1959 08 27 CC Minutes1373
MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN
August 27, 1959
The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session
on Thursday, .August 27th, 19599 at 7:00 o'clock P.M., in the Council Room of
the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendance:
P. H. Mears
W. L. Ward
K. E. Badgett
W. D. Reeves
*Lacy Lusk
R. H. Pruett
J. B. LeFevre
George Chandler
Edna Oliver
Absent: Al Clayton
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Councilman
Imo M.
Acting City Manager
City Attorney
City Clerk
Councilman
The Mayor called the meeting to order, the Invocation was offered
Reverend Cheek of the First Baptist Church, afterwhich the City Clerk was
instructed to read the minutes of the regular meeting. Councilman Mears
moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and they be approved.
man Badgett seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None
It Ward
Badgett
Reeves
" Lusk
Mayor Pruett
Resolution - Commemorating James Hardy Frazier
by
Council-
Mayor Pruett recognized the presence of wife, son, relatives and friends
of the recently deceased James Hardy Frazier and expressed his personal regrets
of the loss suffered by the community by the passing of Mr. Frasier, afterwhich,
the following resolution was introduced and read:
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, COMMEMORAT-
ING JAMES HARDY FRAZIER FOR THIS MULTITUDE OF CIVIC SERVICES TO THE
BAYTOWN AREA AND EXPRESSING DEEP AND SINCERE REGRET FOR HIS PASSING.
WHERAMY the City Council of the City of Baytown and the citizens of the
Baytown area are well aware of the selfless years of civic services of JAMS
HARDY FRAZIER; and,
WHEREAS. the City Council of the City of Baytown wishes to commemorate and
officially acknowledge these many years of public service, and
WHEREAS, a few of the accomplishments of the said JAMES HARDY FRAZIER,
are as follows, to -wit:
1. A member of the Charter Commission elected to
prepare a Charter few the City of Baytown,
2. A member of the Houston Knights Templer.
3. A member of the Arabia Temple Shrine.
4. A member of the Baytown Kiwanis Club.
5. A member of the Rochester Masonic Lodge.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN-
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THAT the City Council of the City of Baytown, hereby officially commemorates
the late JAMS HARDY FRAZIER for his loyal and devoted services to the citizens
of this area and acknowledge gratefully his many accomplishments and expresses
deep and sincere regret for his unfortunate and untimely passing.
RESOLVED FARTHER, that in recognition of such services, the City Council
of the City of Baytown, hereby presents to MRS. MARGARET ANN FRAZIER, widow
of the said JAMES HARDY FRAZIER, a' official KEY TO THE CITY.
INTRODUCED, READ and PASSED by the unanimous vote of the members of the City
Council of the City of Baytown, on this 27th day of August, 1959.
/s/ R. H. Pruett
R. H. Pruett, Mayor
Attest:
/s/ Edna Oliver
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
Councilman Lusk moved to adopt the resolution as read. Councilman Reeves
seconded the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None
" Ward
" Badgett
" Reeves
" Lusk
Mayor Pruett
den Bids - Paving South 4th, 7th and Parkway Drive
The bids for the drainage and pairing of South 4th, 7th and Parkway Drive
were opened and tabulated as follows:
Gulf Bitulithic Company Paving: $43,136.50 Drainage: $49,612.00
Total Costs: X692,748.50
Russ Mitchell, Inc. Paving: X6419640.80 Drainage: $►489020.00
Total Costs: $89,660.80
Gaylord Constr. Co. Paving: $44,116.00 Drainage: $57,428.00
Total Costs: $r101,544.CO
Brown & Root, Inc. Paving: $39,397.50 Drainage: $43,80740
Total Costs: $839204.50
The Council discussed the drainage costs at length, some expressing a
desire to delay the awarding of the contract in order for the City Engineer,
who is away on vacation, to have time to prepare an estimate of costs on the
proposed drainage project, Since the Council, at the July 9th meeting,had
instructed the City Engineer to include the storm sewer drainage in the bids
and specifications in order for the Council to use it as a test case to deter-
mine if it is cheaper for the drainage work to be done by the contractor
than City crews, Councilman Mears moved to award the contract to the low bidder,
Brown & Root, Inc., at a total costcf $83,204.50. Councilman Badgett seconded
the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: Councilman Reeve$
Ward Councilman Lusk jl
" Badgett
Mayor Pruett
Open Bids_- Test Murrill Street Paving
The bids for the drainage and paving of West Murrill Street were opened
and tabulated as follows:
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Gulf Bitulithic Co. Paving $19,386.96 Drainage $11,621.00 Total $31,007.96
Russ Mitchell, Inc. Paving $23,183.72 Drainage $14,784.00 Total $37,967.72
Gaylord Constr. Co. Paving $25,078.60 Drainage $13,037.30 Total $38,115.90
Brown & Root, Inc. Paving $20,383.52 Drainage $12,157.00 Total $32,540.52
Councilman Reeves moved to accept the low bid of Gulf Bitulithic Company
for the paving only, of West Murrill Street from the West Property Line of
North Whiting Stfeet to the South Property Line of West Lobit Street, the
i amount of the bid being $19,386.96. Councilman Mears seconded the motion. The
roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None
Ward
Badgett
" Reeves
Lusk
Mayor Pruett
Open Hearing - Scott, Harvey, and Hawthorne Streets - Ordinance - Closing Hearing
The benefit hearing for the permanent improvement of Scott, Harvey and
Hawthorne streets was opened by Mayor Pruett, City Attorney Chandler presided
and called Steele M. McDonald, who stated, in response to questions that he
has been a resident of Baytown, Texas, since 1924; the past ten (10� years of
which he has been engaged in the selling and appraisal of real estate. He is
familiar with the real estate values in Baytown and in particular with the
properties and values of such property abutting that portion of Scott, Harvey
and Hawthorne Streets covered under the proposed improvement project. It
is his opinion that all properties located thereon and involved in this paving
program will be enhanced in value in amounts exceeding the costs of such
improvements as shown by the Engineer's schedules contained in the published
notice of hearing.
