From left: Council Members Cathy Atkinson, Steve Cockrell, Jessie Griffith, Frank Cooper, and Mike Cummings, Jr.
November 25, 2020 - Newly elected City Council Members were sworn in during Joaquin's City Council meeting held Tuesday, November 17, 2020.
Prior to the swearing-in and after the votes were canvased from the November 3 election, Mayor Bill Baker expressed his appreciation to outgoing Council Member Krystal Raybon, "We would like to present you this plant for your service to the city. Any citizens, you and new ones coming in, that take time out of their schedule to come and be involved in city government, needs to be recognized. Thank you so much for serving."
Raybon said a few words, "I've enjoyed my time as Council Member and I wish Mr. Steve Cockrell the best in his term. And I hope y'all continue to do the work that I feel like we had started. I feel like we did really good over the last two years and I'm looking forward to seeing more of that."
Melba Rodgers, Shelby County Justice of the Peace Precinct 3 then performed the swearing in of re-elected Council Members Frank Cooper and Jessie Griffith and newly elected Council Member Steve Cockrell.
With the council in place, Barbara Pridgen gave the monthly utility billing manager report, "This month we billed out $65,040.58. We have taken in $53,204.22. This leaves us around $11,836." She added that an addition $1,500 to $1,600 had been collected that afternoon dropping the total to around $10,000 which is normal.
The council then heard a presentation by Kenneth Coignet with Public Management. He gave a history of the process which has brought him to Joaquin which included the city applying and receiving the Texas Community Development Block Grant (TxCDBG) fund for planning projects about a year ago. The grant provided $33,000 and the city pitched in $10,000. When the city sent out for procurement for planning, the city hired Public Management to do the actual planning work. The presentation included sections such as housing; population; land use; street system; economic development; water, sewer, storm drainage; recreation and open space; and gas systems. "These are all basic planning elements. These elements all get compiled which ends up being a comprehensive plan."
Proposed Recreation and Open Space Improvements Map
The comprehensive plan includes updated and detailed maps for each section. It includes a recommended time line for improvements and can be used to help assist the city with applying for future grants. The council was impressed by the details included in the comprehensive plan.
Stacy Cranford gave a public works report which included an update on the 3174 lift station which experienced a problem on Friday. Also, the sewer project has had a few upsets he referenced which will require some additional work by the contractor, however, it should not affect the city financially.
Griffith spoke regarding the city assuming the rent and utilities of the building belonging to Dennis Leggett with the intention of the building being utilized by Constable Precinct 3. Griffith explained, "I called TML (Texas Municipal League) the other day because I wanted to make sure that it was legal. I got a call from the county asking me about it so I made the call myself. During the call I found out not only is it illegal for us to do that, it, criminal charges could be filed on the city for doing that, for gifting that money, and criminal charges could also be filed on the Constable for accepting that money. So, I don't think its a good thing that we do that for the result of criminal charges being filed on the city."
Discussions followed with Council Member Cathy Atkinson saying she didn't feel like the city is gifting the money. "We agreed to do it as appreciation to have law presence in the city limits of Joaquin since we cannot afford a City Marshal." Griffith advised the Constable can't enforce city ordinances.
Council Member Mike Cummings, Jr. asked if the money is being paid to the Constable or is it being paid directly to the property owner for rent and utilities. City Secretary Paula Guzman advised payments would be made to the property owner. The statement was made that the city could rent the building for whatever they wanted to use it for and it was clarified it would need to be for city use.
Cummings continued, "My objection would be just kicking the law enforcement outside the (city), I know he can't enforce city ordinance, but kicking our law enforcement out of the city that would be in my opinion a bad move by the city." Atkinson agreed with Cummings, "His presence here does help. We cannot afford a City Marshal." Cummings recommended talking to the County Attorney before making a decision. Cooper and Cummings made a motion and a second to table the item regarding paying rent and utilities of the Dennis Leggett building for the purpose of housing Constable Precinct 3. The motion to table carried.
Griffith made a motion to discuss an appreciation dinner for Joaquin First Responders for all the hard work through the COVID pandemic. Atkinson seconded the motion. Griffith said he asked TML if an appreciation dinner could be paid for by the city and they advised yes as long as it is approved by the council. The motion carried for funds for an appreciation dinner for Joaquin First Responders be paid for out of the general fund costing $640. All voted yes.
Council went into executive session. Upon returning into open session, Atkinson said, "I make a motion that we place an ad in the paper to hire a office city secretary in the near future." A second was made the motion carried.
A closing statement was made by Cummings, "November is pancreatic cancer awareness month. Bro. Robert Ortigo is the pastor at the Methodist Church in Joaquin. He is in the middle of a battle of pancreatic cancer. I long one day to have his strength and his courage to get up everyday and go face life with the battle that he's got. My dear mom passed away with pancreatic cancer. So, I think we should raise awareness with that for the older folks to get checked. I know when my mom found out she had it, it was already too late to even treat. So, pancreatic cancer is hard to detect, by the time you find out you have it, it's most the time too late." He also advised there will be a Community Thanksgiving meal on Thursday at the Community Center in Joaquin from 10am until 2pm.
The meeting ended with Cummings wishing everyone a Happy Thanksgiving and reminding everyone there are no plans for a December meeting.
Items on the agenda approved. 3. Canvas of Votes of November 3, 2020 General Election 7. Minutes of previous month 9. Payment of Bills 11. Election of Cathy Atkinson as new Mayor Pro-tem 13. Public Safety Corporation agenda item for having a contractor add a concrete apron to the front of the downtown fire station. 15. Appreciation dinner for Joaquin First Responders for all the hard work through the COVID Pandemic. 16. Amend City Office Holiday Schedule for employees to be off Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. 18. Advertise to hire an office city secretary. Items on the agenda tabled. 14. Revisit assuming the rent and utilities of the building belonging to Dennis Leggett.
