MINUTES CITY OF AMES, TEXAS 304 MARTIN DR. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING APRIL11,2022 6:00 p.m. The City Council for 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. Mayor Gilmore did the roll call, at that time the members of the City Council who were present are: Mayor Cornelius Gilmore, Michael Trahan, Carlton Rollins, and Eddie White, Audrey Harrison and Barbara Domain. CITIZEN APPREARANCE attending citizens are attached. Mayor Gilmore thanked the citizens for being here and to please silence your phones. A listof MINUTES Mayor Gilmore asked for the reading of the minutes. The minutes for March 14, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting minutes were read, motioned on, and approved unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 OLD BUSINESS No old business to discuss. REGULAR SESSION 2022-01 - DISCUSSANDTAKE ACTION- ENTERGYTEXAS.INC.SSTATEMENTOF INTENTANDAPPLICATION FOR APPROVALOF TWO VOLUNTARY RENEWABLE OPTION TARIFFS, RIDER SVRO AND RIDER LVRO AND PAY $1,175 FOR WORK ALREADY RENDERED - TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Mr. Ron Fletcher from Entergy was present. He spoke about the renewable tariffs, the SVRO and LVRO and they were voluntary programs about green energy. Mr. Fletcher would like for the City Council to deny these proposals. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison to deny this request Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 2 Motion was made to pay the $1,175 for work already rendered on the lights by Entergy. Motioned by: Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Eddie White All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 Motioned passed unanimously 2022-02- AGREETOAMENDTHESEWER ACCOUNTS FOR HWY.90RVPARK, AND MODERN GROUP/DRAGON TO CONSIDER THEM COMMERCIAL ACCOUNTS. Discussion was made regarding the sewer accounts of the RV Park on Hwy. 90 and Dragon. Suggestion was made that there needs to be an ordinance passed first to adjust these rates. For the RV park: the bill needs to be adjusted and pay rate of$45.00 per slot. For Dragon, this discussion will be postponed until next meeting to get some numbers from the Ames Water Department. Motioned by: Councilwoman Barbara Domain Seconded by: Councilman Reggie Rollins All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-03 - TAKE ACTION AND APPROVE TREY NESLONEY ATTORNEY FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $21,948.00 FOR FEBRUARY THROUGH MARCH EXPENSES INCURRED WORKING WITHTHE CITY OFLBFRIYIAWSUIT REGARDINGTHE SEWERSYSTEM - TO BE PAID OUTOF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Discussion was made about the dollar amount of the fees. Mayor Gilmore stated that this firm helped Ames with several issues, and this is a different bill. Motion was made to pay this fee and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Audrey Harrison Seconded by: Councilman MichaelTrahan All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-04 -APPROVE TO PAY AUTOMATIC PUMP $174.00 FOR PUMP FLOATS FOR LIFT STATION. TO BE PAID OUTOFTHE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Discuss was made for this fee to come out of the Utility Account, not the Government account. Motion was made, all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Eddie White Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-05 - APPROVE TO PAY R&R ENTERPRISES $160.00 FOR THE ANNUAL INSPECTION AND ADD ONE (1)NEW FIRE EXTINGUISHER- TO BE PAID OUTOF Mayor Gilmore mentioned that this invoice was for the annual fire extinguishers inspection and to purchase an extra extinguisher for the workshop. Motion was made to pay this invoice, all were THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. ini favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilwoman Aubrey Harrison All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-06-A APPROVETOPAYT-REXS13555.00TODUMP MUDOFF SITE-TOBE PAID Mayor Gilmore stated that this was the work done on Sylpheme Lane and Teme St. T-Rex was responsible for hauling offt the mud that came out ofthe hole when: it collapsed. Motion was made OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. toj pay this invoice, all in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-07 - APPROVE TO PAY COWBOY ASPHALT SERVICES, LLCS10,850.00 FOR INSTALLING AND PAINTING SPEED BUMPS ON VARIOUS STREETS THROUGHOUTTHE CITY-TOB BE PAID OUTOFTHE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Discussion was made to wait to pay this invoice because there needs to be a break-down for the streets, also to adjust this invoice for streets that did not receive road bumps. Motion was made to wait to pay this invoice. Motioned by: Councilman Eddie White Seconded by: Councilman MichaelTrahan All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-08 - APPROVE TO PAY TML INTERGOVERNMENTAL RISK POOL $2,451.00 FOR WORKER'S COMP INSURANCE - TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Discussion was made that this is the Worker's Comp. insurance. There was no further discussion on this item. Motion was made toj pay this invoice; all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilwoman Barbara Domain Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-09 - APPROVETOPAYI ECONOSIGNSS73928 FOR VARIOUSSTREET SIGNS THROUGHOUTTHE CITY-7 TO] BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Discussion was made that these items and street signs should be shipped by regular freight in the future and not overnighted. The reason mentioned was that the overnight