Council meeting 2026-08-24
Agenda · Packet · Minutes · YouTube · 55:01 long
0:01What about you? Crockett Independ.
0:28He's here. Got it out fast. Fire chief.
0:34Oh, you say he made it.
0:38Good. That's a little Oh, that that must be Bonnie, man. Did you blow on it like Superman?
0:52That's that fire. Did you blow that fire out? Did you do like Superman? Blew it out.
0:58[laughter]
1:00The way you do, you probably inhale it. You ready?
1:11Okay.
1:13Good evening everyone. Welcome to the city council of city of Crockett.
1:19Believe it or not, we're so glad that you joined us. At this time, we will be opening our meeting and we will open with an invocation.
1:30Heavenly Father, we come before you this afternoon in Jesus name, thanking you for this opportunity to gather here at city hall. We ask you today for wisdom
1:39concerning all of the issues and things pertaining to the business of the city tonight. And we just ask you for your help and your guidance and your strength
1:47to make the right decisions. We give you all the praise and glory in Christ Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. The pledge.
1:56I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation
2:05under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
2:19Okay. At this time, um, it has been open where we're going to recognize our visitors. Thank you so much for coming.
2:26We should have a interesting meeting tonight. We have a lot to cover. And with that being said, that brings us to
2:34um our public comments. And I'll just read you the information. Uh, at this time, members of the public will be allowed to speak on city related matters
2:42only. No personnel matters or matters under litigation will be allowed. The length of time may not exceed three minutes. City Council shall not speak
2:51under this item in accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act. The council may not deliberate or take action on matters
2:59except as properly posted in accordance with the law. And with that being said, we do have one person colleague
3:07girl Gil Gil and Kayla
3:16Kyle Gil has not made it yet. So he is the president of Crockett Merchant Girls softball and I am the secretary this year. Um we heard of an agenda item at
3:26the last meeting regarding an installation of turf on the softball and uh baseball fields. Our board got together and we think it would be an
3:35amazing idea to install turf on our fields here in Crockett. Um, this last season, um, Crockett Merchant Girl
3:43softball and our volunteers have put in more than 50 hours of work on just the fields alone. Um, installing this turf
3:51would be beneficial not only to our volunteers and our equipment, but also to the girls of Houston County that we serve here in town. Thank you.
4:01Thank you. Thank you.
4:04Okay, with that being said, it brings us to our next item, approval of minutes, regular session, August 3rd, 2026.
4:19I'll make a motion we approve the the minutes of August the 3rd, 2026. Second.
4:26Okay, it's been moved and second discussion. All ready for the vote. All in favor?
4:38Motion carries.
4:40Oppose. It wasn't any opposing cuz he raised. Okay. I thought he raised it.
4:45Okay. Thank you. Okay. Then it brings us to item number two, police department manpower and criminal incident report for July 2026.
4:56Good evening, mayor, council, city administrator. Police Department manpower and criminal activity report for July of 2026. Total of 16 officers,
5:05worked 2,875 hours, responded to 444 calls for service, investigated 12 traffic
5:12accidents, uh made 49 arrests, issued uh 244 traffic citations,
5:20completed 76 reports, responded to 15 alarm calls. 12 of those were false alarm. Below you'll see a breakdown of
5:27our u other reports and I'll entertain any questions you have on our report.
5:35I got a busy if there's no questions. Uh y'all probably noticed there's a new face here with me tonight. Uh Matthew Milikin. He
5:43was our lieutenant uh just recently as recently as last week was promoted to or week before promoted to captain. He's
5:50filling Captain [name] [name] spot who y'all all know left and going to work in the Dallas area. So, u Matt's been with
5:58us for about a little over seven years and uh just like I said recently moved into that position. So, you'll be seeing his face a lot more.
6:07So, we thank him [applause] for Would you like to introduce himself? Congratulations.
6:13Amen. Did you want to say anything?
6:17[laughter]
6:22We would want to over not allow you to say something. Okay. Thank you so much.
6:28Um All right, Mr. Fire Chief.
