Staff Reports
Cars will be cruising into Jefferson starting in March and continue all summer after Council approved Big Cypress Corvette’s event application during Tuesday night’s regular meeting.
The event, which has been on hold the last couple of years, sets up on the east end of Austin street and along Walnut street. The event will begin at 5p.m. on March 4, April 1, May 6, June 3, July 1, August 5, September 2, and October 7.
Friends of Jefferson Animals (FOJA) continues to need help with the influx of dogs and cats in the county, according to FOJA president Sharon Goolsby.
“As you may be aware, the year 2022 has provided some additional challenges for the Friends of Jefferson Animals,” Goolsby told council. “Not only have rising costs directly impacted our incurred expenses for foods, vaccinations, and medical care, they appear to have indirectly impacted the rescue by way of reduction in the number of homes able to foster, as well as the rise in number of animals being abandoned.”
Goolsby said the number of calls, texts and emails continues to grow daily for the volunteers, especially in regard to dogs being dumped on or near private property both in the city and the county.
She said one of FOJA’s biggest challenges is getting people to understand that FOJA is a volunteer organization and volunteers cannot always drop what they are doing to head out to hep rescue an animal.
“I got a call this morning about a dog that had been hit and was in a ditch on the side of the road,” Goolsby said. “It is heartbreaking, but no one was available to run out there at that moment to check on it.”
Goolsby provided an update to FOJAs 2023 budget to council along with a report on the 2022 financials of the organization. Council will provide $16,250 in 2022-23, paid quarterly, to FOJA to help with funding needs. Council provided $13,000 in fiscal year 2021-22 to the organization.
Goolsby’s report showed FOJA had $142.07 left unallocated in 2022, but their fiscal year ends December 31.
“We had a huge, unexpected expense last quarter,” said Goolsby. “We took in a group of puppies that ended up contracting Parvo, causing 11 puppies to have to be euthanized. This also put our kennel out of commission from July to September. Thankfully someone came forward and donated us a third kennel. But, we had to stop all intakes during that time period as we cleaned and sanitized the area.”
Goolsby’s report showed a net loss of $2,426.40 in Q3 with approximately $5,000 spent in the city.
On a good note, Goolsby said they have about 30 kittens and 40 puppies in foster care right now awaiting transport. But, said Marshall Animal Hospital was recently purchased and the veterinarian there who supplied the clean bill of health certificates had left and they were in search of a new supplier. The health certificate is required before animals can be transported across state lines. Each transport costs FOJA about $100 per animal if the animal is healthy and more if they have any parasites like Coccidia and heartworms.
Goolsby said FOJA is working to help spread the word about Animal Protection League’s (APL) discounted spay/neuter, vaccination, and medication programs, but assistance from the public is needed. FOJA plans on holding the next free vaccine clinic at the Community Center in Frogtown and will announce more information once it’s scheduled.
Jefferson Economic Development Corporation (JEDCO) president Bubba Haggard provided council with an update on the groups 2021-22 activities and fund balances.
JEDCO ended the 2021-22 fiscal year with a balance of $1,452,251.
Haggard indicated the group has several projects being discussed at this time, including a structural survey of the trestle bridge in downtown for possible restoration or conversion to a walking bridge; the Texas Target Communities project to create a strategic plan for the city; possible expansion by Queen Wood Products; and they are investigating the options regarding annexation towards the former Excel dealership.
The City received their report on the 2020-21 fiscal audit from Jordan Shaw, McMinn, Pope, Woodfin & Shaw, P.C., with the group providing the city with the “highest level of assurance we can provide,” said Jordan Shaw. “No major issues were found during the audit.”
The group is currently working on the 2021-22 fiscal audit. The previous year’s audit was delayed due to the change in the City Secretary position, along with the loss of the previous auditor.
“They didn’t start to do any substantial work until May or June of this year,” said Jefferson Mayor Rob Baker. “But they’ve already started the 2021-22 year already.”
Laquisha Brown asked Council to approve her ability to clear part of West Broadway so she can access property she owns there.
The tract in question, Lots 10-12 of Block 14, are on the end of Broadway after it separates from Tx49 at the Primary School.
“We’ve never approved [the city] paying to clear undeveloped public property for the benefit of an individual,” said Ward 1 Alderman Richard Turner.
