Council meeting 2026-09-08
Agenda · Packet · Minutes · YouTube · 1:12:12 long
0:32Oh, is it done? Well, ago, I had a lot of time.
0:40Good evening. It's time for our council meeting to now officially open.
0:47And I have an agenda somewhere.
0:51At this time, we have an invocation. Oh, he's right. He's in there. We have an invocation.
0:59Heavenly Father, we come before you this afternoon with thanksgiving in our hearts. Thank you for the opportunity to be here this afternoon concerning all
1:07the business of our city. And we pray you'd give us wisdom beyond our knowledge or expertise or uh Lord uh or
1:16our practice that that you' just uh help us to make the right decisions in all things and bring praise and glory and
1:23honor unto you. In Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen.
1:30Pledge Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
1:37for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
1:50Once again, good evening everyone. So glad that all of you have chosen to join us. Uh, in case you haven't realized, we're at the city council meeting for the city of Crockett.
2:00Remove some of the things from my in front of me. Yeah, I had a lot of stuff like that.
2:09Okay. Uh, we've already opened and it's time.
2:14We just like to thank all of y'all visitors for joining us. Uh we know that if you saw the agenda might have scared you a little bit because what's on it,
2:21we'll be probably take a little extra time tonight. And so with that, thank you so much for joining us. And that brings us now to public comments from
2:30the audience. And I'll read it just for clarity.
2:36Okay, no one signed up. Thank you. If no one signed up, let's move us to the next item. Approval of minutes.
2:44Council, you have your minutes before you.
2:50I make a motion we approve the minutes of August 24th, 2026 session.
2:59Second.
3:00It's been moved and second. Any questions? All in favor?
3:08Opposed? One. Were you opposed? Are you opposed to the minutes? No.
3:17You're for the minutes? Yes. Okay.
3:21On the record for for the minutes in favor.
3:25Okay. Reports at the time. The city administrator report. Mayor and council.
3:33I have a um a quick I printed it out in front of you. I have my report. Um but I'll go through it really quickly. Um
3:43our probably our most uh pressing project that we're working on uh finalizing is the uh drinking water state revolving fund waterline project
3:51for East Houston and Golad uh from the square to the loop on on both Houston and Golad. Uh the plans
3:59have been reviewed um and there's some minor comments from Texot and Texas Water Development Board and those um you
4:08know should be resolved by the end of this week.
4:11Um and then we will resubmit the plans um and we hope to go to bid um by
4:17October uh for the waterline project. Um that's going to kick off um about 10 months is what's projected of
4:25construction for East Houston and East Golad.
4:29uh significant detours, delays, um temporary water lines, above ground
4:36water lines that will be ran above ground to tie in meters as we work on that section of the road. Um it's going to be a significant amount of
4:45construction um that we're uh working on gearing up for. Once we select a a
4:51contractor, then we'll work on a um a communications and an outreach plan for all the all the
5:00customers along Houston and Golad and get the word out. There's going to be, you know, quite a bit of work block by
5:06block. Um that is replacing an old uh 4 in most of it's 4in cast iron lines from
5:14the square all the way to the loop. um those are contributing to a lots of uh water discoloration and low pressures.
5:20Um that will really improve our water system.
5:25Um the next two uh big projects are wastewater treatment plant improvements and our water well um number three um
5:32improvements. Right now we're going through the asset management plan uh for both our water and our wastewater system.
5:40uh once we finish the uh asset management report, I will bring that to council and uh we hope that to trigger
5:47off some subsequent discussions and uh working committees uh to review those u reports.
5:56Um we also are in the process of uh uh TDA is uh reviewing the grant
6:03application and a funding agreement for our CDBG water line improvement for DURT. Uh that's replacing the water line
6:10from um Houston down to Peas uh which is a significant need. Uh we have repairs
6:19out there sometimes weekly of a of a pretty uh big water line that's in the middle of the text road. Can you say Derek?
6:27Yes, ma'am. Okay.
6:30The the next project um for a quick update on uh we did apply for the uh water system improvements grant grant.
6:38Um that was the uh one billion dollars in funding um allocated
6:45by the state um through the last constitutional amendment that was done.
6:50Um for the next 20 years they're allocating $1 billion in water system improvements with no match. So, we asked for the max of $10 million.
7:01Uh, there were, however, $6.9 billion in um requests in applications. So, there's
7:091 billion in funding um against $6.9 billion in requests this first year.
7:18[clears throat]
7:18Um, as I mentioned during our budget workshop, uh, we're dealing with one of our wastewater treatment plant clarifiers at their south plant. Um,
7:27it's it's been down for the last couple of months. Uh, we drained the clarifier and we had our, uh, engineers inspect
7:35it. Um we're looking at declaring a uh a request an emergency repair um resolution uh so we can move forward and
7:44select um we don't have to get it engineered so we can go because it's already been engineered and designed.
7:52We're just getting it repaired as designed already. Uh so that we did verify that that's going to be some significant savings. Um but we do need
8:00to uh go out and u put a bidsp spec together and and find somebody to to come in and repair it because right now
8:07we're not meeting um permit on the on the amount of water that we can um
8:15u treat. And so especially coming up into the stormy uh water rainy season uh we really need to get that clarifier back online.
8:26Um we've been dealing with some uh council's aware uh members of the public are aware we we've been as reactive
8:35proactive and quickly reactive when people bring it to our attention of water discoloration. I made a presentation to council about the
8:43process. Um uh we've swapped uh chlorine. We did a chlorine conversion. Uh we went back to
8:49our other chlorine. The heat is not helping us. Um right now we're running at about an average of 98 um degrees our
8:57water is. So um you can almost take a shower without turning your water heater on. It's it's that warm. And so the
9:05warmer the water is the you know just the summer heat is really getting to us.
9:10Um the chlorine levels are harder to keep up. That requires lots and lots of flushing. So, right now we're trying to
9:19um balance keeping our towers full, keeping water coming into town, and flushing as much as possible. Uh you'll
9:26notice that we have flush valves open and hydrants open all over town.
9:30That's on purpose. We're keeping that water flowing. We don't want water, dead water in the lines sitting there.