6:33Good evening, mayor, council members. Uh my July report um we had a total of 27 calls, 17 of those being inside the city
6:42and 10 in a county response area. We had a relatively slow slow month but it's starting to pick up a little bit for us.
6:48So I almost missed this meeting. We had a call so I had to go help them. So uh it's our fire season is starting to pick
6:55up but I will give kudos to the citizens for obeying the do not burn. So we've been fortunate. So I just hope it stays that way. But uh in front of y'all
7:04there's a further breakdown. If I got any question on that, I'll be more than happy to answer it for you.
7:14Well, we're glad that we Thank you, Chief.
7:17Because it's been dry for for quite a while.
7:19Yes, ma'am. And it's getting drier by today. So, especially with these 100 degree days. I'm going to excuse myself so I don't run your audience out because
7:27I know I smell like fire. [laughter] Get some water so I'm not being rude, but I'm going to excuse myself. Thank you so much. You're excused.
7:34Thanks, Chief. And it brings us to item number four.
7:42Present charter amendment proposition from charter commission and discuss dates of council charter workshops.
7:50Mayor and council, I have before you the charter proposition uh the booklet that we prepared. Uh this is coming out of
7:58our um charter committee. Um we had um uh some meetings this this
8:05past month went through all these propositions.
8:08I am uh grateful for all the work that the charter committee members put into it. This was been has been a a lengthy
8:16process really looking into the details of the charter and discussing the what the what'ss and hows of the charter and
8:25making recommendations. Um, I can say that the charter uh amendments that are in this booklet before you um were all voted on unanimously by the committee.
8:36They they looked into it in detail [snorts] enough to address any of their concerns, any of them that were for or
8:43against to where everybody unanimously is presenting these changes and propositions to council. Um, so I have a
8:51copy of that. We the directive was to submit these to council prior to September the 1st and that's what um
8:58this is. The next um step in this process as I'd mentioned before the first step is getting it out of
9:07committee uh goes to council for workshops. Um and depending on council's direction due to the lengthiness of it
9:16um and the amount of um the amount of uh propositions after council has their proposition, if
9:24they want to hold any public hearings, they can. Maybe we included that in a couple of our council meetings, have, you know, one or two public hearings.
9:33Um, I do recommend getting this um after after it finishes with council's review and proposals of what the ballot
9:41propositions need to look like. um that it needs to go to the Secretary of State uh well the Attorney General's office actually and they review the ballot
9:50wording um to make sure that it's as clear as possible. There's no, you know, double negatives or misleading language
9:58or um they they go through it with the fine tooth come as well and then send it back to us before we can order the ballots and and put it on the May
10:06election. Um so it's in y'all's it's in y'all's field if y'all want to do a couple meetings up
10:14front, see how that proceeds, and then maybe schedule if we need another meeting. It's going to be on y'all's terms uh how how long y'all want to
10:22take. Um I did ask Charlie uh uh tenatively for the next two months worth of available dates. And I asked for
10:29evening times and I asked for uh Friday because I know several of y'all um in talking with y'all Fridays might
10:37be a day that y'all could do a midday meeting um either you know right after lunch or before lunch a midm morning.
10:44It's up to y'all. So these are the dates that Mr. Charlie right here um said that he has
10:52available. And um I sent that out earlier to y'all in the in the last last week um to see if there's any common
11:01denominator common denominators in these dates that work for all of council.
11:07um the evening meetings and if y'all want to pull up y'all's uh calendar just to verify the evening
11:15meetings that he's available is September 10th 14th 28th 29th 30th 7th okay that's September 10th 14th 28th
11:2429th and 30th October in the evening he is available on the 7th and 15th
11:31for October um Fridays that he has available for a day meeting is 11th and 25th of September and 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th of October.
11:43Do y'all have any recommendations on some days that I can loop him in? This is days that he sent out to me um a few
11:53days ago. So hope I did ask him to let us know if any of those dates get taken before this meeting, but
12:00um I can try to narrow them down because I think it's really important that all of council be there and that we get to
12:08this process as a group as well. Um would um
12:15well my my question now is going to be on considering Chris got to be jobs. So yeah, would Fridays
12:24No, I can make myself available regarding the council Fridays.
