City Council Meetings
Regular MeetingMineral Wells, TX · November 17, 2017
Minutes
652
MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
MINERAL WELLS CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL ANNEX
November 17, 2017 - 6:00 pm
City Councilmernbers present were Mayor Pro-Tern Tammy Underwood,
Councilmernbers Brian Shoemaker, Regan Johnson, Jerrel Tomlin,
John Upham, and Doyle Light. Mayor Mike Allen was absent. A
quo~um of City Councilmernbers was present.
Sta ft 1:nernbers present were City Manager Lance Howerton, Public
Works Director Kelly Jones, Fire Chief Mike Pool, Administrative
Clerk Peggy Clifton, and City Clerk Juanita Formby.
1. Mayor Pro-Tern Tammy Underwood called the meeting to order,
Councilmernber Jerrel Tomlin gave the invocation, and the
Pledges of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas were recited.
2. The Mineral Wells City Council canvassed the election
returns from the City Bond Election held on November 7,
2017. The final results of the election are as follows:
CITY OF MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS PROPOSITION A
8 08 VOTES FOR
THE ISSUANCE OF $7,500,000 TAX BONDS BY THE CITY
OF MINERAL WELLS FOR STREET AND ROAD
IMPROVEMENTS, INCLUDING REPLACEMENT OF WATER AND
SEWER LINES IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH STREET AND
ROAD IMPROVEMENTS
612 VOTES AGAINST
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CITY OF MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS PROPOSITION B
553 VOTES FOR
THE ISSUANCE OF $5,805,000 TAX BONDS BY THE CITY
OF MINERAL WELLS FOR ACQUIRING A BUILDING, AND
CONSTRUCTING AND EQUIPPING IMPROVEMENTS TO SAID
BUILDING, TO BE USED FOR A NEW CITY HALL,
INCLUDING MUNICIPAL COURTS, AND CONSTRUCTING AND
EQUIPPIING RENOVATIONS TO THE EXISTING CITY HALL
BUILDING AND CITY HALL ANNEX
865 VOTES - AGAINST
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653
CITY OF MINERAL WELLS, TEXAS PROPOSITION C
713 VOTES FOR
THE ISSUANCE OF $3,960,000 TAX BONDS BY THE CITY
OF MINERAL WELLS FOR CONSTRUCTING AND INSTALLING
A WATER LINE ALONG US HIGHWAY 180 WEST
706 VOTES AGAINST
3. Following the official canvass, Mr. Upham moved and Mr.
Shoemaker seconded to pass and approve an ordinance by the
City Council of the City of Mineral Wells, Texas canvassing
returns and declaring results of November 7, 2017 Bond
Election; providing an effective date; . and containing
provisions necessary and incidental thereto. Motion
carried 6-0.
4. Mr. Howerton reminded the City Council that in April of
2017 they had entered into a Real Estate Contract of Sale
for property located at 100 S.E 6th Avenue in Mineral Wells,
formerly the Bank of America building, in anticipation of
repurposing the building for use as a City Hall. The
subject contract contained an option to terminate the
Contract on or before November 21, 2017, in the event the
Proposition to fund the purchase and renovation failed at
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the Bond Election held on November 7, 2017. The
Proposition has failed. Mr. Upham moved and Mr. Light
seconded that the Mineral Wells City Council adopt a
resolution authorizing the City Manager to terminate the
Real -Estate contract of Sale to purchase property located
at 100 S.E 6th Avenue on the City's behalf; and providing
for an effective date. The motion carried 6-0.
5. There was no further business, and the meeting was
adjourned at 2:06 pm.
Mike Allen, Mayor
ATTEST:
Mineral Wells City Council Minutes 11/17/2017 Page 2 of2
657
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
MINERAL WELLS CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL ANNEX
November 21, 2017 - 6:00 pm
City Councilmembers present were Mayor Mike Allen, Mayor Pro-Tern
Tammy Underwood, Councilmembers Brian Shoemaker, Jerrel Tomlin,
John Upham, and Doyle Light. Councilmember Regan Johnson was
absent. A quorum of City Councilmembers was present.
Staff members present were City Manager Lance Howerton, Finance
Director John Moran, Public Works Director Kelly Jones, Fire
Chief Mike Pool, Administrative Clerk Peggy Clifton, City Clerk
Juanita Formby, and City Attorney Mack Reinwand. Police Chief
Dean Sullivan was absent.
