEAH, I'M TALKING TO YOU. COME ON OUTSIDE. YOU KNOW ME. COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMAN ROLLINS SAYING AND YOU KNOWMETOO.  YELLING.  MULTIPLE PEOPLE1 TALKINGLOUD.  2022-02: DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION ON PURCHASING OF AN IPAD FOR  VIDEORECORDING OF CITY MEETINGS.  Never discussed. SUPERVISION. Never discussed. ADJOURNMENT  2022-03: DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION ON OFTICEMAINTENANCE OPERATION  All council members in attendance were in favor of adjourning the meeting at 6:45 p.m.  Cyuwn mane Cornelius Gilmore Mayor  Attested:  5  Cily  de    Page to Approve Minutes for. January 21, 2022 R00k Michael Trahan, Councilman, Position1 Cah Carlton Rollins, Councilman, Position 2 Fas A ait Eddie White, Councilman, Position: 3  -  Barbara Doman, Councilwoman, Position 4  Audrey Harrison, Councilwoman, Position 5