MINUTES CITY OF AMES, TEXAS 304 MARTIN DR. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING March 14, 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, absent council members Audrey Harrison and Barbara Domain. CITIZEN APPREARANCE Mayor Gilmore thanked the citizens for being here and to please silence your phones. A list of citizens is attached. Prayer Pledge of Allegience MINUTES Mayor Gilmore asked the reading of the minutes. The minutes for February 14, 2022 Regular City Council Meeting minutes were read, motioned on, and approved. Motioned by: Councilman Eddie White Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 OLD BUSINESS No old business to discuss. REGULAR SESSION 2022-01 - DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION - ENTERGY TEXAS, INC,SSTATEMENT OF INTENT AND APPLICATION FOR APPROVAL OF TWO VOLUNTARY RENEWABLE OPTION TARIFFS, RIDER SVRO AND RIDER LVRO. There was no appearance from Entergy. This item was moved to the April 11, 2022 Agenda. 2022-02 - DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION - NOTICE OF CENTERPOINT ENERGY'S 2022 GRIP FILING FOR THE BEAUMONT/EAST TEXAS DIVISION. There was no appearance from CenterPoint. This item will be moved to the April 11, 2022, agenda. 2022-03 - APPROVE HIRING ANOTHER CITY EMPLOYEE FOR THE MAINTENANCE DEPARTMENT ATS $17.00 PER HOUR. Discussion on this item was that it should be published in the local newspapers by Council Rollins. Motion was made to hire another person for the Maintenance Dept. and passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 At this time the Mayor recognized Veronica Mallet who was not on the agenda, but want to speak regarding the GLO, the General Land Office funds. She wanted to let the Mayor and Council Members know who she is, that she represents citizens of Ames and to let the Council know how many citizens in Ames are applying for homes and other funds. Discussion was made about the elderly, veterans and low-income families and the funds that are available to them. 2022-04 - TAKE ACTION TO APPROVE THE $449.00 FOR THE IPAD FOR THE CITY OF AMES TO VIDEORECORD THE MEETINGS. Motion was made to approve the purchase of an iPad in the amount of $449.00 to zoom/videorecord the city council meetings. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-05 - TAKE ACTION AND APPROVETREY NESLONEY ATTORNEY FEES IN THE AMOUNT OF $3,801.00 FOR MARCH EXPENSES INCURRED WORKING WITH THE CITY OF LIBERTY LAI WSUIT REGARDING THE SEWER SYSTEM. Motion was made to pay the attorney fees in the amount of $3,801.00 for expenses incurred with the city ofLiberty lawsuit. Motioned by: Councilman Eddie White Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-06 - APPROVE MONTHLY BILLS FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH TOTALING $18,657.57. Motion was made to approve paying the monthly bills for the month of March totaling $18,657.57 Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-07 = APPROVE FINISHING PAYING TEXAS DRAINAGE THE AMOUNT OF $110,600.00 FOR DIGGING DITCHES AROUND THE CITY OF AMES. Motion was made to finish paying Texas Drainage $110,600 for the digging ditches around the City of Ames. Motioned by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-08 - APPROVE AND PAY THE WATER DEPARTMENT $204.48 FOR DAMAGE TO WATER LINE ON FRIEND ROAD. Discussion was made about the waterline on Friend Street. Erwin Semien explained why this needed repair. Motion was made unanimous to pay the water depart $204.48 for damages to the water line on Friend Road. Motioned by: Councilman Eddie White Seconded by: Councilman Reggie Rollins All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-09 = APPROVE REIMBURSING WESLEY FREEMAN $94.00 FOR OVERPAYMENT OF SEWER BILL. Motion was made unanimous to pay Mr. Freeman for overpayment of sewer bill. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-10 - APPROVE TO PAY $100.00 TOTAL FOR FOUR (4) COUNCIL MEMBERS TOATTEND THE TML OUARTERLY MEETING IN PORT ARTHUR, TEXAS ON 3/31/2022. Motion was made unanimous to pay $100 for council members to attend the TML quarterly meeting in Port Arthur, Texas. Motioned by: Councilman Reggie Rollins Seconded by: Councilman Eddie White All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-11 - APPROVE TO REIMBURSE CORNELIUS GILMORE FOR ONE SECURITY OFFICER SERVICES PROVIDED ON FEBRUARY 14, 2022 MEETING OF $200.00 AND ON MARCH 14, 2022 MEETING OF $200.00 TOTALING $400.00 TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT ACCOUNT. Motion was made to reimburse the Mayor for security services provided by the Liberty Sheriff Dept. Passed unanimously. Motioned by: Councilman Eddie White Seconded by: Councilman Reggie Rollins AIl in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 At this time the regular meeting was closed and went directly into the workshop 2022-11 - INFORMATION WORKSHOP Mayor talked about Texas Drainage; every single ditch was dug out, last time ditches were dug was nine years ago. The clean out of the ditches was about 80% done. Mayor spoke on new signs around the city of Ames, over by Dragon, coming off Donatto street, off Hwy. 90 with updated Ames population. Every street in the City of Ames has new updated signs. Light-it up project. All of Hwy. 90 and the Sub is completed lit up. The Cemetery Road is lit up, these are the first phases. LED lights are cheaper. Donatto St. is an accident waiting to happen, SO planning on getting that street lit up. Also on the Prairie, slowly getting that area lit up. Tip Top End and FM 160 need lights. Speed bumps to be complete; they are saving roads and saving lives. There needs to be speed bumps in front of the City Hall because of people flying in cars. We have another grant coming to pave Martin and Donatto streets. The City has gotten a $2 million grant from the County to fix our sewer system. The previous system is really flawed. When the County give us this money, it will help fix the problems and the lawsuit goes away also. This is a help and a blessing for the City. Erwin Semien and I have been picking up trash because it needs to be done and the City is short- handed. The Mayor has had a lot of people call about the bus system, they want to know the process on this. Mayor gave out a copy of the contract to all citizens. Discussion was made by the contract. ADJOURNMENT All council members were in favor of adjourning the meeting at 7:35 p.m. Cmlin Jlmune Cornelius Gilmore Mayor Attested: - unnsie AneD Jennifer Purneli City Secretary