9:36Um and so, um our booster pumps are running 20 to 22 hours a day. they're not shutting off.
9:47Um, that's not that's not good either because that's really that's really a wear and tear on our booster pump. So, we're really trying to stay ahead of
9:54that and hope for some cooler weather and and to be able to uh rebalance our um
10:02our water pressures and um keeping our tanks full and keep the chlorine levels up.
10:08Bud budget books. Um we're going to we're beginning to uh the budget book preparation and we hope to have those bound and delivered to council next
10:16month. Um just a quick uh reminder of the council workshops uh for our charter review. Uh my first council workshop is
10:25September the 11th. Uh we've I've spoken with our attorney. He's he's coming.
10:30He's going to be here in person. That way we can hopefully communicate better and see each other and talk over these
10:37over the charter propositions. And um a lot of this is going to be up to council to uh lead and guide us into and how
10:45long you want to take and what requires uh more research and coming back. Um those are things that um count we're going to have to go at council's pace.
10:58A couple um good news. the opportunity zone. Um, this came out in 2017 and uh
11:04Texas was not uh declared an opportunity zone. Um, the program uh did not activate until 2018.
11:14In 2018, uh, Crockett did not apply for the opportunity zone designation. This is a really big economic development um
11:22tool um that does not um tax our own citizens. It's a It's an IRS basically
11:30um exemption for people that if they if they're making large investments in areas that are designated as an
11:38opportunity zone, they are uh they get receive federal tax incentives through the IRS and do not pay uh capital gains
11:45tax on those investments. So, it really helps funnel um outside dollars into areas with opportunity zones. Um, we did
11:54apply this year and we were uh one uh there was 605 uh designations or
12:02nominations by Governor Abbott and we were one of them. Um the sens one of the census tracks within Crockett um was
12:09designated um being the only one in Houston County. So we're really excited about um having a target kind of a
12:17bullseye on Crockett as a place for outside investment.
12:22uh city projects. Uh our library parking lot, if you've driven by, we've demolished the old parking lot and hauled it all away. It's been formed and
12:30prepared for concrete and they they are planning on pouring the concrete tomorrow.
12:36Uh the fire department bay concrete project has been advertised for bid request uh with a bid opening and recommendations. We'll bring those back
12:44to council on September the 21st for that uh for our next council meeting.
12:50Homewood is complete. We only have some back filling behind the curbs. Um the home homewood street project is done.
12:56Anson Jones and Sunset have received two coats of chips seal and they will be overlaid with asphalt.
13:02Um the hot mix colay for Vest has been purchased and um we will put the hot mix down after Vest gets chip sealed. Darius
13:11has been under a delay due to us running into not hitting it but finding it before we hit it. a gas line, a major
13:19gas line that went across Darius um that was just a few inches underneath the pavement. So, we would have hit it. Wow.
13:27Had it not been found. We did locates, but the gas line was too close to the surface. Center Point's done um quite a bit of work and they removed that gas
13:35line and dropped it down. So, now we can proceed with Darius.
13:39Um and we'll be we'll be working on that starting uh on Monday. We'll be the cement is already uh being delivered.
13:46So, we'll be mixing Darius and Brier um will be mixed with cement on Tuesday after the Darius project and contractors
13:54are going to begin replacing those cur curbs and gutters on the Hackberry and uh Charles next.
14:03Um two city events and I have the flyers in front of you. We have the 911
14:09um ceremony uh coming up this sat this uh Friday, September the 11th, starting at 8:45. We'll have guest speakers
14:18amongst city officials there. Um we have a brunch, a breakfast um being catered,
14:26being brought in. And so we're going to have a really nice uh ceremony which will be the 25th anniversary of 911.
14:36And then we have the proalis ribbon cutting uh next Tuesday, September the 15th at 11:30.
14:43So um we'll have the CEO and all the principles really of the proalis a lot of them are planning on being in town.
14:53So if any of council can make that, please let us know and um and show up.
14:59walk. There's going to be some food, some snacks, um some city, county, state officials, um state representatives,
15:07congressman's office, and everyone will there'll be some representation there from many of those offices. So, that's next Tuesday, right?
15:14Next Tuesday at 11:30. Yes, sir. So, we'd really like all of council to be there to represent the city of Crockett.
15:23And that's all I have.
15:34I think I do have a question on the um
15:40on the uh plans. You said um the on the what?
15:44On the on number the waterline rehabilitation. Yes, ma'am.
15:48For East Houston. Um, and you said something about plans that you submitted plans to the engineers, uh, the engineering plans were submitted. Yes, ma'am.
15:57Okay. So, do the council get to see those engineering plans or how they'll be delivered to them to us after they're they receive final approval? Okay.
16:05Yes, sir.
16:06Okay. And the And you said something about the contra contractor contractors when you go to select for for which project?
16:16Uh, for the same project.
16:18Yes, ma'am. uh once those contractors council does. Okay. Yes, sir.
16:22Once the bids are um set out, we'll we'll do the advertising in in October and then those once the bid are received, we'll bring those back to council.
16:31Okay. Okay. So, okay. And then one more thing, um far as like the uh pipes
16:39all over the city, have we located uh the lead pipes all over the city that needs to be replaced? Yes, ma'am. Okay.
16:47Yes, ma'am. Um, in 2025 we started our lead pipe inventory. So we've we have a lead pipe inventory that was completed and submitted back to TCQ.
16:58Okay. So you have a list of those streets or locations where there Yes, ma'am.
17:02Okay. Can I um Yes, ma'am. And those have been submitted to TCQ and we're there's another funding project that we're submitting to
17:10uh Texas Water Development Board for assistance in replacing those lead pipes. whenever we run into them, whenever we touch them or disturb them, we replace them ourselves.
17:20Uh we don't leave any lead pipes in the ground. Um they they're not they don't really become a problem until they're disturbed. You're not supposed to cut lead or repair it. And so that's kind of
17:29the issue. Um so we're trying to get some funding on replacing them. We actually do not have a lot compared comparatively speaking to other cities.
17:38We're kind of in that area where a lot of our pipes that were put in with lead have already failed. So, we've already been over many years replacing those.
