City Council

The City Council of the City of Alvord, Texas met in regular session on Thursday, February 16, 2023 in the Council Chambers of City Hall. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. and a quorum was present. Mayor Enochs was present and presiding with Council Members Hatzenbihler, Sherwood, Raney and Caviness. Council Member White was absent. Also in attendance was City Attorney Jim Shepherd, City Administrator Troy Gregg and City Secretary Pam Gregg. There were three people in attendance from the public. Jim Shepherd gave the invocation and the Pledge of Allegiance to the American flag was recited. CITIZENS FORUM No requested to speak during this time. NEW ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION a. Consider and take appropriate action to approve an investment policy for the city City Administrator Troy Gregg gave each Council Member a breakdown of current investment standings and told them the status of the cd’s the City currently has. He informed them that 98.6% of property taxes had been collected. He added that 47.9% of the general fund budgeted expenses were spent and that the reason it was a little high was due to unexpected money being spent on a water tank. Jim Shepherd provided a revised investment policy ordinance according to current statutes. Jim stated that the policy was designed to be sure that City funds are in safe collateralized accounts and requires annual status updates. Council Member Caviness made a motion to approve the new investment policy for the City by adopting Ordinance No. 2023-02-03. Mayor Pro-Tem Sherwood seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. b. Consider and take appropriate action to approve an application for participation in the Texas Short Term Asset Reserve Program (TexSTAR) Hilltop Securities helps the City with investments and they require the Council to pass a resolution in order for the City to participate in the TexSTAR investment program. Council Member Hatzenbihler made a motion to approve an application for participation in the Texas Short Term Asset Reserve Program and adopt Resolution No. R2023-02-02. Council Member Raney seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. c. Consider and take appropriate action on an I&S debt and strategic plan City Administrator Troy Gregg gave Council a report of current debt service which included $52,000 a year that would be freed up in 2023. He also discussed needed upcoming debts totaling approximately $600,000 that included cleaning and repairing the 287 water tower, cleaning and repairing 2 ground storage tanks, replacing a lift station, electric read water meters, 12 lift station mother boards, SCADA upgrades and a drainage study which will hopefully result in a 5-7 year plan to avoid further drainage problems. Troy said he was not asking for permission to proceed with all of these needs, but rather that he was asking for Council to tell Alvord City Council Meeting February 16, 2023 him what they felt was most important. After some discussion, the agenda item was tabled until further information could be gathered. d. Consider and take appropriate action to approve an application for a new designated depository City Administrator Troy Gregg informed Council of the need to move the City bank accounts from Legend Bank to a bank that does not charge service fees and will allow a larger amount of interest to be earned. He added that the school district moved their accounts from Legend Bank for the same reason when service fees were added in January, 2022. Council Member Caviness made a motion that a new depository be selected by doing a Request for Proposals. Council Member Hatzenbihler seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. e. Consider and take appropriate action to approve an organizational chart for the City An organizational chart was created for the City showing the chain of command and who each employee reports to. Council Member Raney made a motion to approve the organizational chart for the City. Council Member Hatzenbihler seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. f. Consider and take appropriate action to approve a new lease with Rise Broadband City Administrator Troy Gregg explained that Rise Broadband is using the 287 water tower for their equipment and is paying the City $1000 per year. He has had several conversations with them and they have agreed to increase the lease to $400 a month. The contract has not been finalized but should be by the next meeting in March. No action was taken on this agenda item. g. Consider and take appropriate action to appoint Aaron Moore to Place 3 of the EDC Mayor Pro-Tem Sherwood made a motion to appoint Aaron Moore to Place 3 of the Economic Development Corporation. Council Member Raney seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. h. Consider and take appropriate action on a request from the Records Management Officer to destroy records with an expired retention period Mayor Pro-Tem Sherwood made a motion to approve a request from the Records Management Officer to destroy records with expired retention periods. Council Member Raney seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. i. Consider and take appropriate action to approve Ordinance No. 2023-02-01 “Ordering an Election for May 6, 2023” Council Member Hatzenbihler made a motion to approve Ordinance No. 2023-02-01 giving notice and ordering an election to be held on May 6, 2023. Mayor Pro-Tem Sherwood seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. Alvord City Council Meeting February 16, 2023 j. Consider and take appropriate action to approve the minutes from the meeting on January 19, 2023 Mayor Pro-Tem Sherwood made a motion to approve the minutes from the last meeting on January 19, 2023. Council Member Raney seconded the motion. All votes were yes. The motion carried. STAFF REPORTS City Secretary Pam Gregg provided a report of current water accounts, permits and plats in the City and informed them of completing her second re-certification as a Texas Registered Municipal Clerk. City Administrator Troy Gregg gave a report that included: • NextLink boring project • Whispering Winds Phase 2 project • CPR training for staff Council Member Raney gave a report for the EDC that included: • All places filled on the board • Country Living tour FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS No future agenda items were discussed. ADJOURN There being no further business, Mayor Pro-Tem Sherwood made a motion to adjourn the regular session of the Alvord City Council at 7:08 p.m. on Thursday, February 16, 2023. Council Member Hatzenbihler seconded the motion. The Council voted four (4) in favor and none (0) opposed. The motion carried. These minutes were approved on the 16th day of March, 2023. APPROVED: ATTEST: ________________________________ ______________________________ Jim Enochs, Mayor Pam Gregg, TRMC, City Secretary Alvord City Council Meeting February 16, 2023