Source: YouTube transcript file from James
Meeting: Crockett City Council, 2026-09-08
Identified from the tape: minutes of August 24, 2026 approved; charter workshop named for September 11; fire-bay bids return September 21.
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RevvWuZkFPs
Status: verbatim auto-captions. Names are often wrong. Not reviewed. Not for the public site.

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Chapter 1: Opening and public comments
0:3232 secondsOh, is it done? Well, ago, I had a lot of time.
0:4040 secondsGood evening. It's time for our council meeting to now officially open.
0:4747 secondsAnd I have an agenda somewhere.
0:5151 secondsAt this time, we have an invocation. Oh, he's right. He's in there. We have an invocation.
0:5959 secondsHeavenly Father, we come before you this afternoon with thanksgiving in our hearts. Thank you for the opportunity to be here this afternoon concerning all
1:071 minute, 7 secondsthe business of our city. And we pray you'd give us wisdom beyond our knowledge or expertise or uh Lord uh or
1:161 minute, 16 secondsour practice that that you' just uh help us to make the right decisions in all things and bring praise and glory and
1:231 minute, 23 secondshonor unto you. In Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen.
1:301 minute, 30 secondsPledge Ice to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
1:371 minute, 37 secondsfor which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
1:501 minute, 50 secondsOnce 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.
2:002 minutesRemove some of the things from my in front of me. Yeah, I had a lot of stuff like that.
2:092 minutes, 9 secondsOkay. Uh, we've already opened and it's time.
2:142 minutes, 14 secondsWe 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,
2:212 minutes, 21 secondswe'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
2:302 minutes, 30 secondsthe audience. And I'll read it just for clarity.
2:362 minutes, 36 secondsOkay, no one signed up. Thank you. If no one signed up, let's move us to the next item. Approval of minutes.
Chapter 2: Approval of minutes
2:442 minutes, 44 secondsCouncil, you have your minutes before you.
2:502 minutes, 50 secondsI make a motion we approve the minutes of August 24th, 2026 session.
2:592 minutes, 59 secondsSecond.
3:003 minutesIt's been moved and second. Any questions? All in favor?
3:083 minutes, 8 secondsOpposed? One. Were you opposed? Are you opposed to the minutes? No.
3:173 minutes, 17 secondsYou're for the minutes? Yes. Okay.
3:213 minutes, 21 secondsOn the record for for the minutes in favor.
3:253 minutes, 25 secondsOkay. Reports at the time. The city administrator report. Mayor and council.
Chapter 3: City administrator report
3:333 minutes, 33 secondsI 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
3:433 minutes, 43 secondsour probably our most uh pressing project that we're working on uh finalizing is the uh drinking water state revolving fund waterline project
3:513 minutes, 51 secondsfor East Houston and Golad uh from the square to the loop on on both Houston and Golad. Uh the plans
3:593 minutes, 59 secondshave been reviewed um and there's some minor comments from Texot and Texas Water Development Board and those um you
4:084 minutes, 8 secondsknow should be resolved by the end of this week.
4:114 minutes, 11 secondsUm and then we will resubmit the plans um and we hope to go to bid um by
4:174 minutes, 17 secondsOctober uh for the waterline project. Um that's going to kick off um about 10 months is what's projected of
4:254 minutes, 25 secondsconstruction for East Houston and East Golad.
4:294 minutes, 29 secondsuh significant detours, delays, um temporary water lines, above ground
4:364 minutes, 36 secondswater 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
4:454 minutes, 45 secondsconstruction um that we're uh working on gearing up for. Once we select a a
4:514 minutes, 51 secondscontractor, then we'll work on a um a communications and an outreach plan for all the all the
5:005 minutescustomers along Houston and Golad and get the word out. There's going to be, you know, quite a bit of work block by
5:065 minutes, 6 secondsblock. Um that is replacing an old uh 4 in most of it's 4in cast iron lines from
5:145 minutes, 14 secondsthe square all the way to the loop. um those are contributing to a lots of uh water discoloration and low pressures.
5:205 minutes, 20 secondsUm that will really improve our water system.
5:255 minutes, 25 secondsUm the next two uh big projects are wastewater treatment plant improvements and our water well um number three um
5:325 minutes, 32 secondsimprovements. Right now we're going through the asset management plan uh for both our water and our wastewater system.
5:405 minutes, 40 secondsuh once we finish the uh asset management report, I will bring that to council and uh we hope that to trigger
5:475 minutes, 47 secondsoff some subsequent discussions and uh working committees uh to review those u reports.
5:565 minutes, 56 secondsUm we also are in the process of uh uh TDA is uh reviewing the grant
6:036 minutes, 3 secondsapplication and a funding agreement for our CDBG water line improvement for DURT. Uh that's replacing the water line
6:106 minutes, 10 secondsfrom um Houston down to Peas uh which is a significant need. Uh we have repairs
6:196 minutes, 19 secondsout 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?
6:276 minutes, 27 secondsYes, ma'am. Okay.
6:306 minutes, 30 secondsThe the next project um for a quick update on uh we did apply for the uh water system improvements grant grant.
6:386 minutes, 38 secondsUm that was the uh one billion dollars in funding um allocated
6:456 minutes, 45 secondsby the state um through the last constitutional amendment that was done.
6:506 minutes, 50 secondsUm 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.
7:017 minutes, 1 secondUh, there were, however, $6.9 billion in um requests in applications. So, there's
7:097 minutes, 9 seconds1 billion in funding um against $6.9 billion in requests this first year.
7:187 minutes, 18 seconds[clears throat]
7:187 minutes, 18 secondsUm, as I mentioned during our budget workshop, uh, we're dealing with one of our wastewater treatment plant clarifiers at their south plant. Um,
7:277 minutes, 27 secondsit's it's been down for the last couple of months. Uh, we drained the clarifier and we had our, uh, engineers inspect
7:357 minutes, 35 secondsit. Um we're looking at declaring a uh a request an emergency repair um resolution uh so we can move forward and
7:447 minutes, 44 secondsselect um we don't have to get it engineered so we can go because it's already been engineered and designed.
7:527 minutes, 52 secondsWe'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
8:008 minutesto uh go out and u put a bidsp spec together and and find somebody to to come in and repair it because right now
8:078 minutes, 7 secondswe're not meeting um permit on the on the amount of water that we can um
8:158 minutes, 15 secondsu treat. And so especially coming up into the stormy uh water rainy season uh we really need to get that clarifier back online.
8:268 minutes, 26 secondsUm we've been dealing with some uh council's aware uh members of the public are aware we we've been as reactive
8:358 minutes, 35 secondsproactive and quickly reactive when people bring it to our attention of water discoloration. I made a presentation to council about the
8:438 minutes, 43 secondsprocess. Um uh we've swapped uh chlorine. We did a chlorine conversion. Uh we went back to
8:498 minutes, 49 secondsour other chlorine. The heat is not helping us. Um right now we're running at about an average of 98 um degrees our
8:578 minutes, 57 secondswater is. So um you can almost take a shower without turning your water heater on. It's it's that warm. And so the
9:059 minutes, 5 secondswarmer the water is the you know just the summer heat is really getting to us.