17:47So, we've already replaced a lot of them ourselves.
17:49So, would that not be the [snorts] first thing that we would consider replacing? Sure.
17:54Or as well, we have no lead grants and things like that that we receive in the city.
17:59Yes, ma'am. That's why we're applying for the only really grant program for lead pipe replacement. Um,
18:08none of our mains, none of our mains or water lines are lead pipe. Um, most of them are connections around service
18:15lines. So, most of them are customer service lines or lines around the meter from the from the tap to the meter um
18:25from the saddle to the customer's lines up into the house.
18:29Yeah. My main my main concern is that there's dead pipes and I just Sure. Yes, ma'am. We replace all of those when we run into them.
18:37Can we go back to city projects? Uhhuh.
18:39I don't see anything on here for Second Street.
18:43Second Street is um wasn't in this year's, but we're doing it.
18:47[clears throat] Um we spoke about it and you Second Street is a small street that we're going to do within our own uh
18:54maintenance and operations budget. Um but it was money allotted for uh not yet. It would be in October.
19:03October's budget, the the listing that we had went over that was for effective October.
19:13I thought it said $7,000 was allotted for Second Street.
19:17Yes, ma'am. Yes, sir. That was my estimated budget for it. Okay.
19:20And like I said, that's a pretty small project. So, we'll we'll be doing that with within our city operations and maintenance because it's
19:28it's it's in bad shape, [snorts] but it's not going to require um the significant amount of funding funding that some of these other streets
19:37are going to require. So, we can do that in between projects and get it done a lot sooner. Okay.
19:46We went and cleaned the ditches and and uh try to get the water flowing better.
19:51Um but now it's just in between these projects. We'll go over there and mix it and stabilize it. Okay. Yes, sir. We'll get it done.
20:01Are there any other questions?
20:04Okay. If not, it brings us to item number three, business considering approving audience amending the codes of
20:13uh city of Crockett, Texas by the amendment of chapter 5 billing and billing regulation
20:19uh article nine known as the city spence condenses the title of the of article
20:27nine amend section section 5-526 applicable with and purpose to make the
20:36article applicable to all residential properties, including recently added rental zoning districts and detached
20:44residential properties that are part of a permitted mixeduse commercial and residential property. Amend section
20:52C-529 application for permit section 5-531
20:59survey stakes to no longer always require survey plat when the placement
21:05of survey stakes along the property lines by by a licensed surveyor is
21:13sufficient to determine the property boundary lines amend section 5-532
21:20height limitation in section 5-533 fence location to be less restricted for
21:26the proportion of a side corner yard fence that is parallel to the side of a residential structure incorporating
21:35minor technical formatting and conforming changes and adds article 10
21:42construction related permits and fees to move existing section 5-600 fees from
21:50article nine to the new article 10 providing a servability clause and containing a repelling clause and providing an effective date.
22:01Mayor and council, I have this um ordinance amendment in front of y'all.
22:05Um I submitted the redline versions as well as the new ordinance. The two main
22:12points that this has changed um is to help free up some of the red tape for
22:20the process that um slows down people from investing in repairing fences. Uh
22:28one of the big ones is the cost for the survey plat or requiring a survey to be
22:35done on the property. Uh a lot of times that's um financially an obstacle to
22:42getting fence work done. Um and so we remove that. We do require at least uh staking. We need to know where those
22:50fence lines to ensure that you know it's not being built in city public right away or on your neighbor's property. Um
22:57but we're not requiring the full uh survey and plat. the other one that we ran into several times and we've worked
23:04with each one of these um owners to still get the job done. Um but we realized that our our ordinance really
23:13doesn't properly address address um houses with corner lots houses on properties with corner lots. Um, if you
23:22see right here under our red line version, um, [clears throat] we it no fence which is adjacent to a
23:31public street located on a front yard or a side corner yard shall exceed a height of 4 feet. If you look, I I just drove when I was driving down Golad.
23:42Here's just a good example. This house here, are y'all able to?
23:47So, in front of the house, we do allow you have to have visibility of greater than 50%. We don't want a compound looking front yard where we can't see
23:55your front door where it's just a fence, you know, we can't um inside the city uh limits. We do allow with greater vis
24:03visibility like this one or like a 4 foot like a picket fence or something like that. Keep your dogs in and or keep
24:11a neighbor's dogs out or whatever. And then, but it still allows um a little of visibility.
24:19What we weren't allowing is side corner lots like this one here. They wanted to close in their backyard. They didn't want some people to be able to drive
24:27down this sideyard and see the entire backyard. Um the way our ordinance was drafted and written, it's it's
24:36definition by definition it said that you could not. And we realized that that does not that's not the right thing to do. Right.
24:43And most of these people when they requested it, they went through the board of adjustments.
24:48We still presented it to our board of adjustments and we provided them with a variance and allow them to do it anyway because their need
24:57proved, you know, um greater than what the the letter of our ordinance required.
25:05Um if you let's see where how do you go like this
25:11one here uh this this property owner came to us a couple weeks ago uh she's on a corner lot there still on golad
25:19lakeway well she wanted her backyard to be closed in way way our ordinance said you could not and so we went through the
25:26board of adjustments process and we get provided her with the variance so she could do a clean pretty privacy fence
25:34but it still in no doubt block the intersection. You can still drive up see up and down both sides of the road. Um if she later wanted to, she could put a
25:41little picket fence across the front and and things of that nature. But this is really what our budget I mean our our ordinance amendments allow. Now I can see
25:49is to in these situations on a corner lot to give you privacy um you can bring adjacent to a public
25:56street a privacy fence and it and it's not restricted to the 4oot rule or the uh visib like the uh
26:03you know rear like um where it's like the other one that the picket fence or something like that we showed on the other slide.
26:11Um you know something like this fence here that is allowed by our ordinance.
26:17Yeah, they would not be able to come out to the street up against that curb, but they can do that. And what's the minimum height?
26:23Um, behind the house, not in front of the house, but from the front corner. Um, it's no higher than
26:318t. Most of them are six feet. Most of your picket or your privacy fences are six feet, but there are some that are eight feet and those are allowed to.
