City to address maintenance, condemned properties
The Cumby city council met Tuesday to discuss consent agenda items, department reports and old business, maintenance areas of interest, condemned properties and the purchase of a lawn mower as well as the budget calendar for fiscal year 2021-2022, appointment of the court clerk to associate judge and National Night Out.
During executive session the council discussed the possible removal of the city judge in accordance with L.G.C Sec 22.077 “for incompetency, corruption, misconduct or malfeasance in office.”
The council voted to schedule a public hearing concerning the removal of the judge for Tuesday, June 15 at Cumby City Hall in the council chambers.
Consent agenda items were unanimously approved, and department reports were accepted as written.
The next order of business was to discuss any new information regarding the Constellation Energy Bill, and to search for a new energy rate plan or a new contract with Constellation.
Mayor Doug Simmerman stated that “the council will be looking into changing our bill to a locked-in rate where we can pay same amount every month instead of a month to month rate.”
“ERCOT is already predicting higher usage rates for the summer,” Mayor pro tempore Sheryl Lackey shared.
“If the city owes Constellation money, they might not release us from the contract,” alderman Amber Roberson added.
Police chief Jeff Hundley spoke Tuesday night in regards to forming a committee to help plan “National Night Out”, which will happen in October.
“National Night Out is an annual community-building event that promotes police-community partnerships and togetherness to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out is a chance to improve the relationship between our community and law enforcement,” Hundley said. “It’s like a block party for police, first responders and the community. There are some rules that everyone will have to follow. I’m interested in the fire department getting involved too.”
“I think this will benefit the community and the police department greatly,” Horne said as the council approved the committee.
Alderman Horne and Simmerman then moved discussion to maintenance areas of interest that include Well Four at the waste water treatment plant being serviced to address some electrical issues, plans and updates for street repairs, the waterline at FM 499 and Donelton, as well as a tree needing to be cleared out of the ditch on Denton Street.
Simmerman shared that he had spoken with Miss Lisa Hart about well four and that the new maintenance supervisor Jeff Dudley was in the process of addressing the issues.
Concerning street repairs, Simmerman went on to state that “doing any repairs with how wet it’s been, really wouldn’t do any good, everything would just wash back out the next time it rains.”
“The materials used to repair the roads is oil based and having heavy vehicles, such as garbage trucks and school buses, running over that every day tends to speed up the process of wear and tear,” Simmerman said. “The price of road materials is also a factor in street repairs being delayed. As the money comes in, we will look into which roads to fix first.”
The waterline at FM 499 and Donelton currently has three active leaks and a large section of the pipe possibly needs to be removed.
Simmerman shared that “the section is rusty, aging and has had a lot of repairs all in the same place.”
Horne and Simmerman next discussed a tree on Denton street that is sitting in a ditch and possibly blocking drainage.
The tree had fallen across the road during a storm, and Horne cut the tree, moving it into the ditch afterwards.
Simmerman shared that he had thought removing the tree was the responsibility of the property owner but offered to use his tractor to remove the larger pieces as a way to help out.
“I can transport the larger pieces to my property and burn them or whatever else is needed,” Simmerman said.
Next the council discussed condemned properties that are in need of repairs or to be torn down. The council stated that they are “in the process of locating the property owners but that they have all been contacted by the police department in regards to possibly condemning the properties.”
“One property, the one on Tarrant Street, behind the city park, has overgrown grass that is almost taller than the structure,” Horne said.
“I believe the taxes are paid up and auctioning the property off was mentioned at one time. I’m not sure if anything came of it,” Simmerman stated.
“408 Odom street and another structure on Mill street have also been given condemned notices, but property owners have not made any effort to contact the city in regards to repairs,” Lackey shared.
The council then voted to accept the budget calendar for fiscal year 2021-2022 and approved a resolution for the November election for Alderman places three, four and five.