MINUTES CITY OF AMES, TEXAS 304 MARTIN DR. REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING July 18, 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, Audrey Harrison, Alfred Freeman, Jr., and Liz Hardy, Absent: Eddie White. CITIZEN APPREARANCE Mayor Gilmore thanked the citizens for being here and to please silence your phones. A list of attending citizens is attached. MINUTES The minutes for the June 11, 2022 Regular City Council meeting was read, motioned, approved and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Liz Hardy Seconded by: Councilman Alfred Freeman, Jr. All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 The minutes for the June 27, 2022 Emergency City Council meeting was read, motioned, approved and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Liz Hardy Seconded by: Councilman Alfred Freeman, Jr. All in favor: 3 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-01 = SPEAKER: KATHY SMART WITH PINEY WOODS WANTS TO DISCUSS RENEWING CONTRACT WITH THE CITY OF AMES. (ATTACHED) Ms. Kathy Smart with Piney Wood Sanitation addressed the Council about the need to increase the rates because of employee pay raises and, of course, the high cost of fuel. She mentioned that everything is going up, therefore, the need to increase the rates by 63 cents is necessary. Ms. Smart left a copy of the contract for the Mayor and Council members to sign. The mayor mentioned that he and the council members would give it some consideration. At this time there was no need for a motion. Motioned was made by: NONE NEEDED Seconded by: All in favor: 0 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-02 - SPEAKER: KADEAN WATTS WITH PETTITI LA W FIRM - TO DISCUSSTHE RV PARK LOCATED ON HWY. 90, AMES, TEXAS. Mr. Kadean Watts did not appear, but Craig Pettit, owner of Cedar Grove RV Park addressed the Council. Mr. Pettit stated that he could not afford to pay the $3,600.00 per month for the 37 hook- ups that there is currently in place. He did mention that there are 88 spaces, but only 37 hook-ups, therei is no pool. Mayor Gilmore made mention that you have been paying only $160.00 per month for the past 4 to 5 years, there are over 40 clean-outs that are broken, there are four full bathrooms, full showers, 10 washers and dryers, a camper wash station and then there is the weekend and holiday traffic that is not taken into consideration; all of that is being dumped into the City of Ames' sewer which is causing a considerable overflow. Discussion was made as to how much could you pay every month comfortably. Council Trahan stated that the City would have to do and assessment and perhaps come up with a solution. Mr. Pettit said he would fix the sewer taps. Motion was made to postpone this item until further assessment oft this issue can be done; all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-03 - DISCUSS AND CONSIDER CONTRACTING MR. GLEN BARNHILL AS A CERTIFIED OFFICIAL BUILDING INSPECTOR, ON A CONTRACTUAL BASIS, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ESTABLISHING PERMITS FOR THE CITY OF AMES, FOR $25.00 PER HOUR, ON AN AS NEEDED BASIS = TO BE FUNDED OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND ACCOUNT. Mayor Gilmore spoke about Mr. Barnhill being a certified building inspector who previously worked for the City ofLiberty in that capacity and that this would be a good idea when the City of Ames establish a permit department. Councilwoman Harrison stated that it would be best to get a CPA first; Councilwoman Hardy suggested that he would need to have a contract first; Councilman Trahan stated that the City need to adopt building codes and suggested that this item be postponed until next meeting. All were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-04 - DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO PAY FOR THE REGISTRATION FOR THE NEWLY ELECTED CITY OFFICIALS (LIZ HARDY AND ALFRED FREEMAN, JR.) TO ATTEND THE TML NEWLY ELECTED CITY OFFICIAL'S ORIENTATION, TO BE HELD IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS ON AUGUST 11-12 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,570.56, INCLUDING HOTEL ROOM - TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND ACCOUNT. Mayor Gilmore asked ifthere any questions. There were no discussions. Motion was made to pay for the registration of the newly elected officials to attend the TML conference in San Antonio, Texas on August 11-12,2022. All were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2202-05 - DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO AWARD SCHAUMBURG & POLK FOR THE ENGINEERING CONTRACT FOR THE AMES CDB 21-0476 TDA CONTRACT. Mayor Gilmore stated that Schaumburg & Polk are the engineers to be award the grant to construct the roads Donotto, Organ and Martin St., the project will be done in phases and should have a completion date of 2025. Motion was made to award Schaumburg & Polk the engineering contract; all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Liz