Council meeting 2025-08-18
Agenda · Packet · Minutes · YouTube · 52:05 long
0:00Yes, ma'am.
0:00>> So, I got I got some but I've been
0:04disabled
0:06since then, but I didn't like that
0:08affect.
0:14>> Well, you know, I couldn't see.
0:17>> I paid $300 some for my glasses and now
0:21I didn't keep
0:23>> and it took so long I had to go back
0:25four time cuz I had to work lasic. I got
0:27a distant animal close up my eye. And
0:31once you start going to reading, you can
0:33see
0:35once you go to reading class, they have
0:39I know
0:40>> I do just I tell you all of my life.
0:44>> I said, you know, give me the kind that
0:46they have the
0:48I said, I do about 125 and 15 between
0:52that. And he was then he looked at me
0:54straight. I said, I'm sorry. left it
0:56left me it left me in a resounding
0:58state.
0:58>> I know you're a profession but I tell
1:00you what these words get as well and not
1:02lose not paying that kind of money. I
1:04know that
1:07>> okay
1:10>> once again we're open our session for
1:13the city council meeting. Uh we will
1:18open it up as usual with a um invocation
1:21and a pledge.
1:28Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we come to
1:31you again this afternoon thanking you
1:32for the opportunity to be here tonight,
1:35Lord, as we uh begin discussing the
1:38business of our our city. We we pray
1:41over our city and all of our citizens,
1:44Lord, and help us here uh city council
1:47as our mayor and administrator. And
1:50Lord, may you just bless us with wisdom
1:52to pertaining to all of your uh the
1:55business of the city. And may you be
1:57glorified in all things that and
1:58decisions that we make in Christ Jesus
2:01name we pray. Amen.
2:02>> Amen.
2:04>> I aliance to the flag of the United
2:08States of America and to the republic
2:11for which it stands. One nation under
2:14God, indivisible, with liberty and
2:17justice for all.
2:26Did you want to speak again?
2:29>> Oh, that was just for that.
2:31>> Okay. Okay. Okay. At this time, um once
2:35again, we thank you all for joining us.
2:36Uh recognizing all our visitors. We
2:39don't have any comments uh for for this
2:42session from the audience. anybody who
2:45has a brief comment that they'd like to
2:46make.
2:49Uh, one thing I will say that I'm so
2:51proud of the number of activities that
2:53we have going on in the city of Crockett
2:55that we've had a lot of exciting events
2:59and uh we just we're glad of the support
3:02and we're glad that those things are
3:03taking place. Uh we have um our youth
3:07are doing well. Our community citizens,
3:10our streets are looking good, but some
3:12of them still got big holes in them, but
3:14they I mean they working on them
3:16working.
3:17>> No, but they're looking 100% better. And
3:20as I like always like to remind, if you
3:22have a concern in your area, that's
3:25where you need to talk to your first
3:27line of defense, which is your council
3:29person. So feel free to call them and
3:32discuss any issues that you have in your
3:34designated areas and they'll be glad to
3:37work through with you. And so with that
3:40being said, we're going to our agenda.
3:42Item number one, approval of minutes uh
3:45regular session August 4, 2025.
3:57>> I make a motion we approve the minutes.
3:59>> Okay. It's been we have a motion for
4:01second motion.
4:02>> It's been second.
4:03>> All in favor?
4:07No opposed. Okay. Uh uh item number two.
4:12Our business business considering
4:14approved solid waste franchise agreement
4:17beginning November the 1st, 2025 through
4:19October 31st, 2030 with Live Oak
4:24Environmental LLC, Pineywood Sanitation.
4:28council, y'all discussed the contract
4:32before. We had a few changes that we had
4:35put in there at y'all's request and
4:37Denny and JD with Live Oak are here if
4:40you have any further questions, but it
4:42was basically the changes y'all had
4:44requested and you have a copy of the
4:46contract in front of you, but they are
4:49here if you have any questions.
4:53>> I didn't have one. Um the uh hours are
4:56the hours actually working out for you
4:58guys uh far as the
5:00>> about what time start?
5:01>> Yes, sir.
5:02>> Yes, ma'am.
5:02>> It is working out. Yes, ma'am.
5:04>> Okay. And y'all are getting completed
5:06with everything y'all need done by the
5:08time y'all supposed to be back at the
5:10>> Yes, ma'am.
5:11>> place where you
5:12>> Yeah. We don't have any issues with our
5:14service here.
5:15>> Okay. Okay. I just want to make sure
5:16y'all were good with
5:18>> Yeah, we're good at that.
5:19>> Yeah.
5:20>> And we're fully staffed. Actually, we're
5:22a couple headcaps over during the summer
5:25time.
5:26>> Okay. Now, let me ask you another
5:27question real quick. What about like
5:29during the summer out the hours or
5:32whatever? Are y'all what what hours are
5:34y'all done through the just say when
5:36y'all were before the hours that we are
5:39talking about now,
5:40>> right?
5:41>> Uh what were your actual hours then?
5:44>> 7:00, right?
5:45>> Six. Six.
5:46>> Six. That was
5:47>> dur summer time or all the time?
5:49>> Six. Uh we were starting actually you
5:52talking about before we
5:53>> before we come to this come before now
5:55this agreement that we're talking about
5:57>> at one time we were starting like at
5:59four guys out of eight but now we
6:02changed to six.
6:06Yeah, that that was one of my concerns
6:07because I know that, you know, uh
6:09starting late and as hot as it is, um
6:14hot as hot as it get the uh
6:16>> most of all of our uh contracts, our
6:20list, we start on any of them 6:00 in
6:23the morning.
6:23>> Mhm.
6:24>> Because any anytime before that
6:26withsters and stuff, it just
6:28>> they're asking for some issues with
6:30citizens.
6:31>> So, we're
6:35the commercial route and they're
6:37different.