9:109 minutes, 10 secondsUm the chlorine levels are harder to keep up. That requires lots and lots of flushing. So, right now we're trying to
9:199 minutes, 19 secondsum balance keeping our towers full, keeping water coming into town, and flushing as much as possible. Uh you'll
9:269 minutes, 26 secondsnotice that we have flush valves open and hydrants open all over town.
9:309 minutes, 30 secondsThat's on purpose. We're keeping that water flowing. We don't want water, dead water in the lines sitting there.
9:369 minutes, 36 secondsUm and so, um our booster pumps are running 20 to 22 hours a day. they're not shutting off.
9:479 minutes, 47 secondsUm, 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
9:549 minutes, 54 secondsthat and hope for some cooler weather and and to be able to uh rebalance our um
10:0210 minutes, 2 secondsour water pressures and um keeping our tanks full and keep the chlorine levels up.
10:0810 minutes, 8 secondsBud 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
10:1610 minutes, 16 secondsmonth. Um just a quick uh reminder of the council workshops uh for our charter review. Uh my first council workshop is
10:2510 minutes, 25 secondsSeptember the 11th. Uh we've I've spoken with our attorney. He's he's coming.
10:3010 minutes, 30 secondsHe's going to be here in person. That way we can hopefully communicate better and see each other and talk over these
10:3710 minutes, 37 secondsover 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
10:4510 minutes, 45 secondslong 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.
10:5810 minutes, 58 secondsA couple um good news. the opportunity zone. Um, this came out in 2017 and uh
11:0411 minutes, 4 secondsTexas was not uh declared an opportunity zone. Um, the program uh did not activate until 2018.
11:1411 minutes, 14 secondsIn 2018, uh, Crockett did not apply for the opportunity zone designation. This is a really big economic development um
11:2211 minutes, 22 secondstool um that does not um tax our own citizens. It's a It's an IRS basically
11:3011 minutes, 30 secondsum exemption for people that if they if they're making large investments in areas that are designated as an
11:3811 minutes, 38 secondsopportunity zone, they are uh they get receive federal tax incentives through the IRS and do not pay uh capital gains
11:4511 minutes, 45 secondstax on those investments. So, it really helps funnel um outside dollars into areas with opportunity zones. Um, we did
11:5411 minutes, 54 secondsapply this year and we were uh one uh there was 605 uh designations or
12:0212 minutes, 2 secondsnominations by Governor Abbott and we were one of them. Um the sens one of the census tracks within Crockett um was
12:0912 minutes, 9 secondsdesignated um being the only one in Houston County. So we're really excited about um having a target kind of a
12:1712 minutes, 17 secondsbullseye on Crockett as a place for outside investment.
12:2212 minutes, 22 secondsuh 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
12:3012 minutes, 30 secondsprepared for concrete and they they are planning on pouring the concrete tomorrow.
12:3612 minutes, 36 secondsUh the fire department bay concrete project has been advertised for bid request uh with a bid opening and recommendations. We'll bring those back
12:4412 minutes, 44 secondsto council on September the 21st for that uh for our next council meeting.
12:5012 minutes, 50 secondsHomewood is complete. We only have some back filling behind the curbs. Um the home homewood street project is done.
12:5612 minutes, 56 secondsAnson Jones and Sunset have received two coats of chips seal and they will be overlaid with asphalt.
13:0213 minutes, 2 secondsUm the hot mix colay for Vest has been purchased and um we will put the hot mix down after Vest gets chip sealed. Darius
13:1113 minutes, 11 secondshas been under a delay due to us running into not hitting it but finding it before we hit it. a gas line, a major
13:1913 minutes, 19 secondsgas line that went across Darius um that was just a few inches underneath the pavement. So, we would have hit it. Wow.
13:2713 minutes, 27 secondsHad 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
13:3513 minutes, 35 secondsline and dropped it down. So, now we can proceed with Darius.
13:3913 minutes, 39 secondsUm and we'll be we'll be working on that starting uh on Monday. We'll be the cement is already uh being delivered.
13:4613 minutes, 46 secondsSo, we'll be mixing Darius and Brier um will be mixed with cement on Tuesday after the Darius project and contractors
13:5413 minutes, 54 secondsare going to begin replacing those cur curbs and gutters on the Hackberry and uh Charles next.
14:0314 minutes, 3 secondsUm two city events and I have the flyers in front of you. We have the 911
14:0914 minutes, 9 secondsum ceremony uh coming up this sat this uh Friday, September the 11th, starting at 8:45. We'll have guest speakers
14:1814 minutes, 18 secondsamongst city officials there. Um we have a brunch, a breakfast um being catered,
14:2614 minutes, 26 secondsbeing brought in. And so we're going to have a really nice uh ceremony which will be the 25th anniversary of 911.
14:3614 minutes, 36 secondsAnd then we have the proalis ribbon cutting uh next Tuesday, September the 15th at 11:30.
14:4314 minutes, 43 secondsSo um we'll have the CEO and all the principles really of the proalis a lot of them are planning on being in town.
14:5314 minutes, 53 secondsSo if any of council can make that, please let us know and um and show up.
14:5914 minutes, 59 secondswalk. There's going to be some food, some snacks, um some city, county, state officials, um state representatives,
15:0715 minutes, 7 secondscongressman's office, and everyone will there'll be some representation there from many of those offices. So, that's next Tuesday, right?
15:1415 minutes, 14 secondsNext Tuesday at 11:30. Yes, sir. So, we'd really like all of council to be there to represent the city of Crockett.
15:2315 minutes, 23 secondsAnd that's all I have.
Chapter 4: Council project Q&A
15:3415 minutes, 34 secondsI think I do have a question on the um
15:4015 minutes, 40 secondson the uh plans. You said um the on the what?
15:4415 minutes, 44 secondsOn the on number the waterline rehabilitation. Yes, ma'am.
15:4815 minutes, 48 secondsFor 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.
15:5715 minutes, 57 secondsOkay. 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.
16:0516 minutes, 5 secondsYes, sir.
16:0616 minutes, 6 secondsOkay. And the And you said something about the contra contractor contractors when you go to select for for which project?
16:1616 minutes, 16 secondsUh, for the same project.
16:1816 minutes, 18 secondsYes, ma'am. uh once those contractors council does. Okay. Yes, sir.
16:2216 minutes, 22 secondsOnce 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.
16:3116 minutes, 31 secondsOkay. Okay. So, okay. And then one more thing, um far as like the uh pipes
16:3916 minutes, 39 secondsall over the city, have we located uh the lead pipes all over the city that needs to be replaced? Yes, ma'am. Okay.
16:4716 minutes, 47 secondsYes, 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.
16:5816 minutes, 58 secondsOkay. So you have a list of those streets or locations where there Yes, ma'am.
17:0217 minutes, 2 secondsOkay. 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
17:1017 minutes, 10 secondsuh 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.
17:2017 minutes, 20 secondsUh 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
17:2917 minutes, 29 secondsthe 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.
17:3817 minutes, 38 secondsWe'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.
17:4717 minutes, 47 secondsSo, we've already replaced a lot of them ourselves.