26:41And that's basically on the side and at the rear.
26:47So that's that's what um enlarge our ordinance amendments allows to help
26:55the process not be as cumbersome and be a little bit more affordable and then not have to go through a lot of bureaucratic steps to try to get them a fence set on the side of their house.
27:05But it should people should have a little privacy when you're on the that corner like that. Yes, ma'am.
27:12Are there any other questions on that ordinance? So just basically [clears throat] just it's just giving them opportunity now the surveyor can come out and just do a a locate.
27:23If they loc if they if they locate their corner stakes or locate their corner rods and drive a a survey and stake in,
27:31then the inspector can verify and sign off on it that it's properly placed.
27:37Um and that costs a lot less than a full survey.
27:42Any questions? Are we ready for this?
27:50Any question concerns?
27:53I make a motion that we approve an ordinance amending the code of ordinances u the [snorts] city of
27:59Crockett, Texas by the amendment of chapter 5 uh with the stipulations of business item three.
28:12There's a motion on the floor. A second. A second. Any questions?
28:19Ready to vote. All in favor? Oppo. I'm sorry. All All in favor?
28:29Oppose. Motion cares.
28:36Okay. It brings us to item number five.
28:40Consider and approve a resolution confirming review revision and adoption of the city of progative number four.
28:48Okay, I missed four. Oh, I covered it up. I'm sorry. I wrote on top of it.
28:53Consider and approve standards uh operate procedures and policies for the
28:59Crockett Fire Marsher. I extra Good evening, mayor, council members.
29:05I'm the reason why your package is so thick. So um with the fire department under the fire marshall we are considered a uh law
29:14enforcement agency also and u this last couple years they had mandated some policies that we do have to have in
29:23place that we did not. So u I [clears throat] sit here and wrote the policies and I did forward them to the
29:32city attorney and she reviewed them and sent them back. uh made a correction on I think one thing was what I had to
29:38correct. Um but they were reviewed. So basically in a nutshell page two it says table of
29:47contents from 101 to 118 those items are the mandated uh policies we must have in
29:54place. U and part of that requirement is also to bring it to council to u to
30:02approve it. Um because if we don't have this in place, we could lose our agency as a police department. So, and if y'all
30:10been watching the news, they are looking for a reason to shut down small agencies.
30:15If you notice on the news, there have been small agencies. And this is some of the mandates that they didn't didn't get up to par. But um we should be on if
30:25y'all approve this enough, we'll be in good standing when we on our next inspection from TCO. And the SOGS that
30:32second part that's pretty much there's a lot of my guys. There's another guy that's a peace officer, but there's
30:40three of my other guys who also might have this their inspector or their investigator. So that pretty much break it down. if I'm not there. That's our
30:50standard operating procedures they should follow if I'm not there to inspect or investigate.
30:56So, that's why uh I brought this to y'all so we can be in compliance with Tiko under our police agency license.
31:06And if there's any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them for you.
31:09U just just review it. I mean good uh thank you for um creating a u manual. Um
31:19but I I was just kind of looking over I guess it's our first manual. Yes ma'am.
31:23Okay. Normally the the fire marshall got it authority under the city charter and that worked for years but uh now since
31:31Tik there they're there may not not just us the whole you got to have this policy in place and we didn't have it in the past so [clears throat]
31:40uh the current fire marshal he left when all this kind of came out and I just now got around to actually sitting down and had the time to actually create it where
31:49it should be and it should bring us up to par. Now, like I said, this is the fire marshal police side of things. It's not the the fire department. We got our
31:57own policies that the paid guys follow and our SOGS on the fire side. This is just the fire marshal police side of things and this is the mandates that we got to have the policies in place.
32:08Okay. Because I I did I went back and I looked at some other policies from other cities. I'm like not really, you know,
32:17it's like kind of vague a little bit to me and I was like not being specific about what their job duties are, you know, and I don't wrote down some questions if I was going.
32:26Right. That's what that's what this is just for the fire marshal police side of it. I kind of brought it up so because uh our guys were do more than one thing.
32:35So it kind of brings it up if I'm not there. That's my policy. That's how we do stuff. Well, I'm I'm glad I I'll touch base with you at a later date and
32:44kind of give you some things that I was looking at and see what you think about it. Sounds good. Okay. Thank you.
32:53Any other comments, concerns?
33:01Mayor and council, I uh move that we can we approve the standard operating procedure and policies for the Crockett Fire Marshall.
33:09A second. Okay. It's been moved in section second.
33:13Second. Uh any question ready for Okay. All in favor?
33:24Motion carries.
33:29motion. Now, since I asked Tim, I can go to number five.
33:36Uh number five, consider and approve a resolution confirming confirming review revision and adoption of the city of
33:45pocket investment policy, investment strategies and collateral policy and designation of the city administrative
33:53and finance director/city treasur as investment officers.
33:59Council and we also have a copy of the former
34:12investment policy that was adopted in August 2000 and our proposed revisions to that policy.
34:22um basically um put some context into it. There are two state laws that set off guard rails for the city of profit
34:30public funds because we're a municipality. We hold deposit public money. So the state requires that
34:38we apply these laws and requirements within these laws to the way we manage
34:45those funds. So the two statutes are tax two statutes are Texas government code chap 2256
34:53which is called the public fund investment act. It requires the city council to adopt and annually review investment policy and strategies. It
35:02limits city investments to instruments authorized by state law and the adopted policy and it sets officer training
35:09ethics quarterly reporting and proven investment standards. And hand in hand with that is Texas government code chapter 2257
35:18which is the public funds collateral act. It requires that uninsured public deposits be secured by eligible
35:26collateral and it sets standards for pledged securities custodial arrangements records and monitoring. It
35:33applies to city demand and time deposits held legally held by legally authorized depository institutions.
35:42So basically it matters because we need to be compliant. We our plans need to be safe and we need to have accountability for those funds.