6:39>> Okay.
6:40>> Okay.
6:41>> Just because they parking lots and
6:43>> Yes, sir. I was just I was I mean I
6:46understand I was kind of concerned about
6:48you guys working in the in the the heat.
6:52Uh if y'all could I mean if y'all were
6:54able to
6:54>> Good thing we've been blessed with a
6:56pretty light summer so far. So,
6:58>> okay.
6:58>> That helps out too. But
6:59>> okay,
6:59>> we've got most of our people prepared.
7:02>> Okay.
7:03Most everybody that's in Crockett is
7:06basically veterans. So
7:08>> sometimes not really an issue for them.
7:11>> Okay.
7:11>> Now new guys coming on. Somebody came on
7:14right now. We have to have been for
7:16about a month before we go to go by
7:19yourself.
7:20>> What?
7:20>> And we're still running two three man
7:22crew and propert.
7:25>> Okay.
7:26>> And when do y'all pick up the heavy
7:28trash? What days do y'all pick up like
7:30the big heavy trash
7:32>> like bulk items?
7:33>> Yeah.
7:34>> Well, that's just in with your regular
7:36regular pickups.
7:40>> If you are you mention, you know, you
7:42can call lean if you have some that
7:44specific
7:46>> like a TV
7:49table. Is that what you meant?
7:52>> Right.
7:53>> Yes.
7:55>> And then they get it works to us and
7:57then we put it on the over for the
7:59driver to pick up.
8:00>> Okay.
8:00>> And we picked it up with normal trash.
8:04>> Okay.
8:04>> It was we know about it.
8:06>> Well, um thank you, Miss [name], for
8:09clearing up one of my questions for
8:11hours of uh operation. And you said that
8:14you're most of your employees were
8:16veterans. Do you mean veterans of
8:18service or veterans of
8:19>> No, I mean when I say veter veteran
8:21employees, tenure employees for us.
8:23>> Okay.
8:24We have I don't know probably about at
8:27least half a dozen wars that are regular
8:30veterans veteran JD veteran.
8:32>> Okay.
8:33>> About six drivers.
8:35>> And so the question I did have um was um
8:39um other than um hours of operation,
8:43your hours of service. Um so say someone
8:46calls me from my precinct and asks me
8:49what time is trash pickup on such and
8:51such street. Is there a time that I can
8:54give them for like hours of service
8:57other than hours of operation just like
9:00you know other than just a day?
9:02>> I mean
9:02>> cuz I I have some
9:04>> always get a hold of JD or Tim.
9:06>> Okay.
9:07>> And say hey where where does this
9:10particular area what time are we
9:13generally in there?
9:14>> I'm give you a a pretty much within an
9:17hour figure. Okay. I was just worried
9:19about some of the older residents that I
9:20have that um aren't able to maybe, you
9:22know, put trash out the day before or
9:25maybe the day of they have some
9:27assistance or something of that nature
9:29and maybe wanted to get it out before
9:31truck comes through or something of that
9:33nature.
9:33>> We still do offer the handicap service.
9:35>> Yep.
9:36>> Okay. So if somebody has signed up and
9:41let us know that they're handcap and
9:43they go through the city and we know
9:44that we got to go to their doorstep to
9:46get the trash.
9:47>> That's great. Yes, sir.
9:49>> I mean we go up to somebody's garage and
9:51grab their garbage can, dump it and
9:53return.
9:56>> You know when you use the term veteran,
9:58one of the guys told me, he said, "Yeah,
10:00those are young ones." He said, "Now I'm
10:02a military man. It doesn't hurt me. I
10:04know how to lift those." I said, "Okay,
10:05well, go on then." But he he was talking
10:08about how how hard he said it is a hard
10:10job.
10:11>> He said he said, "But I prepare for it
10:13all the time by being prepared for it."
10:16He said he works out.
10:17>> Whether you're a driver, tech, or
10:20>> loader in this business, you kind of
10:22job. There's no getting around to it.
10:24And
10:25>> we're not a big corporate company where
10:28even JD, we're going to drive trucks,
10:31>> pick up trash. That's just what we do.
10:33get if you can't get your hands dirty at
10:35this company, you can't work here.
10:37>> Yeah. Thank you for your service.
10:39>> The pickup time change just a little bit
10:41because it's on the streets getting
10:42worked on.
10:43>> Just a little bit.
10:45>> Oh, yeah. Yes.
10:46>> Yes, sir.
10:47>> Thank you.
10:48>> But we can always give you if you call,
10:51we can give you within an hour.
10:52>> Okay.
10:52>> As long as that truck doesn't go down at
10:54some point or we have to come back in
10:56and get the spare truck or we have to
10:58throw out our road call.
11:00>> Okay.
11:00>> We'll be there within an hour. what we
11:02should be.
11:03>> Okay. Thank you.
11:06>> Okay. Any other questions? Concern.
11:11>> Thank you.
11:12>> Thank you, sir.
11:19>> So, we need to
11:20>> Yeah, we need
11:21>> Okay. Can we get a motion?
11:27>> Approve the franchise agreement.
11:34Let's see.
11:39>> Item number two.
11:42>> A motion that we approve the solid waste
11:44franchise agreement. Um, do I have to
11:47state the days and everything, too?
11:49>> Okay. Beginning uh November the 1st,
11:512025 through October the 31st,
11:542030 with Live Oak uh Environment LLC,
11:58Pineywood Sanitation. Okay,
12:00>> I'll second.
12:01>> It's been moved and second. All in
12:03favor?
12:05Motion carries. Uh, at this, excuse me.
12:10At this time, we bring us to item number
12:12three, public hearing on proposed budget
12:14of the city of Crocki for the 2025 2026
12:18fiscal year. And during this hearing, it
12:21will be open. You will be allowed to
12:22have conversation.
12:24The budget hearing is officially open.