12:30Um, does everybody prefer Fridays for Fridays are fine?
12:36Fridays are fine with me.
12:40The only Friday I'm not available is October 16th I'll be out state. So the 15th 15th or 16th
12:4815th 16th 16th only 16th October 16th is for October October 16th is the only Friday that I'm
12:55I'm in disposed the rest of the Fridays I should be good to go but I'm looking on the on the letter here and it says 7th and 15th.
13:03Okay 7th 15th I think September isn't it?
13:08It says October October 7th and 15th is for evening evening meetings.
13:13Okay that's what you said. And then Friday would be 9th, 16th, 23rd, and 30th. So, do y'all want to pick um a Friday?
13:22We have the September the 11th and the 25th and lock in a a Friday meeting for September.
13:31I'm good. September 11th say 911. Yeah, 911.
13:37We have a morning uh we usually have a morning uh ceremony here. So, if y'all wanted to do
13:44a ceremony and then a a lunch going to a lunch to two o'clock meeting,
13:53maybe carve out a couple hours on the 11th September 11th. I got Okay, fine with me.
14:00So, let me ask you a question with that.
14:02With that being said, so I see on down off in the agenda you say about scheduling a meeting for September the
14:098th. So can we that was initially that was initially and then by the time of this meeting he's pulled the the 8th it's not available.
14:19I mean I think you said regular meeting like Oh yeah because of the Labor Day correct.
14:25So what I'm asking is do we need to do a a Labor Day weekend a Labor Day Tuesday because you look like you said um the 7th is Labor Day. Sure.
14:35So, look like you said have a meeting on Tuesday, September 8th, to move our regular meeting. That's in another agenda item.
14:41Okay. So, that's what I'm asking. Can we combine those?
14:43Well, we can we can we can put this all on a council meeting, but it's just a later evening meeting. Um,
14:51and from the, you know, my talks with council, some of them prefer during the day, you know, when they're a little bit more
14:58fresher. But I was because that's two, I mean, that's two meetings. one on the one on the y and one
15:0611. Yeah, that's up to y'all. That's up to y'all.
15:09So, I was just wanted to see if we could combine the council could be our meeting combining.
15:14I don't have his uh schedule for he does not give me a September 8th availability. Oh, okay.
15:19For an evening meeting. He he did give a 10th and a 14th for evenings.
15:26So I mean I think I was just asking can we combine those instead of well according to his schedule we we won't be able to
15:34that I have all of his available evenings and Fridays.
15:38So that's what I'm saying. So we won't be able to hold our regular meeting that day.
15:42Yes. No ma'am we will for our normal meeting but not with the workshop. With the workshop. Okay.
15:49Okay.
15:55who who is a um who is not able to do the 11th and and if we did a noon to uh
16:02we could bring in some some snacks and stuff and we could do a noon to Tuesday Friday September 11th.
16:09I can't I'm good. Okay. Do y'all want to pick one more?
16:16Two weeks later is September the 25th [clears throat] and that falls on Friday. Friday.
16:22The Well, of course. Yes. Friday. So, we have 11th and then two weeks later, the 25th. Y'all want to lock those two in.
16:27See, and that gives a two week break if any comments or questions to him that he needs to review and research and bring back answers for. That gives him
16:35two weeks in the same month.
16:37And then we more and hopefully can have a feeling of where we're going from there. Yeah. Okay.
16:44Have the same one. All right.
16:53Okay. So, that's the September, the 11th, and the 25th.
16:57And then, um, after his um after his advice, we could open it up to focus here.
17:05Yes. Okay.
17:06Once council feels good about the propositions moving forward, then we would um and then like I said, none of this is required, but I think in the the
17:15ability to have as much um access to the public and feedback um
17:23a workshop sometimes are recommended, but it's up to council.
17:26So, uh with that being said, will each individual council member uh be allowed to host a work independently or how does it work?
17:38It's all however you want to do it. Okay. Okay. So, we got September 11th, 25th.
