Draft for review. Sourced from official City of Crockett records.
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Council meeting 2026-03-16

Agenda · Packet · Minutes · YouTube · 53:50 long

0:07It's amazing.
0:09I walk in here and always hear kids that
0:11made it to state. Yeah. We have some
0:13awesome athletes that come through here.
0:23That awesome that one.
0:25I'm on paper first.
0:28Oh, [snorts] okay. That I can do. That
0:30was really late today. Okay, I'm going
0:34Good evening, everyone. It is now
0:35officially 6:00. We're opening our city
0:38council meeting
0:40for Monday, March the 16th, 2026.
0:45At this time, we will have an
0:46invocation.
0:48Heavenly Father, we come before you this
0:50afternoon. We thank you and praise you
0:51for this day.
0:52Thank you for the opportunity to uh
0:55gather here at City Hall this afternoon
0:57pertaining to the
0:59all the business that's at hand, and we
1:01just ask your blessing upon this time.
1:03Give us wisdom,
1:04Lord God, in concerning all of the
1:06issues.
1:07And Lord, may we make the decisions
1:09tonight that would uh that would bring
1:11glory to you and for the betterment and
1:13welfare of all of our city. And we thank
1:16you, give you all of the praise. In
1:18Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.
1:21Pledge.
1:23I pledge allegiance to the flag of the
1:26United States of America, and to the
1:29republic for which it stands, one nation
1:33under God, indivisible, with liberty and
1:36justice for all.
1:42Sorry about that. I cut I cut that off
1:44coming in, but I don't know how I did
1:46it. My my brother just got Okay.
1:48>> taken to the hospital, so
1:49>> Take care of your business.
1:51Once again, um thank you so much for
1:53joining us this evening.
1:55Uh we appreciate you taking out your
1:57time out to share with us uh and in
2:00support of what we can do best with our
2:02city. At this time, uh we're once again,
2:05we opted our public comments.
2:08are
2:09we having? Okay, well, I I need read the
2:12the
2:13statement. The statement is there for
2:15your reference.
2:17At this time, we have the approval of
2:19minutes, regular session, March the 2nd,
2:222026.
2:25I make a motion we approve the minutes
2:27from March the 2nd. Second. It's been
2:30moved and second. All in favor?
2:33Opposed?
2:35Motion carries.
2:36Thank you.
2:37Uh brings us to item number two,
2:40reports. The fire department monthly
2:42activity status report for February
2:442026.
2:49May I have the whole with your hand?
2:51>> members.
2:52Uh for the month of February, we had a
2:54total of 30 calls. Breaking those down,
2:57uh 17 was in the city limits, and 13 in
3:00our county response area. There was no
3:02structure fires during that that month.
3:05And um I've I'm praying that we got the
3:08rain that we got, and everything is
3:10greening up, so we're slowing down a
3:12little bit, so
3:14Uh the there's
3:16the report in front of you breaks it
3:17down to
3:19uh further down. If you have any
3:20questions, I'll be more than happy to
3:22answer them for you.
3:25Council?
3:28Okay. A very good report, very brief.
3:31Thank [snorts] you.
3:34At this time, it brings us to item
3:36number three,
3:38police department manpower and criminal
3:40incident report for February 2026.
3:44Good evening, Mayor, Council, City
3:45Administrator. Police department's
3:47manpower and criminal activity report
3:49for February of 2026. Total of 16
3:52officers
3:53uh worked 1,634
3:56hours, responded to 344 calls for
3:59service,
4:00investigated nine traffic accidents,
4:03made 59 arrests, issued 343 traffic
4:07citations, completed 97 reports,
4:10and responded to 14 alarm calls. 13 of
4:14those were false alarm. Uh below that,
4:16you'll see a breakdown of our
4:18uh calls for service. I'll entertain any
4:21questions you may have.
4:23Just one question. Uh
4:24>> Chief, with our in the um um assistance
4:27needed with the with county, uh the
4:30sheriff's the for the past month, does
4:32that
4:33total into the uh into the numbers for
4:36February? So, on you talking about
4:38backing up like the county?
4:40Uh so, those numbers are not included in
4:43this because these are specific to the
4:45city.
4:45>> Okay.
4:46Okay.
4:47Uh one thing I'd like to point out, um
4:50I'd like to commend Sergeant [name] [name].
4:54he a couple weeks ago, he responded to a
4:56theft call at Tractor Supply,
4:58and um
5:00he got right on it, got some
5:01information, pushed that information out
5:03of the suspects and the suspect vehicle
5:05to other officers.
5:07Uh short time later, one of our local
5:08highway patrolmen uh saw that vehicle,
5:11so they made contact with him. As a
5:13result, he ended up clearing a little
5:15over $16,000 in thefts. The suspects had
5:19been going into Tractor Supply, Home
5:21Depot, and Lowe's stealing DeWalt tools
5:24and other tools. Wow. He uh he sees the
5:27vehicle, executed a search warrant, was
5:29able to recover all the property that
5:31they had stolen. So, that doesn't happen
5:33very often, so I'd like to commend him
5:35on his work.
5:35>> Yeah. Yeah. Awesome. He's well to be
5:38commended.
5:39Absolutely.
5:40>> beautiful thing.
5:42Well, thank you. Thank you. Thank you.
5:45Oh, I was going to ask him something,
5:46but I think it kind of cross-sectioned
5:48what it was. I know I noticed that we we
5:51have other agencies that are doing
5:53traffic stops, too. It seemed like more
5:56than we've had in the past with the
6:00department of
6:01What is highway patrol? Sure. Seem like
6:03they seem to be more active in our area.
6:06Is it something different?
6:07>> I think the result of that is you have a
6:09new administration at the sheriff's
6:10office.
6:12Uh so, they um
6:13they have
6:14a little more requirements of of their
6:16deputies.
