- The City Council ofthe City of Columbus, Texas met in regular session on Monday, February 24, 2025, at 5:30 PM, in the Council Chambers of City Hall located at 605 Spring St., Columbus, Texas, with the following present: Mayor - Lori An Gobert Mayor Pro Tem - Chuck Rankin Councilman Keith Cummings Councilman - Ronny Daley Councilwoman - Paige Sciba Councilman - Michael Ridlen (Arrived at 5:44 p.m.) City Manager - Donald Warschak City Secretary - Bana Schneider Assistant City Secretary Dinah Jacobs Other City Staff present included: Police Chief Skip Edman Fire Chief & Code Enforcement - Richard Lacourse CCIDC President - Bruce Tesch 1. Call to Order Mayor Lori An Gobert called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. Pledge of Allegiance and Invocation Gobert led the pledge and invocation. 3. Consent Agenda: Motion to approve the consent agenda as presented. Moved by: Ronny Daley Seconded by: Keith Cummings Aye Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 4-0 3.1 Approval ofl Invoices 20250224.pdf 0 3.2 Approval of Minutes ofthe February 10, 2025 Regular Meeting MINUTES 20250210.pdf 0 3.3 Approval ofInvestment Report for the Quarter Ended December 31, 2024 20241231 INVESTMENT REPORT.pdi 8 3.4 Approval ofthe October 2024 Financial Statements OCT 2024.pdf a 3.5 Approval ofthe November 2024 Financial Statements NOV 2024.pdf 0 4. Citizens' Presentations and Comments' Citizens requested to speak at specific agenda items. 5. City Manager's Report Including Sales Tax, TxDOT Projects Updates, City Projects Updates, the Rise Broadband Fiber Project, Sewer Averaging, and Sign Replacement Project Updates. CM REPORT 20250221.pdf 8 City Manager, Donald Warschak, gave his report. A copy is attached to these minutes. Regarding sales tax, the County and City of Eagle Lake also saw increases. 6. Consideration and Action to Award the Bid for the CDBG MIT-MOD Drainage Project Construction. CDBG-MIT-MOD GLO DRAINAGE BID.pdf 0 Project engineer John Mercer was present to discuss the bids that were submitted. Mercer recommended Strayhorn Construction for the project. Cummings asked if he will be able to get the project done in the required time. Mercer stated yes, and it should not be a problem completing the project. A letter ofa award will be sent tomorrow. Let the record reflect that at 5:44 p.m. Michael Ridlen joined the meeting. Motion to award the drainage project bid to Strayhorn Construction. Moved by: Ronny Daley Seconded by: Keith Cummings Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 7. Consideration and Action to Approve a Right-of-Way License Agreement with Rise Broadband. ROW LICENSE AGREEMENT RISE BROADBAND.pd! 0 City Secretary, Bana Schneider, stated the boring company has damaged water systems in other cities, SO our attorney suggested we get this agreement in place. Motion to approve the ROW License Agreement with Rise Broadband. Moved by: Paige Sciba Seconded by: Chuck Rankin Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 8. Consideration and Action to Approve Resolution 295-25, a Resolution Designating Authorized Signatories for Contractual Documents Pertaining to the CDBG-MIT Resilient Communities Program Through the General Land Office. RESOLUTION 295- 25 COLIMBLSINP-ALTIL SIGNATURES.pdf 8 Motion to approve Resolution 295-25. Moved by: Paige Sciba Seconded by: Keith Cummings Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 9. Consideration and Action to Approve an Interlocal Agreement with HPS Governmental Benefits Cooperative. HPS GBC INTERLOCALDd a Frank Hejtmanek and Tye Gunn were present representing Higginbotham. Schneider stated they would be our broker for contracting for health care and voluntary services The goal is to provide more options and cost effectiveness. Motion to approve the HPS GBC Interlocal agreement. Moved by: Paige Sciba Seconded by: Chuck Rankin Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 10. Consideration and Action to Approve an Operational Procedures Agreement with HPS Governmental Benefits. HPS GBC OPERATIONAL PROCEDURES AGREEMENT.pdr 2 Schneider discussed the Operational Agreement with Council. Hejtmanek stated they will shop all oft the benefits. They will work on locating medical coverage. Ridlen questioned how they get paid. Hejtmanek stated they get paid by the carriers. They