17:4611:20. All right. What time? Y'all want to do noon though, too? That's fine.
17:54Yeah. Okay.
17:57Right after lunch, I'm going be sleeping.
17:59Well, I mean, we can't. So, I mean, that's all you can do.
18:03I'm good. No, we can do some coffee and some energy drinks or something. Well, I can throw things at you. Yeah, even better.
18:11All right, get Mr. [name] to elbow me every now and then. Two. Okay, thank you'all.
18:18So, we are on to item number five. Yes, ma'am.
18:24The public hearing on proposed budget of the city of project for the 2026 2027 fiscal year.
18:36It's officially open.
18:39If anyone u members of the public wants to speak for or against um this next year's budget, we've had this budget
18:47posted for a little over a month now. Um we've also uh posted notices in the newspaper um posted it online um and on
18:57our website. Um if any members of the public want to speak for or against any of these um the proposed budget, this would be your time.
19:14Does anyone in the next item
19:25if it's not any from the public? We're officially closed.
19:31It takes us to the next item.
19:37So if you do want to read this is required to be posted, but if you want to read it up to at least here.
19:43Okay, I'll read it all. Okay, I have to read it all just to there. Okay.
19:49Item number six, consider an approving ordinance making appropriations for the support of the city of Crocki for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026
19:58and ending September 30, 2027, appropriating money to sinking fund to pay interest in principal due on the
20:06city's indebtness and adopting the annual budget of the city of Crockett for fiscal year 2027.
20:14Do I need to rest? Doesn't have to be.
20:17Mayor, uh, council, I have the, um, the budget that has been presented to council and available.
20:28Um, before you, I have a short summary uh, to present on this budget.
20:35And as clarification, this budget and the following agenda items all go into the
20:43funding portion of this budget. So to approve this budget, the funding items that will
20:50provide the finances for the budget that you approve are coming all in the same in the next few agenda items.
21:00The FY27 budget increases total revenues and expenses by approximately 12.6%.
21:09And I'm going to break that down. The majority of these increases are bringing $88,000
21:16of former EDC sales tax revenue and corresponding USDA debt obligations into escrow under the city budget.
21:24Excluding [snorts] those EDC obligations, the primary sources of general fund revenues are 382,000 in advorum tax revenue and 114,000 in sales tax revenue.
21:35The largest recurring cost increases are to fund the personnel cola cost of living adjustment.
21:41um an increase to the street maintenance budget by 16% um or $91,000.
21:49[segment omitted]
21:57phones, and the training budget. It also includes the capital purchases approved by council and place in the budget which
22:04are the fire department hose, the uh police def police department uh rifle packages and a street sweeper. Outside
22:13of personnel cost, most department operating and maintenance budgets have remained flat or decreased.
22:21One additional cost to note in many departments are property and fire insurance creases increases due to the coverage amounts being reassessed on most facilities.
22:30Overall, the uh FY27 budget is is balanced and projecting approximately three 13.694 million in revenue and 13.684 million in expenditures.
22:44the the increases required to fund the 27 budget which are coming in the following items are there are increases
22:54um and the the impact is as followed the impact on our city's residents are as follows the water and sewer water base
23:02rate increase of $153 a month a sewer base rate increase of $168 a month which
23:09is a combined increase of 321 per month on the utility bill no increase in consumption rates.
23:16This covers the cost of the increase to our purchase water from the water district and the cost of living adjustment.
23:22Our garbage contractor increased rates by 3% there. Therefore, we have passed along a 3% garbage rate increase for a residential garbage account.
23:34This will be 68 cents per month of an increase.
23:40Um on property taxes, council initially proposed a.7761
23:48mill rate. After budget calculation and adjusting, it allowed the city to reduce that rate
23:55by nearly 1 cent to 7668 while maintaining a balanced budget.
24:01That reduction represents roughly $39,000 less property tax revenue than the initial proposal approved.
24:08For a home with a h 100,000 taxable value, that will equate to 7 uh $7.16 a month or $86 [snorts] a year.