Mayor Allen called the meeting to order, Pastor Randy Anderson
of First Nazarene Church of Mineral Wells led the invocation,
and the Pledges of Allegiance to the U.S. and Texas flags were
recited.
CITIZEN COMMENT
Two people had signed to speak and Mayor Allen recognized each
in turn.
Terri Blevins of 2807 N. Murco congratulated the City Council on
the two bond measures that passed on November 7, 2017 and
expressed approval that the bond proposition for a new municipal
building had failed. He said citizens still want to make
Mineral Wells a better place to live and are looking forward to
recruiting new candidates to run for City Council in the
upcoming spring election.
Brandon Johnson of 2603 N. Highway 281 asked about the purchase
of a gradall that appeared on the list of expenditures over $500
and asked if this was a budgeted item. Mr. Howerton answered
that it was. Mr. Johnson said that the City Council packet for
this evening did not appear on the City's website as usual, and
the City Clerk said that she had contacted the IT Department to
see why it was not posted, but had not yet heard back from them.
Following a motion made by Mr. Upham, seconded by Mr. Light, the
following CONSENT AGENDA was approved by a vote of 6-0.
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1. Consider minutes of previous meeting(s) held November, 7,
2017.
2. Consider approval of budgeted expenditures over $500. I.
3. Consider approval of a resolution to declare itemized
equipment as surplus, for the purpose of disposing of same.
4. Consider approval of Change Order No. 1 and Final Pay
Application to Fambro construction, LLC in the amount of
$15,425.00 for the 16" Water Line Extension - MH 379 Bores
Only Project.
5 . Consider approval of Pay Application to ARK Contracting
Services in the amount of $93,400.00 for the Lake Mineral
Wells Spillway Repairs.
6. Consider approval of the Investment Report for the Quarter
ended September 2017.
ITEMS FOR INDIVIDUAL CONSIDERATION
7. Lt. Patrick Adams of the Mineral Wells Police Department
introduced the graduates of the recent Citizens Police l--
Academy, which was actually the first "public safety" ~
academy because this time it included the Fire/EMS
Department of the City. Graduates attended an eleven-week
course which met weekly, covering various aspects of local
law enforcement and fire/EMS protection. Lt. Adams
introduced each graduate, photos were taken, and an ovation
was given.
8. Mayor Allen announced that, in light of the pending
retirement of the current City Clerk, the City Council had
conducted interviews of potential candidates to fill the
position, once Ms. Formby leaves at the end of December
2017. The City Council was unanimous in their decision to
select Ms. Peggy Clifton, the Administrative Clerk
currently working in the City Clerk's office, to fill the
position. Ms. Clifton was present, and Mayor Allen
recognized her. She will be formally appointed and sworn
at the first meeting in January, 2018.
9. Mayor Allen opened a public hearing at 6:15 pm regarding a
final plat of a parcel of land located at 6500 E. Highway
180 in Mineral Wells (1.782 acres out of Section No. 5, T&P
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RR Company Survey, Abstract No. 1552, Parker County,
Mineral Wells, Texas) . If approved, the newly replatted
subdivision would be Block 1, Lot 1, Bronco Addition to the
City of Mineral Wells, Texas. Mr. Howerton said that the
Planning and Zoning Commission had met on November 6, 2017
to consider this item, and now recommends that it be
approved. No one was present to speak, and the public
hearing was closed at 6:17 pm. Mr. Upham moved and Mr.
Shoemaker seconded that the final plat of the Bronco
Addition be approved as recommended, and the motion carried
6-0.
10. Mayor Allen opened a public hearing at 6:17 pm
regarding a request to rezone Lot 1, Block 1 of the Bronco
Addition from Heavy Industrial (HI) to Commercial (C ), for
the purpose of constructing a strip mall on the newly
replatted property. Mr. Howerton said that the Planning
and Zoning Commission had also considered this request at
its November 6, 2017 meeting and now recommends that the
zone change be granted. No one was present to speak, and
the public hearing was closed at 6:18 pm. Mr. Upham moved
and Mr. Light seconded to pass and approve an ordinance
changing the zoning classification on certain property
known as Lot 1, Block 1, of the Bronco Plaza Addition, to
Commercial (C ); amending the Zoning District Map
accordingly; providing for a penalty not to exceed $2,000
for each violation; providing this ordinance be cumulative;
and providing for the severability, governmental immunity,
injunctions, publication, and an effective date. Motion
carried 6-0.
11. Mr. Howerton said that Mr. Brian Banks conducts
classes in the Mineral Wells Unmanned Systems Academy (UAS)
on an as-needed basis, but now feels that there is
sufficient participation to warrant classes more routinely.