6:18uh you have a new uh area sergeant for
6:22DPS. Uh you have a lot of younger, newer
6:25highway patrolmen
6:26here locally. You know, for the longest
6:29time, we were four or five troopers
6:30short for this county, but now we're
6:31fully staffed, so
6:33uh they work in the city, out of the
6:35city, and and all three agencies really
6:38work well together and and back each
6:39other up, so Okay.
6:42I was wondering why the presence was
6:44>> more question, Chief. Sure. Um dealing
6:46with spring break, will there be
6:48increased traffic control?
6:51Or patrols?
6:52So,
6:53anytime you have, I guess a um
6:56an event or a situation where it's like
6:59spring break or something going on, a
7:01lot of times you will see an increased
7:02patrol. If we know something's
7:04specifically going on, we'll increase
7:06that patrol ourselves, and then notify
7:08our partner agencies that, "Hey, we've
7:10got this going on. If you don't mind,
7:12keep a keep a check on the city or this
7:14location or whatever." So, anytime we
7:17have an event like that, we do talk
7:18about it, and we do increase patrols.
7:20Yes, sir.
7:21Thank you.
7:22Thank you.
7:23Thank you.
7:26Uh that brings us to item number four,
7:29report from city administrator on annual
7:32financial audit and special called
7:33[clears throat] meetings.
7:35Mayor and Council, I just like to bring
7:38to y'alls attention that we're still
7:41waiting on our financial audit. Um
7:44this is done every year, and it's
7:46required to be submitted and received
7:49uh by the city and recorded in the city
7:52secretary's office.
7:54180 days from the end of the uh fiscal
7:58year.
8:00So,
8:02March the 30th would be
8:05the drop-dead date for that. If we don't
8:08get it received um in time, we're going
8:11to have to submit something called a
8:13basically a draft audit.
8:15Once it's received by the city,
8:17um then we submit it to the state and
8:20update the records from draft to the
8:22final audit.
8:23Um so, I'm letting y'all know if we
8:25could if if our auditors are able to get
8:28it finished and presented back to the
8:29city
8:30next week, I would like to be able to
8:32meet at some point next week
8:36in a special called meeting to receive
8:38it to where we have it in our minutes,
8:39and we can upload it. That way, I don't
8:41have to go through a two-step process
8:42with the state.
8:45so, I don't know y'all's schedule. Um we
8:49you know, that should be the only thing
8:50that we have, so if if y'all would
8:52prefer a noon meeting or a evening
8:55meeting or a specific
8:57day, um she did say
9:00So, the the 30th is exactly 180 days, so
9:03us getting it it in an evening on the
9:0530th is already going to be too late, so
9:08I would really like to get it sometime
9:10in the middle of next week if possible,
9:12and then call for a if we can have a
9:14meeting.
9:14>> Did they give a reason why they're late?
9:17They do
9:18all you know, lots of cities and school
9:20districts and counties, so as they're
9:22doing all of them,
9:24they all kind of get pushed. It seems
9:25like
9:26maybe we're one of the smaller,
9:28you know,
9:30smaller cities. So, they put us in the
9:32back.
9:32Yeah, so um
9:35I have at you know, we were with the
9:36amount of of grants grant projects that
9:39we have, we really need to get it
9:41get it done. Like I said, at that
9:43worst-case scenario, I will have to do
9:45something called submit a draft and then
9:47up update it with the final um later.
9:50So, I'm
9:51So, what days are we kind of
9:53considering? Well, if I can if I know by
9:56the end of this week and I call for a
9:59a um if I call for a meeting on a
10:01Friday, it it it can't be any sooner
10:03than
10:05Thursday really cuz I have to have
10:07Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday for the
10:08three business days after calling the
10:10meeting. So,
10:12I'm hoping sometime maybe Thursday.
10:15Friday is probably are y'all probably
10:18against a Friday meeting?
10:20We're for the fastest not here.
10:22Do y'all prefer a noon or an evening?
10:25Noon.
10:28That's fine. Whatever. So, Thursday
10:30Thursday or Friday? Like I say,
10:32hopefully if I know by the end of day on
10:34on on Friday this week and I call for it
10:37then we'll try to do something at like a
10:39Thursday or Friday. So, basically you're
10:41saying that the the draft are not the
10:45original numbers. What what are you
10:47saying on that? I don't have We don't
10:48have the audit back. Uh-huh. Uh if it's
10:50not a final if it's not a final audit
10:53that's done by then, they'll they'll
10:56submit us their draft that's incomplete
10:59an incomplete audit. I submit at least
11:02those numbers
11:03to the state to where we we don't miss
11:05the 180-day deadline.
11:08And then I update it with the final
11:10uh audit once it's received by the
11:11state. And we're going to come back
11:13through the council too. So, have we
11:14done this before? Have this been done
11:16before or
11:18Uh not a not a draft. We've ran down to
11:22the wire before a couple times
11:24yesterday. Not a draft.
11:26>> not had to go through the process of
11:27submitting a draft then a final.
11:30But I've talked to our financial advisor
11:32and he did
11:33say that, you know, cities do that
11:35fairly often and he would
11:37work with me on helping me put that
11:39submit that draft to the state at least
11:40to comply with the state.
11:42And then I get the final in and we can
11:44just probably put it on our first of the
11:46April meeting.
11:47If I have to go through the draft, I'm
11:49not going to call for a special call
11:50meeting.
11:51Okay. And then you said who said? No.
11:54Who did you define
11:55financial advisor? Yes, ma'am. And who
11:57did you say our financial advisor is? I
11:59didn't say. What did you say? It's Ben
12:01Rosenberg. Okay, yes.
12:07Okay. Are there any other
12:10questions concerns? I'll keep y'all in
12:11the loop. Thank you. Thank you all.
12:18Okay. It brings us to
12:21item number five. Consider and approve a
12:23resolution of the city council of the
12:25city of Crockett, Texas authorizing the
12:28submission of a grant application to the
12:30office of the governor for the
12:32event security and lighting enhancement
12:34through generator light towers project
12:38through the homeland security grant
12:40program.
