August 27, 2015 - A $1,000 contribution was presented to the city of Center at their recent meeting held on Monday, August 24, 2015. In peparation for several upcoming events, including the East Texas Poultry Festival (ETPF), the council approved street closures.
Gene Keenon, Manager Government Affairs at Republic Services Inc., presented the city with the contribution to benefit local organizations in the city of Center.
"I have an agreement with Chad [Nehring] that we will contribute $1,000 a year to be split between the watermelon festival and the poultry fest, so I just wanted to bring that in," said Keenon.
Mayor David Chadwick thanked Keenon for giving back to a community that supports the business he represents.
A public hearing of the proposed tax rate and budget were presented at the beginning of the meeting. The proposed tax rate is 54 cents per $100. No comments were provided by the council or public and the hearing was closed.
A motion was carried by the council to approve Resolution 2015-27 Interlocal Agreement with Shelby County Appraisal District (SCAD) – Aerial Photography. Nehring explained the company which handles the aerial photography and GIS mapping for the SCAD will be taking higher resolution images for the city to assist the utility department, public works and law enforcement in identifying structures, trails, right of way and man hole covers. According to Nehring, this operation will be at a cost of $7,000-$9,000 and Bobby Pigg, SCAD Chief Appraiser, requested the city enter into an interlocal agreement to ensure funding of the city's portion.
The council considered awarding a bid for wastewater treatment plant basin dredging. It was determined by city staff, operational improvement and elimination of long-term issues could be achieved through major cleaning of the primary aeration basin. The plant was placed in the early 1980s and sludge has accumulated since that time. Bob Staehs, Project Manager - Everett Griffith Jr. & Associates Inc., explained the city sought bids and of those received one presented a bid which differed from the other by less than $18,000. Nehring stated to the council this is an item which they have discussed at multiple workshop meetings. A motion was carried to award the contract to Dredgit Environmental Corporation for $180,000.
Assistance from a local business has been sought by the city in evaluating land assets and timber value at several locations owned by the city. Locations of property needing evaluation include the airport which has 35-40 acres and 120-135 acres below Mill Creek.
"We do feel like there's the need to move rather quickly, one either some kind of mild harvesting or thinning of both of these properties because it's been an excess of 20 years since either have been touched in any way, form or fashion," said Nehring. "I guess secondly, since we are not the experts and we don't have that on staff in any way, form or fashion we do need the technical assistance and guidance long-term."
A motion carried to approve a contract for timber management with Azimuth Forestry Services, Mike Walker.
The council went into executive session at 5:34pm and when they returned to open session a motion was made to purchase property next to the airport. The motion carried and the meeting was adjourned. No additional information pertaining to the property including acreage, location or current owner were indicated.
Ballot for the Election of Shelby County Chamber of Commerce Directors
1. Amber Dodd
2. Lori Davis
3. Scott Stanfield
4. Jon Schillings
5. Alison Scull
6. Antoinette Polley
7. Matt Foster
8. Kelly Lucas
Meg Camp - President-Elect
Items on the agenda receiving approval include:
1) Minutes of the Workshop and Meeting of August 10, 2015.
2) Resolution 2015-27 Interlocal Agreement with Shelby County Appraisal District – Aerial Photography.
3) Award bid for wastewater treatment plant basin dredging.
4) Contract for Timber Management with Azimuth Forestry Services.
5) Facilities cleaning contract services with DNC Cleaning Inc. for City Hall, John D. Windham Civic Center and Community House at an annual total of $27,664.
6) Street closure request for East Texas Poultry Festival:
a. Closure of Nacogdoches, Austin, San Augustine and Shelbyville Streets for Doo Dah Parade on September 23, 2015.
b. Closure on inside of square on September 23, 2015.
c. Closure of Shelbyville, San Augustine and Logansport Streets on October 3, 2015.
7) Maintenance request for Westview Cemetery - Enter relationship with Westview Cemetery Committee to responsible for the mowing of the cemetery of a specific acreage to be included in annual budgeting for maintenance.
8) Street closure request of C.H. Daniels' Alumni of parts of MLK Drive, Hicks and Garrett Streets on September 5, 2015 for parade route from Shelbyville Street to Perry Sampson Park.
9) Chamber of Commerce Board of Director Board Ballot.
