July 14, 2024 - Timpson City Council held an emergency meeting Friday, July 12, 2024, at 4pm in the Volunteer Fire Department fire hall due to the damage incurred at the city building during Tropical Storm Beryl.
Mayor Debra Smith opened the meeting and the council considered and first approved the authorization of business operations of City Hall to be temporarily moved to 305 Jacob St., including public meetings.
Council member Judd “Tuffy” Green moved to approve the authorization with council member Terri Alexander seconding the motion and it carried.
Mayor Smith thanked the fire department for allowing the city to utilize their fire hall.
Shelby County recently issued a disaster declaration, and the council agreed to amend the declaration issued by the county and apply “City of Timpson” for use to submit to the state.
Council member Terri Alexander moved to amend the declaration to include the city’s complications, and her motion was seconded by council member Penny Ramsey. The motion carried.
The council discussed the emergency purchase of a wireless/radio float system to regain full functionality of the water tower. The current hardwire system is cut in multiple places causing the city to have to manually fill the water tower.
Larry Burns, Public Works, explained they are having to fill the water tower every four hours and it’s around 1,500 feet from the pump house to the water tower. Burns said the wire isn’t very effective as it’s been torn down by trucks over the years and a wireless system would be more beneficial.
Mayor Smith presented a quote from Lonestar Global in the amount of $13,500 to be paid out of the water department.
Council member Alexander moved to make the purchase, and the motion was seconded by council member Ramsey. The motion carried.
Mayor Smith inquired how long it would be before the system would be installed and Burns said it would be seven days out.
Ryan Knight addressed the council and explained the city if Timpson is insured through Texas Municipal League (TML) Incident Risk Pool and with that there is a specific benefit just to TML members called the “Turn Key Recovery Program,” which is implemented by Synergy which Knight represents.
“What we do is we basically take this as an example of what's going on with this tornado. We get the community back up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible. While the city focus on their people and their tasks, we'll take care of all of the other other stuff. There is no cost to the city for the services. It's a specific benefit for TML members,” said Knight.
Knight said the only thing that the city would be liable for is the deductible, which is standard, and the benefit includes the entire build back.
To discuss and take action authorizing the mayor, Larry Burns, and Misty Burgess to work with Synergy and TML to complete any claims, authorize emergency purchases, and enter into the bid process for completing the renovation of City Hall
Council member Alexander moved to approve Mayor Smith, Larry Burns and Misty Burgess to help complete any claims and authorize emergency purchases. The motion was seconded by council member Green and the motion carried.
One of the last items for the council to consider was taking the necessary steps for an approved vendor to be accepted to handle debris removal pursuant to the emergency declaration and TDEM steps on debris removal.
“So I'm guessing this the way this is going to work is that you allow me and Larry to work with TCEQ and emergency management to see what the process is to select a vendor to do this and if it's something that they have to submit bids or whatever, we'll have to have another meeting,” said Mayor Smith.
Mayor Smith said what she understood to be the first step is to have to find a site they can take the debris to burn because the Texas government has decided wood from one location to another, even if it’s a very close distance, could be unsafe somehow.
Not only would city representatives have to approve a site, the county judge, emergency management and Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, would also have to approve a site.
Discussion covered how much acreage might be needed to burn to the possibility if any of it could be used for fire wood in the future.
Council member Alexander moved to give Mayor Smith the authority to take the necessary steps to handle debris removal. The motion was seconded by council member Ramsey and the motion carried.
Mayor Smith explained that a business owner provided a portable building for the city to use for four months at no charge until repairs could be accomplished in the city.
Council member Alexander moved to purchase the building after the four month time period in the amount of $6,997.25. The motion was seconded by council member Ramsey and the motion carried.
The meeting adjourned at 4:35pm.
Agenda items approved during the meeting include:
1. Declaration of Emergency for City of Timpson
2. Emergency purchase of wireless/radio float system to regain full functionality of the water tower. Currently hardwire system is cut in multiple places causing us to manually fill the water tower.
3. Authorize the mayor, Larry Burns, and Misty Burgess to work with Synergy and TML to complete any claims, authorize emergency purchases, and enter into the bid process for completing the renovation of City Hall.
4. Take the necessary steps for an approved vendor to be accepted to handle debris removal pursuant to the emergency declaration and TDEM steps On debris removal.
5. Authorize the business operations of City Hall to be Temporarily moved to 305 Jacob St, including public meetings.
6. Any other emergency items - Purchase portable building after the four month loan time period in the amount of $6,997.25
7. Adjourn - 4:35pm.
Agenda items tabled during the meeting include:
1. Discuss and take action on the possible demolition of the building that housed the Police Dept, the storage room, and equipment bays with the agreement to accept ACV From TML.