12:27If someone from the floor would like to
12:29have it, it's open.
12:31>> And mayor and council, this is the time
12:33for public input, of course. And just as
12:37we discussed at the last meeting with
12:41the voter approval rate or the proposed
12:43voter approval rate that the council
12:45did, the budget is based on that. It's
12:48been out front and posted in the biggest
12:52uh the 40% increase in our streets for
12:55redoing streets next year is the biggest
12:58majority of the increase for this
13:00budget. So, but it is a time now for the
13:03public to have input on the the budget
13:05figures if if they do wish to have their
13:08time.
13:11>> I'd like to know how much the insurance
13:13went up. Did it go up in this budget or
13:16not? It did go up in this budget.
13:21>> Yes, ma'am.
13:23>> It was What was the percentage?
13:26>> It's broken down in each.
13:27>> Yeah, it's broke down, but it was
13:32>> liability was
13:34property insurance
13:37was
13:38property insurance was 15% and our
13:41liability was 40%.
13:45>> Probably could be about that because of
13:47all the lawsuits, but just want the
13:49public to know.
13:51>> Yes, ma'am.
13:54>> Does anyone else have a comment?
14:00>> This is for the budget hearing if you
14:02have
14:02>> Okay. Yeah. Um well, I was looking at at
14:05the budget. I've been trying to u look
14:08at the numbers and and I'm seeing on
14:11this um that I got today.
14:13>> Yes, ma'am. Um and and the proposed
14:16budget workshop that I worksheet that I
14:18got uh from [name] and some of the numbers
14:21uh have changed. Um,
14:24and I haven't uh and I just got this
14:27today, so I haven't been able to
14:29actually go over it to make sure, but I
14:32see that um
14:35like the the
14:39current taxes, there was a decrease
14:44in the proposed current taxes
14:49from I'm trying to figure out which
14:52sheet you're working off of compared to
14:55>> well compared to well the one that I was
14:57given
14:58um
15:00>> in the actual budget workshops earlier
15:04>> the one we got I think we received what
15:06last meeting um it was a proposed budget
15:10worksheet for 2026 and I'm seeing some
15:13numbers that are a little just a
15:18different in numbers
15:19>> I see what you're that's the uh it's
15:22under the one he had before he revised
15:25it.
15:26>> Right. That was So that was with the no
15:28revenue rate. Yes. And then when y'all
15:31y'all voted for the proposed uh
15:34>> voter approval rate at the last meeting,
15:36there was adjustments made to that. And
15:38the one that we've had posted out in
15:40front of city hall is the one that you
15:42have in front of you from tonight. for
15:44the voter.
15:45>> So, with the new the the voter approval
15:47rate, was that the one we were getting
15:50the one uh $170,000
15:53over?
15:54>> Yes.
15:54>> Okay. So,
15:56>> that's what this is.
15:57>> Yeah, that's this
15:59>> Well, that's what I got as well. So, he
16:00revised it.
16:01>> Yeah,
16:02>> that's the one you're holding up is the
16:04first one. The other one is the new one.
16:06>> Okay.
16:08>> This is what we're talking about.
16:09>> Yeah.
16:10>> The one with the red.
16:11>> Okay. So when when did you when when did
16:14y'all do
16:14>> after the last council meeting when
16:17y'all proposed the voter approval rate
16:20>> that would adjust the total tax dollars
16:22and then so we had to put the budget
16:24together based on that number.
16:27>> Okay. So when I come in there wasn't
16:29ready or
16:30>> No ma'am.
16:34>> Okay. Um and just I I guess you know
16:38trying to uh ensure and looking over the
16:41numbers and looking at everything. I was
16:43looking at the um and I was asking a
16:46question about the debt that we had.
16:47>> Yes ma'am.
16:48>> So the question I got all my little
16:51papers up here.
16:52>> Um the question is uh are we um
16:5716 million approximately $16 million in
17:00debt?
17:02question.
17:04>> Yeah, that's about right.
17:06>> Okay. So, with that being said, and our
17:10revenue that we're getting in
17:16is about 6 million.
17:22So the question is to ask you if all
17:25those debts were called today, will we
17:28have the monies to pay off those debts?
17:34>> Not this year.
17:35>> No, very few people.
17:36>> You make payments.
17:37>> Yeah.
17:38>> No. If they would call if
17:39>> Well, why would they be called? I guess
17:41>> I'm just asking. I'm just asking. Fear
17:43me. I'm asking because what I'm saying
17:45I'm looking at what I I mean I'm just
17:47trying to see how I budget if I need if
17:48I can buy because my understanding is at
17:51the beginning of the budget year we got
17:54you know um a lot of requests or
17:57whatever.
17:58>> Sure.
17:58>> And then I asked u Mr. [name] to put
18:02all those requests in to the 2026 budget
18:05so we could look and see what um uh what
18:10kind of monies we have uh for any items
18:12that was requested. So
18:16and and then he come back and said that
18:18we don't have the money to do it.
18:19>> Well, we as you can tell from even with
18:22the voter approval rate, no capital
18:26requests were funded in this budget. The
18:28only thing that got extra was for the
18:29streets.
18:30>> Yeah.
18:31>> So, I was asking also uh Oh, with this
18:35with streets, but I see that um
18:38where I got here. Okay. The terms
18:42me here
18:45those um that debt form that you gave me
18:50>> the terms on that
18:53>> on those like the swimming pool
18:55whatever. Yes, ma'am. on that right
18:57there. Um, we're still paying a debt,
19:00paying a note on that tax note. Correct.
19:02>> Correct.
19:02>> Okay. Why are we paying a tax note on
19:05that and we don't have a pool?
19:10>> I mean, the money was borrowed to be put
19:13aside for a pool and the pool has not
19:17>> happened been appropriated yet, but you
19:19still have to pay your debt based on
19:21what you borrowed the money for.
