Loading...
1951 04 26 CC MinutesMIMES OF THEREGULAR DIETING OFT HE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTO.'JN, TEXAS April 26, 1951 The City Counnil of t he City of Baytown, Texas met in regular s ession on Thuasday, April 26, 1951 at 7s30 P. m. in the - Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendances J. A. yard Mayor R. B. Bergeron Councilman E. W. Buelow Councilman Milton L. Campbell Councilman R. H. Pruett Councilman W. D. Reeves Councilman H. M. Campbell Councilman C. Darwin Middleton City ?danger George Chandler City Attorney Edna Oliver City Clerk The Mayor walled the meeting to order, and the minutes of the special meetings of April 11, 1951 and April 20, 1951 were read. Councilman Milton Campbell moved that the minutes regarding the xrifon Ditch be amended and the words "In-an effort to close the ditch" be stricken from the minutes. Council- man Bergeron seconded the motion. The.roll call vote was as followss Roll Calls Ayess Councilman Bergeron Nays Mayor Ward " M. L.Campbell Councilman Buelow !' H. M. Campbell " Reeves " Pruett Councilman Milton Campbell asked that the minutes relating to the appropria- tion transfer be amended to reads "Transfer $1075.00 from the General Fund to Classification 103-A-2 to balance budgetary item 103-A-2 for the fiscal year 1950- 51, including a $25.00 monthly increase in-salary for theCorporaation Court Clerk retroactive to March 4 1951. If With these corrections the minutes were approved as read, and the following business was transacteds Horace Mann Student Council Students from the Horace Dann School Student Council were visitors at the meeting. Miss Toybe Fram introduced the members to the Council, afterwhich, she asked the Council to consider placing storm sewer in the ditch along the side of the school. The ditch never completely drained and it not only had an un- plesant odor, but was very repulsive to the sight. If this could not be done at present she suggested that the ditch be cleaned out so that it could drain proper- ly and a handrail be placed along the bridge over the ditch. The City Manager was instructed to install the hand rail and-investigate the possibility of having the ditch cleaned out. Cedar Bayou Water Line Mr. G. B. Smith, resident of Cedar Bayou, presented a proposal to the Council asking permission to tie onto the city water system with a two (2)-inch waterline whffich will replace a one (1) inch line now being used. This line will be bought and installed by subscription among the people served, however, the line will be dedicated to the city at the time the waterline is connected to the city's system. He requested that the city not allow other residents to pay tapping fees to connect onto this line until they have first been approved by a three (3) man committee appointed out of the original subscribers. This request was made in order that Additional customers would pay their pro rata share of the cost to the original subscribers. Councilman H. M. Campbell asked iA the city could legally refuse a tap to a future subscriber if the line was dedidyated to the city. Coucil- man Milton Campbell disapproved of the method of reimbursement to the original subscribers. As proposed, 6t could take years for the line to be paid for and he felt that the city was in no position to accept such a responsibility. The City Manager and City Attorney were instructed t o work with the subscribers and draw up an agreement that would be acceptable. Robert E. Lee - Water Line Superintendent George Gentry and Secretary A. R. Stark of the Goose.Creek School Board, were present to discuss the installation of a six (6) inch water- 369 line tot he hew Lee College. The City Manager informed the Council that he had investigated the costs of reconditioning the 600 feet of six_(6) inch pipe, which belong to the School System, and had been salvaged by the city at the time &he eight (8) inch waterline was laid connecting Goose Creek and Baytown. A portion of the 600 feet of pipe could not be reconditioned because of deterioration. Mr Stark requested that the Council Approve the action of theCity of Baytown to lay a waterline to the Lee College at the city's expense. This installation to be done at an early date. After mueh discussion, Councilman Pruett moved that the city purchase and lay a 6" watermain to the College at the City's expense. .Council- man Buelow seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followss Roll Calls Ayess Mayor Ward Nayss Councilman Bergeron Councilman Buelow " Campbell " Pruett F Reeves " H.Campbell The Mayor declared the motion failed to carry. Councilman H. Campbell moved that the city install the pipe and all necessary fire hydrants, at its ex- pense, if the School Board will favor the purchase of thepipe. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. Councilman Buelow reminded the members that this was the decision reached by the Council at its last meeting but the School Board had not favored such a proposal. The Mayor suggested th at the motion and second be with- drawn and the School Board be contacted before further action be taken by the Council. Councilman H. M. Campbell moved that the Mayor be authorized to appoint a.-committee from the Council to meet with the School Board and see if an agree- ment would not be reached that would meet the approval of the City Council and School Board. Councilman Reeves seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followss Roll Calls Ayess Mayor Ward Councilman Buglow it Campbell, M of Pruett it Reeves • to H. Campbell The Mayor accponted Councilman Buelow an d School Board. Superintendent Gentry informed the the Board and notigy the City glerk of the time Finery Harbers - Rio Vista Water System Nayss Councilman Bergeron H. M. Campbell to meet with the Committee that he would contact set for the meeting. Emery Harbers asked the Council for its final decision regarding the pur- chase of the Rio Vista Water System. Councilman Bergeron moved to purchase the Rio Vista System at a proposed price of $1,250. Councilman Reeves seconded the motiom. At this point the City Manager recommended that Ue City not purchase the system as the lines acid wells will be of no value to the city if the proposed $1,000,000 Bond Issue passes as all line will be replaced with larger lines. If the Bond Issue should fail to pass, the City would.be.forced to make extended improvements to this system at some later date. Councilman Bergeron asked to withdraw his mo- tion and Councilman Reeves withdrew his second. No further action was taken. Wilburn Brothers Subdivision No. 2 Councilman Pruett moved to give final a pproval of Wilburn Brothers Sub- division Section 2, provided money is placed in escrmw toinstall approximately 200 feet of connecting sewer line. Councilman M. L. