Center City Council Meeting Results - July 28, 2010
Composed by JJ Ford

The Center City Council met in regular session on Monday, July 26, 2010 in the Council Room of City Hall. All council members were present, as well as, City Manager Chad Nehring and Mayor Windham. Councilman Chuck Lunsford gave the invocation and Mayor Windham opened the meeting. Minutes of the Regular Meeting on July 12, 2010 were approved.

On the agenda under items for discussion and possible action, item A, the council awarded the Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant Construction Project bid to the lowest bidder, Windham Air, who bid a total of $35,200. Mayor Windham offered to abstain from handling the vote on this item due to his family relationship to the owner of Windham Air. Windham stated he could handle this particular vote because he has no financial ties to the business; however, to avoid any question concerning legality he allowed David Chadwick, Mayor Pro-tem to handle the vote. The City was awarded $40,303 for energy efficiency projects and the easiest and most obvious was simply A/C replacements and upgrades. Most of the units in this bid are at least 10-15 years old and operation costs are significantly higher.

Item B under possible action, the council approved Resolution 2010-16 Approving Sanitary Sewer Initiative. A resolution of the City of Center approving and authorizing the sanitary sewer overflow initiative action plan for the City of Center. TCEQ is working with staff to enter their voluntary sanitary sewer initiative project. The action plan, as prepared and included, does require some increase lift station maintenance for the next several years as well as a definitive time line for the funding and construction of the Loop 500 lift station project. The Loop 500 lift station timeline being final completion of plans by 2012, initiation of construction by 2013, and final phase of construction to start in 2015.

Item C for discussion was to consider a request from Sue Walker concerning water line service cost on Loop 500. Sue Walker requested a waiver of the fees to connect to the water line on the loop which would be $6,500. Walker is in the process of developing a 25 space RV Park. Past practices of the council has been that anyone tying onto a water line funded through a participatory agreement for the extension of a City main would pay the same cost as the original developer. Mayor Windham expressed his concern that consistency is important when making decisions and keeping them fair for everyone. The council decided to table the item at this time until Sue Walker can get more information concerning her cost of tying into the line as well as other options.

Item D for possible action was to approve the Award of Sale - Tax Delinquent Property. The council denied all bids until more information could be provided.

Item E, Discussion of Budget, Chad Nehring updated the council on the current tenitive adjustments to the budget. Specifically the budget packet did include a COLA adjustment to wages, benefit adjustments including health insurance increase of 3% and some necessary vehicle/equipment replacement to continue current operations. Much of the budget for park capital projects, the summer recreation program, enhanced highway signage and some major maintenance items have been reduced. A final draft of the budget will be presented to the council at the next council meeting.

The coucil entered into Executive Session. No action was taken. The meeting was adjourned.