35:52Um and so to put a little framework into why we're asking for addition to the end policy. Um as you can see the policy
36:01that we have was adopted in 2000. So it's been 26 years since it's been
36:08modified or revised. And in that There's been some revisions to both laws and
36:15also there are some recommendations from the government treasurers um officers of Texas. And the reason
36:25that this came up is because I was required to take a 10hour pl investment act training when I was appointed as
36:33finance director for the city. And so when I went through this training, I saw that there was a lot that needed to be revised and added to the polic.
36:41So while I was revising it, I decided to make it more of a working document that [name] and I as the investment officers
36:49could refer to and use um as on a daily basis. So why are you needing to act
36:57now? So that we're complying with the law, we're reflecting the public funds investment act amendments, the Texas
37:05Public Funds collateral act, and current reporting expectations.
37:11controls and oversight. We're strengthening our collateralization through our collateral policy that's
37:17included in it. Um, which uh sets guidelines for safekeeping, ethics, internal controls, training, monitoring, and audit readiness.
37:29Also, practical governance governance.
37:31It gives the council and investment authors a clear working document of statuto references and fund specific strategies. So, includes all funds that
37:40the city has, the general fund, the water and sewer maintenance fund, debt service fund, all the funds that we
37:49manage that are in our annual comprehensive financial report are also included in this investment policy. Now,
37:57um and so basically we're proposing that you um adopt a new policy. Um it has
38:04basically guard rails which Keep in mind the public space investment act collateral act references. It has
38:13collateral and safekeeping standards. It adopts approved person standard of care.
38:19It has strategies by fund type detail authorized investments and [clears throat] for any investment
38:26transactions that we make we would have to get three quotes and also it has oversight. It um stipulates that we have
38:36to maintain and look over what the market value is of of any investments that we make and
38:43credit monitoring joint investment officer review because within the policy it designates [name]
38:51city administrator and I as the investment officers it has internal controls against misuse and also any
38:59significant modifications to the in to the city's investment port portfolio
39:04[clears throat]
39:05or investment providers would be brought back to the city council for approval. And in addition to that, we're also required to give you a
39:14quarterly investment report. So um basically uh March, June, September,
39:23December the last after those um quarters end will give you a quarterly investment report that shows you all
39:31that information about the city's investment and also it sets guidelines
39:36for the required compliance and also the training, the ethics and provider certifications that are required.
39:46So what we're asking you to do today is that the office [clears throat] policy and the resolution and also
39:56also within that resolution city administrator
40:02finance director as the investment offic
40:11uh if you uh asking about additional oversight and the information far as dealing with uh all of our finances. I
40:19saw that you said uh something about uh the internal control uh against misuse and things such as that. Well, if we
40:27don't know if you're misusing or we don't have any documents that you're providing us to see those particular um
40:35accounts and those the activity that's going on in those account, we can't account for misuse. Um and we're as I
40:44said before, we're the fiduciary responsible for um misuse of items. Correct. Am I correct about it?
40:52We all are. Okay.
40:53But I know that we're but we're who over. So what what I'm fixing to say is that you are over if you're
41:03the investment officer and you're the investment officer, who's your oversight?
41:08We're the fiduciaries. You're the oversight. Okay. So that's what I'm saying.
41:11Wouldn't that be a conflict of interest with you being the city manager and being an investment officer as well? I mean, who oversees you? You oversee you.
41:21Well, but we don't have but it's 04 there. The council quarterly reporting compliance audits.
41:27That's what we're implementing is quarterly reporting to improve on that over.
41:33Okay. I I understand that. But that's okay. But that's what I'm saying. This is something that we should have been doing already. Correct. Okay.
41:42It's required under the public funds investment act which is why we're updating the policy so that we're being
41:49comply the investments. So any investments that
41:57we have of funds um it won't necessarily be the operating funds because the operating funds are the things that we
42:03use to operate. Um but it will be any any funds that are invested that are not operating fund.
42:11So we won't have so we won't have access to any of the other funds to know what we have such as cash on hand uh any the
42:20portfolio we don't know any we don't have any type of uh information or activity will be invested okay so we don't have
42:28as far as like the operating fund I mean you get a report I believe
42:36of of the expenditures monthly but you want us to include like what the balance of those operating funds are at the end
42:44of each quarter, we can definitely include those.
42:48Okay. Well, um, basically it's like it's like we're I mean I see what you're saying, but we're we're not
42:58those documents. I think that because I think [name] was talking about before about creating having to create some documents. So, uh, y'all having to
43:06create any documents to give us or we're not allowed to get the Are y'all not allowing us to get the statements?
43:12Report that we create it and and it's outlined in this new investment policy, what the report will entail. It will
43:21show like the beginning value, the beginning market value at the beginning, how basically how much interest it's
43:28earning, what percentage interest rate it's earning, and what the ending So you'll be getting that quarterly and
43:37then also at the end of the year when the external auditors come to do their audit, they're also required to do an
43:45audit to make sure that we're compliant not only with our America policy but also with the collateral that's required for our investment.
43:56So that happens annually, right?
44:00Yes. We I mean since I've been on the council it's annually.
44:05We've done it annually. We've done it in our budget workshop and in um prior to March when our auditors come in and they provide their report on it. So u we get
44:14it to you a couple times a year. What Miss [name] is saying is that we'll we'll be doing this on a quarterly basis now
44:20um to improve on reporting. So in so if uh council member wants information on what's been going on prior to understand
44:29what's going on now because this this is what 20 it was 2000 2000 when it was implemented was adopted in 2000.
44:38Yes ma'am. So it's 20 26 years later and so I have 26 years of audits and I can give you every one of them. Okay.
44:49This shows us it shows a snapshot of all of our investments. Okay.
44:54Yes. Because the auditors are required at the end of the year not just to audit the city and but also to make sure that we're compal.
45:11[clears throat]
45:16Well, mayor and council, I I um I move that we approve a resolution confirming re revision and adoption of the city of
45:25Crockett investment policies, investment strategies and collateral policy and designation of the city administrator
45:31and finance officer, city treasurer as investment officers. I second that. Okay. It's been moved this afternoon.