The area in question is at the end of the paved portion of the street. Brown asked for permission to clear a 20×20 ft area in the intersection of Alford and Broadway which is unimproved.
Council approved the request but may take up the City doing the work at the next meeting.
Jefferson Police Chief Tino Perez gave Council a series of updates near the end of the evening. His updates included how he has learned in a Code Enforcement Training Course last week that the City needs to update, and adopt, several ordinances, codes and establish certain procedures, before enforcement can begin in earnest.
“I cannot express enough how we really need a building inspector,” said Perez. “Whether that’s a full time or part time position, I don’t know, but that’s the best way to address these issues. The training I attended focused on code enforcement and not how to develop ordinances. We do have many things in place, but they need to be adjusted to enforce.”
As an example, Perez pointed out the City had adopted, in 1989, the International Building Code, but Chapter 214 of Local Government Code requires at least the 2002 version be adopted. He also said there is a separate Residential Code that the City has never adopted. The International Building Code covers commercial structures and not residential. He also said state law requires the City to have a listing of minimum standards for occupancy – regardless of when the structure was built – which the City doesn’t have.
“We do follow the procedures in State Law,” Perez said, “on dangerous structures, but we need to modify the process a little and make it clearer for residents.”
“This would be a good project to throw to P&Z for them to start with,” said Baker.
Perez said he plans on meeting with the Planning and Zoning Board soon make sure they know the things which need to be clarified and other thing to include so enforcement is easier.
Perez also updated Council on issues surrounding the purchase of new vehicles for the department.
“We currently have six vehicles,” Perez said. “Three Tahoe’s, a truck, and two Chargers. The vehicle maintenance on the chargers is becoming more of an issue as they age. We need to get back to purchasing on rotation to maintain the fleet and I would like some guidance on how to proceed. Specifically, would Council accept using agencies which already do the bidding process to be a supplier?”
The oldest vehicles are 2010 and 2014 Dodge Chargers which are starting to have lower control arm issues.
The current supply chain is also an issue, according to Perez. “If we purchase today, we wouldn’t get the vehicle for 9-12 months,” he said. So, we may need to look at purchase of new vehicles down the road and just put downpayments this year.”
Notifying the public of emergency, and other matters, needs to be addressed, according to Perez.
He said currently there are no programs in place to quickly or easily notify residents as to issues. But he’s started looking at various systems that could be a benefit to both the police department as well as public works and city hall.
Baker said he receives several requests from companies each month on these types of systems and will sit down with Perez next week to discuss options.
Back the Badge will be held on November 20 at the Visitor’s Center said Perez.
Brother Storey of Faith Tabernacle has been putting on the event for several years, but is retiring and the event needs new leadership.
Perez said Council needs to develop a clear fee structure for events like this, that allow the building to be used at no charge, but there is still the issue of the cleaning fee.
“This is a good way to get [first responders] together, break bread and come together separate from emergency events,” said Perez.
Baker said Council does need to create a resolution on how to handle these types of events.
City Hall workers are going to see some upgrades and improvements around the office following Council’s approval of a new copier and telephone system.
Currently the office’s copier works as long as someone holds their foot against the bottom drawer of the machine.
City Secretary Melissa Boyd got four bids for the new machine and recommended Council select the bid from Rioch USA and account manager Randy Fedell for $192.61 per month on a 60-month agreement. The proposal allows for 4,200 black and white and 1,600 color copies per month and includes, parts, labor, toner, deliver, installation, network connectivity and training. Council approved the contract.
Getting through to City Hall employees will be a bit easier as Right Click Plus LLC in Marshall was chosen to replace the city’s aging Toshiba phone system.
At a cost of $153 per month and a one-time setup fee of $295.19, the 36-month plan will put the system in the cloud, and includes new phones, training, setup and three free months. Total cost is $5,508 for the 39 months.
Lastly, Council established the 2023 City of Jefferson Holiday Schedule, putting back the half day before Thanksgiving and the full day of the Jefferson Burn Benefit which was disputed last year by Turner. City employees will have 16 ½ days of paid holidays in 2023.
In other business Council approved:
– Hiring Alvin Williams in the Public Works department at a rate of $12/hour
– Building permit for a carport for Danny and Dawn Smith at 401 S. Line
– Financial Reports and meeting minutes