COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL MARCH 24, 2025 - A regular meeting of the Groves City Council was held March 24, 2025, in the Groves City Council Chamber with Mayor Chris Borne, Mayor Pro Tem Pete Konidis, Councilmember Mark McAdams, Councilmember Brandon Holmes and Councilmember Rae Shauna Gay in attendance. Mayor Borne called the meeting to order and welcomed the attendees and news media. A representative from the local VFW then led the prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Borne asked if there were any reports, and Mr. Ken Lofton from the VFW 4820 gave a report regarding Kosovo. The late 19th and early 20th Centuries were the center of the Albanian National Movement, during which the Albanian revolts of 1910 and 1912 occurred. Following the breakup of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, Kosovo established its own authority and pursued independence. Kosovo unilaterally declared its independence from Serbia in February 2008 and has since gained diplomatic recognition as a sovereign state by 101 out of 193-member states of the United Nations. The United States and its military were heavily involved in this conflict, including one of the VFW's past Post Commanders. There were no further reports. Mayor Borne then called for citizen comments, and there were none. DELIBERATE AND ACT TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE MARCH 10, 2025, CITY COUNCIL MEETING: Councilmember Holmes moved to approve the minutes of the March 10, 2025, City Council Meeting as written, and Councilmember McAdams seconded. There was no discussion, and the motion passed unanimously. DELIBERATE ON THE STATUS OF APPLICATIONS FOR APPOINTMENT TO THE GROVES ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION, PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION, AND ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT: Mayor Pro Tem Konidis made a motion to deliberate on the status of applications for appointment to the Groves Economic Development Corporation, Planning and Zoning Commission, and Zoning Board of Adjustment. Councilmember Gay seconded. City Manager Kevin Carruth informed the council that they have a copy of all applications received to date for positions on our three standing boards. Some names will appear more than once, indicating that they are interested in more than one committee. Mr. Carruth then informed the council that we have 23 positions, between the three boards, for regular memberships and alternate members. Mr. Carruth also informed the Council that we are still short, SO he wanted to bring it to their attention sO that they can reach out to potential volunteers who might be willing to serve. Mayor Borne asked if we needed to extend the period for taking applications, and City Manager Kevin Carruth stated that was correct. Mayor Borne also wondered if any of these committees were unable to do their work while we did not have members appointed, and City Manager City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 2 Kevin Carruth stated no. City Clerk Clarissa Thibodeaux then informed Council that- applicant Chris Crain should have been listed under Planning and Zoning, not the Economic Development Corporation. Mayor Borne asked if there was a recommendation on how long the process should be extended, and Mr. Carruth stated that it depends on how long it will take to generate additional interest. Councimember McAdams asked if we are short on every board. Mr. Carruth stated definitely on Zoning Board of Adjustment, one on Planning and Zoning, and missing ward requirements on Economic Development Corporation. Mayor Borne suggested adding two more weeks to accept applications and bring it back to the council at the April 14th meeting. There was no further discussion on this item, and no vote was required. INVOICES: City Manager Kevin Carruth presented invoices for payment totaling $169,656.52 as follows: 1. Amber Estates LLC 2024 Subdivider Rebate. $6,731.82 2. Brenntag Southwest, INC Sodium Hydroxide for Water $7,887. Plant. 3. Chameleon Industries, INC Polymer for Water Plant. $33,064.85 4. Citibank, N.A. Credit Card payment. $13,227.98 5. City of Port Arthur Landfill fees for 12-26-24 through $14,630.00 1-25-25. 6. HEAT Safety Annual SCBA flow testing and 10 $5,467.42 new SCBA facemasks. 7. Jefferson County 2nd quarter payment. $18,867.92 Appraisal District 8. Lower Neches Valley Water purchase for February $25,977.86 Authority 2025. 9. Municipal H20 Annual EPA RMP compliance $6,000. service fee. City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 3 10. PVS DX, INC Chlorine for Water Plant. $6,861.60 11. Republic Services Sludge disposal for February 2025. $10,939.50 12. Wathen, Deshong, Interim billing for audit. $20,000.00 & Juncker, L.L.P. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis made a motion to approve the invoice list for March 24, 2025 and Councimember Gay seconded. Mayor Borne asked for questions. Mayor Pro Tem Konidis inquired about the Amber Estates rebate, and City Manager Kevin Carruth confirmed that it was for the infrastructure. Mayor Borne asked about the face masks for the Fire Department, and Fire Chief Lance Billeaud noted that they had never conducted a fit test for the personnel, but this year, they did. They found that six were the wrong size and four of them were in poor condition. There were no further questions. The motion passed unanimously. CI-COUNCIL WILL HOLD AN EXECUTIVE SESSION PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF CHAPTER 551 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE, IN : ACCORDANCE WITH THE AUTHORITY CONTAINED IN: - ha A. SEÇTION 551.01 (1) (A) - CONSULTATION WITH ATTORNEY WHEN E THÉ GOVERNMENTAL BODY SEEKS THE ADVICE OF ITS ATTORNEY ABOUT PENDING OR CONTEMPLATED LITIGATION. The Council went into Executive Session at 5:21 p.m. The Council reconvened into an Open Session at 6:20 p.m. DELIBERATE AND ACT ON TEMPORARY GAME ROOM SPECIFIC USE PERMITS FROM EXISTING OPERATORS WITH EXPIRING PERMITS, ALLOWING THEM TO OPERATE DURING THE MORATORIUM ON GAME ROOMS AND GAMING MACHINES IMPOSED BY ORDINANCE 2024-29: Mayor Pro Tem Konidis made a motion to deliberate and act on temporary Game Room specific use permits from existing operators with expiring permits, allowing them to operate during the Moratorium on Game Rooms and Gaming Machines imposed by Ordinance 2024-29. Councimember McAdams seconded. Mayor Borne recommended that we extend current specific use permits through the end of the moratorium to include their : City Council Meeting March 24, 2025 Page 4 renewal process for any game rooms that come up for renewal during the moratorium time. There were no further questions, and the motion passed unanimously. Mayor Borne asked for council member comments, and Councilmember Holmes urged citizens to assist the city in finding board members. There were no further comments. There was no further business, and the meeting was adjourned at 6:23 p.m. Mayor 3 - ATTEST: * * - A - Clerk E City