Having conducted such classes out of the City's Activity
Center in the past, he is now asking to lease space there
for more frequent use. Staff has prepared a lease for two
classrooms in the Activity Center for a one year term, with
a monthly rental of $300. Mr. Howerton felt that promotion
of UAS activities is beneficial to the local area and
recommends approval of the lease agreement with Mr. Banks
for this purpose. Following a brief discussion, Mr. Light
moved to adopt a resolution authorizing execution of the
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I i lease agreement as presented, Mr. Upham seconded, and the
L_ motion carried 6-0.
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12. Mr. Howerton said that when negotiating with American
Medical Response Ambulance Service, Inc. (AMR) to locate in
Mineral Wells, incentives were discussed. Certain
incentives from the State are offered for a business
prospect through the Office of the Governor's Economic
Development and Tourism Division. The Texas Enterprise
Zone Program allows an approved project to be eligible for
state sales and use tax refunds on certain expenditures,
and does not impact local sales tax collections. Inasmuch
as this would help the new industry and cause no negative
financial impact to the City, Mr. Howerton recommended that
the Council adopt a resolution authorizing submission of
the Texas Enterprise Zone Project application on behalf of
AMR. Mr. Shoemaker so moved, Mrs. Underwood seconded, and
the motion carried 6-0.
13. Lt. Patrick Adams of the Mineral Wells Police
Department and Ryan Roach of the Chamber of Commerce
presented an ordinance which would temporarily close
portions of certain streets in the downtown area to
accommodate the Chamber's "Merry Wells" festivities to be
held on the evening of November 25, 2017 to kick off the
2017 Christmas season. A lighted Christmas parade along
with vendors, live music, and children's activities is
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being planned for the area around Zappe Park and the
Commons. Following a brief discussion, Mrs. Underwood moved
and Mr. Tomlin seconded to pass and approve an ordinance
providing for the temporary closure of certain streets
within the City of Mineral Wells to facilitate the Merry
Wells celebration to be held on November 25, 2017. Motion
carried 6-0.
14. Now that the November 7, 2017 City bond election has
concluded, with two of the three propositions presented to
voters passing, the City Council wished to discuss if they
should consider another bond election, and if so, what
projects might be included in the next bond package. There
was an informal discussion among City Councilmembers. Mr.
Howerton said that the last date that a bond election could
be called for the May 2018 election is February 16, 2018,
which leaves very little time to pull together a program
and get details of that before the public before voting
begins, and that another November (2018) election might be
the better choice. Projects discussed by the City Council
included a new Public Safety complex, various Parks and L
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Recreation projects, downtown renewal/revitalization. Mrs.
Underwood suggested that a refresher of previously-
discussed projects, to include updated costs, would be in
I order. The City Council asked staff to place an item on
the next agenda for further discussion.
15. Mr. Moran reminded the City Council that a previous
Councilmember had urged staff to hire a different firm for
the City's annual · independent audit. Pursuant to that, on
September 18, 2017_, · the Council had authorized staff to
solicit a Reqrie$t . for Piopos~ls for Auditing Services. In
response, five . responses were received. Mr. Moran asked
the City Coun~il _ for direction on how they wished to
proceed with the s~lection. Mayor Allen asked
Councilmembers · Doyl_e Light and Brian Shoemaker to meet with
staff to review th'e RFPs received and to recommend a
selection to the balance of the City Council at its next
meeting.
16. Mr. Moran said that the 2017-2018 budget included
funds to purchase four (4) police vehicles and one gradall,
for a total estimated cost of $650,000, which will be
funded through master lease/purchase financing. He asked
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the City Council to authorize staff to advertise bids for a
Tax Exempt Master Lease/Purchase Agreement for the
financing of this equipment. Mr. Upham so moved, Mr. Light
seconded, and the motion carried 6-0.
17. Mr. Moran presented an agreement between the City of
Mineral Wells and the Texas Department of Agriculture for a
2017-18 Texas Community Development block Grant Program -
Community Development Fund grant in the amount of $275,000
for water system improvements. He said that the City will
contribute $55,000 from the Water Utility Fund as a match
for the grant funds, which is included in the 2017-2018
budget. Mr. Upham moved and Mr. Light seconded to approve
the contract as submitted, and the motion carried 6-0.
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18. There was no further business, and the meeting was
adjourned at 6:49 pm.
Mike Allen, Mayor
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