17:4917 minutes, 49 secondsSo, would that not be the [snorts] first thing that we would consider replacing? Sure.
17:5417 minutes, 54 secondsOr as well, we have no lead grants and things like that that we receive in the city.
17:5917 minutes, 59 secondsYes, ma'am. That's why we're applying for the only really grant program for lead pipe replacement. Um,
18:0818 minutes, 8 secondsnone of our mains, none of our mains or water lines are lead pipe. Um, most of them are connections around service
18:1518 minutes, 15 secondslines. So, most of them are customer service lines or lines around the meter from the from the tap to the meter um
18:2518 minutes, 25 secondsfrom the saddle to the customer's lines up into the house.
18:2918 minutes, 29 secondsYeah. 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.
18:3718 minutes, 37 secondsCan we go back to city projects? Uhhuh.
18:3918 minutes, 39 secondsI don't see anything on here for Second Street.
18:4318 minutes, 43 secondsSecond Street is um wasn't in this year's, but we're doing it.
18:4718 minutes, 47 seconds[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
18:5418 minutes, 54 secondsmaintenance and operations budget. Um but it was money allotted for uh not yet. It would be in October.
19:0319 minutes, 3 secondsOctober's budget, the the listing that we had went over that was for effective October.
19:1319 minutes, 13 secondsI thought it said $7,000 was allotted for Second Street.
19:1719 minutes, 17 secondsYes, ma'am. Yes, sir. That was my estimated budget for it. Okay.
19:2019 minutes, 20 secondsAnd 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
19:2819 minutes, 28 secondsit'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
19:3719 minutes, 37 secondsare going to require. So, we can do that in between projects and get it done a lot sooner. Okay.
19:4619 minutes, 46 secondsWe went and cleaned the ditches and and uh try to get the water flowing better.
19:5119 minutes, 51 secondsUm 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.
20:0120 minutes, 1 secondAre there any other questions?
20:0420 minutes, 4 secondsOkay. If not, it brings us to item number three, business considering approving audience amending the codes of
Chapter 5: Ordinance amendment
20:1320 minutes, 13 secondsuh city of Crockett, Texas by the amendment of chapter 5 billing and billing regulation
20:1920 minutes, 19 secondsuh article nine known as the city spence condenses the title of the of article
20:2720 minutes, 27 secondsnine amend section section 5-526 applicable with and purpose to make the
20:3620 minutes, 36 secondsarticle applicable to all residential properties, including recently added rental zoning districts and detached
20:4420 minutes, 44 secondsresidential properties that are part of a permitted mixeduse commercial and residential property. Amend section
20:5220 minutes, 52 secondsC-529 application for permit section 5-531
20:5920 minutes, 59 secondssurvey stakes to no longer always require survey plat when the placement
21:0521 minutes, 5 secondsof survey stakes along the property lines by by a licensed surveyor is
21:1321 minutes, 13 secondssufficient to determine the property boundary lines amend section 5-532
21:2021 minutes, 20 secondsheight limitation in section 5-533 fence location to be less restricted for
21:2621 minutes, 26 secondsthe proportion of a side corner yard fence that is parallel to the side of a residential structure incorporating
21:3521 minutes, 35 secondsminor technical formatting and conforming changes and adds article 10
21:4221 minutes, 42 secondsconstruction related permits and fees to move existing section 5-600 fees from
21:5021 minutes, 50 secondsarticle nine to the new article 10 providing a servability clause and containing a repelling clause and providing an effective date.
22:0122 minutes, 1 secondMayor and council, I have this um ordinance amendment in front of y'all.
22:0522 minutes, 5 secondsUm I submitted the redline versions as well as the new ordinance. The two main
22:1222 minutes, 12 secondspoints that this has changed um is to help free up some of the red tape for
22:2022 minutes, 20 secondsthe process that um slows down people from investing in repairing fences. Uh
22:2822 minutes, 28 secondsone of the big ones is the cost for the survey plat or requiring a survey to be
22:3522 minutes, 35 secondsdone on the property. Uh a lot of times that's um financially an obstacle to
22:4222 minutes, 42 secondsgetting fence work done. Um and so we remove that. We do require at least uh staking. We need to know where those
22:5022 minutes, 50 secondsfence lines to ensure that you know it's not being built in city public right away or on your neighbor's property. Um
22:5722 minutes, 57 secondsbut we're not requiring the full uh survey and plat. the other one that we ran into several times and we've worked
23:0423 minutes, 4 secondswith each one of these um owners to still get the job done. Um but we realized that our our ordinance really
23:1323 minutes, 13 secondsdoesn't properly address address um houses with corner lots houses on properties with corner lots. Um, if you
23:2223 minutes, 22 secondssee right here under our red line version, um, [clears throat] we it no fence which is adjacent to a
23:3123 minutes, 31 secondspublic 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.
23:4223 minutes, 42 secondsHere's just a good example. This house here, are y'all able to?
23:4723 minutes, 47 secondsSo, 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
23:5523 minutes, 55 secondsyour 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
24:0324 minutes, 3 secondsvisibility like this one or like a 4 foot like a picket fence or something like that. Keep your dogs in and or keep
24:1124 minutes, 11 secondsa neighbor's dogs out or whatever. And then, but it still allows um a little of visibility.
24:1924 minutes, 19 secondsWhat 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
24:2724 minutes, 27 secondsdown this sideyard and see the entire backyard. Um the way our ordinance was drafted and written, it's it's
24:3624 minutes, 36 secondsdefinition by definition it said that you could not. And we realized that that does not that's not the right thing to do. Right.
24:4324 minutes, 43 secondsAnd most of these people when they requested it, they went through the board of adjustments.
24:4824 minutes, 48 secondsWe 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
24:5724 minutes, 57 secondsproved, you know, um greater than what the the letter of our ordinance required.
25:0525 minutes, 5 secondsUm if you let's see where how do you go like this
25:1125 minutes, 11 secondsone here uh this this property owner came to us a couple weeks ago uh she's on a corner lot there still on golad
25:1925 minutes, 19 secondslakeway well she wanted her backyard to be closed in way way our ordinance said you could not and so we went through the
25:2625 minutes, 26 secondsboard of adjustments process and we get provided her with the variance so she could do a clean pretty privacy fence
25:3425 minutes, 34 secondsbut 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
25:4125 minutes, 41 secondslittle 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
25:4925 minutes, 49 secondsis to in these situations on a corner lot to give you privacy um you can bring adjacent to a public
25:5625 minutes, 56 secondsstreet a privacy fence and it and it's not restricted to the 4oot rule or the uh visib like the uh
26:0326 minutes, 3 secondsyou 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.
26:1126 minutes, 11 secondsUm you know something like this fence here that is allowed by our ordinance.
26:1726 minutes, 17 secondsYeah, 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?
26:2326 minutes, 23 secondsUm, behind the house, not in front of the house, but from the front corner. Um, it's no higher than
26:3126 minutes, 31 seconds8t. 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.
26:4126 minutes, 41 secondsAnd that's basically on the side and at the rear.
