City Council Meeting
Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Parker called the City Council meeting to order at 6:03 p.m. Monday, March 8. The meeting began with an invocation by the City Administrator, Neal Welch. The Council members present included Terri Wipperman, Tommy Kimbro, Phil Jeske and Chuck Stennett.
During the citizen comment period, Chris Garcia proposed a skatepark in Olney. He was supported by the skate park advocacy group comprising parents. Refer to the article in the March 25, 2021, issue.
Garcia gave a list of reasons why the Council should consider approving the advocacy group’s request for a Skatepark.
“We need to form a partnership [for a skatepark] with the City. Some of the reasons to have a skatepark include having children’ activities, something the City can get behind. It gives preteen youth more to do since most of them have outgrown the current park equipment. Most children who like to skate now do not have a safe place to go and therefore choose not to, so having a skatepark can provide a positive outlet for youth and help with childhood obesity by providing a good way to exercise,” Garcia said.
The skatepark advocacy told the Council they would like consideration for Tom Griffin Park or Tommy Perkins Park. Parker’s response was to address the City’s liability and requested the general footprint to determine what will work best.
“Our goal right now is to raise approximately $130,000 and decide which builder we will go with and how big of a footprint we will have to work with,” Garcia said.
The advocacy group will revisit the Council after they gather additional information and meet with Keep Olney Beautiful.
After the Council accepted minutes from three previous meetings, the meeting began with the swearing-in of Miranda Wright, who has returned to the police force. Police Chief Dan Birbeck issued the Oath of Office. Refer to the article on Pages 1 and 4.
Regarding the tax resale bids, the Council rejected the bids. Refer to the meeting minutes posted on the City’s website for details.
The Council opened a public hearing at 6:22 p.m. for the code violations on 205 York Street, and 401 South Avenue F. Nobody attended the hearing for these two properties, so the public hearing was closed at 6:23. The next item on the agenda was an action item wherein the Council approved an order to abate code violations for 205 York Street and 401 South Avenue F. The abatement period is for 30 days.
Olney Police Chief Dan Birbeck presented a request to purchase new body cameras and storage software for the police department, which the Council accepted.
City Administrator Neal Welch and Interim City Secretary Arpegea Pagsuberon petitioned the Council for new utility billing and court management software.
The Council accepted the 2020 Olney Police Department Racial Profiling Report that they reviewed at a previous meeting.
Welch recommended a review committee to review a Request for Qualification (RFQ) for the 2021-2022 Community Development Block Grant, which the Council accepted.
Birbeck, Welch and Pagsuberon presented the monthly departmental reports that the Council accepted. Refer to the meeting minutes for the specifics of those reports. The minutes from this meeting will be posted on the City’s website http://www.olney.tx.citygovt.org/.
Mayor Pro-Tem Parker opened and closed the executive session as there were no in-person interviews of candidates for City Secretary scheduled for March 8.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:44 p.m. The next City Council meeting will be held Monday, March 22.
You may join the meetings by logging on to https://global.gotomeeting.com/join/856682717 from your computer, tablet or smartphone. You may also participate by phone at 1.866.899.4679. The Access Code is 856 682 717.