24:19The combined impact and that's from water, sewer, garbage, and taxes impact the final property tax rate and proposed water, sewer, and garbage
24:28adjustments is approximately 132 per year or $11 a month.
24:37Um, we have the ordinance for you. Um, that also includes, as you see in the budget,
24:45that includes our debt service. You're going to see as we've looked through in the draft already, you see an increase in debt service.
24:56What what has happened is Texas Water Development Board, we were funding our Texas Water Development Board bonds out
25:05of our maintenance and operations. And they still are, but they were not being reflected under our debt service accounts. They wanted to see that money
25:13moving into separated debt service accounts outside of our operations budget. So, the money still comes from our operations budget. That's not new
25:22taxes that we've had to bring in. That's money coming from our our water existing water and sewer revenues. But as you see
25:30right here, um we've had to bring in our Texas Water Development um
25:37combination tax and revenue series 2022, series 2020 4 A, B, and C. All of those
25:44are now being reflected in our debt service um line items in our budget.
25:50Otherwise, our um our debt service would have decreased um by 160,000.
25:59But now that they're requiring us to show it under debt service, even though it's coming from water to sewer utilities,
26:05um then you see an increase of 139,000 instead of the decrease of 160, which is
26:13the real amount that it actually impacts our budget because that money was already being used to pay that debt.
26:20Um, our special revenues, um, as you see here, I keep those zeroed
26:29out. At the end of the year, I bring revenues. Um, for instance, this coming year, um, we have, uh, close to $20
26:37million on the books, uh, for new projects in water, uh, line repairs, um, water plant repairs, and wastewater,
26:46and the grant for the downtown revitalization for the sidewalks.
26:50Um, so we have lots of new outside revenues uh coming into the budget, but as those monies are expended, depending
26:58on the contractor and the timeline of construction, as those monies are brought into the budget, then those are brought to council to to be reflected in
27:06the budget, but I can't project from ahead of time how much of that money will be spent in this next fiscal year.
27:14Um, but that's a big portion of uh of our next year's expenses expenses to the
27:20tune of close to $20 million that um we will be seeing in construction.
27:27That's the short um summary of all the discussions that we've had on the budget. Um the budget that y'all have in front of y'all and by this ordinance is
27:35the same budget that was presented um at our last uh budget workshop.
27:45was um the um just just just to ask you real quick um on the special project the
27:54signs the entrance signs for the the city was that was that part of the special project
28:01uh in last in in last year's budget yes did you know when we were going to get the uh incoming sign for uh
28:11that has not been appropriated by council yet. I need to bring that I need to find, you know, my direction at that
28:19time was we did not spend the money at that time. We were going to try to find some outside some more resources contributions kind of like we did on
28:27Highway 21 or and 7 21 West. We did get an outside one of our local contractors uh companies pay for that Crockett
28:35construction. Um I I felt at that point that since it was u right in front of and that was the
28:44discussions that we've had you know a year or two ago but being in that it was in front of proalis that we would probably need to come up with something
28:50that fit the front of that sign and didn't contrast or compete with the other
28:59signage that was there. So, we were going to look at some options, but at this point, I I don't have any kind of uh funding that I can bring to y'all for it.
29:07Okay. Because I just So, we'll have to do that.
29:09Okay. Because I just kind of look back at that and I noticed that we had, if I can recall correctly, we had uh talked about six
29:17six signs and then we approved five.
29:25Okay. I do have is it is it my turn to say that's up to council at that you
29:32typically make a motion and comment during a mot after a motion in a second but that's up to the mayor and council
29:41we we have a motion we have a motion we're on agenda
29:49eight is that correct uh number six for approve approving the ordinance
29:57appropriating money for the uh fiscal year budget.
30:03Mayor and council, I move that we cons we uh approve the ordinance making appropriations for the support of the
30:10city of Crockett for the fiscal year beginning October the 1st, 2026 and ending September 30th, 2027.
30:18appropriating money to syncing fund and pay interest and principal due to the city's indebtedness and adopting the
30:25annual budget of the city of Crockett for the fiscal year 2027. Okay, we have a motion.
