SNOOK CITY COUNCIL September 23, 2024  MINUTES OF REGULAR CALLED MEETING  The City Council of the City of Snook, Burleson County, Texas, convened in regular meeting at the Snook City Hall on September 23, 2024 at 5:30 p.m. with Mayor Frank Fields presiding.  Attendance Mayor: Aldermen: City Staff: Visitors:  Frank Fields David. Junek  Tina Vega, Wade Elkins, John Pollock  Dustin Lozano, Beth Collins, Chris Rubach, Roy Sanders, Charles Dunlap, Morgan Riddell, Patt Junek, Les Bunte, Janet Elkins, Brenda Wasik, Linda Adair, Clarence. Junek, Anastasia Mcanear, Kenneth Macik, Ann Sebesta, Steve Tunnel, Same LaBarbera, Ell Colley, Brad Hays, Sam Oliver.  I.  Mayor Frank Fields called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.  II. Aquorum was established. Alderman Mary Cook and Mayor Pro-Tem Matt Collins were III. Alderman John Pollock made a motion to adopt the agenda. Alderman Wade Elkins  not in attendance.  seconded the motion. Motion carried unanimously 3-0.  IV. Open Forum/Visitors Comments:  None. VII. Action Items:  1. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and City Operator Dustin Lozano gave his report. He and his crew repaired a few small leaks around town, changed out 10 warrantied RG3 meters, installed a couple meters ini the Grand Lake Subdivision and will install another on CR: 272. City Administrator/City: Secretary gave his report: FY 2023 Audit will be presented at the October 28th city council meeting. No new building permits were issued since the last regular city council meeting C-LARS permit still under review pending information needed from the 2new water/sewer customers added this month (1 transfer of services, 1r new Construction on the softball building continues. The concrete blocks for the exterior walls have been installed. The metal roof is scheduled to be put on next  contractors. meters).    week. After the roofi is installed, the interior framing will be put in, then the City staff have reached out to property owners that still have code enforcement violations, but have not heard back from them. We may have to get the municipal  plumbing and electrical. court involved. on FM: 2155  GLO MIT (Hurricane Harvey) project:  Waiting on BTU to provide estimates to run 3-phase power to the new lift station Current bid may have to be pushed back to sometime in November. MIT MOD project application was approved on September 9th. Still waiting on the contract documents from the General Land Office to sign. Once the documents The CR 269' W waterline extension project is currently being advertised for bids. WWTP Permit renewal application is still under reviewed by TCEQ.  are signed, we can begin.  Bids are due by 2:00 p.m. on October 18th.  2. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and asked when he was running for office he was asked if Snook was ready for a police department and at that time, he: said no. However, since then, he has come to the following conclusions: we have no means of enforcing certain ordinances and gave examples, response times can be upwards to 45 minutes, more businesses and homes create more targets for crime, we can't create a police department overnight. Mr. Fields then opened the floor to comments and asked that anyone wishing to speak on the matter to state their name. Clarence Junek thanked the city council for looking into getting a police department before we needed it tomorrow, but he did not see a need for one next year or the year after unless there was a major boom. Mr. Junek said he spoke to several local law enforcement officers and they didn't see Snook needing its own department for another 3-5 years. Mr. Junek said that an ambulance was needed and Snook has needed one for years and mentioned examples of long wait times when one was called for. Mr. Junek also commented the need to support the Snook' Volunteer Fire Department. Mr. Junek said that he looked at incident reports provided by Burleson County and to him they do not indicate a need for a police department. Linda Adair spoke next and agreed that an ambulance is needed more than a police department and that life was more important than property. Ms. Adair also cited long wait times for ambulances to arrive when called for. Brenda Wasik spoke next and stated that she believes Snook needs a police department so that ordinances could be enforced sO that nobodyi is above the law and everyone's rights are protected. Les Bunte spoke next and state that he had 40 years of fire and peace officer experience and questioned what had been done to show the public wants a police department. Mr. Bunte believes there needs to be a needs analysis or poll that would indicate that. Mr. Bunte questioned whether the Texas Municipal League had best practices for starting up a police department and was not sure a code enforcement officer had to be a certified peaçe officer. Mr. Bunte commented that funding the positions would probably require additional ad valorum and sales taxes. Mr. Bunte said that he's been part oft the budget process and does not want to see more traffic stops to generate more revenue. Mr. Bunte commented that according to his research one    office would only get 25% effective coverage sO the city would need 4 to get 100% and invited city council to explore an alternative interlocal agreement with Burleson County. Mr. Bunte believes that having only one officer would be unfair to that person since it may get them a negative reputation. Mr. Bunte invited city council to explore doing a comprehensive plan for public safety for all emergency services and believes more people would be serve by EMS than a police department. Patt. Junek spoke next and agrees with previous speaker. Ms. Junek then cited statistics such as number of calls, what the calls were for, etc. from dispatch logs received from Burleson County. Ms.. Junek also commented that all calls were: spread out evenly during the entire day. Ms. Adair then commented that she did not believe the current city council was represented the city well since most of them were not originally from Snook or had not lived here long. Ms. Adair then commented that she did not think it was right for the city to charge her $1501 to improve her Mr. Junek voiced his disagreement with her statements. Brad Hays spoke next property. and believes that city council needs to consider the best way to acquire a police department and agrees with previous speakers and that need a police department and EMS to support growth and get more businesses. Chris Rubach spoke next and said that his family had live in Snook since the 1800s and said that he has only called for law enforcement once and it was not a dire situation and they showed up at a reasonable time. Mr. Rubach said he believed paramedics were more important for Snook now than a police department. Mr. Rubach also voiced his concerns that the police would sit in front of the local bar and pull