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followss Roll Calls Ayess Mayor Ward Nayss None Councilman Bergeron '! Buelow !' M. Campbell '! Pruett !' Reeves !' H. Campbell Lawndell No. 2 o Final Approval Councilman Bergeron moved to give final approval of Lawndell No. 2 Sub- division, provided the present developers, Baytown Development Company, will sign. a contract with the City binding the Company, or assigns, to the final erection of the bridges crossing the ditch on Seventh add Fourth STreets. Councilman H. M. Campbell seconded the motion. The ro24 call vote was as followss Roll Calls Ayess Mayor Ward Nayqs None Councilman Bergeron If Buelow " M. Campbell to Pruett Reeves !� H. Campbell B. B.Elliott — Recreation Building — Fireman Be Be Elliot, Fire Chief Station No. 1, asked the Council's decision re- garding-the leasing of city owned land, adjacent to the No. 1 Fire Station, by the Baytown Volunteer Fire Department. The Fi;r6-Department is in need of a recreation hall but in order to build the type building needed it would be necessary for the Fire Department to obtain a loan, This would be a matter of impossibility unless the land was leased on a long term contract or deeded over to the Department by the City. The Council asked Chief Elliott to instruct the Board of Trustees to check with the Loan Companies for the necessary requirements to obtain such a loan and make a report at a later meeting. C. Q. Alexander — Bus Fare Increase C. Q. Alexander, President of the Tunnel Transit Company, presented a petition to the Council requesting an increase in adult fare to 15¢. His peti- tion covered a period of fifteen (15) months with a net loss shown of over $21, 000.00. He stated that the law entitled auy public utility to make a reasonable return on their investment and that was the reason for asking such an increase. The Charter set forth that any amendment on franchises for public utilities should be read at three separate regular meetings of the city council, an d bhall not be finally.passed until thirty days after the first meeting, and will not take effect until sixty days after its final passage. Mr. Alexander asked that the Council treat this petition as an emerg8ncy and allow the new rate of fare to become effective Friday, April 27, 1951- the City Attorney informed the Council that this would be permissible under the law. The amendment was introduced and Councilman M. Campbell moved to adopt the ordinace granting the increase. Council- man Bergeron seconded the motion. the roll call vote was as follows, Roll Calls Ayess Mayor Ward Nayss None Councilman Bergeron Buelow " M. Campbell !' Pruett !� Reeves P H. Campbell Hankamer — Drilling Applications Councilman Reeves moved to approve t he drilling applications of the Hankamer Investment Company on theW. E.Tabb Well No. 1 and the Morris Triton Well No. 1. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows, Roll Calls Ayess Mayor Ward Nays, None Councilman Bergeron It Buelow 1 M.Campbell I Pruett " Reeves " H.Campbell Berlin — Proposed Improvements Report H. Be Berlin, Engineer, presented cost estimates on the proposed Storm S 1 Sewer Improvements included in the 51,U00s000 Bond Issue. The estimates consisted of seven (7) areas at a total cost of 5500,000.00. This estimate included pre- liminary planning, engineering, construction costs, legal andadministrative and miscellaneous. Councilman Buelow moved to instruct the City Manager to reimburse Mr. Berlin for outside expenses incurred in the completion of these requested plans. Councilman M. Campbell seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as followers Roll Calls Ayesi.:Mayor Ward Nayss None Councilman Bergeron to Buelow " M.Campbell- " Pruett If Reeves of H. Campbell r I r 37) Mayor Ward appointed a committee composed of Councilmen Buelow, H.M.Campbell and Reeves to investigate cost to J. J. Rady Engineering Company on incidental jobs done for the city. The Committee will file a recommendation for reimbursement when the investigation is completed. Advertise - Depository Bids Councilman Buelow gioved to instruct the _City'Clerk to advertise for city depository bids. Councilman M.Campbell seconded the motion. The roll sell vote was as follows: Poll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Councilman it Nays: Now . Bergeron Buelow M. Campbell Pruett Reeves . Campbell Partial Payment - Delinquent Personal Tax The City Manager suggested that a partial payment plan on delinquent per- sonal taxes be installed in the city tax office. He stated that he believed the city would be able to collect more taxes if such would be the case. Councilman M. Camp- bell moved to authorize the City Tax Assessor - Collector to install a favorable plan to collect delinquent personal taxes aftet the taxes have been delinquent for a period of twelve (12) months or longer. This does not apply to personal taxes which became delinquent in February, 1951. Councilman Buelow seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Poll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron s Buelow u M. Campbell it Pruett u Beeves �1 H. M. Campbell City Manager - Waco The City Manager was given permission to be absent from the city for three (3) days, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, April 29, 30 and May 1, in order that.he could attend the City Managers' Meeting in Waco. Proposed Resolution - Charter Amendment Councilman Heaves moved to instruct the City Attorney to prepare a resolution setting forth certain preliminary steps such as giving notice to the public that the Council is going to pass an ordinance wherein amendments to the Charter will be presented to the voters of Baytown to be rejected or approved at a Special Charter Election. Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows: Boll Call: Ayes: Mayor Ward Nays: None Councilman Bergeron Buelow ° M. Campbell u Pruett ° Reeves S H. Campbell Adjounment Councilman Pruett moved to adjourn. Councilman Buelow seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. ATTEST: �dX4--J aL") City Clerk -ara, Mayo