are independent. With the cooperative, there comes a benefit platform. The employee will enroll in the services. Higginbotham will also be a third party administrator. Rankin questioned ifthere was an issue, who do we call. Hejtmanek stated you call me. Ridlen asked if we do not pay you, what makes you have the best benefit for us. Gunn stated the best prices and keeping your business. Motion to approve the HPS GBC Operational Procedures Agreement. Moved by: Paige Sciba Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 11. Consideration and Action to Send to Planning and Zoning of a Replat of a 1.2332 Acre Being Lots 3, 4 and a Portion of Lot 5, Block 43 of the City of Columbus into Two (2) Lots (0.4912 Acres (Lot 3A) and 0.7420 Acres (Lot 4A)) as Requested by Merrill and Elaine Luman. REPLAT LUMAN-HEGERpIE 0 Warschak described and discussed the area with Council. Motion to approve sending the described replat to P&Z. Moved by: Paige Sciba Seconded by: Ronny Daley Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 12. Consideration and Action to Accept the Certification of Unopposed Candidates for the May 3, 2025 General Election. Consideracion y accion para aceptar la certificaciôn de candidatos sin oposicion para las elecciones generales del 3 de mayo de 2025. CERTIFICATION OF UNOPPOSED CANDIDATES CERTIFICATION DE CANDIDATOS UNICOS.pdf 0 Schneider stated she has certified that all races in the upcoming municipal election are unopposed. Schneider afirmo que ha certificado que todas las elecciones en las proximas elecciones municipales no tendran oposicion. Motion to accept the certification of unopposed candidates for the May 3, 2025 general election. Mocion para aceptar la certificacion de candidatos sin oposicion para las elecciones generales del 3 de mayo de 2025. Moved by/movido por: Chuck Rankin Seconded by/secundado por: Paige Sciba Aye/Si Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried/Aprobado 5-0 13. Consideration and Action to Adopt Ordinance 289-25, an Ordinance of the City of Columbus, Texas Declaring the Unopposed Candidates for the Offices of Mayor, City Councilmember Place One, and City Councilmember Place Two as Elected. ORD 289-25 CANCELLATION OF ELLECTION.pd a Examen y medidas encaminadas a adoptar Ordenanza 289-25, una Ordenanza de la ciudad de Columbus, Texas Declarar los candidatos sin oposiciôn para la oficina Alcalde, Concejal dela Cludad de la Lugar Uno, el Concejal de la Ciudad Lugar Dos como Elegido. ORD 289-25 CANCELACION DE ELECCION.pdf 8 Motion to adopt Ordinance 289-25. Mocion para adoptar la Ordenanza 289-25. Moved by/movido por: Paige Sciba Seconded by/secundado por: Chuck Rankin Aye/Si Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carriedl/Aprobado 5-0 14. Consideration and Action, if Necessary, Regarding the Columbus Community & Industrial Development Corporation's Annual Report. CCIDC Board President, Bruce Tesch, updated Council on the sale of property to Lauren Concrete at the end of December. The other big project and sale of property was closed last week with PDC Atlanta. This has been a long time coming. PDC has 30 months for construction. There is one other piece of property that is being looked at at the Industrial Park. It would bring approximately 125 jobs ifthat sale closes. No action was needed. 15. Consideration and Action to Approve a Manufactured Home Permit for BLK 104 LT S/2 S-5, 61 in the City of Columbus as Requested by Linda Hernandez. Code Enforcement officer, Richard LaCourse, discussed this permit. It is the exact same permit from October, but that one lapsed. The only difference is the concrete plan. This was a resubmittal. Rankin asked ifit as still in compliance. LaCourse stated it was. Motion to approve the manufactured home as presented. Moved by: Ronny Daley Seconded by: Keith Cummings Aye Michael Ridlen, Paige Sciba, Chuck Rankin, Keith Cummings, and Ronny Daley Carried 5-0 16. Consideration and Action, if Necessary, Regarding the 2024 Columbus Volunteer Fire Department Annual Report. CVFD 2024.pdf a Fire Chief, Richard LaCourse, gave the report. A copy is attached to these minutes. Gobert stated the Oyster/Fish Fry was phenomenal. It was a great success. Ridlen stated this was some ofthe best oysters he had ever had. Rankin questioned the status ofthe Fire Marshal. LaCourse