45:40Yes, mayor and council. Um, pretty much I'm I'm just going to I mean because I I've looked over this and I feel like
45:48that um I'm I've been because I I actually request a lot of information to to um uh for myself so I can understand
45:56better how the city has been operating far as finance or any other uh in any other avenue. And so, uh, just reviewing
46:04this, uh, and looking over, uh, the memorandum and the proposed,
46:12um, investment policy, um, and just looking back over the city's history. Um, I kind of, um, I'm
46:21going to make my statement and we can go from there. But for the record, mayor and f fellow city council members and
46:30constituents, after examining the financial memorandum, I have come to the conclusion that I am of the opinion of
46:38that of the former city mayor JB Solless. After reviewing an article
46:45dated February 20th, 1964 in the Houston County Courier, I am in total agreement
46:52with his statement. city government will be be a strong mayor council type
46:59exactly as we have now. Solace said he wanted to uh emphasize that point since he felt
47:09that the charter proposed in 1959 was defeated because of the fears of citizens that the city manager
47:18uh it provided would be a dictator. Most of the writing in this memorandum
47:24language or wording is to have a city manager's dict dictatorship. I cannot go
47:32uh cannot in good conscience go in uh vote for this with a sound mind and go along with anything other than the
47:41charter that was provided by a vote of 658 people to 438 voters in April of
47:491964. So my uh vote on this is a strong no because of the fact that it has it's
47:56to me it's a conflict of interest that um he governs himself and a lot of the information that's coming to us is
48:05already been decided before it gets to council. That's in my opinion. Okay.
48:11Okay. At this point, does anyone have any comments? Are we ready for the vote? All in favor?
48:18Opposed? Motion carries. Okay, that moves us.
48:24Thank Thank you. We look forward to having the details. Thank you.
48:32Okay, brings us to um item number five, six.
48:38Six. I'm going get these numbers straight today. Okay, back at work learning new tricks. Okay. Item number six, discuss potential options for
48:47installing turf on merchant league fields.
48:53Council, mayor, mayor and council, I wanted to
49:00bring this um I wanted to bring this agenda item to attention um just as a as
49:09sort of like a plan B or resource for what we have going on in our parks and recreations. Um if we can get more
49:17detailed information on costs and um uh amenities for for for this and just have
49:25it as a basic discussion, you know, with um with more input from from some of the
49:33uh merchant league, what do you want to call officials, I guess you would say. Um and have more
49:41input from them to just have a um just have something on something in the
49:47regards of uh more options and and uh that's what I that's why I wanted to bring this up as an agenda
49:55item. You know, what what would be um potential costs? Um what were what would
50:02the resources provide, what we could provide, um what they could provide and what could be provided for us. So, um I
50:11just look forward to gaining more information about this. Okay. So, can we discuss now?
50:17Yeah, it's of course my idea about it is um of course I've had grandchildren that's
50:24played you know the soccer the baseball softball
50:31[clears throat]
50:31myself. Yeah, I know. I know you have.
50:33Uh what I'm saying is I think there's in all the fields that I've gone to all over East Texas, I can't remember
50:42um any field that had turf, but I do remember the ones who had poor
50:50seating, uh very poor restrooms, uh and and concession stands.
51:01I think that those would be things and I've never heard really anybody at any place talk about
51:10needing turf for those fields. I think the the the greater need would be uh uh you know seating you know nice
51:19bleachers, lighting, uh concession stands, restrooms,
51:28uh these other places that have these tournaments, they bring in a lot of revenue. That is true.
51:33A lot of revenue. And uh I think th I think those would be things that uh
51:40would to me just my personal opinion that would come first before we turfed a field and left all of the
51:48other things undone undone.
51:55My general consensus too is that it is in need of improvement the the the field the facilities and all. I agree.
52:04I'd like to make a statement on the uh and like I said as my myself as well uh children play soccer, grandchildren play
52:14baseball, things such as that. Um and and I'm agree with there's there are other things that uh need to be
52:22attentive but other uh than the the fields and the restrooms at the um at
52:29the um softball fields and things such as that and bringing in revenue. Um my second option basically would have been
52:38um the um rodeo arena because of the fact that it does bring in um revenue to
52:47so um but yeah I understand I understand we're talking little league but yeah we have livestock um shows that are put on
52:55over there for the youth um that we could uh look at doing some making some options but that's I mean that wasn't what the
53:02agenda item was. But anyway, that just putting it out there. So, I mean, since we're just okay conversating.
53:10Yeah, the agenda item was uh the turf for the merchant le fields. Any other comments?
53:18I just feel like the fields will be safer without the turf. Okay.
53:26Why?
53:27Because grass, you know, you're not going to get your feet caught in the grass. But on the turf, we talking about
53:33kids. Turf there's there's different types um different types different grades. Um
53:42it's an it other than natural grass and the the maintenance required to keep
53:48that up. You uh you have artificial, astro, different types of different types of
53:55turf that uh would more or less give improvement to the athletes abilities to
54:02perform their to perform their athleticisms. Okay.
54:10Any other comments?
54:14Okay. If nothing else, um well, council, I guess if um We were requested to put this on the
54:22agenda to to discuss and and kind of get council's direction if y'all wanted to go any further. If
54:30y'all want to provide more, you know, like the mayor said, we can't discuss a lot of other things, but if if council's
54:38wanting us to review needs, come up with a a list of priorities of needs, um
54:47funding opportunities. Um, if if council wants me to go any further on this, then this would be a good time to say
54:56I would like what direction that y'all would like us to go. And and um and not to cut you off anymore, but
55:03um we also have a parks and reccks um advisory board that we can utilize a lot as well.
55:09That's where I was going. Yes. Yes, I I would like to advise you to um to uh maybe have a meeting as park and parks
55:16and wrecks board uh with the um with the um administration or the heads of the merchant league feels this to uh assess needs.
55:26Yes.
55:30And implication of the jury. So, and so the the and the one that the board that we created is that the board you're you're talking speaking of.
55:40Yeah. Okay. Okay.
55:43Okay. So, um I get so as a recommendation even though it's still in the discussion phase is that for the discussion to cons
55:51continue based on a recommendation being received from them.
55:57I could bring back some reporting from meeting after meeting with our different league boards.
56:07Okay.