12:41>> [snorts]
12:43>> Interpret.
12:45Mayor and council,
12:47this is a grant that I'm in the process
12:48of applying for.
12:50What we're trying to purchase will be
12:52three lighting towers.
12:55They are run off of generators. They'll
12:57be Generac brand lighting towers. They
13:00offer extendable light towers plus
13:03generator.
13:04The reason I'm asking for it through
13:06this grant program because it helps
13:08cover events that that we have in the
13:11city, especially if it's in the later
13:13afternoon or night time. Right now we
13:15don't have much lighting to light the
13:18area.
13:20So, this will really help enhance the
13:22safety around those events so we can see
13:25what's going on
13:26what's taking place. And they're they're
13:28pushing real big on items like that,
13:30especially what's called soft targets,
13:33smaller communities where event things
13:36don't always happen, but we're you know,
13:38we're at risk for those events. So, the
13:40total project is $39,225.
13:44It's not a matching grant. So, if we're
13:46awarded the grant, they'll fund it 100%.
13:49Um so,
13:51I'm just asking for that approval so we
13:53can finalize that that grant. So, these
13:56lighting towers are they're mobile? What
13:58are you saying? They're So, I'm asking
14:01for three
14:02hoping that, you know, we get at least
14:04one or two, but they basically come
14:06built on a small trailer that you can
14:08pull behind a vehicle.
14:10You can move them to different
14:11locations. They're all self-sufficient.
14:14They run their diesel-powered engines.
14:17Like I said, they operate as a lighting
14:19tower or
14:20a power supply. Kind of like the one
14:22they use on interstates and stuff a lot
14:24of time.
14:24>> Yes. Yeah. So, you have photos of all of
14:26these, correct? Yes. What's that? You
14:28have photos of these? You have pictures?
14:29>> I do not have them with me. I can send
14:31those to you if you'd like to see them.
14:32Please do. Yeah.
14:34Okay. But the grant is the one that
14:36we're [snorts]
14:37voting Do we want the grant? All right.
14:40I move that we approve the
14:43move that we approve the submission of a
14:44grant application to the office of the
14:47governor of the event security and
14:49lighting enhancement through generator
14:52light tower projects through the
14:54homeland security grant. I second. Okay.
14:57Okay. It's been moved and second second.
15:02And second. All in favor?
15:06Vote should be in.
15:09Thank you all. Thank you.
15:11Item number six. Consider and approve a
15:14proposal for the city of Crockett and
15:16the Crockett Area Chamber of Commerce to
15:18host the Freedom Over Crockett
15:20Independence Day fireworks show on July
15:234th, 2026 and cover any funding
15:25shortfall not met by donations if
15:27necessary.
15:30Mayor and council,
15:31this will be our fourth year
15:34with the city doing this fireworks show.
15:39we host it in in conjunction with the uh
15:42uh Chamber of Commerce. Finances are
15:45received through the Chamber of Commerce
15:46and they also can provide
15:50tax-deductible
15:51donation receipts to
15:54to people that are sponsoring it.
15:57Last year we did a $25,000 fireworks
16:00show.
16:04with the event expenses and everything
16:05that we spent, we ended up with a
16:07surplus of 3466 3,466.
16:12That will go towards this year's
16:14project.
16:18Uh a couple things are happening um
16:21with
16:22tariffs with
16:23all all things going on and with
16:28this being the 250th year anniversary of
16:31our Independence Day, there's a huge and
16:33high demand for fireworks.
16:36So, fireworks costs have gone up as well
16:38as the demand on people that the
16:40pyrotechnic groups that do these
16:42fireworks.
16:43So, I really want to if we're going to
16:45have one this year, we need to lock
16:47We have one that is actually offered to
16:49do it the same guy that did it last
16:51year. That same group out of Elkhart.
16:54Um they're offering
16:56uh they're holding July 4th for us
16:58pending us approving them.
17:02Otherwise, they're you know, they
17:03[clears throat] won't Take somebody
17:04else.
17:05>> better. So,
17:09I reached out to a few others. I don't
17:11know um the layout the kind of the
17:14landscape of people's finances this
17:16year. I know it I feel like more people
17:18will be willing to support this event
17:21being that it's the 250th. It's a it's a
17:23big event.
17:26I did put in a higher I put in two
17:29options. He said for the same dollar
17:31amount
17:34the costs for the two
17:37uh 25,000
17:41we ended up with a few less shells than
17:43we did last year. Just the cost of the
17:45cost of fireworks this year.
17:49We did include another
17:51um proposal for 35,000 if we were to
17:54receive additional sponsorships not not
17:57this
17:58being born by the city. But if we do
18:01have additional sponsorships,
18:03we have another contract in there for
18:0435,000 if we're able to raise additional
18:07funds like we did last year.
18:11the Rebecca and the chamber, they're
18:13also reaching out to a few um
18:19performers trying to get maybe a an
18:22additional concert, something something
18:24else to go and coincide with this.
18:27They're moving the parade from
18:29a mid-morning parade
18:32to an evening parade.
18:34That way it's all people can
18:37do that do the parade end up at the end
18:39up at the park in the civic center and
18:41kind of have and not have a big break in
18:43the middle of the day, especially if
18:44it's really hot. That really wears
18:45people down. So, they're going to have
18:47food vendors
18:49a concert and and have a big So, we may
18:52have additional costs that will be
18:53incurred depending on who they're able
18:55to find with the um
18:58to to put on the the concert.
19:03So, I don't know how the council feels
19:05feels about this. I
19:07personally after talking about it with
19:09Rebecca,
19:10we feel like the the the dollar amount
19:13for this show would probably be
19:15sufficient keeping it at the $25,000
19:17mark. And if there's any additional
19:19funds received, put that towards
19:21additional
19:22add-ons, giveaways, ice cream, you know,
19:28things during the parade, other costs
19:30that's going to be generated instead of
19:32increasing the size of the fireworks and
19:34running that risk that we may not
19:36receive, you know, the additional amount
19:38of money from sponsorships.