26:4726 minutes, 47 secondsSo that's that's what um enlarge our ordinance amendments allows to help
26:5526 minutes, 55 secondsthe 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.
27:0527 minutes, 5 secondsBut it should people should have a little privacy when you're on the that corner like that. Yes, ma'am.
27:1227 minutes, 12 secondsAre 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.
27:2327 minutes, 23 secondsIf they loc if they if they locate their corner stakes or locate their corner rods and drive a a survey and stake in,
27:3127 minutes, 31 secondsthen the inspector can verify and sign off on it that it's properly placed.
27:3727 minutes, 37 secondsUm and that costs a lot less than a full survey.
27:4227 minutes, 42 secondsAny questions? Are we ready for this?
27:5027 minutes, 50 secondsAny question concerns?
27:5327 minutes, 53 secondsI make a motion that we approve an ordinance amending the code of ordinances u the [snorts] city of
27:5927 minutes, 59 secondsCrockett, Texas by the amendment of chapter 5 uh with the stipulations of business item three.
28:1228 minutes, 12 secondsThere's a motion on the floor. A second. A second. Any questions?
28:1928 minutes, 19 secondsReady to vote. All in favor? Oppo. I'm sorry. All All in favor?
28:2928 minutes, 29 secondsOppose. Motion cares.
28:3628 minutes, 36 secondsOkay. It brings us to item number five.
Chapter 6: Fire marshal policy update
28:4028 minutes, 40 secondsConsider and approve a resolution confirming review revision and adoption of the city of progative number four.
28:4828 minutes, 48 secondsOkay, I missed four. Oh, I covered it up. I'm sorry. I wrote on top of it.
28:5328 minutes, 53 secondsConsider and approve standards uh operate procedures and policies for the
28:5928 minutes, 59 secondsCrockett Fire Marsher. I extra Good evening, mayor, council members.
29:0529 minutes, 5 secondsI'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
29:1429 minutes, 14 secondsenforcement agency also and u this last couple years they had mandated some policies that we do have to have in
29:2329 minutes, 23 secondsplace that we did not. So u I [clears throat] sit here and wrote the policies and I did forward them to the
29:3229 minutes, 32 secondscity attorney and she reviewed them and sent them back. uh made a correction on I think one thing was what I had to
29:3829 minutes, 38 secondscorrect. Um but they were reviewed. So basically in a nutshell page two it says table of
29:4729 minutes, 47 secondscontents from 101 to 118 those items are the mandated uh policies we must have in
29:5429 minutes, 54 secondsplace. U and part of that requirement is also to bring it to council to u to
30:0230 minutes, 2 secondsapprove 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
30:1030 minutes, 10 secondsbeen watching the news, they are looking for a reason to shut down small agencies.
30:1530 minutes, 15 secondsIf 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
30:2530 minutes, 25 secondsy'all approve this enough, we'll be in good standing when we on our next inspection from TCO. And the SOGS that
30:3230 minutes, 32 secondssecond part that's pretty much there's a lot of my guys. There's another guy that's a peace officer, but there's
30:4030 minutes, 40 secondsthree 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
30:5030 minutes, 50 secondsstandard operating procedures they should follow if I'm not there to inspect or investigate.
30:5630 minutes, 56 secondsSo, that's why uh I brought this to y'all so we can be in compliance with Tiko under our police agency license.
31:0631 minutes, 6 secondsAnd if there's any questions, I'll be more than happy to answer them for you.
31:0931 minutes, 9 secondsU just just review it. I mean good uh thank you for um creating a u manual. Um
31:1931 minutes, 19 secondsbut I I was just kind of looking over I guess it's our first manual. Yes ma'am.
31:2331 minutes, 23 secondsOkay. Normally the the fire marshall got it authority under the city charter and that worked for years but uh now since
31:3131 minutes, 31 secondsTik 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]
31:4031 minutes, 40 secondsuh 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
31:4931 minutes, 49 secondsit 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
31:5731 minutes, 57 secondsown 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.
32:0832 minutes, 8 secondsOkay. Because I I did I went back and I looked at some other policies from other cities. I'm like not really, you know,
32:1732 minutes, 17 secondsit'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.
32:2632 minutes, 26 secondsRight. 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.
32:3532 minutes, 35 secondsSo 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
32:4432 minutes, 44 secondskind of give you some things that I was looking at and see what you think about it. Sounds good. Okay. Thank you.
32:5332 minutes, 53 secondsAny other comments, concerns?
33:0133 minutes, 1 secondMayor and council, I uh move that we can we approve the standard operating procedure and policies for the Crockett Fire Marshall.
33:0933 minutes, 9 secondsA second. Okay. It's been moved in section second.
33:1333 minutes, 13 secondsSecond. Uh any question ready for Okay. All in favor?
33:2433 minutes, 24 secondsMotion carries.
33:2933 minutes, 29 secondsmotion. Now, since I asked Tim, I can go to number five.
Chapter 7: Investment policy adoption
33:3633 minutes, 36 secondsUh number five, consider and approve a resolution confirming confirming review revision and adoption of the city of
33:4533 minutes, 45 secondspocket investment policy, investment strategies and collateral policy and designation of the city administrative
33:5333 minutes, 53 secondsand finance director/city treasur as investment officers.
33:5933 minutes, 59 secondsCouncil and we also have a copy of the former
34:1234 minutes, 12 secondsinvestment policy that was adopted in August 2000 and our proposed revisions to that policy.
34:2234 minutes, 22 secondsum basically um put some context into it. There are two state laws that set off guard rails for the city of profit
34:3034 minutes, 30 secondspublic funds because we're a municipality. We hold deposit public money. So the state requires that
34:3834 minutes, 38 secondswe apply these laws and requirements within these laws to the way we manage
34:4534 minutes, 45 secondsthose funds. So the two statutes are tax two statutes are Texas government code chap 2256
34:5334 minutes, 53 secondswhich is called the public fund investment act. It requires the city council to adopt and annually review investment policy and strategies. It
35:0235 minutes, 2 secondslimits city investments to instruments authorized by state law and the adopted policy and it sets officer training
35:0935 minutes, 9 secondsethics quarterly reporting and proven investment standards. And hand in hand with that is Texas government code chapter 2257
35:1835 minutes, 18 secondswhich is the public funds collateral act. It requires that uninsured public deposits be secured by eligible
35:2635 minutes, 26 secondscollateral and it sets standards for pledged securities custodial arrangements records and monitoring. It
35:3335 minutes, 33 secondsapplies to city demand and time deposits held legally held by legally authorized depository institutions.
35:4235 minutes, 42 secondsSo 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.
35:5235 minutes, 52 secondsUm 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
36:0136 minutes, 1 secondthat we have was adopted in 2000. So it's been 26 years since it's been
36:0836 minutes, 8 secondsmodified or revised. And in that There's been some revisions to both laws and
36:1536 minutes, 15 secondsalso there are some recommendations from the government treasurers um officers of Texas. And the reason
36:2536 minutes, 25 secondsthat this came up is because I was required to take a 10hour pl investment act training when I was appointed as
36:3336 minutes, 33 secondsfinance 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.