56:08So, would you bring that directly back to council or would you talk to the the board that we've already created?
56:16That's who I'll be talking about.
56:18They would be the one that I just want to make sure that they're in.
56:22Okay. So um I guess that we'll proceed with I don't think you take a vote for it or anything necessary as part of
56:31discussion to continue discussion by centering around the board and looping in the boards advisory committee with the advisory.
56:40Okay. Okay.
56:42So is that a move to like a move to motion since it's just because it's just a discussion?
56:50Yeah, we can just follow through with but I will be bringing it back.
56:53Okay, to council be referred to based on y'all's direction. Okay, so that brings us to item number.
57:01Somebody go correct me this time. Seven.
57:03[laughter]
57:04I missed every one of them tonight. Just want to be sure. Discuss data uh data center uh regulations within the city of Crockett.
57:15Mayor and council, I'll I'll give a quick update. um of where basically if a data center if a group came knocking on
57:25our door today um or tomorrow, what would the steps and processes be to give y'all the framework
57:32and let me know where to go from there and if there's any other discussions that are uh being requested. Um I have a a print out in front of me. It's a
57:41double-sided printout um where it says discussion on current situation and zoning processes and do data centers. Um
57:50this is a rapidly moving target and if I became extremely
57:57um informed on data centers and that technology in a week I would be uh obsolete you know the information would
58:05be obsolete because it's it's rapidly moving and progressing.
58:10Um currently our biggest safeguard is the state has has ordered PUC public utilities commission in UROT um to
58:19review the demand on the electrical grid and on water supply and have are loading
58:25the requirements for any of their demand on them and not on the community that they they move into.
58:33um as well as he has prioritized and requested that this legislative session make that a priority for developing uh
58:41legislation regarding data centers. Our current zoning ordinance does not define
58:48or provide for data centers as a land use.
58:52So, section 103 recognizes that new types of land use will develop that our
58:59ordinances do not anticipate and provides for zoning amendments um to be used to add a new use.
59:09And that um process is established in section 605.
59:13It specifically says if there is if there's a blank if it does not specify data centers um that blank box says land
59:22use is not permitted. Currently data centers are not permitted in the city of Crockett and if there was to be a data center we would have to go through a zoning amendment.
59:34So that's our current that's our current status. Um, so a data center couldn't purchase land or owners of a data center
59:42could not purchase up land and then surprise us tomorrow with the processes behind that because our current zoning does it expressly expressly denies it.
59:52Oh, okay. So if you want to get ahead of it, if you want to let me know, hey, we're not against data centers or hey,
1:00:01we're for against or we're for data centers or we're expressly against it, there's work that we can do ahead of time to expressly
1:00:09define it as best as allowable currently and to say just like Athens recently did,
1:00:16um, no, this is the definition of data centers and we do not allow them.
1:00:22Currently, they're not allowed until council addresses it. And council can currently address it through specific
1:00:28use um permits. You can require them to show what is what you know the water demand,
1:00:36the the noise, um you know, the lighting, the any of the traffic. You can require them to present all that before anything is permitted currently.
1:00:47Well, then couldn't we just look at each [snorts] one specifically? And that's what you would do if you had that you could do it under it.
1:00:57So, so if council wanted to be proactive and say we're not 100% against them, but they need to be
1:01:04good stewards. They need to bring in their own infrastructure. They need to pay for this, this, and this. We could get ahead of the game by uh um going to
1:01:13our if if council's going to of their own motion. If tonight you wanted to say um let's put this on the agenda for uh a
1:01:23motion to be for action to be taken. I could bring that back to council. What we would do is on the the on the back
1:01:31page of that deal, it says where we take it to PNZ, planning and zoning. They develop a recommendation.
1:01:38Let them do some research into data centers, what other cities currently allow, do not allow, definitions, requirements.
1:01:46Let them put together. We will have a public hearing. We're required to through public um through our PNZ process. We'll have public hearings.
1:01:55will present some proposed zoning amendments into a report, have that zone, have the hearings, and then bring
1:02:02the report to council for council to also have public hearings and further define um that we would highly recommend
1:02:11that SUP I think if we did say if we did not expressly deny them, we could say that it's by a specific use
1:02:20permit, data centers, this definition, things of that nature. What is your electricity demand? What is your water demand?
1:02:29And let them do it through a specific use permit process where council has to review each one in in per um separately.
1:02:38You don't just say no for all times data centers. You can say yes to this one, no to this one.
1:02:44Um based on the specific use permit. Yes.
1:02:48Um currently I do not feel like um the city of Proton is a target for data centers.
1:02:54um data centers are high consumers of electricity. Um our latest development with GenX in our industrial park
1:03:01required a two-year buildout for Encore just to provide 3 megawatts of electricity.
1:03:07Data centers, the small data centers that I've just looking up, the smallest of the ones that I found are 10 megawws
1:03:14and greater. So they're much much more consumers of electricity than even our biggest consumer in town. So we
1:03:23currently do not have the capacity. Most of the time they find available land that's close to a big transformer
1:03:30substation that has a lot of readily available electricity right there within, you know, close proximity to a piece of
1:03:38land out in the county because they're not looking for big wastewater plants and treatment processes and a lot of those things. They're looking for lots
1:03:45of electricity. And so I don't feel like we're a big target, but if council wants to get ahead of the game and maybe even potentially attract a small operation
1:03:53that we could suffice that would bring in lots of, you know, revenue to our city. Y'all let me
1:03:59know. Um, I did provide what type of an action, you know, and we could put this on the on our next agenda if council
1:04:07wishes me to. If not, know that our current zoning ordinances does not allow for data centers and it
1:04:14will if one comes, it would trigger a zoning amendment process, but they would have to apply for a special use permit, right?
1:04:23After the zoning amendment. Yeah.
1:04:25Yes, sir. So, it'll be a two-step process for which council would have to approve both steps. Yes, sir.
1:04:32And then it would still have to be public. But I but I think just like an absolute no to everything, we could we
1:04:39could limit some resources that we could we could uh get our hands on. I mean, if we if we
1:04:47just said an absolute no to everything, I think we need to look at them.