19:40Cuz I don't want the city have to be put
19:42in a position to spend too much money on
19:44that.
19:45So, that's my recommendation is
19:48is that we enter that we approve
19:52entering in with Wilson Family Power
19:53Techniques for July the 4th.
19:59What I What I want to have to say about
20:00that is I'm I'm in agreement with uh
20:03We need to make a motion first.
20:05Oh, yeah.
20:06Yeah, we do. This before discussion.
20:08>> Okay, yeah. Any discussion?
20:11>> [snorts]
20:12>> Okay.
20:13>> I'll make a motion we uh enter into
20:15agreement with
20:18Wilson Family Wilson Family
20:20I second.
20:22>> [snorts]
20:23>> Now you can proceed with the discussion.
20:25Um I'm in agreement with having the
20:28having the uh um
20:30program
20:31fireworks program cuz everything was
20:33really nice on that on the year that we
20:35had it and it was really uh
20:38community-based
20:40and I really enjoyed that. But I do
20:42recall on the last year is that we were
20:46not supposed to use taxpayers money
20:48moneys to fund those program. So, you
20:52tell me how we need to move forward with
20:56using those type funds for
21:00that type of event. Well, like I like I
21:02just mentioned, uh we didn't use
21:04taxpayers money. We ended up with a
21:06surplus of 3,466
21:08of sponsorship money.
21:10So, we actually
21:11we raised more sponsorship money than
21:14even was required so we didn't use any
21:15taxpayer.
21:16>> Okay. So, what I'm asking I'm going to
21:18>> This right here um I'm asking about What
21:21I'm asking is if if it's is it
21:22guaranteed No, it's not.
21:25>> Okay, that's right. And and that's why
21:27if if council does approve cuz what
21:29we're going to have to do is
21:31um if we do enter into contract, now
21:34they're going to have to go out and
21:35purchase um all of this and put them in
21:37storage for July. They can't wait until
21:39the last minute, right? So, what they
21:41requested as you see in that in the
21:43proposals is a 50% down. So, that would
21:46require us writing them a check
21:49to to purchase the uh fireworks and put
21:51them in reserve.
21:53And then when the sponsorships come in,
21:55we refund we reimburse the city that
21:57cost. It's not a guarantee. I can't
22:00guarantee that. That's why we have to
22:02get council approval. And if council
22:04approves to spend that money, there's a
22:06lot of cities that spend
22:09They They put it in their budget.
22:11>> dollars They put a New Year's fireworks
22:13show, July 4th. It's very much legal and
22:16allowed. Um
22:19My hopes and and what we've done so far
22:21pretty much every year is raise enough
22:23funds to to to pay for it where it did
22:25not come out of taxpayers money.
22:27So, with that being said, so is it
22:29always up to the council to do that or
22:31does the chamber
22:33Is the chamber able to take lead and
22:36move forward with They don't have
22:38They don't have the reserves or the
22:41ability to come up with a check for the
22:4412,500 and hold it until sponsorships
22:47are coming in. So, the chamber wouldn't
22:49be willing to do that.
22:51If the
22:53If the city is not willing to do that,
22:55then I mean we would be put in a
22:57position probably that we wouldn't be
22:58able to do it.
23:00We're basically backing the show
23:03and going out and seeking sponsorships
23:05cuz people don't you know, our local
23:07businesses
23:09they pay taxes, too. So, if they're not
23:11wanting you know, us to um
23:13to foot that bill this before we get the
23:15sponsorship.
23:16>> out there watching it is paying taxes.
23:18Sure.
23:19And so, it's it's a public benefit. It's
23:21very much a legal expense. Um It's
23:25arguably
23:26Council needs to decide if if I put this
23:28in the budget every year,
23:30you know, council would need to decide
23:31every year do we budget that kind of
23:33money?
23:34It's not in the budget. So, that's why I
23:36asked council do y'all want to support
23:38this event and us seek sponsorships for
23:40it? Right. I do recall one year
23:44I do recall one year I think
23:47Mr. [name] had had an issue because of the
23:49fact that he was like, "What do we fund
23:51a fireworks show or do we place that
23:54those funds towards repairing streets?"
23:57You know. And that's what I mentioned in
23:59the That was That was during the time
24:01when we were doing a starting a lot of
24:04projects on the
24:06on the streets. I'm all for And and it's
24:08a concern and that's why I said and then
24:10I came back and said we ended up with
24:12not having to spend the nine the
24:14$10,000. I was asking for council
24:16support to back it cuz we have to lock
24:18these people down otherwise they're
24:20going to go to another city and do the
24:21same thing. Um
24:24And so, it's it's definitely a very
24:26reasonable
24:27concern that you have that we not spend
24:30taxpayers dollars. And But we didn't
24:32have to. We didn't have to.
24:34Okay. Which is which was good and great,
24:37but I'm I'm where Mr. [name] was at that
24:39time. I'm looking at
24:41repairing streets and things like that
24:44in my precinct
24:46that we have a lot of projects that we
24:47need to look at that we need to take
24:49care of a lot of properties that
24:52need to be cleared off and things such
24:54as that. Well, you know what? That's
24:56Yeah. And it but one precinct versus the
24:59whole city. This is something that the
25:01city would enjoy. And there There comes
25:04a point that
25:06you can only repair so many streets with
25:0815 $20,000. I'm sorry.
25:15Yes, ma'am. Excuse me, you're talking
25:17while I'm talking. Yes, ma'am. I am out
25:19of order.
25:21Thank you.
25:22Uh so,
25:24in my opinion, I think that there needs
25:26to be some events that the community
25:28come together that everything you have
25:30to share other things with your
25:32community. And this is if In the In the
25:35past, not only did
25:38we had a lot of people that gave away a
25:39lot of free food. They came together.
