Council meeting reset due bad weather
By V. Hugh Lewis, Jefferson Jimplecute
UPDATE: Saturday, February 20, 8 a.m.: The Agenda Amended has been amended. Mayor Rob Baker informed the Jimplecute/Herald on Friday he was making two small changes to Tuesday’s Council meeting. The first is that Gene Keenon is unable to attend, so is item is postponed until March meeting. Keenon is the representative for Allie Waste and was set to make a donation to the Jefferson VFD. Secondly, Baker added Consider and/or approve City acceptance of TDA grant to the agenda. This is a $300,000 grant to replace sewer lines in the Cass and Canal Streets area. The city must accept the contract with the Department of Agriculture before the end of the month to receive the grant. It. is a matching grant with the city supplying $27,500.
Original Story:
Winter weather postponed the regular Jefferson City Council meeting for a week, according to a statement issued by Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker.
““We’re not going to get any thawing time before the meeting,” said Baker. “There are a number of people who were planning to come in for this meeting, and for everyone’s safety, I’m moving the meeting back a week.
“Everyone needs to stay home right now if they can,” said Baker. “There’s a lot of snow on the ground and forecasters say more snow and ice are coming in tonight and Tuesday. Everyone needs to stay safe and warm right now – that’s the priority.”
The meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 23, at the Jefferson Transportation Center. The Herald/Jimplecute will be live streaming the meeting.
Tuesday’s meeting will start off with the Commemoration of Black History Month with Dr. Henry Armington speaking to Council.
Agenda items include two presentations to Council – one by Gene Keenon to the Jefferson Volunteer Fire Department, and the other by Marcia Thomas on the Opera House Theatre Players upcoming event.
Baker will continue his “Mayor’s Comments” portion of the meeting and provide updates on the Non-licensed vehicle waiver topic, hiring of a City Administrator, a Citizens Action Committee, a Former Mayors Committee, and a TxDOT rail project.
Consent Agenda items include the May Elections requirements – calling for the election, appointing Election Judges, and establishing the early voting period and extended hours days. Council will also consider a resolution denying SWEPCO’s proposed rate increase, maintaining its current rates, and directing SWEPCO to reimburse the City’s rate case expenses.
Last month Council heard from the two area Tax Attorney Firms on a possible change in which firm represents the City. Tuesday Council will consider/approve a possible change.
Building permits are also on the agenda for 305 N Polk, 495 W Camp, and a setback variance for 807 Watson.
The Marion County Chamber of Commerce requested the free use of the old Police Department building last month and Council will decide the fate of that request. MCCC has proposed to use the building as their main offices, and offered to build a deck and porch over the parking spaces to make a more attractive area for visitors. MCCC wishes to use the building at no cost for one year.
Baker proposed to JEDCO earlier this month that JEDCO fund a Quiet Zone Project Study by Alfred Benesch & Company to the tune of $45,860. The study would include all the necessary meeting and documents to begin establishing a Quiet Zone in the City. Baker originally said the QZ would start at the private crossing just before the downtown railroad bridge, and continue along the route up to the Alley Street crossings. Baker later expanded the initial QZ through the Tx49 and Broadway crossing at a subsequent JEDCO meeting. A similar study is required to establish the costs for the project and to get railroad, TxDOT, and NTSB approvals. JEDCO tabled the decision until after Council had heard the proposal and decided if the City wished to pursue a QZ.
Council will also hear a proposal from housing developer Kyle Mayden on the creation of Moon Lake Estates, just outside the Eastern City limits. The project would build 95, $500,000 homes, according to the material. Mayden has asked JEDCO and the City to help fund the waterline for the development.
The City currently has a water line which runs out to Moon Lake Road and Tx49, however, testing determined the line is not adequate to support a development of this size. City Water Department Director Allan Whatley worked with SPI, the City’s engineering firm, to test and develop the costs to upgrade the existing line.
Mayden indicated in the JEDCO meeting that they budgeted for the first part of the line, but not the additional upgrades to the city line and would like some help in funding that portion of the project. Mayden said he has approximately 10 houses ready to build as soon as water is available.
The City would sell the water to each home, just like inside the City. Baker indicated to JEDCO that the City would also be considering annexation of the development in the future.
Project costs for the line from Titus Street out to Moon Lake Road is approximately $434,000. The extension of the line out to the development is an additional $800,000.
Lastly Councilman Victor Perot will be appointing a JEDCO member to serve until May elections after his appointee Bob Avery resigned earlier this month due to health concerns.