19:22>> Well, how what what year what year do we
19:25buy? What year did we borrow the money?
19:28>> I would have to look back. That was
19:30before me. I'd have to look back.
19:32>> Okay. So, that's what I'm asking. And
19:33so, we've been paying on that. Along
19:36with that, I think we've been paying
19:38like two interest rates. So, why are we
19:40paying like two interest rates
19:43on that on that loan?
19:45>> Interest rates are dropped. If you can
19:47spread the interest rate payments out
19:49into yours where you're paying two, it's
19:52really one payment, but we're splitting
19:53in two payments. That way the interest
19:55rate
19:58does
20:01typical
20:03do
20:06my
20:08Okay. Um reason I reason I asked and I
20:12because I was looking at everything and
20:13I was looking at the uh the terms of how
20:17long it's going to take us to pay those
20:18debts.
20:19>> Yes, ma'am.
20:20>> So on each one of those what's what's
20:22the term limit? Well, it depends on each
20:25one of those debts that was incurred by
20:26that council at the time and how they
20:29they set that up. I mean, those are all
20:34council approved. I mean, and
20:36>> Yes, sir. But I just wonder how long I I
20:40and so it depends on what the council
20:42saw was the right fit at that time for
20:45how those debts were set up.
20:48>> Okay. So, we don't So, we right right
20:51now. So, can you get me the term terms?
20:54[name], you don't know the terms of those
20:58of those debts. All right. I have a I
21:01have that information to but there I
21:04think there's six or seven uh debt
21:07services in there. So, they're all
21:09different. The the last payment for the
21:13swimming pool is this is this next
21:16budget that we paid off. And um
21:20>> so what do we
21:21>> The rest of them are somewhere between
21:2315 15 years some 20 years.
21:26>> So what do we what with the swimming
21:28pool? What do we do with that money?
21:30>> It's still sitting there. All all the
21:32money has not been appropriated for
21:34swimming pool because council hasn't
21:36agreement yet.
21:38>> What?
21:40>> Okay.
21:41>> Still sitting there. It hasn't been
21:42spent.
21:42>> Okay.
21:44>> Okay. Then go ahead. somebody want to
21:47say something.
21:47>> Well, anyway, I was just saying one
21:49thing with the budget and where we are
21:51with it. Even the items that were
21:53budgeted, they were all approved by the
21:55council. That's the designated part. And
21:58even the rates that they were approved
21:59at, they were approved by the council.
22:02So, that made them constant. And that
22:05money, as you mentioned, with the pool,
22:07it hasn't been touched, but you still
22:09you're paying it. But it's it probably
22:12to get what we want to accomplish. We
22:13know that the cost of things have gone
22:16up, but it doesn't bother the funding
22:19that was it it was appropriated for. So,
22:23anything that was already previously
22:25appropriated, it's there. It's not going
22:28to be you. The only way it'll change
22:30direction, if you take that pool money,
22:32it would be by vote of the council
22:34coming back saying we want this money
22:36designated for that. the interest rates
22:38and things might change with with time,
22:42but what we're locked in in a budget is
22:45what you appropriated as a council and
22:47what was agreed upon. I mean, the the
22:50fine details, and I appreciate you doing
22:52the fine details, but the actual thing
22:54that we were looking at, there's no item
22:57that was in the budget because we did
23:00cut back on the big capital expenses
23:03since simply because we didn't have the
23:05funding. But what we were doing today on
23:08this part of it was trying to ascertain
23:11whether the voter approval rate is what
23:14where we're trying to uh address is this
23:17what it looks differently because when
23:20it was done it wasn't done the first one
23:23that we talked about in the last meeting
23:25it was uh with no new revenue rate and
23:28then we went to the voter approval rate
23:31>> uh and that did encompass but it still
23:33didn't encompass all of the uh
23:36capital needs and all of the advanced
23:38needs. There were a lot of things that
23:39had to be compromised. PD didn't get
23:42what they wanted fully, but they did get
23:44something and different areas did it.
23:46>> And like and and this is the public
23:48comment section on the actual budget
23:51itself here. And and like I said, the
23:55the excess or the extra that with the
23:58voter approval rate that those total
24:00dollars went to the streets for new
24:02streets, which the council thought was
24:04the priority and so we were able to do
24:07that so we can have a good bit more
24:10street construction in next year's
24:11budget.
24:13So, uh, I had mentioned I think I
24:15mentioned um I think at our last meeting
24:18that we may need to look at some items
24:20that we need to um possibly uh uh remove
24:26from our budget so we can have the
24:28funding for our city. So, my question is
24:31and I don't know maybe I'm not looking
24:33at it right or whatever but my question
24:36is I was looking at because I saw where
24:39we're talking about doing syncing funds
24:41and things like that. So, I'm wondering
24:44I'm wondering in in looking at the
24:46revenue and our and our
24:50and our debt
24:52and if we were and if our debt was
24:54called today, we only have 6 million and
24:58we have 16 million in debt.
25:02So, we and then the four four million uh
25:07that we have in utility, what is what is
25:09that?
25:11Yeah. the you
25:14>> but
25:14>> the
25:16>> the 4 million where
25:17>> the you well I guess when he broke it
25:20down on his worksheet here that I have
25:23um got anyway anyway the way the the
25:26expense my understanding expense is uh
25:30$6 million 699,838
25:36and then a revenue was $6,870,000
25:41>> which one are you Um,
25:42>> is that,558?
25:46And that's what's given us our
25:49$170,000.
25:53>> I think you're
25:55>> Oh, you're looking at separate. No,
25:56you're not looking at the this one. This
25:58is the one.
25:58>> Well, well, I'm Well,
26:00>> this is the update.
26:01>> Well, if that's the case, this should
26:04reflect.
26:05>> This one is revised.
26:07>> Okay. So, if you
26:08>> Okay. This is the one that that we're
26:11looking at,
26:11>> right?