30:33Second it.
30:34Do we have a motion in the second? And now we go to the discussion. if there's discussion with me.
30:40Okay. Um um for the record, I would like to read my
30:50statement on the issue about increases um and the budget.
30:56Um the city of Crockett and and this is for the record, city of Crockett and
31:03constituents in precinct 3. Let me be clear.
31:12Just making sure cut it off. Let me be clear. I do not have an issue with
31:19approving cola or salary increases for the city employee Crockett employees. I
31:26could cons see considering the salary increase for employees only if there was
31:34a way to financially fund it without shifting the burden onto taxpayers and
31:41trying to figure out how to continue to uphold that commitment later without raising taxes. In my opinion, colar sa
31:50and salary increases for all employees should be implemented in phases instead of overloading the taxpayers all at one
31:59time. As a city council member, I represent a portion of the community that is already burdened, overburdened
32:09by many federal benefits being taken from them and by living on fixed incomes.
32:16I cannot see myself being a part of or voting for any systems that add to their
32:24financial burden or overloads the constituents who have entrusted me with their voice to speak on their behalf by asking them for more money.
32:36I have concerns regarding irresponsible practice of moving money from one department to another without
32:45appropriate transparency or compliance with strict budgetary boundaries. The lack of local fiscal
32:55discipline directly impacts city's federal resources.
33:01Taxpayers desire deserve I'm sorry. Taxpayers deserve to know where federal funds or local funds
33:10are being used to cover unauthorized department deficits.
33:15There is no local government accountability, budget, integrity or discipline and
33:22there is apparent improper shifting of funds between departments by city administration.
33:30People already pay too much in taxes.
33:34and have lost government subsidies. We should be adding to the community's trust, not finding ways to erode their
33:44trust in local government. I suggest the following audits by the uh audit the budget by a
33:52third party auditing entity to account for local waste in current city budget.
34:01Cut unneeded spending before asking residents for more money.
34:08Have an accurate assessment of how much how much money we have to work with.
34:16Uh ask and address city administration to be more transparent and forthcoming
34:23with original necessary uh documents. original documents necessary for decide uh necessary for decision making.
34:33Vote on no new uh taxes, utility, water, and sewer
34:39increases or local fees that hurt low income and fixed income families. seek
34:47relief programs such as pushing for taxes freeze uh and discount programs for seniors and disabled residents and
34:56focus on grants more uh grants instead of uh using local
35:04tax dollars. If I understand you correctly, some of you seated here at the DAS wanted to limit want to limit
35:13resources uh cit uh res limit to limit resource citizens to pay more taxes and
35:22the system already knows that many people are on fixed incomes. Where is the relief from overloading taxpayers?
35:32the elderly, the disabled, the underprivileged people who reside in undeserved communities.
35:42This is the reason for my no my strong no vote to any approved tax increase for
35:49constituents in precinct 3. In closing, I urge the city council I have to get a drink of water.
36:00I urge the city council to review the current budget by the fiscal deadline to
36:09identify costcutting measures that could lessen the burden or reverse these increases.
36:19Thank you.
36:21Right now we have we're ready for the vote. Yes, sir.
36:31All in favor? Opposed? Motion carries.
36:40And that brings us to Mayor. I'd like to make one comment. Um, for the record, there are no interdep departmental transfers that ever happen
36:49because it's illegal to do so without bringing it before council and it's voted on in front of council. Um, none
36:58of that ever happens in an audit.
37:00And the audit by a third party is also required by law. And we are one of the many cities that did adequate adequately
37:09comply with the attorney general's office and their requirements and passed um with flying colors on our audits.
37:20Okay. Then Texas question.
37:24What you saying? So basically Okay. I mean and only in audits only information that's it.
37:33Okay. So that take us to the next item item number seven public hearing on 2026 tax rate.
37:47It should be open.
37:50Mayor and council. This is the portion of the meeting that's required for a public hearing for those to speak members of the public to speak for or
37:59against um the proposed tax rate. We have in your uh packet the tax rate or
38:05impact analysis. Um that we presented um
38:12this is the ordinance um that backs up that tax rate levy that council has proposed.