Hardy Seconded by: Councilman Alfred Freeman, Jr. All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-06 = DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO PAY EICHELBAUM WARDELL THE AMOUNT OF $13,740.00 FOR ATTORNEY FEES, CLOSING DATE OF APRIL 30, 2022 - TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND ACCOUNT. Mayor Gilmore mentioned that the Trey Nesloney went to TCEQ to stop City of Liberty from cancelling the contract with Ames and for mediation; he also mentioned that Liberty is really trying to drag this out and that the fight is over overage from the City of Ames. Motion was made to combine Item 2022-06 and Item 2022-07 and to pay the attorney fees for Eichelbaum and Wardell and to be paid out ofGovernment Fund account; all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Alfred Freeman, Jr. All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-07 - DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION TO AMEND THE BUDGET TO PAY EICHELBAUM WARDELL THE AMOUNT OF $26,094.00 FOR ATTORNEY FEES, CLOSING DATE OF JUNE 15, 2022 - TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND ACCOUNT. Mayor Gilmore mentioned that the Trey Nesloney went to TCEQ to stop City of Liberty from cancelling the contract with Ames and for mediation; he also mentioned that Liberty is really trying to drag this out and that the fight is over overage from the City of Ames. Motion was made to combine Item 2022-06 and Item 2022-07 and to pay the attorney fees for Eichelbaum and Wardell and to be paid out of Government Fund account; all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilman Michael Trahan Seconded by: Councilman Alfred Freeman, Jr. All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-08 - DISCUSS AND' TAKE ACTION TO PAY WESTERNS SURETY COMPANY FOR BOND WITH FLNB IN THE AMOUNT OF $560.00 - TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND ACCOUNT. Discussion was made that this a bond that is held by First Liberty National Bank for security purposes for any amount of money over $100,00 and this Company holds that bond. Motion was made to pay Western Surety company for the bond with FLNB. Motion was made to pay this amount; all were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2022-09 - DISCUSS AND APPROVE A CONTRACTTO PAVE THE ROADS.TEBO and SYLPHEME STREETS) = TO BE PAID OUT OF THE GOVERNMENT FUND ACCOUNT. (ATTACHED) Mayor Gilmore mentioned that these streets need to be paved and Sylpheme Street needs to be fixed because of the recent damage that was done there. Councilwoman Hardy said that this is a state service road and that the state needs to pay forit. Councilwoman Harrison asked if we could use grant money to pay for these streets to be fixed. Councilman Freeman said that there is too much going on for now and that the City should be getting a CPA and concentrate on other matters for now. Councilman Trahan mentioned that there is legal work that needs to be done; we do need to make the road safe, yes, but for now we need to get a CPA SO that Ames can get back to a healthy state. Motion was made to postpone thisi item until next budget meeting. All were in favor and passed unanimously. Motioned was made by: Councilwoman Audrey Harrison Seconded by: Councilman Michael Trahan All in favor: 4 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 2202-10 - DISCUSS AND APPROVE AN ORDINANCE DECLINING TO APPROVE CHANGE RATES REQUESTED BY ENTERGY.TEXAS INC. (ETI) Mayor Gilmore mentioned that Entergy would like for the City of Ames to decline a rate increase. No further discussion was made on this item. Motioned was made by: Seconded by: All in favor: 0 Opposed: 0 Abstained: 0 MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Gilmore made mentioned about the conduct in the meetings. Ifthere are questions, not to jump upin the middle ofthe meetings and asked questions, there is a way to ask them and yes you do have the right to know what is going on, but there is a way to do it. There were discussions about city property not having a proper deed and that there should be additional items that need to be done for this property to belong to the city. Also, Mr. John Stewart has an issue with his sewer not being tied into the city's sewer properly. Mayor Gilmore stated that you were there when the work was being done and that you looked at it and said everything looks okay, now here it is four months later and you have an issue. Discussion was made to go and look at the problem and come up with a solution. ADJOURNMENT All Council Members were in favor of adjourning the meeting at 7:17 p.m. Coundlun Mlnne Cornelius Gilmore Mayor Attested: S 05 darnes Jennifer Plarpel Çity Secrétary Page to Approve Minutes for July 18, 2022, Regular City Council Meeting dRe &R Michael Trahan, Councilman, Position 1 Liz Hardy, Councilwoman, Position 2 Eddie White, Councilman, Position 3 - - Alfred L. Freeman, Jr,Councilman, Position 4 Audrey Harrison, Councilwoman, Position 5