Staff Reports
Council tabled the approval of increasing City Attorney Mike Martin’s monthly salary from $1,000 to $1,500 in order to review his original contract, established 8-9 years ago.
“We can’t find the original contract,” said City Administrator Eric Kuykendall.
Martin said he would only have an unsigned copy but would forward it as soon as possible.
Ward 2 Alderman Robin Moore requested Council discuss Martin’s proposed raise in Executive Session. Ward 3 Alderman Richard Turner added that Martin should not be present for those discussions.
Following the executive session, council chose to table the raise to provide time to get a new contract and have it on the next agenda.
Lodging establishments are now required to register their business with the City and receive a certificate to operate, following the approval of a new ordinance. The registration carries a $5 annual fee and is requested to be displayed in the business.
The registration was originally proposed by the Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau Board as a way to help them track the number of facilities in town and to ensure they are aware of the Hotel Occupancy Tax requirements.
City Secretary Melissa Boyd was tasked with the responsibility of starting the process on the City hiring an administrator to oversee the City’s use of the funds provided by the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery (CLFR) stimulus fund.
Boyd worked with her former employer to hire an administrator, so she is familiar with the process required.
The installation of stop signs at Clarksville and Soda, and Soda and Bonham streets, will be reconsidered at the next council meeting to allow for Jefferson Police Chief Tino Perez to do a traffic study.
“Larger trucks, especially the railroad trucks, now use Soda Street instead of Walnut,” said B.W. Brooks.
Temporary stop signs have been placed at the intersection of Soda and Clarksville, and have caused traffic to slow down, according to Richard Penner, who lives at the intersection.
A motion was offered by Ward 3 Alderman Ted Dickson to place permanent stop signs, then withdrawn when Perez offered the study. The study will be conducted for 10 days with the temporary signs in place and 10 days without them to offer a comparison. The study will provide the number of vehicles using Soda Street, as well as the speed at which they are traveling.
The City’s Solid Waste Contract with Republic Services is up for renewal next year and council has requested Republic Manager Gene Keenan provide them with a new contract, which proposed rates, at the December meeting.
“Right now is not the time to change contracts,” said Keenan. “If we have to rebid the services, I’ll have to use the proforma required by corporate, and that’s going to mean higher costs.”
Currently all commercial trash disposal services, via front load or roll-off dumpsters, is required to be obtained through Republic. The contract is for 5 years, with the possibility of annual cost adjustments.
Baker will be taking over discussions with TxDOT for the replacement of a drainage culvert near the intersection of Walnut and Tx 49 East.
“I keep getting bumped up the chain,” said Kuykendall. “I’ve gone through two and have two levels more to go [to get an answer].”
The City has requested TxDOT assist with the project as one end of the culvert is in the TxDOT right-of-way. The cost for the project is estimated to be around $60,000.
Council gave the green light to the Historic Jefferson Foundation to install updating lighting at the Sterne Fountain at the intersection of Market and Lafayette Streets. HJF proposed improving the lighting around the fountain to improve traffic safety. HJF will be funding the project. The fountain is the property of the City.
In other business Council approved:
• new signage for both Magnolia Place and Cypress Place Assisted Living facilities.
• the event application for the Marion County Chamber of Commerce’s Annual Christmas Parade on November 27
• the use of Lion’s Club Park for the Enchanted Forest from November 10 until January 15
Lastly, Council tabled the City’s Cafeteria insurance plan for employees in order have details of the offering presented to council at a future meeting. The city is required to offer “cafeteria plans” to employees which allow employee discretion on other types of insurance offerings, ie cancer policies, which the city does not offer as a part of their core benefit plans. The current plan is already in effect for the current fiscal year and cannot be changed at this time.