36:4136 minutes, 41 secondsSo while I was revising it, I decided to make it more of a working document that [name] and I as the investment officers
36:4936 minutes, 49 secondscould refer to and use um as on a daily basis. So why are you needing to act
36:5736 minutes, 57 secondsnow? So that we're complying with the law, we're reflecting the public funds investment act amendments, the Texas
37:0537 minutes, 5 secondsPublic Funds collateral act, and current reporting expectations.
37:1137 minutes, 11 secondscontrols and oversight. We're strengthening our collateralization through our collateral policy that's
37:1737 minutes, 17 secondsincluded in it. Um, which uh sets guidelines for safekeeping, ethics, internal controls, training, monitoring, and audit readiness.
37:2937 minutes, 29 secondsAlso, practical governance governance.
37:3137 minutes, 31 secondsIt gives the council and investment authors a clear working document of statuto references and fund specific strategies. So, includes all funds that
37:4037 minutes, 40 secondsthe city has, the general fund, the water and sewer maintenance fund, debt service fund, all the funds that we
37:4937 minutes, 49 secondsmanage that are in our annual comprehensive financial report are also included in this investment policy. Now,
37:5737 minutes, 57 secondsum and so basically we're proposing that you um adopt a new policy. Um it has
38:0438 minutes, 4 secondsbasically guard rails which Keep in mind the public space investment act collateral act references. It has
38:1338 minutes, 13 secondscollateral and safekeeping standards. It adopts approved person standard of care.
38:1938 minutes, 19 secondsIt has strategies by fund type detail authorized investments and [clears throat] for any investment
38:2638 minutes, 26 secondstransactions that we make we would have to get three quotes and also it has oversight. It um stipulates that we have
38:3638 minutes, 36 secondsto maintain and look over what the market value is of of any investments that we make and
38:4338 minutes, 43 secondscredit monitoring joint investment officer review because within the policy it designates [name]
38:5138 minutes, 51 secondscity administrator and I as the investment officers it has internal controls against misuse and also any
38:5938 minutes, 59 secondssignificant modifications to the in to the city's investment port portfolio
39:0439 minutes, 4 seconds[clears throat]
39:0539 minutes, 5 secondsor 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
39:1439 minutes, 14 secondsquarterly investment report. So um basically uh March, June, September,
39:2339 minutes, 23 secondsDecember the last after those um quarters end will give you a quarterly investment report that shows you all
39:3139 minutes, 31 secondsthat information about the city's investment and also it sets guidelines
39:3639 minutes, 36 secondsfor the required compliance and also the training, the ethics and provider certifications that are required.
39:4639 minutes, 46 secondsSo what we're asking you to do today is that the office [clears throat] policy and the resolution and also
39:5639 minutes, 56 secondsalso within that resolution city administrator
40:0240 minutes, 2 secondsfinance director as the investment offic
40:1140 minutes, 11 secondsuh if you uh asking about additional oversight and the information far as dealing with uh all of our finances. I
40:1940 minutes, 19 secondssaw that you said uh something about uh the internal control uh against misuse and things such as that. Well, if we
40:2740 minutes, 27 secondsdon't know if you're misusing or we don't have any documents that you're providing us to see those particular um
40:3540 minutes, 35 secondsaccounts and those the activity that's going on in those account, we can't account for misuse. Um and we're as I
40:4440 minutes, 44 secondssaid before, we're the fiduciary responsible for um misuse of items. Correct. Am I correct about it?
40:5240 minutes, 52 secondsWe all are. Okay.
40:5340 minutes, 53 secondsBut 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
41:0341 minutes, 3 secondsthe investment officer and you're the investment officer, who's your oversight?
41:0841 minutes, 8 secondsWe're the fiduciaries. You're the oversight. Okay. So that's what I'm saying.
41:1141 minutes, 11 secondsWouldn'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.
41:2141 minutes, 21 secondsWell, but we don't have but it's 04 there. The council quarterly reporting compliance audits.
41:2741 minutes, 27 secondsThat's what we're implementing is quarterly reporting to improve on that over.
41:3341 minutes, 33 secondsOkay. 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.
41:4241 minutes, 42 secondsIt's required under the public funds investment act which is why we're updating the policy so that we're being
41:4941 minutes, 49 secondscomply the investments. So any investments that
41:5741 minutes, 57 secondswe have of funds um it won't necessarily be the operating funds because the operating funds are the things that we
42:0342 minutes, 3 secondsuse to operate. Um but it will be any any funds that are invested that are not operating fund.
42:1142 minutes, 11 secondsSo 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
42:2042 minutes, 20 secondsportfolio 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
42:2842 minutes, 28 secondsas far as like the operating fund I mean you get a report I believe
42:3642 minutes, 36 secondsof of the expenditures monthly but you want us to include like what the balance of those operating funds are at the end
42:4442 minutes, 44 secondsof each quarter, we can definitely include those.
42:4842 minutes, 48 secondsOkay. 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
42:5842 minutes, 58 secondsthose 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
43:0643 minutes, 6 secondscreate any documents to give us or we're not allowed to get the Are y'all not allowing us to get the statements?
43:1243 minutes, 12 secondsReport that we create it and and it's outlined in this new investment policy, what the report will entail. It will
43:2143 minutes, 21 secondsshow like the beginning value, the beginning market value at the beginning, how basically how much interest it's
43:2843 minutes, 28 secondsearning, what percentage interest rate it's earning, and what the ending So you'll be getting that quarterly and
43:3743 minutes, 37 secondsthen also at the end of the year when the external auditors come to do their audit, they're also required to do an
43:4543 minutes, 45 secondsaudit to make sure that we're compliant not only with our America policy but also with the collateral that's required for our investment.
43:5643 minutes, 56 secondsSo that happens annually, right?
44:0044 minutesYes. We I mean since I've been on the council it's annually.
44:0544 minutes, 5 secondsWe'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
44:1444 minutes, 14 secondsit 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
44:2044 minutes, 20 secondsum to improve on reporting. So in so if uh council member wants information on what's been going on prior to understand
44:2944 minutes, 29 secondswhat's going on now because this this is what 20 it was 2000 2000 when it was implemented was adopted in 2000.
44:3844 minutes, 38 secondsYes 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.
44:4944 minutes, 49 secondsThis shows us it shows a snapshot of all of our investments. Okay.
44:5444 minutes, 54 secondsYes. 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.
45:1145 minutes, 11 seconds[clears throat]
45:1645 minutes, 16 secondsWell, mayor and council, I I um I move that we approve a resolution confirming re revision and adoption of the city of
45:2545 minutes, 25 secondsCrockett investment policies, investment strategies and collateral policy and designation of the city administrator
45:3145 minutes, 31 secondsand finance officer, city treasurer as investment officers. I second that. Okay. It's been moved this afternoon.