25:42And there has to be some some avenue for
25:44flexing your community. You work hard,
25:48you flex. I mean, that's what we do. You
25:50You do things some things for
25:51entertainment, but but this one is
25:53significant because it's open to
25:55everybody. Some In the whole community,
25:58you can come, you can enjoy, you can
26:00fellowship. And I think it's it's it's
26:03necessary.
26:04Uh you got to have some place where the
26:07community can breathe. And yes, it's
26:09it's their money, too. It's not just one
26:11person money. Everybody's paying taxes
26:14so everybody's supporting the event.
26:16It's not just one precinct that's paying
26:19taxes. Everybody in the city pays taxes.
26:22And I think this is a an appropriate way
26:24for them all to benefit from it.
26:27And I I definitely understand I
26:28definitely understand that. But when you
26:31when your precinct is pretty much my on
26:33my in my opinion
26:35has been neglected for a little bit.
26:37There's moneys that we need to recover
26:40so we can
26:42infrastructure.
26:44Do things in our precinct that's been
26:46lacking over the years. So, I'm speaking
26:49on behalf of precinct three. I do want
26:51to see the city thrive as a whole and I
26:53do want to see but I believe that if we
26:55do the
26:57PowerTech the firework show is that it
27:01should be done with
27:03by donations.
27:06Which is what I'm Which is what I'm
27:07asking.
27:08And that's what he said.
27:10Well, I It's been a motion second.
27:12It's been motion
27:15I'll make a motion we move on the
27:16previous question.
27:19Okay.
27:21Motion is on to
27:23I second. Okay, it's been moved and
27:25second.
27:26All in favor?
27:29Motion carries. Opposed? I'm sorry,
27:31opposed. I'm sorry.
27:33>> [snorts]
27:34>> The motion is on the table. And now we
27:36go back to original, right?
27:39It's been a
27:40first and a second and uh
27:42You want to make the original motion?
27:43So, now we can speak again on the
27:45previous motion?
27:48on the previous motion
27:51on the motion Time to vote.
27:54All approve?
27:58Opposed?
28:00>> [snorts]
28:00>> Okay. Motion carries. Thank you.
28:03At this time we'll go to item number
28:05seven.
28:07>> [snorts]
28:08>> Considering approving electrical
28:09contract for energy supply for all city
28:12facilities effective June 1, 2027.
28:16Mayor and council, I I [snorts] printed
28:18out to where we can see it in front of
28:21you. It's on a piece of paper as well as
28:22what I have on the screen.
28:25But just a a quick explanation of where
28:28we're at.
28:32in 20
28:34uh 18 In 2017, um
28:38we went in um
28:40to a contract Mhm.
28:43for electricity and we dropped at that
28:46time we dropped our
28:49our cost It was right at 10 cents per
28:51kilowatt hour and that was not for the
28:53delivery side but for the provider side.
28:56We went from 10 cents
28:57and in 2017 we locked in a contract for
29:01point 0.0335 cents. So, three
29:05and a third of a cent
29:07from 10 cents.
29:112025
29:13and no, in 2024 we had the opportunity
29:16as we were nearing the end of that
29:18contract for a tag for a tag on contract
29:21for an add on contract at the end of our
29:24current contract at that time, we added
29:27two more years to that contract that was
29:29going to expire in 25.
29:31Now, that contract
29:34is going to expire in 27 since we added
29:36two more years. We extended that same
29:38rate.
29:41Electricity is going up.
29:44Uh it's coming down. Sorry, excuse
29:47The provider side of electricity
29:50in 2025, May of 2025, our
29:54our brokers reached out to us at that
29:56time and said,
29:57"[name], as we're getting up close to the
29:59end of your current contract,
30:02we really need to look at
30:04renewing that, you know, cuz we can
30:06[snorts] go out about 2 years ahead of
30:08time
30:08and lock in a good contract." At that
30:11time, the the numbers that they were
30:13given were five five and a half and six
30:16>> [snorts]
30:17>> um cents per kilowatt hour.
30:21Since that time, in the last year, a
30:23little bit less than a year,
30:25>> [snorts]
30:26>> we have now crept up and if you flip
30:28that page that you have there,
30:36And right here.
30:36>> Okay, it is creeping.
30:39Those are the rates as of So, we reached
30:41out to three different brokers
30:44asking all of them to to quote the
30:46market, just seeing what best numbers we
30:48can bring in.
30:51Those are the best numbers that we were
30:52able to get in
30:54using three brokers. One of them
30:56actually he ended up backing out because
30:59um several of the markets that he was
31:02pricing um
31:03Take Five had had just recently priced.
31:07And so,
31:09the Vega broker down at the bottom, they
31:12found a few of them that were a little
31:13bit cheaper.
31:17So, basically I highlighted in green, if
31:20you look at the length of term at the
31:21top, 12-month, 24, 36, and so forth, all
31:25the way out to 9 years, 108 months,
31:27are the terms that we tried to price the
31:29market for to see what we could lock
31:31into.
31:33Um and I highlighted the best prices per
31:36kilowatt hour
31:38for each of those terms.
31:43This is a little bit similar to playing
31:47money on Wall Street, trying to predict
31:50the market, is it going to continue
31:51going up? Is it going to go back down?
31:54>> going up, it's coming down.
31:56You think so? I haven't seen
31:58I don't know what you've been watching,
31:59but it's been coming down. Electricity?
32:01Yes.
32:03It's been coming down.
32:05If you look, uh it's been coming down
32:07and and and we're good through 2027,
32:10right? Uh
32:12May 31st, 2027. Yes, so this contract
32:15would be June I wouldn't sign nothing
32:17right now.
32:19Don't sign nothing right now until
32:22it gets closer because it's coming down.
32:25Uh what I've been what I've been seeing
32:28it is is it was 10 and now it was nine,
32:31now it's eight and a half.
32:34Are you looking So, you're saying with
32:36delivery charges?
32:37>> I I I'm the one that did this.
32:39>> With Take Five, you remember that? I'm
32:41the one that got the girl that that did
32:42this.
32:44So, Seriously. And so, she's she's the
32:47one that presented us these numbers.