stated he is not part of the fire department. He is an appointment by the City. Gobert stated she has approached Blinn College and the City of Weimar. Blinn did reach back out. There is someone that has expressed interest and they are working on aj joint project. This was a part time position. The ESD burned him. Warschak stated we are looking at all avenues and exploring other options. The full time fire fighters just don't want another extra part time job. LaCourse stated there are greater qualifications for being a Fire Marshal above being a just a firefighter. Right now, the current fire marshal is working on a case by case basis. Ridlen stated if we are happy and he is happy, we should keep rocking and rolling. He did an awesome job, and ifl he would like to continue on a contract basis, we should. Rankin stated Warschak should report on this every couple of months. No action was needed. 17. Consideration and Action, if Necessary, Regarding the January 2025 Code Enforcement Report. CODE ENFORCEMENT JANUARY 2025.pdf 0 Code Enforcement officer, Richard LaCourse, gave his report. A copy is attached to these minutes. No action was needed. 18. Consideration and Action, if Necessary, Regarding the. January 2025 Police Report. CPD STATS JANUARY 2025.pdf 0 Police Chief, Skip Edman, gave his report. A copy is attached to these minutes. There has been a lot of training going on. Gobert questioned the rearrangement of staff. Edman stated Chris Mayfield was promoted to Lieutenant; Travis Kent has returned as Detective; they are still one short for patrol. Ridlen questioned the tenure oft the rest ofthe staff beyond Chief. Edman stated Jose Lara, 11 years; Wilson 15 years; and Neumann and Blair also have a lot of experience. He worries about the "Baby Cops". Itis very hard training three new: rookies, but we hired some great new young people. 19. Items from Councilmembers' Cummings - none Daley none Sciba addressed the need for lighting at the crosswalk at the Little League field and the need for lights shining down on Montezuma there are lots ofs shadows and darkness and you cannot see kids or adults crossing; seems to be a very dangerous location; Warschak stated they will look into what can be done there Ridlen - questioned when the property was sold to the school, was there something in there for who is responsible for lighting/safety in that area; Warschak stated he will check; asked about doing something as a Council to promote the ESD; something put out to the citizens that Council is in support of the effort; Gobert stated she went to the first Town Hall meeting; Ridlen is thinking of a letter from this body showing support and why as most citizens will not go to a Town Hall; mailed letter; newspaper; Schneider stated she would have to check rules on what can be done in support because of election laws; Ridlen stated the newspaper can print we are in support; Gobert stated she likes and follows and shares the ESD posts to show support; each individual member can do the same Rankin stated they could do something in a two part series; encouraging support now and then something after the local town hall; Schneider still needs to check on what can and cannot be done Gobert - stated there are a lot of grants and hoops and things toj jump through; thank you to Anne and Bana for all ofthe work they are doing; without Anne, there is no way all ofthis work would be getting done - there is an impressive amount ofwork going on; water well replacement grant - $1.3M 20. Announcements Warschak - new director at the Library - Lynnette Weido; three retirees - luncheon on Friday Michael Poncik, Henry Polasek, Wendy Alley 1lam-lpm here at the Council Chamber 21. Adjournment With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:36 p.m. CGech Lori An Gobert, Mayor Attest Bana Schneider, City Secretary 'During this agenda item, citizens may comment for the record on items, which are not on the agenda. However, the Council may not participate in discussion or deliberation on any item that is not on the agenda. Citizens may request that at topic be addedt to at future agenda. 2Limited to statements. Issues raised by councilmembers under this item cannot be deliberated by Council, The Open Meetings Act does not allow Council to deliberatei items that don'ta appear on the agenda.