Page 689 Page 1 of 3 MINUTES REGULAR CALLED CITY COUNCIL MEETING MARCH 10, 2025 The City Council of the City of Jasper, Texas, met on March 10, 2025, with the following members present to wit: Mayor Anderson M. Land, Jr Council Member DeMarcus Holmes/Absent Council Member Angel McCroskey Council Member Ronald Sample Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand City Manager Greg Kelley City Secretary Liz. Jarrell Mayor Anderson Land called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and Mr. Kyles opened it with prayer. All council members were present except Council Member DeMarcus Holmes. Mayor Land informed the council to review the SRMPA and SETRPC information in their binders. Therè were no departmental reports. Mayor Land read two proclamations, one for March 2025 as American Red Cross Month and the other for April 2025 as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month. There were no public comments. Council Member Ronald Sample made a motion to approve two sets of minutes for the regular called city council meeting on February 10, 2025, and the special called meeting and city council workshop on February 25, 2025. Seconded by Council Member Angel McCroskey. The motion passed unanimously. Bob Dickinson from the South East Texas Regional Planning Commission (SETRPC) informed the council that the public transit pilot project for the City of Jasper had postponed its start date. Mr. Dickinson is not sure of the new start date at this time. The contractor's insurance company was trying to expand its coverage, which is the cause of the delayed service. The program will be for residents in the city limits of Jasper only. Mr. Dickinson stated that $100,000 was received to do this program for an 18-month pilot project. Council Member Angel McCroskey stated she is excited about this project, and since she has been on the SETRPC board, she feels this is the first project that will help Jasper's citizens. City Manager Greg Kelley stated that these three grants were previously approved. The communications grant is $840,000.00, the water and wastewater grant is $2,275,000.00, and the water grant is $1,575,000.00. Council Member Angel McCroskey made a motion to approve three resolutions for the GLO-DRRP (Texas General Land Office-Disaster Recovery Reallocation Program) application submittal for water, sewer, and communications projects, including DRRP-196-1212, DRRP-196-1213, and DRRP-196-1214. Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. A public hearing was held on the water rate study the city received from Senergy. City Manager Greg Kelley stated that the council voted on the water rate study, which was brought on by the Citizens of Page 690 Page 2 of 3 Jasper Fair and Equitable Rates (CJFER), to settle the petition to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC). The study showed that the water rate was a negative 6.64 percent below cost. The sewer rates were negative 61 percent below cost. The SRMPA funds were used to keep the rates as low as possible. The agreement with the ratepayers was to have the same rate for inside and outside city limits. Mr. Kelley stated that the inside-city limit rates will increase for customers, and the outside-city limit rates will decrease. Bob Mayhar, Angela Lee, and Bill Grant voiced their opinions/concerns on the rate study. Council Member Angel McCroskey stated that the SRMPA funds were used to keep citizens' water, sewer, and electric rates low. Council Member McCroskey mentioned that the electric study also advised increasing electric rates. Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand made a motion to approve amending and updating Ordinance Chapter 24, Article IV, Water and Ordinance Chapter 24, Article V, Sewer. Seconded by Council Member Angel McCroskey. Council Member Ronald Sample voted against the motion. Council Members Angel McCroskey and Lequin Hilderbrand voted in favor of the motion. The motion passed 2-1. Chief Garrett Foster explained that he is trying to get the Police Department credited through the Texas Police Chief's Association. To do this, certain practices must be met to be accredited. Chief Foster wants to adopt that policy for1 the City of Jasper Police Department. Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand asked what is the main item that sticks out in this policy to Chief Foster. Chief Foster mentioned pursuits because there was no current one. Council Member Angel McCroskey made a motion to approve the police department policy manual. Seconded by Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand. The motion passed unanimously. Chief Garrett Foster mentioned a few rules the Registered Sex Offender Ordinance would include. Council Member Ronald Sample made a motion to approve the ordinance prohibiting registered sex offenders from residing and/or loitering within a certain distance where children commonly gather. Seconded by Council Member Angel McCroskey. The motion passed unanimously. Chief Garrett Foster explained that the money to update the police department came from a recently approved reallocation of funds. Councit Member Ronald Sample made a motion to award the recommended company SpawGlass Building Services out of the bids received for upgrades to the police department. Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Fire Marshall Brandon Duckworth explained that the state changed the rules not to require a permit to burn in the city limits, so he amended the ordinance to reflect state rules. Council Member Angel McCroskey asked Fire Marshall Duckworth if he was adding with a water source readily available, and Mr. Duckworth explained he was adding that. Mr. Duckworth explained that this is for residential customers. Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand made a motion to approve amending and updating Ordinance Chapter 9. Article II Section 9-22 Outdoor Burning Prohibited. Seconded by Council Member Ronald Sample. Council Member Angel McCroskey voted against the motion. Council Members Lequin Hilderbrand and Ronald Sample voted in favor. The motion passed 2-1. Page 691 Page 3 of 3 Council Member Ronald Sample made a motion to approve the list of election judges fori the May 3, 2025, General Election. Seconded by Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand. The motion passed unanimously. James Guest with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP gave a brief presentation on the contracts with the municipal courti to recover unpaid and delinquent citations at no cost to the City of Jasper. Judge Robert Jackson explained the need for the services to recover unpaid and delinquent citations. Council Member Ronald Sample made a motion to approve the Contract with the City of. Jasper Municipal Court and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. Seconded by Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand. The motion passed unanimously. Council member Sample made a motion to approve the contract for fines and fees collection services between the City of Jasper Municipal Court and Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson, LLP. Seconded by Councit Member Lequin Hilderbrand. The motion passed unanimously. Council member Sample made a motion to approve the order authorizing a collection fee in the amount of 30% of debts and accounts receivable. Seconded by Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand. The motion passed unanimously. The Council then went into executive session at 6:57 p.m. pursuant to Texas Government Code 551 Section 551.072 Deliberation Regarding Real Property and Section 551.074 Personnel Matters regarding the annual review of. Jasper Municipal Judge Robert, Jackson. The council reconvened at 7:41 p.m. Council Member Angel McCroskey made a motion to sell the DETCOG building located at 210 Premier Dr. with a minimum sealed bid of the appraised value of $955,000.00. Seconded by Council Member Ronald Sample. The motion passed unanimously. No action was taken regarding personnel matters for the annual review of Judge Robert. Jackson. Council Member Lequin Hilderbrand made a motion to adjourn. Seconded by Council Member Angel McCroskey. The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. - Anderson Land, Mayor Attest: - Liz. Jarrell, City Secretary