people over. Steve Tunnel spoke next and commented that he has faith in city council and that they'll take the input from the community and do the best thing for them. Beth Collins spoke next and she feels the need for a police department. Ms. Collins commented on a couple of occasions where one was called, but did not arrive until 30-60 minutes later. Ms. Collins said that both, a police department and EMS would be beneficial. Ms. Adair questioned that if city council was the one making ordinances shouldn't they be the ones talking to violators and enforcing them. Mr. Fields commented that it was not the intent of a police department to enforce code enforcement all the time and listed their other priorities and that enforcing ordinances are little of what would do. Ms. Adair questioned if Mr. Fields thought there would be an increase they in crime and Mr. Fields commented that he thought it was quite possible. Ms.. Junek questioned if a needs statement had been made. Alderman John Pollock spoke and commented on his time served with the Brazos and Burleson County Sherrif's Departments and his experiences with the two. Mr. Pollock commented that the further you get behind, it's hard to make up ground. Mr. Pollock commented that a police department would be for public safety and that code enforcement could be a part of that and that a police department is to protect the public. Mr. Pollock mentioned that the HWY 60 widening will create more traffic and crime potential. Mr. Pollock also mentioned the serious crimes that have happened in the Pollock commented that as Snook grow, we will have to have a police department past. unless there are more sheriff's deputies. Mr. Pollock commented that we would have to pay every penny for a contract deputy and would rather invest that money into Snook's own police department. Mr. Pollock also saw a need for EMS and that it was part of publics safety. Ms. Wasik commented that the town was growing and  Mr.    that she was robbed while she lived in Houston and was concerned that they would come here to do the same so would be nice to have a police department. Ms. Adair questioned why Snook couldn'ts get an ambulance sooner and Ms. Collins commented that the ambulances that are in Burleson County run from St. Joseph's and that would have to go through the hospital board and that the Snook Volunteer Fire Department may be working on something regarding that. Mr. Fields commented that it was something to consider. Sam Oliver spoke next believes a local police department would benefit the county outside city limits as well sincea sworn law enforcement officer can respond to calls. Mr. Oliver questioned Mr. Pollock whether a public safety would be more. suitable for what the city needs and Mr. Pollock was unsure oft the position and would need to do more research. Mr. Pollock commented that the sheriff would cover Snook when an officer was not on duty. Mr. Pollock said that he was glad to see the room filled and for the feedback and emphasized that Snook doesn't need to get behind before the growth catches up. Alderman Wade Elkins commented that the assistant chief deputy told him that ifal hotel were to pop up on HWY 60 and Snook didn't have a police department, then we'd be in trouble. Mr. Elkins also commented that if we're not prepared when it happens that Snook will be behind in the game. Ms. Junek agreed with what Mr. Elkins said and that the overall goal was to do what we need to do to be a friendly place like the signi in the middle oft town says. Ms. Junek asked city council to consider zoning and planning to avoid things like that. Mr. Fields commented that need to have own police department to control policies. Mr. Fields commented that he didn'tthink enough tickets could be written to fund even one position and not the intent fori them to do so. Mr. Fields commented that the approach would be a "stair step" program and that it would be al lengthy process to find the right chief and budget appropriately when funds are right and commented on the potential funds from grants and debt obligations. Mr. Fields commented that at the current tax level that there was no way to create a 24/7 police department. Mr. Fields commented that this was not the end oft this discussion and that it deserves considerable/furtner discussion. Mr. Fields thanked everyone for showing up and 3. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and City Council reviewed the plat. A motion was made by Alderman Tina Vega to approve the final plat for the Snook Business Park. A second was made by Alderman John Pollock and carried unanimously 3-0. 4. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and City Council reviewed the plat. A motion was made by Alderman Wade Elkins to approve the minor plat fori the Fields & Hejl Subdivision. A second was made by Alderman John Pollock and carried unanimously 5. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and commented that he had the city's attorney, Luke Cochran, draft the ordinance. as to get ahead ofi it in case a hotel came to Snook. Mr. Fields commented that the funds generated from the tax can be used in very limited ways. Mr. Fields also suggested to modify the definition of "Hotel" in the ordinance SO as to not include the couple of places ini town that would fall under  closed the public hearing.  3-0.    it and to not burden them or city staff with the collection ofi it. Alderman Wade Elkins commented that two city council members were not present and would like their input before making a decision on it. A motion was made by Alderman Wade Elkins to table action on Ordinance 2024-05 until next month's meeting. A: second was made by Alderman. John Pollock and carried unanimously 3-0. 6. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and City Council reviewed the proposed City Council and Holiday schedule for FY: 2024-2025. A motion was made by Alderman Tina Vega to approve the proposed City Council and Holiday schedule for FY 2024- 2025. A second was made by Alderman John Pollock and carried unanimously 3-0. 7. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and City Council reviewed the minutes from the August 26, 2024 regular meeting. A motion was made by Alderman Wade Elkins to approve the minutes. A: second was made by Alderman Tina Vega and carried 8. Mayor Frank Fields read the item and City Council members reviewed the monthly payments and financial statements. A motion was made by Alderman John Pollock to approve the payment of the monthly bills and financial statements. A second was  unanimously 3-0.  made Alderman Tina Vega and carried unanimously 3-0. enforcement update, CR: 269 W waterline extension award.  VI. Items to be placed on future agenda: FY 2023 audit, and HOT ordinance, code  VII. The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m.  A1  Frank Fields Mayor, City of Snook  David Junek  City Administrator/City Secretary