45:4045 minutes, 40 secondsYes, 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
45:4845 minutes, 48 secondsthat 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
45:5645 minutes, 56 secondsbetter how the city has been operating far as finance or any other uh in any other avenue. And so, uh, just reviewing
46:0446 minutes, 4 secondsthis, uh, and looking over, uh, the memorandum and the proposed,
46:1246 minutes, 12 secondsum, investment policy, um, and just looking back over the city's history. Um, I kind of, um, I'm
46:2146 minutes, 21 secondsgoing to make my statement and we can go from there. But for the record, mayor and f fellow city council members and
46:3046 minutes, 30 secondsconstituents, after examining the financial memorandum, I have come to the conclusion that I am of the opinion of
46:3846 minutes, 38 secondsthat of the former city mayor JB Solless. After reviewing an article
46:4546 minutes, 45 secondsdated February 20th, 1964 in the Houston County Courier, I am in total agreement
46:5246 minutes, 52 secondswith his statement. city government will be be a strong mayor council type
46:5946 minutes, 59 secondsexactly as we have now. Solace said he wanted to uh emphasize that point since he felt
47:0947 minutes, 9 secondsthat the charter proposed in 1959 was defeated because of the fears of citizens that the city manager
47:1847 minutes, 18 secondsuh it provided would be a dictator. Most of the writing in this memorandum
47:2447 minutes, 24 secondslanguage or wording is to have a city manager's dict dictatorship. I cannot go
47:3247 minutes, 32 secondsuh cannot in good conscience go in uh vote for this with a sound mind and go along with anything other than the
47:4147 minutes, 41 secondscharter that was provided by a vote of 658 people to 438 voters in April of
47:4947 minutes, 49 seconds1964. So my uh vote on this is a strong no because of the fact that it has it's
47:5647 minutes, 56 secondsto me it's a conflict of interest that um he governs himself and a lot of the information that's coming to us is
48:0548 minutes, 5 secondsalready been decided before it gets to council. That's in my opinion. Okay.
48:1148 minutes, 11 secondsOkay. At this point, does anyone have any comments? Are we ready for the vote? All in favor?
48:1848 minutes, 18 secondsOpposed? Motion carries. Okay, that moves us.
48:2448 minutes, 24 secondsThank Thank you. We look forward to having the details. Thank you.
48:3248 minutes, 32 secondsOkay, brings us to um item number five, six.
48:3848 minutes, 38 secondsSix. I'm going get these numbers straight today. Okay, back at work learning new tricks. Okay. Item number six, discuss potential options for
Chapter 8: Turf installation discussion
48:4748 minutes, 47 secondsinstalling turf on merchant league fields.
48:5348 minutes, 53 secondsCouncil, mayor, mayor and council, I wanted to
49:0049 minutesbring this um I wanted to bring this agenda item to attention um just as a as
49:0949 minutes, 9 secondssort of like a plan B or resource for what we have going on in our parks and recreations. Um if we can get more
49:1749 minutes, 17 secondsdetailed information on costs and um uh amenities for for for this and just have
49:2549 minutes, 25 secondsit as a basic discussion, you know, with um with more input from from some of the
49:3349 minutes, 33 secondsuh merchant league, what do you want to call officials, I guess you would say. Um and have more
49:4149 minutes, 41 secondsinput from them to just have a um just have something on something in the
49:4749 minutes, 47 secondsregards of uh more options and and uh that's what I that's why I wanted to bring this up as an agenda
49:5549 minutes, 55 secondsitem. You know, what what would be um potential costs? Um what were what would
50:0250 minutes, 2 secondsthe resources provide, what we could provide, um what they could provide and what could be provided for us. So, um I
50:1150 minutes, 11 secondsjust look forward to gaining more information about this. Okay. So, can we discuss now?
50:1750 minutes, 17 secondsYeah, it's of course my idea about it is um of course I've had grandchildren that's
50:2450 minutes, 24 secondsplayed you know the soccer the baseball softball
50:3150 minutes, 31 seconds[clears throat]
50:3150 minutes, 31 secondsmyself. Yeah, I know. I know you have.
50:3350 minutes, 33 secondsUh 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
50:4250 minutes, 42 secondsum any field that had turf, but I do remember the ones who had poor
50:5050 minutes, 50 secondsseating, uh very poor restrooms, uh and and concession stands.
51:0151 minutes, 1 secondI think that those would be things and I've never heard really anybody at any place talk about
51:1051 minutes, 10 secondsneeding turf for those fields. I think the the the greater need would be uh uh you know seating you know nice
51:1951 minutes, 19 secondsbleachers, lighting, uh concession stands, restrooms,
51:2851 minutes, 28 secondsuh these other places that have these tournaments, they bring in a lot of revenue. That is true.
51:3351 minutes, 33 secondsA lot of revenue. And uh I think th I think those would be things that uh
51:4051 minutes, 40 secondswould to me just my personal opinion that would come first before we turfed a field and left all of the
51:4851 minutes, 48 secondsother things undone undone.
51:5551 minutes, 55 secondsMy general consensus too is that it is in need of improvement the the the field the facilities and all. I agree.
52:0452 minutes, 4 secondsI'd like to make a statement on the uh and like I said as my myself as well uh children play soccer, grandchildren play
52:1452 minutes, 14 secondsbaseball, things such as that. Um and and I'm agree with there's there are other things that uh need to be
52:2252 minutes, 22 secondsattentive but other uh than the the fields and the restrooms at the um at
52:2952 minutes, 29 secondsthe um softball fields and things such as that and bringing in revenue. Um my second option basically would have been
52:3852 minutes, 38 secondsum the um rodeo arena because of the fact that it does bring in um revenue to
52:4752 minutes, 47 secondsso um but yeah I understand I understand we're talking little league but yeah we have livestock um shows that are put on
52:5552 minutes, 55 secondsover 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
53:0253 minutes, 2 secondsagenda item was. But anyway, that just putting it out there. So, I mean, since we're just okay conversating.
53:1053 minutes, 10 secondsYeah, the agenda item was uh the turf for the merchant le fields. Any other comments?
53:1853 minutes, 18 secondsI just feel like the fields will be safer without the turf. Okay.
53:2653 minutes, 26 secondsWhy?
53:2753 minutes, 27 secondsBecause grass, you know, you're not going to get your feet caught in the grass. But on the turf, we talking about
53:3353 minutes, 33 secondskids. Turf there's there's different types um different types different grades. Um
53:4253 minutes, 42 secondsit's an it other than natural grass and the the maintenance required to keep
53:4853 minutes, 48 secondsthat up. You uh you have artificial, astro, different types of different types of
53:5553 minutes, 55 secondsturf that uh would more or less give improvement to the athletes abilities to
54:0254 minutes, 2 secondsperform their to perform their athleticisms. Okay.
54:1054 minutes, 10 secondsAny other comments?
54:1454 minutes, 14 secondsOkay. If nothing else, um well, council, I guess if um We were requested to put this on the
54:2254 minutes, 22 secondsagenda to to discuss and and kind of get council's direction if y'all wanted to go any further. If
54:3054 minutes, 30 secondsy'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
54:3854 minutes, 38 secondswanting us to review needs, come up with a a list of priorities of needs, um
54:4754 minutes, 47 secondsfunding opportunities. Um, if if council wants me to go any further on this, then this would be a good time to say
54:5654 minutes, 56 secondsI would like what direction that y'all would like us to go. And and um and not to cut you off anymore, but
55:0355 minutes, 3 secondsum we also have a parks and reccks um advisory board that we can utilize a lot as well.
