Jennifer Perry Middleton/Jefferson Jimplecute
The Jefferson City Council considered several city improvement and infrastructure items during their meeting Tuesday, and also questioned a sinkhole repair Mayor Rob Baker approved without bringing it before the Council.
Alderman Richard Turner questioned the mayor’s approval of $149,985 to repair the sinkhole located in the parking lot behind the courthouse, stating that bid laws require any city project more than $50,000 is required to go out for bid.
Baker said he, along with several officials including Marion County Judge Leward LeFleur, were on site to see the sinkhole, which he said was the “size of a bus.” He also said that the hole had been previously patched, but it wasn’t sufficient, and that at least one truck had gone in the hole in the past six months.
“I was standing up on behalf of the city,” Baker told the Council, and added that he considered it to be an emergency situation that required immediate action.
“This is a violation of state law,” Turner said. The law he is referring to is Texas Municipal Code Chapter 252. “There is nowhere in this law that says emergency,” he said.
However, Alderman Jim Finstrom indicated a subsection of the law [252.022] provides ways a project can be done without bids. Turner indicated he did not think the matter was an emergency and those didn’t apply.
Baker replied that he takes responsibility for his actions and that he approved the repairs because the sinkhole was posing an immediate hazard to the public. The repairs done by David Lawler Construction of Shreveport, include removing the existing drainage structure and storm drain, installing a new one, aggregate bedding and the removal and replacement of asphalt.
Alderman Robin Moore said that a special meeting could have been called for the item to come before the Council and that this wasn’t the first instance where procedure wasn’t followed.
“Those are unforced errors and that’s what gets us into trouble,” she said. “Let’s do it the right way instead of how we have always done it.”
Following a 30-minute executive session, Council tabled taking any action on the ongoing dispute between City Administrator Eric Kuykendall and Public Works Director Allen Whatley. Council did not provide any explanation as to the further delay. Council met the morning of March 14 to discuss the matter with the employees. Their agenda at the time did not allow for a decision at that time.
In discussion with one Council member following the meeting, the Jimplecute was told the Council had decided to consult with an attorney prior to making any decision or action on the matter. City Attorney Mike Martin was not present at Tuesday’s or the previous Monday’s meetings.
Council also discussed increasing security and making repairs to City Hall, to include installing an interior security wall, a door with a punch code, interior and exterior security cameras, roof repair, water damaged caused by the leaky roof, mold, termite damage, the apartment upstairs, and the exhaust fumes from the Jefferson Fire Department leaking into the building.
Baker said that Jefferson Police Chief Florentino Perez had been looking at security systems and that his assistance would be valuable in the process.
Council agreed to get quotes for the repairs and at that point, they would decide which repairs were worth completing on the building.
In other infrastructure repairs, Council voted to reinstall a sewer tap at the corner of Henderson and Polk streets where the Big Red Bus is currently located. The spot used to be a theater and at some point, the sewer line was capped off and the business would like access to it.
Baker said that if someone is developing a piece of land that it was the owner’s responsibility to put one in, but that since the city already had one there at some point, they should cover the expenses.
Discussions with city employees following the meeting, indicated the sewer line the theater had been tied to no longer existed and the previous drain had not been in use since the theater burned in the late 1960s or early 1970s.
Council also tabled an item to develop an unimproved alley between Jackson and Camp Streets so they could get cost estimates.
In other business, the Council approved JEDCO spending up to $5,000 for the Texas Rural Leadership Program. Bubba Haggard told the Council the program trains citizens on how to be better community leaders and that these task force members would be vital in the future strategic planning process.
Discussion was had on the paid holidays listed in the city’s employee handbook. Turner said he had spoken to a handful of city employees, but that all had not given input on the holidays.
Baker said there is still time in the calendar year to change the city’s handbook to amend the holidays.
Council voted to table the item until they could contact all the city employees about the matter.
Members also took no action on an item related to the Centerpoint Energy Gas Reliability Infrastructure Program. Greg Hudson, a company representative, told the Council that additional capital investment is required in the Beaumont East Texas Division, of which Jefferson is a part.
Day Shoalmire with the UT Tyler Small Business Development Center also gave a presentation on their program, which has an office in the Jefferson Institute Building. He said that they provide no-cost advising and consulting services to small businesses and that in the past three years, the organization has counseled more than 700 clients and that these small businesses have had a strong economic impact in the area.
Jeremy Traylor with Traylor and Associates also spoke to the council in reference to the $474,000 the city is receiving from the federal American Rescue Act, which cities receive for revenue loss during the Covid 19 pandemic. He outlined some of the spending rules for the funding, and said that it could be used for many things, including improving public health, infrastructure and premium pay to essential workers who kept operations flowing during the pandemic. The city has received half of the money, with the next half to be distributed in August. Traylor said a draft of the city’s plan for the money is required by April 30, and that it can be changed at a later date if the city decides on a different project.
Council also approved several upcoming events. They include: the March Miata Madness to be held this weekend; the 50th Anniversary Thunderbird Car Show on May 28; and the 40th Candlelight Tour of Homes on December 1-3 and December 8-10.
Building permits were also approved for 708 Pecan Way, 204 North Walcott Street, and 603 East Whelan Street.