1955 08 25 CC MinutesMINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THr
CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS
August 25, 1955
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on Thurs-
day, August 25, 1955 at 7:00 p. m. in the Council Room of the Baytown City Hall with
the following members in attendance: .
P. H. Mears Councilman
_.... R. B. Bergeron Councilman
H. M. Campbell Councilman *
M. L. Campbell Councilman *
Al Clayton Councilman.
Lacy Lusk Councilman *
R. H. Pruett Mayor
A. V. Barber Director of Finance
C. D. Middleton City Manager
Edna Oliver City Clerk
Absent: George Chandler City Attorney
The Mayor called the meeting to order. Councilman Bergeron moved to approve
the minutes of the regular meeting of August 11, 1955, Councilman Mears sec onded
the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll CallsAyes s Councilman Mears Nays: None
" Bergeron
" H. M.Campbell
" Clayton
Mayor Pruett
Sid Brady - Disposal Plant - James St e t {{
Sid Brady, Humble Company Engineer, gave the council a detailed report of his
investigation of the James Street Disposal Plant's operation. Most of the odor is
caused by hudrogen sulphide gas since most of the sewage is septic when it reaches
the plant. He also stated that the plant's tension timer is exceptionally slow due
to the fact that it is underloaded. He recommended several changes, the first being
re- circulation, second, the addition of two (2) more short sprays to be installed
in the corners of the plant, three, the foam control system cleaned and fourth,
pre - chlorination before reaching the plant. The pre - chlorination will reduce the septic
condition and prevent hydrogen sulphide gas. The Mayor and Councilmen expressed
their thanks to Mr. Brady for his concise report and the extensive study that had
been given the problem, afterwhich, Councilman H. M. Campbell moved to authorize
Mr. Grantham to proceed with the changes as recommended.by Mr. Brady immediately.
Councilman Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows
* Councilman M. L. Campbell arrives at the meeting.
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman !Fears Nayss None
" Bergeron
" H. M. Campbell
" M. L. Campbell
" Clayton
Mayor Pruett
Budget Hearine Dat��t
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Councilman M. L. Cnmpbell moved to set the night of September B. 1955 for the
Public Hearing on the proposed 1955 -56 budget. Councilman Mears seconded the motion.
The roll call vote was as follows
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman bars Nays: None
" Bergeron
" H. M. Campbell
" M. L. Campbell
U
Clayton
Mayor Pruett
j'3o
Water Tanuine Fee - Increase
The Committee, as appointed to make a comparative study of the city's water
tapping fee, gave a report on the amount of lose suffered by the city on each water
tap now being made and recommended an increase in water tap fees which will pay
for the materials use, labor excluded. The recommended changes are as follows
3/4" line $ 52.00 1 -inch line $ 88.00
1+�" line 176.00 2" straight piston
2 -inch compound 361.00 .type line $ 262.00
Anything above a 2 -inch line to be the cost of meter plus the material used
in the installation of same.
Councilmen H. M. Campbell moved to approve the recommendation of the Committee
and theproposed increases become effective as of Septemberl, 1955, Councilman
Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilmen Mears Nayst None
" Bergeron
" H. M. Campbell
" M. L. Campbell
" Clayton
Mayor Pruett
Cowen - Police and Fire Departments - Waee Increase
A spokesman from both the Police and Fire Departments, met with the Council
concerning the remaining $35.00 monthly raise as requested in a letter to the
Council dated July '14, 1955. At the first meeting the Mayor had asked that the
Council be given time to study each request at the annual budget review. When the
study was made a $15.00 :ponthly increase was given each employee in the two (2)
depattments which was accepted by the departments, however, they still wanted the
additional $35.00 as originally requested or as a3 alternate a 40 -hour work week
for the Police Department and a 60 -hour work week for thefiremen. The Mayor explained
that the Council had given over and above its anticipated revenues and it was
impossible to grant an additional increase in the 1955 -56 fiscal year, however,
if the departments wanted to take the question to the people, as suggested, it
would have to be in the next fiscal year.
J. J. Rndv - Eneineerina Work
Mr.. J. J. Rady, Consulting Engineer, met with the Council to discuss the
engineering situation in Baytown. At present the J. J. Redy Company has a Mr.
Maurice Reed working as Resident Engineer on two (2) major projects now under
construction in the city, at a salary.of $650 per month plus travel mileage.