38:25Okay. Does anyone from the public have any comments, statements?
38:35Did you want to say something?
38:44We do have um I'm sorry, we we ran out of copies. We did print some more. We have We can bring them in right now. I apologize for that.
39:44If you want to make a do you want to speak?
39:49You come in so they can hear you please.
40:04The proposed rate is 7668 cents per 100. That's the meal rate and
40:11that includes the debt service and the uh M tax is bed,000. The tax could be
40:20on a on an average uh for a $100,000 house. Um based on a $100,000 house, the
40:26tax bill is 766.80 a year. So the increase was what?
40:34An increase of 86 per year. $86. $86.
40:38Would someone anyone else like to you come
40:54in precinct too? So it said um item six that it was only in a homestead that the property has to be homestead.
41:02So what is it that like 125 for somebody that's not a homestead?
41:07It would be um using that same calculation. If your house is 125,000, you divide that by 100. So that'd be
41:16a,000 that'd be um a,00 250 times the mill rate of 7668.
41:26Okay.
41:28So that would be um how much I could hear you ma'am.
41:49So that'd be 958 if it was 125,000 with no exemptions.
42:00Does anyone else have any comments?
42:06And just for the record, uh the first speaker was Lois Ball, the second speaker BA Harris.
42:17If there are no more comments, we're closing the session. Last call for comments.
42:27Close with our public hearing. It brings us to I can keep turning these pages right.
42:38Um, item number eight, consider and approve an audience leving
42:46and edum taxes for the use and support of the municipal government of the city of Crockett for fiscal year 2027 providing appropriation appropioning.
43:00Okay. We are portioning uh each levy for specific purposes. It provide when taxes shall become due and when same become delinquent if not paid.
43:44and council. This is the ordinance levying the tax to fund the budget.
43:56on paper 12.
44:03[name], is this his language?
44:07Yes. U so for further clarification um thank you for um bringing that up. the state statute
44:16in 2025 actually um increased or or added a um a portion
44:24that address the specific language that is required for making a motion for levying attacks. And I have the print
44:30out for you if you were to adopt the ordinance as drafted in front of you. I have the required motion language
44:39per the state statute and and that's printed out in front of you. If anybody has a question, I can pass another copy down.
44:48Madame Mayor, council, I move that the property tax rate be increased by the adoption of the tax rate of.7668
44:56cents per $100 valuation, which is effectively a 12.63% increase. and the tax rate above the no new re revenue tax rate.
45:08Second this motion.
45:09Okay. Second discussion.
45:20If not ready for Yes. All in favor?
45:27Oppose. Okay. You get it?
45:34Okay, that brings us to the next item.
45:48Now we're number twice.
45:54Uh, consider and approve 2026 tax.
45:59Mayor and council, just for clarification, this is the tax RO from 2026, which that certified values funds
46:06the 2027 budget. That tax roll was provided by the appraisal district this past week. I provided it to you as
46:15attachments and on thumb drives uh for your review. Um this is basically
46:22where we did uh where we appro we we passed a resolution saying that they were reviewed and um certified that
46:30we've that we have received them from the appraisal district. I move we approve the 2026 tax roll.
46:39Second. Okay. Moved and second discussion.
46:44Ready for the vote. All in favor? Did you have these thumb drives? I'm sorry. What?
47:01What's up? I mean,
47:09this is this is not this is a review of something that's certified by the appraisal district.
47:16This is just documenting that we received them from the appraisal district.
47:24Okay.
47:25I'm sorry. There was a little he was asking about the tax room. Um so if we need to recclarify the vote. Okay.
47:34I move that we approve the We got the motion and second just by All in favor?
47:42Oppose.
47:44Okay. Motion carries. It brings us to item number 10.
47:51Consider and approve an ordinance amending chart chapter 10 garbage and trust of the city of Crockett code of
47:58aance uh amending section 10-29 rates to char charge the rates
48:06change the rates change thank you change the rates providing a servability clause containing a repealing clause and
48:14providing an effective date this is the garbage ordinance with the
48:21associated 3% uh CPI increase reflected.