26:12>> And the one with the red highlight on
26:14it,
26:14>> right?
26:15>> This is the budget that has been being
26:17opposed proposed the actual the budgeted
26:20and the proposed budget.
26:22>> Pull out this. That was the one that
26:24that's been changed.
26:26>> Yeah. This
26:26>> So you're actually looking at
26:28>> this is your proposed budget right here.
26:29The one under this red line down through
26:32here
26:33>> only.
26:34>> And that the proposed 2026 budget. Yeah,
26:37that's the
26:41>> But if I can say something far as like
26:44debts being called, if we
26:46>> anybody
26:47>> individuals or or or companies like Live
26:50Oak, if if if we lived in fear of our
26:53debts being called, every time we go to
26:55borrow money, normally it's because we
26:57don't have it right now, so we borrow
26:59it. And if that debt was called, we'd be
27:02in trouble. You know, uh everybody
27:04would. So we we can't look at things as
27:06as if it was called because I mean look
27:08at the United States of America. What if
27:10its debts were called? I mean we you
27:12know
27:13>> there's not a city in the United States
27:15that don't have debt.
27:16>> We're working from that's why you budget
27:18what you can make to year. That's why
27:20it's done from year to year to make sure
27:21that you
27:22>> but that's why we have the credit rating
27:24we do though is because we're very solid
27:26in terms of our our assets compared to
27:29our debt. And so we wouldn't have the
27:32credit rating we have as a city if in
27:36because of we have a very limited amount
27:38of debt for a city our size and a budget
27:40our size. So, so basically you saying so
27:43if something actually happens to where I
27:46mean so we're in a in a position right
27:48now so we can't budge or or do anything
27:51really because if something happens and
27:54we're only getting $6 million
27:58$6 million and we're in a $16 million
28:01debt and then you have another car that
28:04you want to purchase or something like
28:06that then we have more debt. keep adding
28:09the debt. So, the interest on those
28:12debts and what I'm looking at is that,
28:14and this is what I'm looking at, is that
28:17we're paying interest, a lot of
28:18interest, but we're not paying a lot on
28:21the principal.
28:22>> So, that means that we're not making any
28:25hedgeway, and we'll be paying a whole
28:27lot of interest, and we'll be in debt, a
28:31whole loan. There's terms on this term.
28:34So, if it's if it's set up for 5 years,
28:36it'll be paid off in 5 years. If it's
28:39set up in four years, it'll be paid off
28:40in four years.
28:41>> We don't know how long they're set up
28:43for.
28:43>> Yes, we do. I just don't have that list
28:45in front of me because we were looking
28:47at the budget and the tax rate tonight,
28:49not the the debt service side. I I gave
28:52you all that the other day. And so,
28:54that's where and each one of those
28:56>> my favorite
28:57>> and and so we went over that. And so, I
29:00was not prepared to have that in front
29:01of me because we were talking about the
29:03budget itself.
29:04and then we're going to talk about the
29:06tax rate, but I can get with you and
29:08show you the terms of each one of the
29:10notes individually and be happy to do
29:12that.
29:13>> Okay? And then um also why why the um
29:16and on the revised version why it was
29:19actually um the decreases and the
29:22increases and things like that were
29:24changed. But I mean, I just I I think
29:27that from me just looking at it, trying
29:29to figure the things out, it just looks
29:32like to me that we are in a a financial
29:35uh
29:36>> I would say we're financially as strong
29:38as we've been in years to honestly
29:41answer your question.
29:42>> Well, only reason I could not say that
29:44because we don't know all of the details
29:47for is a financial position. We don't
29:49have our statements, bank statements. Uh
29:53we don't know where all of our
29:55um financial assets are um there is
30:00>> I think that no
30:02>> I I would I would propose when you have
30:04an audit I just said when the audit
30:06comes in
30:07>> okay
30:08>> that's one of the ones that would
30:09determine whether it lines up if there's
30:11any discrepancy in any of your stuff
30:14your audit that's why you have we pay
30:16every year to have an audit to make sure
30:18that we're on track and
30:20>> and this is the way
30:22>> and anything that you find out of order
30:24in that audit, it'll have to be revised
30:27and and addressed. And according to our
30:30audit, we had a clean audit.
30:32>> And so, and even and I think what you're
30:35saying, cities operate
30:39on borrowing money.
30:41>> That's that is the way they function in
30:43a city in the United States. It's kind
30:46of like we do in our personal business.
30:48You get a car, most of the time you
30:51don't own the whole car. You have a note
30:53to go with it. And so what the budget
30:56reflects is that are we in good
30:59standing? Are we able to make our bill
31:01and our obligation for that year? That's
31:04why every year we revisit it. And this
31:06proposed budget will allow us to meet
31:09our obligation and we're in really high
31:12standing in terms of our ability to
31:14borrow to meet. But if any corporation
31:19if everybody was called in even having
31:21worked with the school we had to pay off
31:23every grant everything at on that day
31:26nobody would pro I don't know anyone
31:29corporation that could probably meet
31:31those obligation like that but it has to
31:34be ter that's why they do them on terms
31:37and so the city is set up in the same
31:41process that you will be borrowing money
31:44as long as you have a city you would
31:46never have the full revenue to do it cuz
31:49you can look at our tax base. We get how
31:51much it costs to do a few a street.
31:54We'll never have enough to budget.
31:55That's why we we we're able to borrow
31:58money and then we do the voter to
32:00balance it out. But nothing in this city
32:03will basically run fully if you're going
32:06to get address it without having to
32:08borrow money and funding. or another.
32:11>> So what the proposed rate is, the
32:14question was, you know, are we we have a
32:17budget that if we go to the voter
32:19approval rate, we would be able to
32:22increase some of the things that we were
32:23doing efficiently and more effectively.
