City Council Regular Session
Regular MeetingMount Vernon, TX · August 14, 2023
Minutes
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
Monday, August 14, 2023 – 6:00 PM
109 North Kaufman Street, Mount Vernon, Texas 75457
MINUTES 1,098
Mayor Hyman called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. and announced a quorum present.
PRESENT
Mayor Brad Hyman
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Huddleston
Councilwoman Sherelyn Roberson
Councilwoman Mary Keys
Councilwoman Rebecca Bailey
City Administrator Craig Lindholm
City Secretary Kathy Lovier
ABSENT
Councilman Harold Cason
VISITOR: see attached
Councilwoman Bailey lead the invocation and Mayor Hyman lead the pledges.
Consent Agenda
1. Minutes 7/10/2023
July financial report
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilwoman Roberson.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilwoman Roberson, Councilwoman Keys,
Councilwoman Bailey
Report on Items of Community Interest
Mayor Hyman announced Councilwoman Roberson will be selling her home and moving soon, he offered her
appreciation from the Council and staff for always being well informed and prepared for each
meeting. Councilwoman Roberson expressed her thankfulness for the experience and being able to serve the
community.
Citizen Participation (3 minutes)
Mike Rambin urged the City Council to make a plan for future water use and to know to whom we are selling
water, is it of a benefit to our community or is it being sent away for the benefit of other countries. He urged that
this plan be set in place before our water is used up.
Action Items
2. Consider and Act upon approval of Ordinance 2023-29 with Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and Mott,
LLP for collection of utility bad debt and court cases at warrant status.
Motion made by Councilwoman Roberson, Seconded by Councilwoman Bailey.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilwoman Roberson, Councilwoman Keys,
Councilwoman Bailey
Presentation by Franklin County Environmental Council-B F Hicks
B F Hicks, David Truesdale, Joel Dihle, Jacqueline Miller and Mike Edwards spoke to the need to be proactive
with the solar farms, plastic recycling company and water. Mayor Hyman advised that a letter had been sent to
these companies to seek information but no response has been received. Mayor Hyman further reported the letter
would be release to the public and our Congressmen and Representatives.
Discussion Items and Mayor/Council/City Administrator Reports
Administrator Lindholm made the presentation regarding Section 3 for CDBG contract CDV21-0099
water/sewer replacement.
The tax rate has been calculated and is ready for proposing on August 28, 2023 meeting.
Jason Slagle with Peoples Telephone presented the plan to expand the WIFI in the downtown and park
areas.
At 7:20 p.m. Mayor Hyman closed the Regular Session and opened the Executive Session.
Executive Session
Personnel matters pursuant to Texas Government Code, §551.074, to deliberate the appointment, employment,
evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, dismissal or resignation of a public officer: City Administrator
Reconvene
At 8:00 p.m. Mayor Hyman closed the Executive Session and re-opened the Regular Session.
Presiding Officer to Adjourn the City Council Meeting
With no further action being needed:
A motion was made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston to close the meeting at 8:00 p.m., Seconded by
Councilwoman Bailey. Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilwoman Roberson, Councilwoman Keys,
Councilwoman Bailey
__/s/ Brad Hyman _________
Brad Hyman – Mayor
ATTEST:
___/s/ Kathy Lovier__________________
Kathy Lovier – City Secretary
Agenda
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
Monday, August 14, 2023 – 6:00 PM
109 North Kaufman Street, Mount Vernon, Texas 75457
Our mission: to provide effective and fiscally responsible municipal services in a manner which
promotes our high standard of community life.
Vision Statement Mount Vernon is a caring community committed to excellence and quality of life,
aspiring to be the community of choice for ourselves, our children, and future generations – beautiful,
clean, vibrant, and safe. We will strive to preserve our heritage, our friendly hometown atmosphere, and
celebrate the diversity of all our citizens.
AGENDA
Call to order and announce a quorum is present.
Invocation and Pledges
Consent Agenda
Items on the Consent Agenda are approved by a single action of the Council, with such approval applicable to all
items appearing on the Consent Agenda. A Council Member may request any item to be removed from the Consent
Agenda and considered as a separate item.
1. Minutes 7/10/2023
July financial report
Report on Items of Community Interest
The City Council will have an opportunity to address items of community interest, including: expressions of thanks,
congratulations, or condolence; information regarding holiday schedules; an honorary or salutary recognition of a
public official, public employee, or other citizen; a reminder about an upcoming event organized or sponsored by
the City of Mount Vernon; information regarding a social, ceremonial, or community event organized or sponsored
by an entity other than the City of Mount Vernon that was attended or is scheduled to be attended by a member of
the City Council or an official or employee of the City of Mount Vernon; and announcements involving an imminent
threat to the public health and safety of people in the City of Mount Vernon that has arisen after posting the agenda.
Citizen Participation (3 minutes)
The Texas Open Meetings Act prohibits the Council from responding to any comments other than to refer the matter
to a future agenda, to an existing policy, or to a staff person with specific information. Claims against the City,
Council Members, or employees, as well as individual personnel appeals are not appropriate for citizens’ forum.
Presentation by Franklin County Environmental Council-B F Hicks
2. Request by Franklin County Environmental Council
Action Items
3. Consider and Act upon approval of Ordinance 2023-29 with Purdue, Brandon, Fielder, Collins and
Mott, LLP for collection of utility bad debt and court cases at warrant status.
Discussion Items and Mayor/Council/City Administrator Reports
4. Section 3 Presentation for CDBG Contract CDV21-0099 sewer/water line
replacement.(Carthel/Arrington)
2023/2024 Budget, tax rate
Downtown Wifi presentation by Peoples Telephone (Jason Slagle)
Executive Session
Personnel matters pursuant to Texas Government Code, §551.074, to deliberate the appointment, employment,
evaluation, reassignment, duties, discipline, dismissal or resignation of a public officer: City Administrator
Reconvene
Reconvene into Open Session to Consider Matters Discussed in Closed Session (If Any)
Presiding Officer to Adjourn the City Council Meeting
Notes to the Agenda:
Items marked with an * are consent items considered to be non-controversial and will be voted on in one motion unless a council member
asks for separate discussion.
The Council may vote and/or act upon each of the items listed in this Agenda except for discussion-only items.
The Council reserves the right to retire into executive session under Sections 551.071/551.074 – of the Texas Open Meetings Act concerning
any of the items listed on this Agenda, whenever it is considered necessary and legally justified under the Open Meetings Act.
Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need assistance should contact the City Secretary at 903-537-2252
two working days prior to the meeting so that appropriate arrangements can be made.
CERTIFICATION
I do hereby certify that this Public Meeting Notice was posted on the outside bulletin board, at the front entrance of
City Hall located at 109 N Kaufman St., Mount Vernon, Texas, a place convenient and readily accessible to the
general public at all times, and said Notice was posted on the following date and time:
Posted August 11, 2023 by 4:00 p.m. and remained so posted at least 72 hours before said meeting was
convened.
Kathy Lovier, City Secretary
NOTE: The City of Mount Vernon, Texas meets regularly on the second Monday night of each month at 6:00
p.m. The Council follows a printed Agenda for official action. Any individual desiring official action should
submit his/her request to the office of the City Manager not later than fifteen (15) days prior to the Council
Meeting.
/s/ Kathy Lovier
Kathy Lovier, City Secretary
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