32:50So, if you look at the one with the
32:51graph,
32:53I I understand that, but if if we're a
32:56year out,
33:00things are going to be different in a
33:01year. Oh, yeah, with
33:05I defer I I don't think so, but
33:08>> I'm not going to argue that point, I
33:10don't know. Um I don't know the market.
33:12>> right now, you're going you're going to
33:13be regretting
33:15come a year from now.
33:17The daughter seriously, I just want Just
33:20looking at um
33:21Usually electrical markets follow oil
33:24with the the demand. You think oil's
33:26going to stay where it's at right now?
33:28It's not going to stay right now, but it
33:29will for a little bit.
33:31It's not going to stay there, it's
33:32coming back down. Oh, no. I hope so.
33:35I hope I hope you're right.
33:39So, I I don't know. I What I'm saying is
33:42this is the this is the market graph. If
33:44you look at the graph,
33:46when we locked in that rate at 3 cents
33:49and it went into 2021 and we've carried
33:51that 3 cents out 3 and a half cents out
33:54till current, now the market rate
33:57um has dipped back down,
33:59you know.
34:00There's a small dip, but it looks like
34:03it's on a continued trend.
34:06That being said, if you
34:09going back to the numbers on the front
34:11on the front page,
34:19if you look at if you look at
34:22the total cost, we we we use about two
34:25and a quarter megawatts
34:28of energy a year.
34:31Our total charges right here, right now
34:33we pay around $320,000,
34:36$350,000 in electricity
34:39from all city facilities, street lights,
34:42our street lights to city facilities and
34:44everything throughout the year, right?
34:46This is only and this is not the
34:48delivery charge, this is the provider
34:50charge of things. The delivery stays
34:52steady.
34:54So, you're looking at if you're if
34:56you're basically
34:58doubling your provider charge, you're
35:00looking somewhere around $80,000
35:03of an increase.
35:05If we were to re
35:07reprice and go into contract right now,
35:11we'd be looking at about an $80,000
35:12jump. Since we're under contract through
35:15next year,
35:18we won't see it this year, but we will
35:19be seeing it next year. So, next year
35:20I'm going to have to start working on
35:23cuz that'll be the budget that we're
35:24coming up the budget workshops that
35:26we're coming up this summer,
35:28we'll have to kind of
35:31price that into our budget, you know.
35:34At least what the market they're saying
35:36these [clears throat] brokers are saying
35:37that the market's going to be at. Like I
35:39said, I I don't know that. I'm not a
35:40broker. I I can only go by what other
35:43brokers are telling me telling us. Um
35:46The the brokers want you to jump in
35:48right now because they they're making
35:50money off of just like insurance
35:51companies.
35:53They're they're making money. That the
35:55cuz cuz you don't we don't pay the
35:57broker. No, electric electrical company.
35:59>> company pays the broker. So, they're
36:01wanting you to jump in right now
36:03and get this high rate. It's coming
36:05down.
36:06>> The only the only issue with with that,
36:08just to clarify, the broker
36:11they their add-on charges are per
36:13kilowatt, not per price, so it's not a
36:15percentage of what we pay. So, if it if
36:17they can lock us into a cheap rate or a
36:19higher rate,
36:20their price per kilowatt
36:23stays the same.
36:25To keep them still looking out for us as
36:27well, not just looking out to try to get
36:29the higher cost. Okay, they're looking
36:31out for us right now
36:33and before this contract's up in '27,
36:36they're going to be looking out for us
36:38the same.
36:39>> I agree. No, I agree. I agree. So, if
36:41council,
36:42like I said, I'm I'm I'm I'm presenting
36:44this to council to prepare you for
36:47>> to prepare
36:48next year, June 2027, our contract will
36:51go out. Y'all let me know, do y'all want
36:53me to price the market now or ride it
36:57and wait for another dip?
36:59I make a motion we ride it.
37:02And not renew at this time. Nope.
37:04Second.
37:09Okay, it's been moved and seconded.
37:12We're ready for a vote.
37:14All in favor?
37:18All right, thank you, council.
37:20>> [clears throat]
37:20>> Motion carried. I'm telling you, it's
37:21going to come down. I don't think it's
37:23coming down. I hope so. It will.
37:25>> [laughter]
37:26>> Believe me.
37:30Item number eight, consider and approve
37:32declaring approximately 14 ft by 65 ft
37:36Fleetwood mobile home as surplus to be
37:39sold by sealed bid.
37:43Mayor and council, I have a
37:46this mobile home that used to be the
37:47office building up front in front of the
37:51the solid waste yard. Um this was the
37:53one that was up by the fence before um
37:56Honey Woods came in and built that
37:57office there.
37:59We moved this out to a piece of property
38:01that we have.
38:03At that time, we were thinking maybe we
38:04would use it as a fire
38:07uh prop where we would do some training
38:10exercises in it.
38:14The fire the fire chief the fire chief,
38:16the fire department, they don't believe
38:17that substantial
38:19>> it's
38:20going to be used enough to be
38:21worthwhile. It's also on a piece of
38:23property that's not highly visible and
38:25it's all not always being watched, so
38:28doors have been broken in, windows are
38:30broken, uh there's lots of graffiti and
38:34stuff going on inside of it. We feel
38:37that it's in best
38:38the city's best interest to clean that
38:40piece of property up and sell it. I
38:42agree.
38:42>> We've actually had a What kind of
38:43prompted this, there were some people
38:45who just called and asked me about it
38:46and of course I'll have to put it on a
38:48sealed bid.
38:49Um And what's the address?
38:52Did you say that? It's a piece of
38:53property that we have on the corner of
38:55Stokes and uh Peace.
38:58There's not really an address there, but
39:00it's on the corner of Stokes and Peace
39:01and you'll see it.
39:02Off of Stokes, when you're driving down
39:04Stokes, you can see it off on the left.
