Streets, roads receive council attention
The Navasota City Council held a regular meeting Monday, Aug. 26, and approved an agreement with CEC Engineering in the amount of $41,180 for engineering services for the 2019 Street Improvement Project. The construction costs are estimated at $481,767. The project includes portions of Neal, Don, Houston, Brule, Johnson and Teague Streets.
City Manager Brad Stafford responded to council questions about the selection process saying that these particular streets do not require water and sewer line replacement. He advised that a large project that combines street and utility work is in the planning stages and will be brought to council shortly.
Transportation plan
review approved
Council approved an agreement with Strand Associates for the preparation of a Transportation Plan and will include a community meeting. The plan will address key transportation elements in the Navasota Comprehensive Plan such as a transportation network to serve future growth, evaluating the effectiveness of existing network at relieving congestion, and developing improvements before they are incorporated into the Capital Improvement Plan.
City Manager Brad Stafford said, “Over the past couple of years we’ve had a lot of discussion about several of our roadway needs and projects that are rather large and include TxDOT. One of the common denominators that comes up every time is how current is our transportation plan? The answer is what transportation plan? Reps from Strand Associates have been working with us on a couple of those major projects trying to see if we can move TxDOT forward on some of the projects.”
Joan Peterson with Strand Associates said of TxDOT, “It comes down to the fact is they are looking for documentation of what the cities priorities are.”
The proposal was presented with “al a carte” items allowing the City to move forward in stages with costs that range from $19,300 to $73,200.
City moves ahead
with new meters
Council approved Resolution 658-19 authorizing the City Manager to execute an equipment lease-purchase agreement with Capital One Public Funding, LLC for energy conservation equipment. The project includes installation of new gas and water meters, an automated reading system, new LED lighting in city facilities and a Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system.
The benefits of the $3.7 million project include improved meter accuracy that will increase water revenue by $74,645 and wastewater revenue by $18,203 in the first year, as well as reduce electrical usage, meter reading, maintenance and replacement costs.
Tax rate, workshop
There were no comments for or against at Monday’s public hearing on the proposed tax rate of $0.5693 per $100 valuation for 2019. The owner of a $100,000 home can expect to pay an additional $44.40. Under the proposed tax rate, $0.4848 will go toward Maintenance & Operation and $0.845 toward Debt. The amount of tax revenue generated from the increase in properties on the tax roll over the preceding year is 10.6%.
The effective rate, the rate that would bring in the same amount of revenue on the same properties as the previous year, is $0.5249 per $100 valuation. The rollback rate, the rate at which voters may petition for an election on the tax increase, is $0.5694.
The next public hearing and first reading is Sept. 9 followed by a public hearing and second reading Sept. 23. All hearings are held at 6 p.m. at City Hall at 200 E. McAlpine Street.
Council also held a workshop with city staff to review the proposed $18.2 million budget. Key budget items include vehicle and equipment purchases for the police, fire and utility departments, $3 million for Foster and Railroad Street drainage projects as well as the city’s matching funds for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Cedar Creek Project. Also noted were salary increases, hiring of additional staff, completion of the W. Washington Avenue downtown streets-cape and the newly approved transportation study.
Other council action:
•Reviewed the third quarter report from the Arts Council of the Brazos Valley.
•Presented a certificate of recognition to Saint Francis Wolf Sanctuary.
•Approved the purchase of a Garrett Super Scanner in the amount of $146.74 for Municipal Court.
•Approved a payment plan contract with Victor Polanco for the extension of a city sewer main to 1403 W. Virginia.
•Approved Change Order No. 6 for the 2017 Sanitary Sewer Project for a credit in the amount of $24,481.
•Approved a Chapter 380 Agreement with Jim Kolkhorst for improvements in 1600 block of E. Washington.
•Approved the second reading of Ordinance 895-19 regarding rezoning Agriculture/Open Space to General Business.
•Approved the second reading of Ordinance 894-19 regarding the notification process for variance requests.
•Approved the first reading of Ordinance 898-19, amending the 2018-2019 budget in the amount of $20,000 for brush removal and the Brush Collection Facility at 9119 CR
415.
Staff, board &
commission reports:
•Utilities Director Jeff Greer reported the $938,000 sewer project is near completion.
•Ketchum Park will reopen with a park dedication Thursday, Aug. 29, at 5:30 p.m.
•Economic Development Specialist, Jonathan Sosebee, reported that Na vasota Economic Development Corporation awarded two business improvement grants, will award the downtown parking lot bid Sept. 23 and Washington Avenue will be closed about two weeks during construction.
•New employees introduced: Utility Clerk Melody Binford and NPD Patrolman Travis Mullins.
•Updates provided on recent Planning and Zoning, Keep Navasota Beautiful and the Airport Advisory Board meetings.
•Received a report from Navasota Grimes Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Johnny McNally on upcoming events and economic development activities.