City Council Regular Session
Regular MeetingMount Vernon, TX · September 11, 2023
Minutes
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
Monday, September 11, 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.
MINUTES 2,000
Mayor Hyman called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and announced a quorum present.
PRESENT
Mayor Brad Hyman
Mayor Pro Tem Mark Huddleston
Councilman Harold Cason
Councilwoman Mary Keys
Councilman Martin Carrascosa
City Administrator Craig Lindholm
City Secretary Kathy Lovier
ABSENT
Councilwoman Rebecca Bailey
VISITOR: see attached
Swearing-In Ceremony
City Secretary Lovier administered the Oath of Office to Martin Carrascosa, recently appointed Councilman.
Invocation and Pledges
Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston lead with the invocation and the pledges.
Consent Agenda
1. Minutes 8/14/2023 and Special Meeting Minutes 8/28/2023
August financial report
Teacher's Day Proclamation
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilwoman Keys.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
Report on Items of Community Interest
Mayor Hyman reported the Tigers are still undefeated.
Citizen Participation
2. Presetation by B F Hicks Solar information
B F Hicks updated the Council on further developments and what progress has been made. He informed
Council that Representative Reggie Smith would be at Texas BBQ Corral at 5:30 p.m., Mr. Hicks urged
Council to attend and express concerns to our Representative.
Mr. Hicks also asked Council to consider approving a resolution to support the efforts to keep solar
under control.
Cindi Stutt read an article regarding solar in California and the effects of it.
Public Hearing
The purpose of this hearing is to hear evidence for or against 2023 proposed tax rate of $0.54514 and the 2023-
2024 proposed budget.
Mayor Hyman closed the Regular Session at 6:32 p.m. and opened the Public Hearing.
No one asked to speak for or against the 2023 proposed tax rate of $0.54514 and the 2023-2024 proposed
budget.
Mayor Hyman closed the Public Hearing at 6:33 p.m. and re-opened the Regular Session.
Items to be Considered:
3. Consider and act upon approval of Ordinance 2023-30 adopting 2023-2024 Budget.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilwoman Keys.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
4. Consider and act upon approval of Ordinance 2023-31 setting the 2023 Ad Valorem Tax Rate of
$0.054514
Motion made by Councilwoman Keys, Seconded by Councilman Cason.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
5. Consider and act upon approval of Resolution 23-14 desingating The Mount Vernon News the official
newspaper of the City of Mount Vernon.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilwoman Keys.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
6. Consider and act upon approval of designating parking spaces at Main and N Kaufman as a fire lane due
to being within 30 feet of a stop intersection.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilman Carrascosa.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
7. Consider and act approval of Resolution 23-15 City of Mt Vernon Purchasing policy.
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilwoman Keys.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
8. Consider and Act upon approval of KSA Engineering and Design Standard (DRAFT)
Motion made by Councilwoman Keys, Seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman
Carrascosa
Blake Powell with KSA Engineers was here to give a quick review as to the importance of having the
Design Standards, it is a great value to developers coming into the area. They will know what is
expected of them prior to making an investment here.
Discussion Items and Mayor/Council/City Administrator Reports
Workshop 9/25/23
October Council meeting and workshop
New Website and app
Council Workshop on 9/25 and Regular Meeting 10/9 will be canceled. If a meeting is needed before 11/13/25,
we will hold a Special Meeting on 1023 which is the regular Workshop date.
The City's new website and app are up and running. With the new website push notificitations will be available to
anyone who has downloaded the app. In the event of an emergcy, water outage, etc. the City will be able to
inform the citizen that have turned on the notifications in the app settings. This information will be posted on the
City's Facebook page for instruction.
Presiding Officer to Adjourn the City Council Meeting
Motion made by Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Seconded by Councilman Cason.
Voting Yea: Mayor Pro Tem Huddleston, Councilman Cason, Councilwoman Keys, Councilman Carrascosa
__/s/ Brad Hyman________
Brad Hyman – Mayor
ATTEST:
___/s/ Kathy Lovier___________
Kathy Lovier – City Secretary
Agenda
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR SESSION
Monday, September 11, 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.
Swearing-In Ceremony
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 8/14/2023 and Special Meeting Minutes 8/28/2023
August financial report
Teacher's Day Proclamation
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.
2. Presetation by B F Hicks Solar information
Public Hearing
The purpose of this hearing is to hear evidence for or against 2023 proposed tax rate of $0.54514 and the 2023-
2024 proposed budget.
Items to be Considered:
3. Consider and act upon approval of Ordinance 2023-30 adopting 2023-2024 Budget.
4. Consider and act upon approval of Ordinance 2023-31 setting the 2023 Ad Valorem Tax Rate of
$0.054514
5. Consider and act upon approval of Resolution 23-14 desingating The Mount Vernon News the official
newspaper of the City of Mount Vernon.
6. Consider and act upon approval of designating parking spaces at Main and N Kaufman as a fire lane due
to being within 30 feet of a stop intersection.
7. Consider and act approval of Resolution 23-15 City of Mt Vernon Purchasing policy.
8. Consider and Act upon approval of KSA Engineering and Design Standard (DRAFT)
Discussion Items and Mayor/Council/City Administrator Reports
Workshop 9/25/23
October Council meeting and workshop
New Website and app
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 September 8, 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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