City Council Meeting

City Council Meeting

Olney City Council met Monday, July 26, at 6 p.m. Mayor Rue Rogers called the meeting to order and opened with a prayer. The Council members present included Brad Simmons, Harrison Wellman, Terri Wipperman and Chuck Stennett. Also present was Mayor Pro-Tem, Tom Parker.

The first item on the agenda was the consideration of minutes from the previous meeting. The Council approved minutes from meetings held June 24, June 28 and July 6.

Next, Mayor Rogers called for an update from the finance committee. Mayor Pro-Tem Tom Parker reported that seven of the finance committee members took a field trip to the water treatment plant to examine the state of the plant. He said the field trip gave members a good understanding of the necessity of an updated plant. Parker commented on the finance meeting that took place right before the Council meeting July 26.

“We’ve decided to create three groups, three subcommittees from the group of 12. One group is going to work on the bonding issue. And by that I mean, creating the bond documents and starting to flesh those things out. [There] is also a second committee that will look at the extemporaneous elements, water meters, developed float plugging machines, pipe inspection equipment, things like that. [This subcommittee] will look at some of the water loss and other financial impacts on the overall structure and things like that. And then a third subcommittee that will look at hardship so that we know where we are going with this funding group,” Parker explained.

Parker assured the Council that the committees would identify what funds are needed and how to proceed with a bond. In the absence of the grant funds the Council had applied for, the City will need the bond to help cover the expense of a new plant. The City Secretary Neal Welch said they would apply again for additional funding. They hope to begin that process soon. Parker concluded his report and stated that the next finance committee meeting would be held in two weeks.

The Council meeting paused for a closed executive session to discuss personnel matters related to Chief Dan Birbeck. The Council reconvened and approved Birbeck’s salary. Birbeck then presented his case for a new copier for the police department.

Birbeck said, “The copier that we have now is over 12 years old. It’s beyond shelf life. There are no more updates to drivers nor any programming to [resolve the issues.] The problem with it is that it will not interface properly.” Birbeck will review his budget and present his proposal to the Council later.

Next, Tony Fidelie, a partner with the law firm Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott appeared before the Council to overview their role in the City government and their services. Fidelie stated they represent Cities with property tax matters such as Texas Communities Group and billing collections through the municipal court. Due to space limitations, we will include more about the firm’s role in the next issue of Olney Enterprise.

The meeting continued with a public hearing to rezone Lot 516 on South Avenue B from residential to mobile home zoning. Mayor Rogers closed the public hearing at 7:30 p.m. and tabled the discussion pending additional information.

There was a second read and discussion to enforce the contract with Waste Connections as the sole source provider. However, the mayor tabled this discussion as the issue was not time-sensitive, according to the Council.

Regarding the second read and discussion of the ordinance to Increase New Water Tap Fees, Mayor Rogers entertained a motion to approve ordinance 03-21, “the city voluntarily providing guidelines and a rate and a rate structure for the installation of water taps and sewer tap providing for repeal of ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict, providing severability establishing an effective date and finding the meeting in compliance with Open Meetings Act.” The motion was carried.

Before adjournment, the City discussed the budget update and entered an executive session to discuss the real property at Lake Cooper.

No citizens commented during the meeting. “The City Council welcomes comments from Citizens early in the agenda of meetings.

According to City Administration, “Those wishing to speak must sign in before the meeting begins at the Olney City Hall. Speakers may be provided with an opportunity to speak during this time, and they must observe a three-minute time limit.”

If you cannot attend City Council meetings in person, you may tune in online by visiting the City’s website www.CityofOlneyTX.com. Click the Agenda and Minutes tab to access the meetings. Click “Join us on GoToMeeting” to access the meeting. You may join either a live session during the appropriate time, or you may view a recorded meeting. This is an excellent way to stay connected with the things happening in Olney.

City Council meetings take place every second and fourth Monday at 6 p.m.