April 21, 2015 - A full Tenaha City Council was in attendance Monday, April 20, 2015 for a regular meeting and announced the new city secretary to be Cheryl Clark, discussed water issues, and approved payment of repairs of the Tenaha Volunteer Fire Department's pumper truck.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Orintha Johnson and prayer was given by Larry Terry. Craig Gray, a guest speaker, approached the council concerning the water system. He appealed to the council, "When I started coming to city council meetings, it was mostly water that brought me here and I know y'all will be voting today on water rates. But I believe that that's just part of what needs to be done." Gray expounded commenting on leaks in the system and more importantly homes without water meters. He made suggestions which included offering an amnesty to those who don't have meters to report it to the city and then after the amnesty period ends he suggested fining those found who don't have meters on their line and offering rewards for anyone reporting a location without meters. "Let's get these people on meters and get them off free water. If they are getting free water, they know they are stealing from us," said Gray.
Council discussed options available to get the issue resolved regarding unmetered locations. The item wasn't on the agenda and no action was taken. City Attorney Stephen Shires agreed to get with Stacy Cranford to develop a solution to present to the council in the future. Cranford said it would have to be a case by case basis in finding out these locations and he does have a list of some of these locations already.
The water rate increase suggested to the council was approved. Cranford explained to the council, "Regardless of the loss on here, we are losing revenue from the treatment standpoint of it, or electrical, what it takes to produce the water. That loss is very much a factor in it because it's a large amount," whether it is a leak spilling out on the ground or unmetered or slow metered causing the loss. Cranford said regarding the loss, "We are in the 30%, which is high. We need to be in that 10%." The council discussed the costs involved with the water system including chemicals, electrical, employees, etc. and the city is losing money every month.
During discussion between council and Cranford it was mentioned by Council Member Tommy Rinkle the average household stays below 10,000 gallons, Cranford said, "A normal customer, right now their water rates is $2 per thousand, 0 to 10,000 its going to become $4." He continued, "It's hard when you wait so long to do a rate increase. Nobody likes a rate increase. Everybody is going to have to absorb it."
The water rate increase will be effective June 1, 2015. The water rates will be broken down for larger usage versus a flat rate. Residential customers rates per thousand would be 0 to 10,000 gallons - $4.00; 10,001 to 20,000 gallons - $5.00; 20,001 to 30,000 gallons - $6.00; 30,001 to 50,000 - $7.00; and over 50,000 - $8.00. Commercial customers rates would be $1 above the residential customer rates. Additional rate changes: outside city limits, water rates would add $1 extra per thousand respectively; minimum on 2" or larger commercial meters to $60; increase water deposit to $250; establish a turn on fee for existing meter $50; establish a late fee for water of 10% of bill; establish a rate for bulk water sales; establish a returned check fee of $25; and establish a meter box replacement fee of $50 first occurrence and $75 second occurrence. Sewer rates increased to $2 per thousand and leave minimum charge the same at $17.50, half of the water usage.
The Water Main Expansion Project was approved to move forward. The project will greatly improve the water pressure and eliminate problems customers are experiencing in the affected area as well as allow for housing expansion for a proposed new subdivision. "Replacing a 2" main now which feeds [FM] 2141 and out [US] 84 and [US] 59 area. It feeds everything basically, from the railroad tracks overpass west is fed off of a two inch line. Very, very inferior as far as fire protection, as far as providing the ample service that we really need to the customers." explained Cranford. The new project would provide a 6 inch line to replace the existing 2" line. The next step will be to have the engineer firm submit the project out for bids and for permits to start the wheels rolling on the project. The bids will be presented at a later time for approval or denial.