1:04:52Some of the centers that are going into communities, they're bringing in they're investing into water systems, and street systems into the into the infrastructure. Some are some are not.
1:05:02Those are for council to make those, you know, determination.
1:05:06Well, doing my just just doing my research, they uh yes, they are investing, but it's also causing havoc
1:05:13on the u environment for the um citizens, taxpayers. I mean, it just it
1:05:21it's been the water, um the electricity, [clears throat] things such as that. So, I I'm
1:05:28not with Mr. [name] if we If we could put it on the agenda and place uh no as currently for no data centers, I'm for it.
1:05:39That's what we're currently already on. We we are a current no.
1:05:42But I I don't think we I don't think we should I think we should look at them.
1:05:46Yeah. Like you said, you think we should look at them? Yeah.
1:05:48Just look at them individually because there could be some that's you know that that's not So under Sorry, I misunderstood.
1:05:55So under no circumstances, whatever that would be, you would say no. No to a data center. Is that right, Mr. [name]? That's correct.
1:06:02That's correct. I mean, from from my research, what I've done, what I've looked at and saw the havoc that they've caused on some certain cities. Yeah. Um dealing with the water.
1:06:10Well, we'll probably get to see before one tries to come here. Yeah.
1:06:14It's a no for me because most of the cities that have these data centers, they don't want them. Yeah. So, why even start it?
1:06:22Yeah.
1:06:23Um I've heard differently. I mean, a matter of fact, I was speaking to one about that works with a data center and she was saying it's not what you think
1:06:31it is in some parts. She said a lot of it had to do with the size and of what they were doing even more so than just
1:06:39I've heard that also that some of them is actively working anymore. They have a closed system on the water. They just recirculate closed loop closed loop
1:06:47and it's not interfering with the flow of the I think I think just understanding the definition of data center one would be important for council.
1:06:56I think so.
1:06:56Um I I think a lot of things that you might even look at or hypers scale data centers that you you know the the big scary things that you see that uh you
1:07:05can't imagine being in our community data centers. There's some data centers that are they're bringing in data modules that are this big. They're
1:07:13smaller than a generator and they're mounting them to houses. So any excess electricity that comes off your house, you have a 200 amp uh meter.
1:07:23Uh most houses probably use 40 to 50 amps on on on average. They literally So
1:07:30there's small data modules. So those are all considered under the data center. So that's a w
1:07:40it's a widescale thing. We shouldn't just take what we read online and things like that. So if council wants me to get ahead of it, we can do this currently.
1:07:48We're not at risk to waking up to a data center in our backyard.
1:07:53Well, if you adjust your mental capacities to social media, you're in trouble anyway.
1:08:00Yeah. Well, so just let me know how you I think we just sort of get ahead and at least when we write it out when we said
1:08:07no, we'll know it fully that what it entail because it's changing. I mean, technology is changing. Everything's changing rapidly. And if it's a smaller
1:08:16one and we're going to grow, we're growing now even in our community, but this would give us an idea of what we need to protect and what where our [clears throat] protection needs to lie.
1:08:27Madame Mayor, what the lady that you talked to, how much money did that that data center bring her into the Okay, I didn't I didn't go into details.
1:08:32I I was talking about a the conversation came up said, "Oh, everybody's scared of that." She said, "I work with one." Oh, so let me ask you.
1:08:39And I said, "Oh, okay. I didn't know you." She said, "Oh, no, it's not what you think it is." She said, "I'm with a small company, blah blah blah blah." And
1:08:46uh I can information, but I I at the time I wasn't that interested in it.
1:08:51when when well do they have did they have an increase in their property taxes and situations like that? What about she
1:09:00wouldn't be an increase significant decrease because they're have to pay to I mean they're not going to be um what about and
1:09:07well hospitals they get they get money schools get money I think the one in Kaufman County I think I want I heard that it brought in
1:09:14like $6 billion into the community they do I mean she was like I said here is just it's not here it's correct it's
1:09:22in another I mean not in this region I just heard just everything which is basically literally just increase I mean like hotel costs and things such as
1:09:31that. So, I'm just I'm still researching, but as of right now, I'm hard enough. But uh also with um water as well, they were saying those closed
1:09:39loop uh systems, you have to add chemicals in those closed loop systems and that those uh um some of those chemicals.
1:09:47Well, the hospital has had one for years and that it goes to the wastewater plant that's heavily regulated, but the hospital's had a closed loop
1:09:56system for years out here. be our hospital getting in.
1:10:00I ain't done any research on that, so I'm not really familiar with that. So, I I mean, just as a recommendation, I think we should pursue what it looks
1:10:08like and just bring us some to make a a more informed decision. At least we could hear more and at least we have a
1:10:16policy that we can say no and still be comfortable with you, but we have a leeway if something else dysfunctional.
1:10:24Well, in that then I'll make the motion.
1:10:27a motion to request that the planning and zoning commission review the land use [cough and clears throat] data appropriate definitions, zoning classifications, permit requirements and
1:10:34development and operational standards for considerations as a zoning text amendment pursuant to section 605 of the city of Crockett zoning ordinance. And I
1:10:42I'll I'll make the motion and then I'll say my piece real quick. It's not that I'm for or against them, but I I want some more information, right?
1:10:49Uh you know, information is key. And so I'd like to at least make the motion so we can get more information so we can make an informed opinion. And you know,
1:10:57like you know, like just like the rest of y'all, I get some of my information from social media and I' I'd rather hear it from somebody that's absolutely put some time into it. So I'll make it
1:11:05so we can be at least make a good informed decision.
1:11:08Okay. So the motion I plan on I second his motion.
1:11:12It's in Okay. It's been moved and second. You're ready for the vote? All in favor?
1:11:19Opposed? Motion carries.
1:11:23Okay, let me see. Did I get I get all the numbers?
1:11:28All right, I think I got all the numbers.
1:11:34A new business. Um, we have any new business consideration for future items?
1:11:42No. If not, moves us to the next item. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn.
1:11:48Motion to adjurnn. circuit. Okay. All right.
1:12:00I got I got fish.
1:12:12No, not ready. I'm sure it's still warm with the sun shining