39:09And we'll So, we'll if council declares
39:11it a surplus, I'll put it on the I'll
39:13put legal notices out and we'll receive
39:15sealed bids for people to clean it up
39:17and haul it off
39:19Okay. if if council approves.
39:22I move that we approve the the surplus
39:25to be sold in sealed bid.
39:27I second.
39:30There will be no deliberation.
39:34you ready for the vote?
39:36All in favor?
39:39Motion carried.
39:41Okay, number nine,
39:43Consider and approve a resolution of the
39:45city council of the city of Crockett,
39:47Texas selecting a grant administration
39:49firm to assist the city with the
39:52submittal of an application for funding
39:55and administration [clears throat]
39:57of a contract if awarded from the Texas
40:03Department of Agriculture TDA for the
40:072026 Downtown Revitalization
40:11Program DRP,
40:13Main Street MS Program of the Texas
40:16Community Block Grant TGCD
40:19BG Program.
40:22Mayor and Council, this is um
40:24this is one of our steps in going out
40:27and seeking downtown revitalization
40:29funds
40:30for sidewalks and infrastructure in our
40:32downtown area.
40:33Council approved us to
40:35to apply for this by resolution already.
40:37Um one of our next steps is securing a
40:40grant administrator.
40:42We reached out to a few grant
40:43administrators. We only received one
40:45proposal
40:47uh by Trailer and Associates.
40:53for this one and our
40:56and the next grant project that we have.
41:04And so with having only having only
41:06received one um
41:09one response, the city is
41:11and I have it the letter right there.
41:13The city's just requesting that we um
41:16we enter into contract with Trailer and
41:18Associates.
41:20Well,
41:21[name], I thought we already have I
41:23thought we have a
41:25um grant writer currently employed. No,
41:28ma'am.
41:29So, what do we have What do we
41:32What is his title? We've I've addressed
41:34that already. We don't have a grant
41:35writer.
41:36What is What is he doing?
41:38What is his What is his job description?
41:41Your question is we don't have a grant
41:43writer.
41:43>> have a grant writer or grant
41:45administrator.
41:46And that's why we've used them in the
41:47past. We Every one of our projects that
41:50we apply for for state funds, federal
41:52funds, we use a professional
41:54>> We use grant administrators.
41:55>> still supposed to make them a motion
41:57before we discuss?
42:00Yes, sir. Well, we not supposed to be
42:01talking to them.
42:02Well, to the
42:03city administrator. Okay, still a
42:05discussion. It's considered a
42:06discussion.
42:08Okay, can we get a motion?
42:13I make a motion we enter into agreement
42:15with Trailer and Associates.
42:17I second. Okay, discussion?
42:25So, So, what is the Do we So, once we
42:28enter into this agreement, what is our
42:30cost? What is the fee for?
42:38It's paid for It's paid for through TDA
42:42and it's whatever that allotted amount
42:44that TDA pays for grant administrators,
42:46they they implement it in their budget.
42:48I don't have that number. I actually I
42:50have access to that number cuz we went
42:52over, but being that there was only one
42:54uh proposal,
42:57uh we didn't compare the cost to any
42:59other
43:00uh bidder.
43:05It's
43:06I don't want to speak out of turn, but I
43:07believe it's somewhere around 4 or 5% of
43:09the total project cost.
43:12But, that's what um
43:14is budgeted for by TDA
43:17to pay for grant administrators. And so,
43:19the city the city's part, you said?
43:22The city doesn't have a part in it. It's
43:24paid for through grant funds.
43:25>> funds.
43:28Any other questions?
43:32Ready for the vote?
43:34All in favor?
43:36Grant funds.
43:38Motion carries.
43:39Okay, item number 10.
43:42Consider
43:43and approve a resolution of the city of
43:45Crockett, Texas authorizing a
43:47professional service provider section
43:50for Community Development Block Grant
43:52Disaster Recovery CDBG-DR
43:56Local Communities Program LCP funded
44:00administered administered through the
44:03Texas General Land Office GLO under the
44:062024 Disaster DR 4-4781
44:12Texas Severe Storms and DR-4798
44:17Hurricane Pearl
44:19>> [snorts]
44:19>> Beryl.
44:21Mayor and Council, this is disaster
44:22recovery funds for communities that were
44:25associated with Hurricane Beryl or the
44:28called Texas Severe Storms
44:31um that we had in 2024.
44:34This is essentially the same resolution,
44:36but the General Land Office required
44:39the resolution to be written a little
44:41bit differently, but basically
44:43this is also selecting a grant
44:45administrator
44:48for the disaster recovery
44:51grant that council talked about applying
44:54for for
44:55for all of our creeks
44:57our creeks and
44:58drainage systems that we've talked
45:00about.
45:01And so, that's what we're applying for.
45:05This This will select the uh
45:08Trailer and Associates
45:10for the grant administration services. I
45:12make a motion we approve the
45:15Trailer and Associates.
45:17I second.
45:18Okay,
45:19question?
45:23Ready for the vote? All in favor?
45:27Motion carries.
45:29Okay, brings us to item number 11.
45:32Consider and approve a resolution of the
45:33city council of the
45:35council of the city of Crockett, Texas
45:37selecting an engineering firm to assist
45:40the city with the submittal
45:41[clears throat] of an application for
45:43funding and project implementation of a
45:45contract if awarded from the Texas
45:48Department of Agriculture TDA for the
45:512025-2026
45:53Texas Community Development Block Grant
45:56Program
45:57dash Community Development Fund
46:00TXCDBG-CD
46:03under application number CDB25-00
46:12Mayor and Council, um
46:14this is the other program that we've
46:15applied for. It's a Community
46:17Development Block Grant for a a million
46:19dollars for sewer systems
46:21repairs that
46:23that we've talked about. We've passed a
46:25resolution to apply for.
46:26We're at the phase to select engineering
46:29for that project. Um we received two
46:32responses on engineers engineering
46:35firms.
46:36Uh SPI
46:40SPI and Pape-Dawson.
46:43Pape-Dawson is the company that bought
46:45out KSA Engineers.