55:0955 minutes, 9 secondsThat'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
55:1655 minutes, 16 secondsand wrecks board uh with the um with the um administration or the heads of the merchant league feels this to uh assess needs.
55:2655 minutes, 26 secondsYes.
55:3055 minutes, 30 secondsAnd 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.
55:4055 minutes, 40 secondsYeah. Okay. Okay.
55:4355 minutes, 43 secondsOkay. So, um I get so as a recommendation even though it's still in the discussion phase is that for the discussion to cons
55:5155 minutes, 51 secondscontinue based on a recommendation being received from them.
55:5755 minutes, 57 secondsI could bring back some reporting from meeting after meeting with our different league boards.
56:0756 minutes, 7 secondsOkay.
56:0856 minutes, 8 secondsSo, would you bring that directly back to council or would you talk to the the board that we've already created?
56:1656 minutes, 16 secondsThat's who I'll be talking about.
56:1856 minutes, 18 secondsThey would be the one that I just want to make sure that they're in.
56:2256 minutes, 22 secondsOkay. 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
56:3156 minutes, 31 secondsdiscussion to continue discussion by centering around the board and looping in the boards advisory committee with the advisory.
56:4056 minutes, 40 secondsOkay. Okay.
56:4256 minutes, 42 secondsSo is that a move to like a move to motion since it's just because it's just a discussion?
56:5056 minutes, 50 secondsYeah, we can just follow through with but I will be bringing it back.
56:5356 minutes, 53 secondsOkay, to council be referred to based on y'all's direction. Okay, so that brings us to item number.
Chapter 9: Data center regulations
57:0157 minutes, 1 secondSomebody go correct me this time. Seven.
57:0357 minutes, 3 seconds[laughter]
57:0457 minutes, 4 secondsI missed every one of them tonight. Just want to be sure. Discuss data uh data center uh regulations within the city of Crockett.
57:1557 minutes, 15 secondsMayor and council, I'll I'll give a quick update. um of where basically if a data center if a group came knocking on
57:2557 minutes, 25 secondsour door today um or tomorrow, what would the steps and processes be to give y'all the framework
57:3257 minutes, 32 secondsand 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
57:4157 minutes, 41 secondsdouble-sided printout um where it says discussion on current situation and zoning processes and do data centers. Um
57:5057 minutes, 50 secondsthis is a rapidly moving target and if I became extremely
57:5757 minutes, 57 secondsum informed on data centers and that technology in a week I would be uh obsolete you know the information would
58:0558 minutes, 5 secondsbe obsolete because it's it's rapidly moving and progressing.
58:1058 minutes, 10 secondsUm currently our biggest safeguard is the state has has ordered PUC public utilities commission in UROT um to
58:1958 minutes, 19 secondsreview the demand on the electrical grid and on water supply and have are loading
58:2558 minutes, 25 secondsthe requirements for any of their demand on them and not on the community that they they move into.
58:3358 minutes, 33 secondsum as well as he has prioritized and requested that this legislative session make that a priority for developing uh
58:4158 minutes, 41 secondslegislation regarding data centers. Our current zoning ordinance does not define
58:4858 minutes, 48 secondsor provide for data centers as a land use.
58:5258 minutes, 52 secondsSo, section 103 recognizes that new types of land use will develop that our
58:5958 minutes, 59 secondsordinances do not anticipate and provides for zoning amendments um to be used to add a new use.
59:0959 minutes, 9 secondsAnd that um process is established in section 605.
59:1359 minutes, 13 secondsIt specifically says if there is if there's a blank if it does not specify data centers um that blank box says land
59:2259 minutes, 22 secondsuse 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.
59:3459 minutes, 34 secondsSo that's our current that's our current status. Um, so a data center couldn't purchase land or owners of a data center
59:4259 minutes, 42 secondscould not purchase up land and then surprise us tomorrow with the processes behind that because our current zoning does it expressly expressly denies it.
59:5259 minutes, 52 secondsOh, 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,
1:00:011 hour, 1 secondwe'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
1:00:091 hour, 9 secondsdefine it as best as allowable currently and to say just like Athens recently did,
1:00:161 hour, 16 secondsum, no, this is the definition of data centers and we do not allow them.
1:00:221 hour, 22 secondsCurrently, they're not allowed until council addresses it. And council can currently address it through specific
1:00:281 hour, 28 secondsuse um permits. You can require them to show what is what you know the water demand,
1:00:361 hour, 36 secondsthe 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.
1:00:471 hour, 47 secondsWell, 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.
1:00:571 hour, 57 secondsSo, so if council wanted to be proactive and say we're not 100% against them, but they need to be
1:01:041 hour, 1 minute, 4 secondsgood 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
1:01:131 hour, 1 minute, 13 secondsour 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
1:01:231 hour, 1 minute, 23 secondsmotion 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
1:01:311 hour, 1 minute, 31 secondspage of that deal, it says where we take it to PNZ, planning and zoning. They develop a recommendation.
1:01:381 hour, 1 minute, 38 secondsLet them do some research into data centers, what other cities currently allow, do not allow, definitions, requirements.
1:01:461 hour, 1 minute, 46 secondsLet 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.
1:01:551 hour, 1 minute, 55 secondswill present some proposed zoning amendments into a report, have that zone, have the hearings, and then bring
1:02:021 hour, 2 minutes, 2 secondsthe report to council for council to also have public hearings and further define um that we would highly recommend
1:02:111 hour, 2 minutes, 11 secondsthat SUP I think if we did say if we did not expressly deny them, we could say that it's by a specific use
1:02:201 hour, 2 minutes, 20 secondspermit, data centers, this definition, things of that nature. What is your electricity demand? What is your water demand?
1:02:291 hour, 2 minutes, 29 secondsAnd let them do it through a specific use permit process where council has to review each one in in per um separately.
1:02:381 hour, 2 minutes, 38 secondsYou don't just say no for all times data centers. You can say yes to this one, no to this one.
1:02:441 hour, 2 minutes, 44 secondsUm based on the specific use permit. Yes.
1:02:481 hour, 2 minutes, 48 secondsUm currently I do not feel like um the city of Proton is a target for data centers.
1:02:541 hour, 2 minutes, 54 secondsum data centers are high consumers of electricity. Um our latest development with GenX in our industrial park
1:03:011 hour, 3 minutes, 1 secondrequired a two-year buildout for Encore just to provide 3 megawatts of electricity.
1:03:071 hour, 3 minutes, 7 secondsData centers, the small data centers that I've just looking up, the smallest of the ones that I found are 10 megawws
1:03:141 hour, 3 minutes, 14 secondsand greater. So they're much much more consumers of electricity than even our biggest consumer in town. So we
1:03:231 hour, 3 minutes, 23 secondscurrently do not have the capacity. Most of the time they find available land that's close to a big transformer
1:03:301 hour, 3 minutes, 30 secondssubstation that has a lot of readily available electricity right there within, you know, close proximity to a piece of
1:03:381 hour, 3 minutes, 38 secondsland 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
1:03:451 hour, 3 minutes, 45 secondsof 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
1:03:531 hour, 3 minutes, 53 secondsthat we could suffice that would bring in lots of, you know, revenue to our city. Y'all let me
1:03:591 hour, 3 minutes, 59 secondsknow. Um, I did provide what type of an action, you know, and we could put this on the on our next agenda if council
1:04:071 hour, 4 minutes, 7 secondswishes me to. If not, know that our current zoning ordinances does not allow for data centers and it
1:04:141 hour, 4 minutes, 14 secondswill if one comes, it would trigger a zoning amendment process, but they would have to apply for a special use permit, right?