48:29This is what our garbage contractor their fee schedule is being charged to
48:36the city based on these updated fee schedules that will go into effect.
48:42I move that we approve um we approve the ordinance amending chapter 10.
48:49Are we to give the uh effective date as well or No, it's in the ordinance. It'll be in the ordinance.
49:00A second. Okay, it's been moved and second. Discussion.
49:08There's no discussion. Ready for the vote? All in favor?
49:16opposed.
49:19Okay. Motion carries. That brings us to number item number 11.
49:25Consider and approve an ordinance of the city of Crockett, Texas, amending chapter 19, utilities of the city of Crockett code of Ordinance. Uh amended
49:34section 19-37A increasing the rates for residential and commercial water service. Amended
49:40section 19 through 58. uh increasing the rates of the for residential and commercial sew service containing a
49:49servability clause containing uh a repealing clause and providing an effective date.
49:57Mayor and council, this is the ordinance associated with the budget um with the $153 increase to the base rate of water
50:04and $168 increase to the sewer base rate.
50:12Mayor and council, I move that we adopt the city ordinance um amending chapter 19 utilities of the city of Crockett code of ordinances
50:20amending sections 19 through 37A increasing the rates for residential and commercial water service amending sections 19 through 58 increasing the
50:28rates of for residential and commercial sewer service containing a serviceability clause containing a repealing clause and providing an
50:36effective date which was the effective date. So the effective date will be uh o uh October 1.
50:43Thus the stated October 1st effective date. I second his motion.
50:47Okay. Been moved and second. Any discussion? Ready for the vote. All in favor?
50:56Oppose.
50:58Motion carries. Brings us to item number 12. consider and approve rescheduling the first regular meeting of September
51:052026 to Tuesday no uh September 8th 2026 due to the Labor Day holiday.
51:14I move that we approve the rescheduling of the first regular meeting September 2026 to Tuesday September 8th 2026 due to the Labor Day holiday.
51:24I second. Okay. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion?
51:31No. So you did you just confir you did confirm that we won't be able to combine those basically?
51:38Yes. And that was from the email that he provided us.
51:41Okay. I'm okay with that. Okay. Are we ready for the vote? Yes. All in favor?
51:48Motion carries.
51:50No oppos. Okay. This brings us to the item uh new business consider consideration of future agenda items.
51:58New build new business item must be presented as a motion without a discussion. If the motion receives a second and a majority vote, the item
52:07will be placed on a future agenda for deliberation and possible action.
52:12Um, mayor and council, I would like to I notice a lot of discussions been going on back and forth about data centers. So
52:20I move that uh we place uh data center discussion about stipulations and regulations on a data center within our
52:29city just in case they decide if they want to come here at least we will be prepared uh with discussions and policy
52:38probably discussing place on policy in u in place I'll second that.
52:46It's been moved and second and the majority. All in favor?
52:55Motion carries. One more motion, mayor, and we going get out of here.
53:00Um, also like to I had um um would like to have Mr. [name] to update us on
53:08projects that are possibly going on uh in the city currently. um just trying to get an understanding of what's going on
53:16on the loops. Um the intersections where they're being uh cleaned off or things such as that. So if you
53:24Those are all private properties. I mean the city doesn't have any oversight of private property mowing and cleaning,
53:32but that's up to council. I'll be happy to let y'all know what I know.
53:35So there's no intent on anything else happening?
53:39Not as far as the city's in involvement involvement. Okay.
53:43Mayor and council, I move that we um we entertain the uh the soft the the
53:50merchant leagues uh request for turf on the field and uh maybe go maybe go out for bids.
54:10Okay, I'll second that because I want to hear more about what you're what you're asking for. All right. Okay.
54:19It'll be clarified on the agenda. Okay. So, it's been moved then second.
54:26He did. He second it. Okay. Second. All in favor?
54:33Okay. Okay. It will be on the agenda.
54:41Can we get motion to second
54:54me to lunch?
55:01He gets up without and you hear