City prepares for new fiscal year
The Navasota City Council held a Regular Meeting Monday, Sept. 9, and moved closer to completing the budget and taxing process required this time of the year as well as approving 2019-20 agreements.
Following a public hearing with no citizens commenting for or against the proposed 2019-2020 budget, council members ratified the tax increase reflected in the budget as required by Local Government Code 102.007. Ratification is required by a show of hands if a budget being adopted will require more revenue from property taxes than in previous years.
Council then moved to approve the first reading of Ordinance 899-19 adopting the $24.6 million budget followed by a show of hands vote on the first reading of Ordinance 900-19 on the proposed tax rate of $0.5693 per $100 per valuation. The tax rate, effectively an 8.64% increase, is expected to generate $2,498,686.00 and owners of homes valued at $100,000 can expect an increase in property taxes of $44.40.
Additional public hearings and second readings will be held at the Sept. 23 city council meeting for both the budget and the tax rate.
Utility bill increase
Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 903-19 amending utility fee schedules 5% across-the-board, reflecting the increase in the Consumer Price Index and Municipal Price Index. The CPI measures the change overtime in the price paid by consumers for goods and services and the MPI shows the cost of inflation on providing city services.
Cross-connection control
adopted
Council members approved the first reading of Ordinance 901-19 amending Chapter 13, Utilities adding a Cross-Connection Control Program as recommended by the Texas Commission on Environment Quality (TECQ). State regulations require residential, commercial and industrial customers of a public water system to protect it from contaminants by use of a backflow prevention device.
Situations referenced by councilmen that could result in contamination from backflow included hoses left in water troughs, swimming pools, or greenhouses and irrigation systems with fertilizer chemicals injected into the system.
City Manager Brad Stafford added, “You are actually supposed to have backflow preventers on the hose bibs on the exterior of your house as well.”
Sewer and street action
Council approved a contract in the amount of $194,700 for engineering and surveying services to Civil Engineering Consultants (CEC) for the Railroad Street Storm Sewer Extension Project funded by the 2016 Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program.
Stafford said, “We will be installing new storm sewers on Railroad street. All of this connects to the project we just opened bids on last week that’s funded by the Economic Development Corporation - the parking lot (on Washington at Railroad) and drainage into Cedar Creek. This will basically be an extension of that project.”
CEC engineer Kent Laza said, “This is the one that will capture most of the water that pools in the downtown area.”
Regarding a professional services agreement with Bleyl Engineering for the 2017 Sanitary Sewer Replacement Project, council approved the reallocation of $15,000 from the Construction and Materials Testing portion of the agreement to Engineering and Construction phase due to the extended time for construction. Rain delays accounting for 20-24 days in some months caused the 26-week project to run 32 weeks past the scheduled time frame.
County fire protection approved
Council approved an Inter-local Agreement with Grimes County for 2019-20 in the amount of $93,241 to provide fire, rescue and emergency medical services in unincorporated areas of the county.
Navasota Fire Chief Jason Katkoski said, “We’ve reviewed our numbers and negotiated back with the county, and we feel like we have fair numbers.”
Katkoski said that while call volume has increased this year, the percentage of out-of-city calls remains at 18%. The Navasota Fire Department maintains SH 6 to the Waller County line.
Other council action:
•Approved the consent agenda items that include the minutes and expenditures for the month of August and the second reading of Ordinance 898-19 amending the 2018-19 budget for brush removal.
•Approved the Unified Design Standards for the City of Navasota utilities, streets and drainage.
•Approved the Interlocal Contract for cooperative purchasing services with Purchasing Cooperative of America operated by Region 3 Education Service Center.
•Approved the Letter of Agreement with the Brazos Valley Council on Alcohol and Substance Abuse for the coordination of prevention-based education services among individuals, organizations, agencies and businesses.
•Approved the TxDOT Aviation Routine Airport Maintenance Program (RAMP) grant of $50,000 with matching city funds of $50,000.
•Approved Ordinance 902-19 amending the 2018-2019 budget for Texas Birthday Bash expenses and gas sales and purchases.
•Approved Resolution 659-19 authorizing representation in a matter involving the Texas Municipal League Multi-State Employee Benefits Pool and the Internal Revenue Service.
Staff, board & commission
reports:
•Received an update on the increase in utility line locates called in by contractors.
•Announcements from NPD - National Night Out will be Tuesday, Oct. 1, 5-7 p.m. and Treats on the Street will be Wednesday, Oct. 30, 6-7:30 with costume contest at 7 p.m.
•Received report of repair status of the Navasota monument at SH 6 north entrance damage by a truck.
•The deadline to apply for City of Navasota board or commission position is Sept.
25.
•Received council liaison reports related to Planning & Zoning and the Board of Adjustments.
•Navasota High School will hold a “911” assembly at 9 a.m. in remembrance of Sept. 11, 2001, and First Responders will be recognized before the Friday, Sept. 13, football game.
•CHI St. Joseph’s Hospital is providing a free lunch to First Responders from noon-1 p.m., Wednesday, Sept. 11.