1:04:231 hour, 4 minutes, 23 secondsAfter the zoning amendment. Yeah.
1:04:251 hour, 4 minutes, 25 secondsYes, sir. So, it'll be a two-step process for which council would have to approve both steps. Yes, sir.
1:04:321 hour, 4 minutes, 32 secondsAnd then it would still have to be public. But I but I think just like an absolute no to everything, we could we
1:04:391 hour, 4 minutes, 39 secondscould limit some resources that we could we could uh get our hands on. I mean, if we if we
1:04:471 hour, 4 minutes, 47 secondsjust said an absolute no to everything, I think we need to look at them.
1:04:521 hour, 4 minutes, 52 secondsSome 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.
1:05:021 hour, 5 minutes, 2 secondsThose are for council to make those, you know, determination.
1:05:061 hour, 5 minutes, 6 secondsWell, doing my just just doing my research, they uh yes, they are investing, but it's also causing havoc
1:05:131 hour, 5 minutes, 13 secondson the u environment for the um citizens, taxpayers. I mean, it just it
1:05:211 hour, 5 minutes, 21 secondsit's been the water, um the electricity, [clears throat] things such as that. So, I I'm
1:05:281 hour, 5 minutes, 28 secondsnot 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.
1:05:391 hour, 5 minutes, 39 secondsThat's what we're currently already on. We we are a current no.
1:05:421 hour, 5 minutes, 42 secondsBut I I don't think we I don't think we should I think we should look at them.
1:05:461 hour, 5 minutes, 46 secondsYeah. Like you said, you think we should look at them? Yeah.
1:05:481 hour, 5 minutes, 48 secondsJust look at them individually because there could be some that's you know that that's not So under Sorry, I misunderstood.
1:05:551 hour, 5 minutes, 55 secondsSo under no circumstances, whatever that would be, you would say no. No to a data center. Is that right, Mr. [name]? That's correct.
1:06:021 hour, 6 minutes, 2 secondsThat'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.
1:06:101 hour, 6 minutes, 10 secondsWell, we'll probably get to see before one tries to come here. Yeah.
1:06:141 hour, 6 minutes, 14 secondsIt'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?
1:06:221 hour, 6 minutes, 22 secondsYeah.
1:06:231 hour, 6 minutes, 23 secondsUm 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
1:06:311 hour, 6 minutes, 31 secondsit 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
1:06:391 hour, 6 minutes, 39 secondsI'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
1:06:471 hour, 6 minutes, 47 secondsand 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.
1:06:561 hour, 6 minutes, 56 secondsI think so.
1:06:561 hour, 6 minutes, 56 secondsUm 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
1:07:051 hour, 7 minutes, 5 secondscan'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
1:07:131 hour, 7 minutes, 13 secondssmaller 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.
1:07:231 hour, 7 minutes, 23 secondsUh most houses probably use 40 to 50 amps on on on average. They literally So
1:07:301 hour, 7 minutes, 30 secondsthere's small data modules. So those are all considered under the data center. So that's a w
1:07:401 hour, 7 minutes, 40 secondsit'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.
1:07:481 hour, 7 minutes, 48 secondsWe're not at risk to waking up to a data center in our backyard.
1:07:531 hour, 7 minutes, 53 secondsWell, if you adjust your mental capacities to social media, you're in trouble anyway.
1:08:001 hour, 8 minutesYeah. 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
1:08:071 hour, 8 minutes, 7 secondsno, 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
1:08:161 hour, 8 minutes, 16 secondsone 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.
1:08:271 hour, 8 minutes, 27 secondsMadame 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.
1:08:321 hour, 8 minutes, 32 secondsI 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.
1:08:391 hour, 8 minutes, 39 secondsAnd 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
1:08:461 hour, 8 minutes, 46 secondsuh I can information, but I I at the time I wasn't that interested in it.
1:08:511 hour, 8 minutes, 51 secondswhen when well do they have did they have an increase in their property taxes and situations like that? What about she
1:09:001 hour, 9 minuteswouldn'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
1:09:071 hour, 9 minutes, 7 secondswell 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
1:09:141 hour, 9 minutes, 14 secondslike $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
1:09:221 hour, 9 minutes, 22 secondsin 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
1:09:311 hour, 9 minutes, 31 secondsthat. 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
1:09:391 hour, 9 minutes, 39 secondsloop uh systems, you have to add chemicals in those closed loop systems and that those uh um some of those chemicals.
1:09:471 hour, 9 minutes, 47 secondsWell, 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
1:09:561 hour, 9 minutes, 56 secondssystem for years out here. be our hospital getting in.
1:10:001 hour, 10 minutesI 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
1:10:081 hour, 10 minutes, 8 secondslike and just bring us some to make a a more informed decision. At least we could hear more and at least we have a
1:10:161 hour, 10 minutes, 16 secondspolicy that we can say no and still be comfortable with you, but we have a leeway if something else dysfunctional.
1:10:241 hour, 10 minutes, 24 secondsWell, in that then I'll make the motion.
1:10:271 hour, 10 minutes, 27 secondsa 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
1:10:341 hour, 10 minutes, 34 secondsdevelopment and operational standards for considerations as a zoning text amendment pursuant to section 605 of the city of Crockett zoning ordinance. And I
1:10:421 hour, 10 minutes, 42 secondsI'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?
1:10:491 hour, 10 minutes, 49 secondsUh 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,
1:10:571 hour, 10 minutes, 57 secondslike 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
1:11:051 hour, 11 minutes, 5 secondsso we can be at least make a good informed decision.
1:11:081 hour, 11 minutes, 8 secondsOkay. So the motion I plan on I second his motion.
1:11:121 hour, 11 minutes, 12 secondsIt's in Okay. It's been moved and second. You're ready for the vote? All in favor?
1:11:191 hour, 11 minutes, 19 secondsOpposed? Motion carries.
1:11:231 hour, 11 minutes, 23 secondsOkay, let me see. Did I get I get all the numbers?
1:11:281 hour, 11 minutes, 28 secondsAll right, I think I got all the numbers.
1:11:341 hour, 11 minutes, 34 secondsA new business. Um, we have any new business consideration for future items?
1:11:421 hour, 11 minutes, 42 secondsNo. If not, moves us to the next item. Adjournment. Motion to adjourn.
1:11:481 hour, 11 minutes, 48 secondsMotion to adjurnn. circuit. Okay. All right.
1:12:001 hour, 12 minutesI got I got fish.
1:12:121 hour, 12 minutes, 12 secondsNo, not ready. I'm sure it's still warm with the sun shining

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