32:26But we would never have enough money as
32:29a city looking at our tax rate without
32:32borrowing money. And that's how the city
32:35is set up. And the previous thing I know
32:38you brought up some issue had been in
32:41the past and what the funding was. If
32:43it's designated for that area, it has to
32:46be used in that area or else it has to
32:49come back to the council and they would
32:51have to decide that they want to
32:53disperse that money in another way.
32:55Nothing is arbitrarily moved around
32:58without the approval of the council.
33:01That's right. Another way to look at
33:02that, mayor, though also is is if we had
33:05the finances on hand to if our debts
33:10were called and we had that surplus, our
33:13citizens would be wondering what are we
33:15doing with that? Why aren't we fixing
33:17this? Why aren't we doing that? Why
33:18aren't we doing this?
33:20>> So, you know, it's you you have to look
33:22at it also from that from that
33:24standpoint as well.
33:27Well, my
33:29>> and you could keep that you could keep
33:31that in case it was called and never do
33:34anything with it, you know, and and how
33:36how foolish would that look?
33:38>> So basically if any just say so
33:40basically my to answer to my question if
33:43anything was called we would not be able
33:46to take care of that, right?
33:47>> We would be able to make arrangements.
33:49>> That's what you do. You make
33:51arrangement. Uh are we still in the
33:53>> he can close it if nobody if nobody else
33:55has any comments.
33:57>> What closed the public hearing?
33:58>> Oh he had Oh yeah on uh oh and this just
34:02the photo approval rate. Another thing
34:04uh just kind of just let the record
34:06reflect I had I saw where um
34:11where
34:13oh that's where I want to know is um
34:17there's monies
34:19>> those are changed. This is the one that
34:21the sheet the budget workshop sheet that
34:22you need to refer to.
34:24>> Well, that's the problem. Um,
34:26>> anything that was on those previous
34:27sheets.
34:28>> So, so economic development. So, um,
34:41you
34:43this is you have to it has to be taken
34:46from this one. Let me look.
34:49final line item.
34:54>> Okay,
34:57>> let's go.
34:58>> While you're looking uh at that
35:01>> looking for it, we're
35:02>> okay.
35:04>> Okay. Um it was
35:06>> unless there's some other comments.
35:07>> One uh I think Mr. Shelley had a he
35:10raised his hand for we're still on the
35:12>> public hearing. Yes, ma'am.
35:13>> Yes, he had a statement. And in order
35:16for me to understand, I was on the
35:18finance committee for our city. And with
35:21that committee, we met on a regular
35:23basis to be able to understand that the
35:25budget is a working document. Most
35:28definitely. It's always that. And if
35:30there is a problem you come up with,
35:33then you the council as well as your
35:35finance director and whomever else will
35:38massage that budget up or down depending
35:41on the revenue sources that you have or
35:44not revenue sources that you have. So
35:46it's kind of one of those situations
35:48where if you have questions with it,
35:50you're correct, but if there becomes a
35:53problem, then you're going to either
35:54reduce or you might even have the
35:56opportunity to increase. I think that's
35:58a simple way of putting it and I
36:01>> No, you're you're in order.
36:03>> Well, thank you.
36:04>> And so, you know,
36:06>> the one thing that I can always say to
36:07you also is a finance committee really
36:10does help a council. One or two members
36:12serveing on that and then, you know, in
36:15a meeting with your auditors on a
36:17regular basis, you'll be able to come
36:20back on at least by the quarter and find
36:22out where that budget stands at that
36:24particular time. Are you up, down, in
36:26the middle, and so forth. So, it's just
36:29a suggestion.
36:30>> Thank you.
36:31>> Thank you. And and with him saying that,
36:33I had um also talked with Mr. [name]
36:36also so we can get um uh finance reports
36:39monthly so we can keep up with items
36:41like that. But um but I'm I'm at the
36:44point to where um a lot of the uh far as
36:47the finances and the discussion of the
36:48finances uh being that we're fiduciary
36:51responsible for for the finances or only
36:55getting I guess uh spoken with with
36:57certain council members. So I would love
37:00to be involved in the conversation.
37:03>> Sure.
37:03>> Um especially if I want to be held
37:05accountable.
37:05>> Yes, ma'am. Not a problem.
37:07>> I mean it's open for you if you have a
37:10question. any council if they have a
37:12question for the city manager. Okay.
37:15Another thing I think we have real quick
37:17the uh you I see where you have the
37:19election the charter election. Okay. We
37:23have not um discussed that. So this is
37:26what I I uh want to say. I want to let
37:28the record reflect that the city of
37:30Crockett charter was written before the
37:33civil rights act of 1964 and reprinted
37:37February 19797.
37:39We the council as the body.
37:42>> Excuse me. Let me ask you something. Let
37:44me
37:46This is about the audit.
37:47>> Okay. The audit.
37:49>> This is about And it's on this on the
37:50It's on the budget.
37:51>> Okay. Well, you're asking about the
37:52budget. Okay.
37:53>> About the budget cuz it's on here. Okay.
37:55So, I'm going to start over.
37:57>> No, you don't have to start.
37:58>> Yes, ma'am. Let let
38:00>> let the record reflect that the city of
38:02Crockett charter was written before the
38:04Civil Rights Act of 1964 and reprinted
38:07February 1997. We the council as a body
38:11have not had a workshop or to review any
38:15charter revisions discussed nor made any
38:18necessary changes or approved any
38:20amendments uh that the revision on any
38:24revisions of the home rule charter from
38:26the charter revision committee. In my
38:29opinion, I do not want um to do anything
38:32directly or indirectly that will cause
38:35the city to be liable. So therefore, I
38:38want to um allow do not want to allow
38:43anyone to set us up for failure. In my
38:47opinion, we as the council need to
38:49ensure the charter is fair and show
38:52equality for all people according to the
38:55Texas institute constitution, state law
38:58and rules, local government, and comply
39:01with the old home charter bylaw.
