HomeMy WebLinkAbout95 0105 minWORK SESSION MINUTES
Plainview City Council
January 5, 1995
The City Council met in a Work Session at 11:30 a.m. on January 5, 1995, at the Cotton
Patch Cafe, 3314 Olton Road in Plainview. Mayor Lloyd Woods presided. Councilmembers
present were: Alton Jackson-Precinct 1, Mary Virginia Kirchhoff-Precinct 2, Rey Rosas-
Precinct 3, Mike Hutcherson-Precinct 4, Barbara Dorman-Precinct 5, Dwain Dodson-
Precinct 6 and Irene Favila-Precinct 7.
Staff members present were: James P. Jeffers-City Manager, Roy L. Osborne-Chief of
Police, Wally Hatch-City Attorney, Bruce Watson-Fire Chief, Barbara Sullivan-Municipal
Court Judge, Muff London-Director for Community Development, Roland Asebedo-Fire
Marshall, Angie Asebedo-Warrant Officer, John Berry-Asst. Director of Public Works,
Norman Huggins-Director of Finance, and Karen McBeth-City Secretary.
News media present: Richard Orr-Plainview Daily Herald.
Guests present were: Benny Cantwell and Jim Ferrell.
The Council reviewed the agenda for the meeting scheduled for January 10, 1995. The City
Manager presented his reports.
THIS IS A WORK SESSION AND NO ACTION CAN BE TAKEN
1. Liaison Reports. No reports were given.
2. Municipal Court Warrant Officer. Municipal Court Judge Barbara Sullivan
expressed concern that warrants would not be served as effectively and as efficiently if the
present Warrant Officer is moved to full time policy duty and the warrants be served on a
less concentrated schedule. Mrs. Sullivan said the process is more complicated than
perceived by most. It requires a lot of time, there is a detailed reporting system and
requires a good working relationship with the other employees involved in the process. She
stated the Warrant Officer does extensive follow up work. She schedules payments and sees
that once a fine is fully paid, the file is properly documented closed. She is cross trained
as a police officer and works as the Municipal Court Bailiff. Mrs. Sullivan stated it did very
little good to fine law breakers if the fines imposed were never collected. She said she
believes that if warrants are to be served by all officers, at different times, on different shifts,
there is less likelihood of the job being done effectively, and there is the chance of warrants
being lost. This defeats the purpose of the fine and warrant process.
Judge Sullivan said that persons who are fined are sometimes offered the option of doing
community service work - this way the City gets something - otherwise they would have to
go to jail, and the City gets nothing. She said the Warrant Officer does a very good job, and
the warrant process is kept up to date.
Mary Virginia Kirchhoff, said she felt moving the Warrant Officer back to the Police
Department would penalize the Municipal Court for being efficient. At one time there was
a backlog of 800 unserved warrants, now there is only about 300 that are active.
Mayor Woods asked how long an auto for the Warrant Officer lasted. Mrs. Sullivan said
about seven years.
Irene Favila asked if only a certified police officer could serve warrants. Mrs. Asebedo said
this is the case.
Mrs. Asebedo told the Council that Hale County has two full time Warrant Officers.
3. Annexation. Muff London, Director for Community Development, distributed a map
of an area along the East Highway 70 corridor, leading to the new prison, which was on the
list of areas to be considered for annexation. Mary Virginia Kirchhoff, whose precinct is
adjacent to this area, said she drove this area and it appeared to be expensive to be brought
into the City. City Manager Jim Jeffers said with a water line going in, it will encourage
development, and by annexing it the City can control the development. He said it can be
talked about at the next Work Session, and this will give the Staff more time for research.
4. First Assembly of God Plat. Mr. Jeffers reported that Mark Laney, attorney
representing the church, will be visiting with the Council and asking them for some specifics
regarding exceptions to the normal platting process.
5. Meeting Place. The Council expressed no interest in changing the place for meeting
for Work Session and will continue using the Cotton Patch Cafe.
The meeting adjourned at 1:40 p.m.
AT-FF_,ST:
Lloyd C. Woods, Mayor
K~en McBeth,~City Secretary