This mileage is at the rate of $.06 and is applicable only to tbartravel as
required from one job to another. Previously the city had undertaken enough
additional work to pay Mr. Reed's salary but since August 4th the only jobs re-
quiring W. F.eed'a supervision were not sufficient to cover thecosta. He proposed
that, since the city was studying the need of a full -time engineer, Mr. Reed be
hired at his present salary then he would not only do the engineering work for
the city but would be a full time employee to be used on any tither type construc-
tion which would require his services. Councilmen M. L. Campbell moved that
Mr. Rady'a suggestion be referred to the Engineering Committee for study and final
recommendations. Councilmen Bergeron seconded.the motion. The roll call vote
was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Nears Nayst None
" Bergeron
" 11. M. Campbell
" M. L. Campbell
" Clayton _
Mayor Pruett
+ Councilmen H. M. Campbell excgaed from themeeting.
The Mayor and other councilmen agreed to meet with the Albright brothers and
Mr. Core relative to the request of the Albright brothers for electric service
to their homes located opposite Stewart Heights Subdivision.
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Drainase - Danubins Across
A group, including the Mayor and several Councilmen, will meet with Residents
in Danubina Across relative to the drainage situation between Wright Blvd and East
Texas Avenue. -
Pr000efll - Widen Fast James
Councilman Clayton asked the Council to give some study to widening East James
Street for a depth of four blocks. Due to the present width of the street traffic
can travel only one way when cars are parked.onboth aides of the street. He
proposed to widen the first four blocks from North Main to Fourth Street, an
additional four or five feet to provide two -lane traffic at all times. This would
relieve the bottle -neck and provide a through traffic artery from east to west.
This inprovement project would require the removal of curbs and gutters, utility
poles and the lowering of the Atreet level at an approximate cost of $30,000. The
right- of-Way easements will be checked before further action is taken on the request.
n Councilman Lusk arrives at the meeting.
Annexation+r.iNn. 30 Water District - Renort
Councilmen Mears, Chairman of the Committee appointed to study the annexation
of Cedar Bayou Water District No. 30, reported that the Committee was prepared to
present its findings on the recent study given the annexation proposal. His state-
ment contained reports as submitted by the Baytown Insurance Exchange relative to
Fire Insurance rates, plus one from the Finance Department, plus the material sub-
mitted by the various department heads whose departments will be affected by the
annexation. The Committee sumariaed the report by stating that the annexation
would result in a savings to the people of the area and the territory would in no
wag result in a financial disadvantage to the citizens of Baytown. It concluded
with a motion that the City Council of the City of Baytown give the secondeand
final reading to the annexation ordinance wherein this territory is made a part
of the City by annexation. Councilmen Bergeron seconded the motion. The roll ca31
vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayew: Councilman Mears Nays: Councilmen Clayton
" Bergeron
" M.L. Campbell
" Lusk
Mayor Pruett
a City Manager Middleton arrives at the meeting.
The City Clerk introduced and read an ordinance annexing additional adjacent
territory to said city. Councilmen Bergeron moved3o adopt the ordinance as read.
Councilmen Mears seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears
" Bergeron
" M. L. Campbell
" Lusk
Mayor Pruett
The caption of the ordinance follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 235 (a)
Nays: Councilmen Clayton
AN ORDINANCE CONTAINING ORDINANCE NO. 235 INTRODUCED ON THE 12TH DAY
OF AUGUST, 1954, AND BEING "AN ORDINANCE ENLARGING AND EXTENDING THE
BOUNDARY LIMITS OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS, AND ANNEXING ADDITIONAL
ADJACENT TMRITCRY TO SAID CITY, ALL OF WHICH IS DESCRIBED HEREIN:
CONTAINING A SAVINGS CLAUSE, ATM PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATPAN AND
PASSAGE OF THIS CRDINANCE I1 THE MANNER PROVIDED IN ARTICLE I, SEC-
TION 9, OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN ", PROVIDING FOR THE
AMENDMENT OF SAID ORDINANCE NO. 235 WITH RESPECT TO THE TERRITORY TO
BE ATMED AND FOR THE FINAL PASSAGE OF SAID ORDINANCE' IN AMENDED FORM
PURSUANT TO SECTION 9, ARTICLE I, OF TEF CHARTER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN.
Sax
Councilman Clayton moved to extend the south boundary line of District No. 5
from East lobit to East Defee, running east and west from North Main to State
Highway 146 or Alexander Drive and the entire newly annexed territory of Water
District No. 30 be placed in District No. 4. Councilman Lusk seconded the motion.
The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Cell: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None
" Bergeron
" M.L. Campbell
" Clayton
" Lusk
Mayor Pruett
The City Manager informed the Council that he had acted Its per the instruction
of the City Council, July 28th, and had met with the Houston Navigation Officials
of this district relative to a city dump ground on Hog Island. The Navigation
Board had agreed to allow the city to use approximately seven (7) acres of land;
the location to be designated at a later date.
Councilman M. L. Campbell moved for the meeting to adjourn. Councilman Lusk
seconded the mption. The ayes wereuunanimous and the Mayor dellared the meeting
adjourned.
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
. R. H. Pruett, Mayor -�c� /
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