freight cost just as much as the items themselves. In order to save the City some money, these items should be shipped Motion was made to pay the invoice and to have regularly shipped items, all were in favor and regularly. passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Reggie Rollins All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-10 = APPROVE TO PAY LIBERTY GAZETTE $62.50 AND THE LIBERTY VINDICATOR $43.50 FOR ADS RAN TO ADVERTISE JOB OPENING - TO BE PAID Discussion was made that per the TML handbook, City Council members should do interviewing ofany new employee; all new hires should be put into an interview pool. Mayor Gilmore stated that there was an: interview process with about six to eight applicants with Council Member White, the Mayor and Erwin Semien. Council Member' Trahan had an unexpected event and could not be there for the interviews, but yes, there was an interview process with Council Members on board. Motion was then made toj pay the invoices for the Liberty Vindicator and Liberty Gazette. All OUT OF GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. were ini favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael? Trahan Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-11- - APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL - $5.,802.880UT OF THE UTILITY ACCOUNT AND $7,631.88 OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Discussion was made that the monthly utility bills should be paid every month without Council having to approve every invoice/bill. Agreement was made that Ms. Purnell should pay the monthly bills and that anything out of the ordinary should be brought before Council. This Motion was made toj pay the monthly bills. All were in favor and passed unanimously. agreement is in effect until December 2022. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-12 - APPROVE TO PAY ERWIN SEMIEN OVERTIME FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH FOR 13 HOURS IN THE AMOUNT OF $429.00 OUT OF THE UTILITY Discussion was made that Mr. Semien gets pre-approval before he works overtime unless it's an emergency. Mayor Gilmore mentioned that this the only time he gets overtime when someone Motion was made toj pay Mr. Semien overtime of $429.00 out oft the Utility account. All were in ACCOUNT. calls him out about a sewer issue. favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-13- APPROVE FOR THE CITYTO USE THEJETTERTOI DOSEWER WORK AT Discussion was made that the City should issue a Waiver to residents stating the City will not responsible for accidents ini their homes when this machine is in operation. The Waiver should be given to the Customer up front sO that they can be aware ofthe dollar amount associated with this procedure before-hand. Suggestion was made to have Customer pay for services before a work Motion was made to issue a Waiver to Customers if the Jetter machine is used on their property. SOMEONE'S HOME FOR A CHARGE OF $100.00 PER USE. order isi issued. All were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Reggie Rollins All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-14 - APPROVE TO REPLACE AND/OR EXTEND CLEAN-OUT FOR A COST OF Discussion was made to approve the replacing or extending clean-outs and charging the Customer $40.00 to do SO. Ifitis a regular clean out the amount is $40.00 and ifit is the kind that screws on Motion was made to agree to the charges of $40.00 for regular clean out and $50.00 for screw-on $40.00. the amount is $50.00. The City has an Ordinance on replacing clean outs. clean-out. All were in favor and motioned passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-15- APPROVE TOF BUDGET $8,000.00 FOR AMES50TH ANNIVIRSARYONMAY Discussion was made and City Council Members did not agree to the budget amount of $8,000. A vote was made on this item to disapprove this dollar amount and it was suggested to have a Motion was made to postpone this item. All were in favor to postpone this discussion and passed 71H,2022-TOI BE PAID OUTOFTHE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. workshop for further discussion on this item. unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-16- APPROVE' TOPAVESIDE: SINETOPTEROIANEOAS SYLPHEMELANE Discussion was made as to which ofthe two streets needed paving the most. Suggestion was made Motion was made to postpone this item until bids were received. All were in favor and passed TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. to postpose this item to obtain bids. unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Reggie Rollins All in favor: 5 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 MAYOR'S REPORT Questions from Audience: Ms. Wellona Robertson wanted tol know how to get a septic backfield, also that she needs some asphalt for her driveway. After the roads had speed bumps put down, Ms. LaToya Scott asked ifthe fire station pad site could be used to hold a farmers' market oncea month, this way people who have businesses could sale their products. She also wanted to know ifthe City would provide two (2) dumpers for the Community Clean up day on May 21. Mr. Joseph Victoria mentioned that he was having problems with trash pickup. this caused a dipi in her driveway. Mayor Gilmore mentioned that most everyone on the North side will be getting Xfinity for their internet tie in, but you need to call them for services. ADJOURNMENT All Council Members were in favor ofa adjourning the meeting at 8:05 p.m. Conalinn Mumane Cornelius Gilmore Mayor Attested: 2 JénnferPurnel i/Secretary! coL