Census bureau stresses importance to city council
Examiner photo by Connie Clements Mayor Bert Miller presents Navasota High School Lady Rattler basketball coach, Tommy Gates with a proclamation recognizing Gates as an Outstanding Citizen of the City of Navasota.Recently, Gates who has been head coach for 32 years, brought his overall total to 800 with the team's 39-28 win over Fort Bend Austin High School.
The Monday, Jan. 27, Regular Meeting of the Navasota City Council began with a presentation by Jennifer Douglass, Partnership Specialist with the U.S. Census Bureau regarding the upcoming 2020 census.
Douglass gave an overview of the census’ purpose, constitutionality as well as its impacts on apportionment of seats in Congress and voting precincts. Douglass said it is speculated that Texas’ growth will result in the gain of three congressional seats.
She continued, “The data gathered from the census distributes $675 billion in federal funds to states. These are things for free school lunch program, Pell grants, veterans’ assistance, SNAP, WIC, Children’s Health Insurance.”
She stressed that the census is confidential, and information collected can’t be used against someone in a court of law, and citizenship issues are not reported to I.C.E. She also pointed out that census workers will not ask for Social Security numbers.
New reporting options for 2020 include completion online or by phone.
Douglass said that “group” reporting such as inside prisons and nursing homes will begin Feb. 3, followed by self-response by phone and online March 12. Paper forms will come out late March and data for redistricting will be delivered March 2021.
Douglass said April 1 is Census Day and “essentially a snapshot of where you are April 1.”
The Census Bureau has flexible, part-time jobs available for workers age 18 years-plus for $18 per hour, with “veterans receiving preferential treatment.” For more information, go to www.2020census.gov.
KSA approved for
sidewalk services
Council members approved the proposal for professional engineering services with KSA Engineering in the amount of $90,970. The project includes new sidewalks, curb ramps, pedestrian railings, trees with irrigation, decorative street signs and lamps and pavement markings along Washington Avenue from Eighth Street to 10th Street.
The City has previous experience with KSA as they provided engineering services for the proposed Washington Avenue/Farquhar Street crosswalk.
Change order adds 49
new meters
Council approved Change Order No. 1 for the 2019 Advanced Meter Infrastructure (AMI) System Upgrade Project in the amount of $173,113 to add 49 new gas meters. The original contract amount was $3,065,257 bringing the new contract amount to $3,238,370.
City Manager Brad Stafford told the Examiner that while the radio was included in the original contract, the meters were not.
He said, “After we got out there, the meters were so old they needed to be replaced.”
According to Utilities Director Jeff Greer, the funds would be transferred from the Utility Fund budget.
Stafford said, “When we get to the end of the project is when we’ll determine if we have any other cost savings that can help with that. We’re looking at worst-case scenario, $50,000.”
No violations per RR
Commission
Utility Administrative Assistant Jennifer Reyna reported no violations were found during the city’s annual Railroad Commission audit.
Reyna said, “They performed a pipeline facility evaluation in which they inspected our physical conditions, written procedures and records and we have, once again, received no violations. We have a really good gas line system.”
Stafford praised the staff saying, “That’s a very difficult task especially when you have multiple utilities under your purview.”
Zero racial profiling
for NPD
Council accepted the 2019 Racial Profiling Report presented by Navasota Police Chief, Shawn Myatt. The findings indicate NPD did not receive any complaints on any members of its police force for violating the Texas Racial Profiling Law during the reporting period of Jan. 1 – Dec. 31, 2019.
According to the report, there were 1,173 traffic stops and in 1,117 of those stops, neither race nor ethnicity was known before the stop. Myatt added that the number of stops includes people traveling through Navasota. Mayor Bert Miller pointed out more that 30,000 cars travel SH 6 through Navasota daily.
For additional information, the report is on file at City Hall, 200 E. McAlpine.
Parking lot update
Stafford told council the City issued the Notice to Proceed for Feb. 10 for the Washington Avenue Parking Lot Project.
He said, “Staff will be notifying the public and businesses along Washington Avenue, especially as we get closer to the date to close Washington for the crossing, which is more than likely going to be in March or April. It’s a 100-day project, so hopefully, we have good weather.”
Other council action
•Approved the first reading of Ordinance 914-20 authorizing participation with other cities in the Entergy service area in matters concerning Entergy Texas, Inc., and hiring the Lawton Law Firm for representation at the Public Utilities Commission.
•Approved consent agenda items that included second reading of Ordinance 912-20 zoning change of River Haven properties and Ordinance 913-20, Uniform Right-of-Way Management Ordinance.
Staff report
•Introduce Navasota postmaster, Andre Patrick.
•A mayoral proclamation was issued recognizing NHS Lady Rattler basketball coach, Tommy Gates, as an Outstanding Citizen.
•Mayor Bert Miller announced that Blinn College is providing free ESL and GED classes in Navasota.