Cedar Creek to get ecofriendly cleanup by goats

The Navasota City Council held a Regular Meeting Tuesday, Nov. 12, and approved two bids from Rent-A-Ruminant totaling $13,105.50 for vegetation removal along Cedar Creek. The first bid in the amount of $10,368 covers 3.456 acres from Brosig west to LaSalle. The second bid of $2,737.50 covers 1.095 acres from LaSalle to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. Terry Carr, representing Rent-A-Ruminant, told council their primary customers are cities and counties who use their goat herds to eat overgrown vegetation in areas hard to reach mechanically or where chemicals can’t be used.

For the Cedar Creek project, the company will provide 85-100 goats, a goat wrangler who will stay on-site 24-hours a day as well as portable electrified fencing to contain the goats for “concentrated grazing and safety of the goats.” The goats are expected to begin their work in March or April, spending 15-16 days per location. Rent-A-Ruminant has four breeds of goats and will bring only neutered males and females. In addition, they will post signage about the 4-foot tall electrified fencing and not feeding the animals.

Carr said their goats are “very spoiled and most are named.” Rent-A-Ruminant doesn’t buy or sell at auctions, preferring to send older goats to their retirement pasture and goat cemetery rather than a rendering plant.

As for client savings, Carr said one city estimated $400 per hour for employees to do the work, considering workers’ compensation, liability and problems with employees who are allergic to poison oak and poison ivy. It was noted that using goat herds eliminates taking employees away from street and water repairs.

Carr said, “It’s green. It’s economically feasible to you and it works very well. No one else does what we do.”

Animal control revised

ordinance, fee schedule

Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 907-19, amending Chapter 2 Animal Control of the city’s code of ordinances.

Some revisions are related to fees for the adoption of kittens, puppies, cats and dogs, microchipping and dog and cat registration.

A new addition is the acceptance of animals outside the city limits for a fee of $100-$150 dependent on whether or not the animal has been spayed/neutered. Inside the city limits, the cost is $35-$65.

Other sections address failure to vaccinate animals or report suspected rabid animals, animal establishment and hobby permits and impoundment and adoption procedures.

The ordinance in its entirety is available at www.navasotatx.gov, under Government, Code of Ordinances.

Annexation expands

Pecan Lakes Estates

Council approved Resolution 664-19 regarding a request by James Hassell for voluntary annexation of 102.4197 acres and to set a date, time and place for a public hearing.

Hassell’s four tracts of land are located along the southwestern city limits line adjacent to Pecan Lakes Estates subdivision and Pecan Lakes Golf Club.

Community Development Director Lupe Diosdado said, “Mr. Hassell is very excited, as we are, about this next phase of Pecan Lakes. He anticipates upward of 180 lots.”

LaSalle Street repair

order extended

Following a status report from Community Relations Specialist Kris Gruver and extensive testimony by a co-administrator, council approved a second extension for repair of 1519 S. LaSalle, a vacant structure owned by the late Joseph Fisher, Sr.

The terms of this extension include an abatement agreement which gives the City of Navasota the authority to demolish the structure in the event the repairs are not completed by March 31, 2020.

The property came before City Council for code compliance issues in July. Karen Neal-Brown of Dallas, co-administrator with her sister Patricia Chandler of Los Angeles California, presented a plan for bringing the property into compliance and council approved an extension for repairs to Oct. 20, 2019.

According to Neal-Brown, her husband is making the repairs but his work schedule, the commute and weather contributed to not meeting the October deadline. Gruver said at present, the repairs are about 25% complete.

Councilmen expressed concern that the administrators will still be unable to bring it into compliance with the International Property Management Code within the deadline and sought confirmation of Neal-Brown’s understanding that failure to do so could result in demolition of the structure.

Neal-Brown advised they plan to sell the building but are “still committed to bringing it into compliance.”

Other council action:

•After a public hearing with no comments for or against, approved the second reading of Resolution 661-19 approving the Navasota Economic Development Corporation (EDC) Budget for FY 2019-2020 and the second reading of Resolution 662-19 approving a proposed EDC 4B Project, a Business Improvement Grant in the amount of $50,000.

•Approved consent agenda items that included the minutes and expenditures for October 2019.

•Approved the second readings of Ordinance 908-19 approving the Brazos County portion of the appraisal roll and Ordinance 909-19 approving the Grimes County portion of the appraisal roll.

Staff, board &

commission reports:

•Received an update from Utilities Director Jeff Greer on the 1-million-gallon groundwater storage tank repair.

•Received a report from NPD Chief Shawn Myatt on turnout for Treats on the Street.

•Economic Development Specialist Jonathan Sosebee reported on his attendance at the Texas Downtown Association Conference in Georgetown.

•The city’s new Marketing and Communications Coordinator Madison Brooks was introduced.

•City Manager Brad Stafford extended his thanks for their service to the veterans in attendance.

•Mayor Bert Miller praised the book “Navasota is Beautiful. The Story of a Texas Train Town,” written and illustrated by Navasota artists in residence Rebecca Dias and Apinya Srikhwanthong and commented on the successful book launch Thursday, Nov. 7.