46:48KSA Engineers being the ones that has
46:49worked with us on our previous projects.
46:55>> [snorts]
46:56>> And so, receiving those two we and
47:01KSA is the one that has worked and
47:03submitted the proposals for the SSO
47:06program that included those same sewer
47:09lines that we're now trying to get
47:10funding for. So, they're very
47:12aware of the project and
47:14we believe them to be
47:18our recommendation for
47:20uh doing this project.
47:23I make a motion to approve the Texas
47:25Community Development Block Grant
47:27Program.
47:29Se- Second. It's been moved and second.
47:32Any discussion?
47:37Are you ready for the vote?
47:40Favor?
47:41Motion carries.
47:44Okay, that brings us to item number 12.
47:47Consider and approve letter of support
47:49regarding TxDOT demolition and
47:52construction of overpass at Northwest
47:55Loop 304.
47:58Mayor and Council,
48:00I'm going to show you real quick on a
48:02map. I know you all are aware of
48:04of where Willie Josie's used to be on
48:07the loop on the north loop. Uh-huh.
48:15So, right here
48:17I wonder
48:18if I can do that.
48:21So, as the loop goes around at at 19
48:23North, you're going to see it's a 19287
48:25[snorts]
48:26North here.
48:28Down to the left at the Health and Human
48:29Services Commission office.
48:31Then it then there's an overpass that
48:33goes over the railroad track.
48:37that
48:39that bridge has reached its um
48:41>> [snorts]
48:42>> its life. It's end of life.
48:46TxDOT has budgeted for replacing that
48:47bridge.
48:50There's two technically two
48:53two options on replacing a bridge.
48:55Building another one alongside it and
48:58then demoing the old one.
49:00>> [snorts]
49:02>> Or demoing this one first and rebuilding
49:05a new one right where it stands.
49:08>> [snorts]
49:08>> They prefer rebuilding building a new
49:10one right where this the current loop
49:12stands.
49:14Um it's going to be significantly
49:16cheaper to do so.
49:21and the loop they're not going to have
49:23to deal with easements additional
49:25easements
49:26um moving all the right-of-ways as well
49:29as having your loop
49:31have a jog in it
49:33and then come back over. So, for several
49:36for quite a few reasons they would
49:37prefer doing this. They do realize that
49:39due to the length of time of this
49:41construction,
49:42this is at least 6 months up to a year
49:44depending on how they go about this
49:46project.
49:50um the other and as it's mentioned in
49:52that letter,
49:55the other um issue there is the um
49:59if they can demo and go into
50:01construction
50:03on the current location, they they
50:05believe they can get it in their 27
50:07budget. If not, they're going to have to
50:09roll it into their next biennial budget,
50:12which will be probably 28, 29, maybe
50:14even 2030.
50:18they're asking for letters of support
50:20from the city.
50:21Um we're also going to
50:23take that to the county and ask for them
50:24to support it.
50:28we talked with fire, police,
50:31public works.
50:32It's a It's an inconvenience, but we
50:34don't believe it to be
50:36um harmful to our you know, to the
50:38safety of our
50:41uh travel
50:42>> services, you know, gaining access to
50:45people, getting there
50:46since everything is centralized
50:49from the middle of the city and going
50:50out, it will be an inconvenience if if
50:53there's already somebody out on the loop
50:55and has to go around it.
50:57Um it's just something to consider and
50:59be aware of and and and work through for
51:01the next you know, they'll be in charge
51:03charge of detours and traffic and
51:06blocking roads and message boards on the
51:08road and everything like that, but
51:10they just want to know before they shut
51:12this bridge down and
51:15and detour traffic for several months,
51:18maybe even up to a year,
51:20that [snorts] council's aware of it and
51:22supports the project in that manner. So,
51:24then basically we won't we won't have to
51:26worry about providing any traffic
51:28control. They'll They'll handle that.
51:30Yeah, they do the whole project, yes,
51:31ma'am. It's just
51:32they're cutting down a of you know, a a
51:34significant
51:36tra- thoroughfare
51:37>> Yes. and um that we're going to have to
51:39deal with, you know, detour through the
51:41inside of the city and stuff like that,
51:43but they'll take care of the
51:45the leg work of
51:46>> necessary. Okay, cuz I was just
51:47concerned that we was going to have to
51:48provide
51:48>> No, ma'am. Okay.
51:52So, they were just asking for some type
51:54of a you know, so we drafted that letter
51:56of support just asking Okay. I'll make a
51:58motion we approve a letter to the state
52:00that that approves the uh
52:03support
52:03>> demolition of that bridge.
52:07so, it would save them money. If it
52:09saves them money, it saves me money.
52:11Yes.
52:12I second that. Okay, it's been moved and
52:14second. Any more discussion? Mhm.
52:17All in favor?
52:19Motion carries.
52:21Okay, brings us to item number 13, new
52:24business, consideration of future agenda
52:27items. New business items must be
52:28presented as a motion without
52:30discussion. If the motion receives a
52:32second and a majority vote, the item
52:35will be placed on a future agenda for
52:37deliberation and possible action.
52:41Do we have any new
52:44future agenda items? Uh
52:47I move that we place um
52:51on our next agenda
52:53to discuss
52:57city swimming pool.
53:03Second. We discuss what? City swimming
53:05pool. What was it What was it city
53:06swimming pool?
53:08I second. Okay, it's been moved and
53:10second.
53:12All in favor?
53:17Opposed?
53:19I did.
53:20I'll make a motion we adjourn.
53:22Oh. Did we vote? Oh, that was a motion.
53:25But did we vote?
53:27Oh, okay. That's I That's
53:29why I didn't
53:30I didn't know what it I thought I heard
53:32it again twice, so I couldn't figure it
53:33out. What
53:35Okay, that's good. We're on our way.
53:39Oh, this has been
53:41a working morning. Man.
53:46You got swimming pool second. It's still
53:48May right here.
53:50Cool with that.