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MINUTES
PLAINVIEW CITY COUNCIL MEETING
May 18, 2000
The Plainview City Council met at 11:30 a.m. on May 18, 2000 at the Plainview Convention
Center. Notice of this meeting was posted in City Hall at 11:25 a.m. on May 15, 2000. Mayor
Lloyd C Woods presided. Councilmembers present were Sam Parker, District 1; Mary Jane
Shanes, District 2; Mike Hutcherson, District 4; Ross Owen, District 5; Bobby McGehee,
District 6; and Irene Favila, District 7. Councilmember Rey Rosas, District 3 was not present.
Staff members present were James P. Jeffers, City Manager; Norman Huggins, Director of
Finance; Wally Hatch, City Attorney; John Berry, Director of Public Works; Will Mull, Police
Chief; Dale Simpson, Director of Civil Service; Matt Tsakanikas, Main Street; Gary Glass, Fire
Chief; John Castro, Director of Community Services; Greg Zielinski, Code Enforcement; and
Karen McBeth, City Secretary.
News media present: Richard Orr, Plainview Daily Herald
Guests present: Ron Trusler, Central Plains MHMR.
OPEN MEETING
1. Mayor Lloyd Woods gave invocation.
2. Review of May 23, 2000 City Council Agenda. The following items were discussed:
g) Award of Bids: Water Transmission Line; and Property Tax Sale.
The Council inquired about the water line route, size, construction and timeline for the
completion of the water transmission line. Director of Public Works, John Berry, displayed a
map of the proposed line, gave information concerning size and construction materials and said
the contract had a 120-day completion timeline. Mr. Jeffers stated this project was eligible for
EDA reimbursement.
City Attorney, Wally Hatch, told the Council the primary function of a tax sale was to get
property back on the tax rolls. The bid prices, in all cases do not meet the appraised value.
However, in most instances the properties would be improved and would be on the tax rolls at a
higher value than the sale bid price. The bid prices are subject to acceptance by the City, the
County and Plainview Independent School District. Most sales would close in 30 to 60 days.
Zone Case No. 688 (3418 Olton Road). Ordinance No. 00-3254. An Ordinance
amending the zoning map of the City of Plainview by issuance of a Specific Use
Permit to operate an Arcade in a General Business (C-3) zoning district, address
being 3418 Olton Road; Cumulativeness clause; Conflict clause; Severability clause;
And effective date.
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Wally Hatch explained the Specific Use Permit was for eight-line machines which legally are not
gambling devices, rather games of skill. The age limit of being at least 18 years of age to be
allowed to use the machines can be placed in the ordinance preamble, but only if the proprietor
agrees to it. Since Mr. Davidson, the owner of the arcade, has agreed to this it will be in the
ordinance preamble.
3. Excused Absences. Councilmember Rey Rosas was excused from this meeting.
4. City Council Reports. Councilmember Mary Jane Shanes reported on the D.A.R.E.
graduation at Ash School.
5. Terms for accepting a monetary gift from the Plainview Lions Club for the Community
Building to be constructed in the Seventh Street Park.
Dale Simpson said the Plainview Lions Club has offered $10,000 toward the construction of a
community building in the Seventh Street Park. The only condition of the donation is the
building have a sign naming it the Plainview Lions Club Building, much like the Rotary Building
in Regional Park. Mr. Simpson said $98,000 was budgeted for the construction of the building,
however the estimated cost of the building is $110,000. Councilmember Favila asked if any
other organizations or businesses have offered money toward this project.* Mr. Jeffers said Excel
and Wal-Mart know about it but have volunteered nothing. Mayor Lloyd Woods made a motion
to authorize the City Manager to enter an agreement to accept $10,000 from the Lions Club and
call it the Lions Club Building, with the Lions Club paying for the sign. Councilmember Mary
Jane Shanes seconded the motion. Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Hutcherson, Owen,
McGehee, Favila and Mayor Woods voted "yes" on the motion. None voted against. The
motion carried.
6. Authorize Mayor to accept deeds pertaining to the Southwest Fourth Street and East U.S.
70 sewer project.
Councilmember Sam Parker moved to authorize the Mayor to accept offers on the properties
and execute the deeds pertaining to the Southwest Fourth Street and East U.S. 70 sewer project.
The motion was seconded by Councilmember Mike Hutcherson and carried by a unanimous
"yes" vote from Mayor Woods and Councilmembers Parker, Shanes, Hutcherson, Owen,
McGehee, and Favila. None voted against.
7. Disposal of Curry Estate property (406 Broadway) acquired as part of Southwest Fourth
Street project.
Mr. Jeffers reviewed the history of the building in question. It was originally the railroad station
at Goodnight, Texas. It was purchased by the Curry family, moved to Plainview as an art studio.
It was later moved to its present site where it was remodeled and used as a dwelling. The City
has acquired the property as part of the right-of-way acquisition for the Southwest Fourth Street
highway project. The City has purchased this at a cost of $74,000. The question now, is what to
do with it because it has to be moved from its present location. The City owns several vacant
lots in town, one is at 14th & Vernon. The house could be moved to this location at a cost of
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$3,000 plus $160 for permits. At its present location there is a basement beneath it, to add a
basement would cost between $9,000 and $11,000 depending on finishing touches. The total
moving investment would be about $15,160 in addition to the $74,000 purchase price. Houses in
that neighborhood are selling for approximately $44 a suare foot, which produces a selling price
of $52,800. The Council discussed several options. Councilmember Parker asked if the City
could donate it to some museum? Mr. Jeffers said yes, that could be done. After further
discussion the consensus was to offer it for sale, without investing anything further so the City
could recover some of its cost.
8. Review of proposed wastewater rates to finance improvements to the wastewater treatment
plant.
Finance Director Norman Huggins reviewed the present sewer rates of the City as compared to
various cities throughout the State of similar size. The wastewater treatment plant improvements
are projected to cost $13,000,000. In order to pay for these improvements the City may need to
finance $10,000,000 at an estimated interest rate of 5.75%. Should the City qualify for a loan
from the Water Development Board, then the interest rate could be lower. However for planning
purposes Mr. Huggins advised using the higher rate. An annual payment on this debt will be
$848,000 a year. To generate funds to retire the new debt sewer rates will need to be raised. He
offered three options as to how this could be accomplished, through raising the base rate, the
charge per 1,000 gallons, rate adjustment for meter size, and several combinations thereof. In
comparison with other cities, Plainview has a low per 1,000 gallon fee, .44 cents per 1,000
gallons. The next lowest is .80 cents and the highest is $3.79. Mr. Huggins said the fee increase
could be done a little at a time, or it could be doneall at once. After a lengthy discussion about
base rate/per 1,000 gallon rate combinations, the consensus of the Council was to go with what
would produce an ample return to finance the wastewater treatment plant debt, and to do the
increase at one time. The water rates will be reviewed in the future.
Adjournment. Councilmember Ross Owen moved
Councilmember Mike Hutcherson seconded the motion.
and Mayor Woods adjourned the meeting at 12:55 p.m.
to adjourn the meeting and
The motion carried unanimously
Passed and approved on June 13, 2000.
Karen McBeth, City Secretary
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