39:06>> As far as I'm sorry, let me address
39:08that.
39:09>> With that being said,
39:10>> uh, wait a minute. Let me address that.
39:12I know you brought in the part about the
39:14charter, but that's that's really not
39:17related to where we are with the budget.
39:19The charter is an existing organization
39:21that I mean
39:23>> event that they're working on and you've
39:25already studied what your concerns was
39:27about this, but we're right now we're
39:29going to stay focused on the budget,
39:31>> right? And what I'm saying is the but we
39:33haven't we haven't discussed what I'm
39:35saying is we have not discussed
39:37>> uh a charter election or anything but
39:40it's in here but we have not discussed
39:43>> let me explain let me explain the past
39:45council approved the charter commission
39:47which included the election and so that
39:50has to be planned for in a budget. If we
39:53get the charter commission to meet with
39:55the council, go through the workshop, we
39:57have to have funds in the budget for
39:59that election when that happens, which
40:01was approved by the council.
40:02>> But I wanted to make sure that we
40:04actually had a workshop before that
40:06happened.
40:06>> Yes, ma'am. Because previously, we have
40:08been as a council, we'll get an uh uh
40:11we'll have a city manager to put an item
40:14on the agenda that has not been brought
40:17before the council to approve to uh move
40:19forward with. Well, there's a workshop
40:22planned somewhere.
40:22>> Okay. Well, anyway. Okay. That has been
40:25addressed. Okay. At this time, we're
40:28closing the public hearing.
40:32Okay. And we move to
40:35>> number four. Number four.
40:37>> Number uh number four. Considering
40:40approving ordinance making appropriation
40:42for the support of the city of Crockett
40:44for the fiscal year beginning October
40:461st, 2025 and ending September 30, 2026
40:50appropriate money to sinking fund to pay
40:52interest and principles due on the
40:54city's indebtness and uh adopting the
40:58annual budget of the city of Crockett
41:00for fiscal year 2026.
41:02Basically, we're adopting this budget
41:06based on um the voter approval rate
41:09which was proposed by council at the
41:11last meeting and um
41:16that's what what we just had the public
41:18hearing on.
41:21>> Okay.
41:21>> So now the money in the seeing fund to
41:24pay interest.
41:27>> Okay. We are doing more specific.
41:28>> Yeah. Yes. The that's the
41:32The budget is based on the voter
41:35approval rate which is 6808 per 100
41:38which is the M rate of 5194 and the INS
41:43rate of.1630
41:45which adds up to the 6808 that's what
41:48this budget is based on those numbers
41:51>> which we will talk about the tax rate in
41:53the far next agenda part
41:56>> but this is for just approving the
41:58actual appropriations of the budget. So
42:01it so that everything goes into the
42:03syncing fund.
42:03>> Yes, ma'am.
42:04>> Okay. So basically what goes into the
42:07syncing fund and if the interest from
42:09that syncing fund pays the the
42:13expenditures.
42:14>> Well, you have your M rate that's paying
42:16part of the budget. Then you have your
42:18INS rate that pays another portion. So
42:20your total adds up to the 6808 for your
42:24budget.
42:29I make a motion we approve the
42:31ordinance.
42:33>> A second.
42:34>> Okay, it's been moved and f and second.
42:36All in favor?
42:40>> Okay, motion carries. Okay, number five.
42:45Public hearing on 2025 tax rate.
42:49Got open.
42:50>> We're open.
42:52Mayor and council. Um, as we discussed a
42:55little bit in the previous public
42:57hearing, um, the council proposed the
43:00voter approval rate at the last meeting,
43:03which we created our budget from, which
43:06is the 0.6808
43:08per 100.
43:13And the public has
43:14>> any comments from the public?
43:18>> No comment.
43:20Okay, we'll closing the hearing one.
43:24>> All right, I have a comment. Uh just uh
43:27just to say I would just like to u make
43:30sure that we're we're definitely in good
43:32standing um to go back over this with
43:35me. Um but I do want to state that from
43:38me looking at the numbers that I think
43:40we're in a financial hardship. That
43:42that's me. That's in my opinion. So I
43:45just wanted to share that with you.
43:46>> Okay. If there's nothing else on the
43:49hearing, the hearing is officially
43:52closed. Okay. And that might bring us to
43:54item number six. Consider and approve an
43:57audience leving and edorum taxes for the
44:00use and the support of the municipal
44:02government of the city of Cra for fiscal
44:04year 2026 providing for approp
44:08appropriating
44:10each levy for specific purposes and
44:12providing when taxes shall become due
44:14and when same become delinquent if not
44:18paid.
44:20I'll do. Okay.
44:27>> This is basically approving the tax
44:29rate.
44:30>> Okay. I know it was a fancy way of
44:32saying it.
44:33>> Yes, ma'am.
44:34>> Okay. We approve.
44:37>> Make a motion we approve
44:39and approve. Is that Rick?
44:42>> Tax rate.
44:44>> Approve our tax rate. 2026.
44:48You got it.
44:49>> I second.
44:50>> Okay, it's been moved and second. All in
44:52favor.
44:54Motion carries. Uh, brings us to item
44:58number seven.
45:00Consider an approved 2025 tax ro
45:04mayor and council. That was basically
45:06the list, the 862 pages of everybody
45:10that's literally on the tax ro. um you
45:14know and I'm provided the opportunity
45:16for you to go through that and just a
45:18reminder when we do approve it at the
45:20close of the meeting tonight everybody
45:23has a signature block on that so we need
45:26to get signatures from that when you
45:28approve the tax ro please
45:35>> consider and approve so
45:36>> we need a motion yes please
45:38>> I make a motion we approve the 2025 tax
45:41ro
45:42>> I second the motion.
45:43>> Okay, it's been moved and second. All in
45:45favor?
