Finance Committee Meeting

MINUTES OF CITY OF WHARTON FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING 120 EAST CANEY STREET WHARTON, TEXAS 77488 Monday, September 23, 2024- 6: 30 p.m. City Manager Joseph R. Pace declared a meeting of the City Council Finance Committee duly open for the transaction of business at 6: 30 p. m. Committee Members present: Mayor Tim Barker, Councilmember Larry Pittman, and Councilmember Russell Machann. Committee Members absent: None. City Council Members present: Councilmember Terry Freese and Councilmember David Voulgaris. Staff members present: City Manager Joseph R. Pace, Finance Director Joan Andel, Assistant to the City Manager Brandi Jimenez, City Secretary Paula Favors, EMS Director Christy Gonzales, Building Official Claudia Velasquez, Finance Accountant London Davis, Building Official Assistant Shelby Robertson, and Public Works Director Roderick Semien. Staff members absent: None. Visitors: None. Public Comments. There were no public comments. The first item on the agenda was to review and consider minutes from the meeting held on August 26, 2024. Councilmember Russell Machann made a motion to approve the minutes as presented. Councilmember Larry Pittman seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The second item on the agenda was to review and consider an Ordinance: An ordinance levying a tax rate for the City of Wharton, Texas, for the Tax Year 2024; directing the Tax Assessor- Collector to assess, account for, and distribute the taxes as herein levied; and providing repealing and severability clauses. Finance for the Director Tax Joan Year Andel presented the draft ordinance levying a tax rate for the City ofWharton, Texas, 2024 to the Committee. After discussion, some Mayor Tim Barker made a motion to approve the ordinance as presented. Councilmember Larry Pittman seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The third item on the agenda was to review and consider a Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council rescinding the City of Wharton Resolution No. 2024-85 and approving the purchase of a vehicle from Wharton County. EMS Director Christy Gonzales stated to the Committee that on August 26, 2024, the City Council approved Resolution No. 2024- 85 for the purchase of a vehicle for the EMS Department from Lavaca County in the amount of$ 10, 000. 00. She stated that since then, it had been determined that Lavaca County could not sell to a city outside of their county but that they could sell to another county. She stated that the City had to purchase the vehicle through Wharton County. She stated that on Monday, September 23, 2024, Wharton County presented this item before the Commissioners Court, and they voted to approve the purchase ofthe vehicle from Lavaca County for$ 10, 000.00 and sell it to the City of Wharton. After some discussion, Councilmember Russell Machann made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Mayor Tim Barker seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The fourth item on the agenda was to review and consider a Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council authorizing the purchase of equipment for the Public Works Department from Mustang CAT through the Sourcewell Cooperative Program and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents related to said purchase. Public Works Director Roderick Semien stated to the Committee he received quotes for the purchase of the following items: 1. Caterpillar 920 Wheeled Roller in the amount of$ 190, 765. 90. 2. Caterpillar 308 Mini Excavator in the amount of$ 140, 469. 23. He stated that both quotes were obtained from Mustang Machinery Company, LLC. D/ B/ A Mustang Cat and was a part of the Sourcewell Cooperative Program. He stated that the funds to pay for the equipment purchases had been allocated through the FEMA Alternate project funds. After some discussion, Councilmember Russell Machann made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Councilmember Larry Pittman seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The fifth item on the agenda was to review and consider a Resolution: A resolution of the Wharton City Council authorizing the City Manager to purchase two ( 2) vehicles for the City of Wharton Code Enforcement Department from Caldwell Country Chevrolet through the Buyboard Co- operative and authorizing the City Manager to execute all documents related to said purchase. Building Official Claudia Velasquez stated to the Committee that she had received a quote for the purchase of two( 2) 2025 Chevrolet Trax vehicles for the Code Enforcement Department. She stated that the quote was received from Caldwell Country Chevrolet who was a member of the BuyBoard Co- operative and was in the amount of$ 43, 790. 00 for the two vehicles. She stated that the funds to pay for the vehicles had been allocated through the FEMA Alternate project funds. After some discussion, Councilmember Larry Pittman made a motion to approve the resolution as presented. Mayor Tim Barker seconded the motion. All voted in favor. The sixth item on the agenda was adjournment. The meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. OC/ Jo , ih R. ' Fce, Ci 441, Mana.: er 1