Attorney Stephen Shires addressed several items he had previously been questioned about which first included the animal control problem. "I've had a meeting with the County Judge, this is a countywide problem, it's a problem in Center, it's a problem here, I assume it's a problem in Shelbyville and Joaquin. We don't have a place to send these animals," said Shires concerning abandoned, stray, and at times dangerous animals. After some research, Shires compiled a draft ordinance for the council to review and consider. Since the area doesn't have an impoundment or detention center for animals taken into custody, the animal control procedure will have to be adjusted in the drafted ordinance. Shires did recommend the council consider the section of the ordinance pertaining to dangerous animals. He ended saying County Judge Allison Harbison had said she would be willing to visit with the city concerning this issue.
Another drafted ordinance for the council's consideration addressed large vehicles and regulating their use on city streets. The ordinance divided the large vehicles into through vehicles and vehicles with a destination inside the city. Council member Rinkle suggested selling permits to those needing to park trucks on city streets. Council member Claudine Howard disputed saying, "But no bigger than Tenaha is, why would you want to sell a permit to tear up a city street... You can spend money all day long on these city streets but as long as these heavy trucks are parking and running in and out you are throwing your money away. You might as well do something else with the money." No action was taken concerning either drafted ordinance.
Marshal's Office policies were the next items discussed. The council then formally adopted the Racial Profiling Policy, policy concerning storage of MVR DVDs and the Internal Review Policy. Shires said, "The Marshal's Office has been following the policies" and this is just the administrative step required by the federal court order. Shires addressed a few more items the council needs to do, "At some point we need to put it on the agenda, the law enforcement officers and the council once a year are required to have a review of what the requirements of the court order are." He also recommended the council in the future, after all of the requirements of the federal court ruling has been met, develop a drug interdiction program that is clear and consistent.
Fire Chief Mitch Menefee addressed the council concerning a pumper truck which the fire department had to have repaired including replacing a Darley pump, bearings, and bolts on the truck. The bill for repairs was received from the service center in Fluorine, Louisiana and the cost was $31,900 which was higher than Menefee expected. Not having a pumper truck would cause the city to lose its current insurance rating and would be classified as unprotected resulting in an increase in insurance rates for the citizens. A new pumper truck would cost over $200,000. When asked if it was a bid job, Menefee said, "[Service center representative] told me when I first talked to him on the phone that he would have to look at it and see, wasn't sure. The people I talked to at other places said it could be the bearings, it could be this and that, everybody wanted to look at so no it wasn't a bid job."
Council approved to take $15,000 out of the fire department account which has a balance of $16,962 and to take the remaining amount of $16,900 out of a tax account. The fire department receives approximately $500 per month which they have been frugal and budgeted the money and haven't had to have a fundraiser or ask the citizens of Tenaha for money since the fire department building was paid off. Rinkle said, "I would like to see y'all have [a fundraiser;] I guess this is a good time to have one. I would be more than willing to come out." Details of how the fire department will repay the $16,900 were discussed and decided to hold a portion of the $500 the fire department receives to repay the loan and to have a fundraiser to help. Donations can be made to the fire department at: Tenaha VFD, c/o City of Tenaha, P.O. Box 70, Tenaha, Texas 75954.
Approved items on the agenda: 6. Approved Financial Statement for March 8. Approved reduction in salary for the position of Mayor of Tenaha to $100 per week which will be effective following the mayoral election in 2016. Tommy Rinkle, Larry Terry, Claudine Howard voted for, Michael Baker abstained and Durand Steadman voted against. Motion carried. 9. Approved payment of pumper truck repairs, $31,900. 10. Approved Water Rates Increase effective June 14, 2015 11. Approved Racial Profiling Policy, Storage of MVR DVDs, and Internal Review Policy. 12. Approved moving forward with Water Main Expansion Project 13. Approved hiring of Sheryl Clark as new city secretary Items discussed and tabled: 7. Employee Handbook 11. Warrant Roundup for collecting outstanding fines. The city has over 1.2 million in uncollected fines from 2000 to today. Council tabled item requesting more information and bids from collection companies. 11. Marshal's Office A/C repair or replacement was tabled pending additional information, estimated cost or bids.