45:46Motion carries. Okay, item number eight,
45:50consider an approved facility use
45:52agreement between the city of Crockett
45:53and the Crockett area chamber of
45:55commerce.
45:57>> Mayor and council, we've got some
45:59organizations that are that use city
46:03facilities and and so some of them we
46:07don't have facility use agreements with
46:09and we need to kind of tidy that up. So,
46:12the first one we're going to do is with
46:14the chamber, and I put that in your
46:16packet. I sent it to legal counsel for
46:19approval as well. And it basically sets
46:22out the terms for the chamber to use the
46:24office space that they have at the civic
46:27center for a monthly rent plus their
46:31portion of the internet. Plus, they're
46:33providing in kind services for
46:35telephones and and because we have city
46:38staff at the civic center as well. plus
46:40say they will it just expands our
46:42personnel being at that facility at all
46:44times with somebody for the city. But it
46:47just basically gets us legal and it
46:49doesn't appear that we're gifting any
46:51public funds or anything else and we
46:53have actual facility use agreement with
46:55the Chamber of Commerce commerce for
46:57their use of our facility.
47:02>> I know that we've been looking at this
47:04for a while with each organization
47:06that's using it. We really hadn't
47:08spelled out what their option
47:10responsibility. I think this is a even
47:13though we're hoping that this would
47:15address the need but if not this is a
47:17starting point to get
47:18>> and this is the first of we've got
47:20several more to come but this is the
47:22first one and the easiest one to work
47:24out the logistics and details of.
47:27>> So you say on the inind services
47:31um so that's an exchange. It's an
47:33exchange and instead of pure dollars for
47:35rent, they will provide their employees
47:38answering the phone for us and other
47:40things which would be a cost to the city
47:42if they weren't there at some points.
47:44And so
47:45>> so we don't have anyone in here to
47:47answer the phones or
47:48>> it that's at the civic center. Their
47:51office space is at the civic center.
47:53>> I mean,
47:55yeah, at that front desk is they're
47:57actually taking care of the answering
47:59and we don't have
48:00>> and walk-in traffic as well. Yeah, cuz
48:02people come there and so we're not
48:05having to hire a person, but because
48:07they're using it, we're matching kind.
48:09>> Yes, ma'am. Plus, they are paying
48:11portion of the rent and they're they're
48:13third of the internet for that facility.
48:15>> So, people have a question, they got to
48:18go to the civic center
48:20>> for the chamber. Yes. And we have some
48:22employees at the civic center, too.
48:24Well, like if somebody wants to rent the
48:26city center, they'll go out there, but
48:28then they'll they'll be able to talk to
48:29them and put them in the right person to
48:31go to,
48:32>> right?
48:33>> That's the problem has been people say,
48:34"I'll go over there and nobody helps
48:36me."
48:38>> Well, then they call me. But
48:40>> And so the rent amount, the rent,
48:43>> it's 300.
48:44>> $300. It's in here.
48:45>> Okay.
48:46>> They're just payment. It's
48:47>> okay. So just just a question. Just a
48:50question. So, is there a difference
48:53between asking them to pay $300 and we
48:57charge economic development $800? What
49:01is the difference?
49:02>> The the economic development never paid
49:04rent.
49:05>> They never paid rent.
49:06>> Never paid rent.
49:07>> Well, we have it on our
49:08>> because this is what I'm saying is we we
49:11had set those up, but we never had the
49:13facility use agreements actually
49:15approved and put in place. This is the
49:17first one that's actually getting
49:18approved and put in place. This will be
49:20the first legal one put in place.
49:23>> So you put $800 on the budget and we
49:26never
49:27>> that was probably you're looking at the
49:29budgeted from last year that never got
49:32agreed upon. That is not in this year's
49:35budget. That's in 20 last year's budget
49:38was what was proposed that we never got
49:40dollars from.
49:45>> Well, so we're comparing apples and
49:48oranges now. economic development no
49:50longer existed. What they're doing is
49:51setting
49:52>> existed. They put $800 on here.
49:55>> Economic develop. There was never the
49:57full formal.
49:58>> They they were not going to provide in
50:00kind services either. That was not part
50:02of the agreement. This one is rent plus
50:04inind services.
50:07Economic development was just paying a
50:08straight rent fee.
50:14>> Okay. Hold on. So you said now you said
50:16that they never paid anything. No,
50:18ma'am. They they they never paid in
50:21terms of rent. They did put some money
50:22towards some furniture and other things
50:25out there, but they never paid direct
50:27rent.
50:31>> And from where we are now, everybody
50:35that's using the facility is going to be
50:37given an agreement so that we don't have
50:39this conflict anymore. Even though
50:42>> how many rooms out there
50:43>> they you
50:44>> they just use they're using one space.
50:47one space.
50:48>> When you come into the front, they're
50:49using a space and they're at the
50:51reception area right in there. And then
50:54it'll be other people that are in there.
50:56>> Our city employees take up
50:58>> one, two, three, four offices and
51:00they've got the the the actual
51:04for your area and then there's one
51:06office space for their executive.
51:07>> They're the only one paying rent.
51:09>> Yes. Cuz our employees are out there.
51:10We're not charging ourselves for it.
51:13>> City employees. It's city employees and
51:15then the one chamber.
51:17>> Okay.
51:19Uh are there any other question on the
51:21facility
51:23use agreement
51:25with the area u with the city of
51:28Crockett and Crockett area Chamber of
51:30Commerce?
51:30>> I make a motion we approve the
51:31agreement.
51:32>> I second.
51:33>> Okay. It's been moved and second. All in
51:35favor?
51:38>> Okay. Motion carries.
51:41Okay. I make a motion to adjurnn.
51:48>> All right. Oh, that was that was the end
51:50of the pay.
51:59>> We can get you.
52:02>> Oh, yeah. We got a sign.
52:05We got