Mayor Pruett asked if any in the audieneo • had questions to ask or protests
to offer concerning the proposed improvements. Mr. V. E. Wratten, 404 Harvey,
asked for a clarification of charges levied against the property owner and
designated amounts per front foot as quoted by the contractor whose bid was
accepted. He was told that the Council was in no position to give him a
complete breakdown, but was assured that in no event will his pro rata of
paving charge exceed the $4.00 per front foot as stipulated in the petition
passed around for property owners' signatures.
Since no further discussion was made, Acting City Manager LeFevre intro-
duced and read an ordinance closing the hearing given the real and true owners
of property abutting upon Scott, Harvey and Hawthorne Streets; fixing charges
and liens against said properties and providing for issuance of assessment
certificates and the manner of collection. Councilman Mears moved to adopt
the ordinance as read. Councilman Ward seconded the motion. The roll
call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None
Ward
" Badgett
" Reeves
it Lusk
Mayor Pruett
The caption of the ordinance follows:
ORDINANCE NO. 554
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN, TEXAS,
CLOSING THE HEARING GIVEN THE REAL AND TRUE OWNERS OF PROPERTY
ABUTTING UPON SCOTT AND HARVEY STREETS FROM THE EAST PROPERTY
LINE OF NORTH PRUETT STREET TO THE WEST PROPERTY LINE OF COMMERCE
STREET, AND HAWTHORNE STREET FROM THE WEST PROPERTY LINE OF BARRYMORE
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BOULEVARD TO THE EAST PROPERTY LINE OF MAYO'. STREET, IN THE CITY
OF BAYTOWN# TEXAS, AS TO SPECIAL BENEFITS TO ACCRUE BY VIRTUE OF
THE IMPROVEMENT THEREOF, AND AS TO THE ACCURACY, SUFFICIENCY,
REGULARITY AND VAILDITY OF THE PROCEEDINGS AND CONTRACT IN
CONNECTION WITH SAID IMPROVEMENTS, AND THE ASSESSMENTS TO BE
LEVIED COVERING THE COST THEREOF; OVERRULING AND DENYING ALL
PROTESTS AND OBJECTIONS OFFERED; FINDING AND DETERMINING SPECIAL
BENEFITS TO EACH PARCEL OF PROPERTY AND THE OWNERS THEREOF IN
EXCESS OF THE AMOUNT OF SPECIAL ASSESSMENT AGAINST SAME; FINDING
THE REGULARITY OF ALL PROCEEDINGS AND THE PERFORMANCE OF ALL
PREREQUISITES TO FIXING THE ASSESSMENT LIENS AND THE PERSONAL
LIABILITY OF THE PROPERTY OWNERS; LEVYING ASSESSMENTS, FIRING
CHARGES AND LIENS AGAINST SAID PROPERTIES ABUTTING SAID STREETS"
AND THE TRUE OWNERS THEREOF FOR PAYMENT OF PART OF THE COSTS OF
THE IMPROVEMENTS; PROVIDING FOR THE ISSUANCE OF ASSIGNABLE ASSESS-
MENT CERTIFICATES AND THE MANNER OF THEIR COLLECTIONS; AND PROVID-
ING FOR THE EFFECTIVE DATE HEREOF.
*Councilman Lusk excused from meeting.
Authorize - Advertise Bids - Fence around Water Towers
Councilman Ward moved to authorise the City Manager to advertise for bids,
to be received at the September 24th meeting, for the erection of a seven (7)
foot overall chain link fence to be installed around the new water plant on
Park Street and the water tower on West Main Street. Councilman Mears second-
ed the motion. The roll call vote was as follows:
Roll -Call: Ayes: Councilman Mears Nays: None
n Ward
" Badgett
" Reeves
Mayor Pruett
Advertise Bids - Pblice Cars
Councilman Mears moved to authorize the Acting City Manager to advertise
for bide, to be received at the September 24th meeting, for two (2) 1959
4 door sedans for the Baytown Police Department, trade -ins to be considered
in the bid solicitation also. Councilman Reeves deconded the motion. The
roll call vote was as follows:
Roll Call: Aires: Councilman Mesas Nays: None
" Ward
" Badgett
" Reeves
Mayor Pruett
Report on Petition - Change Name of Streets - Country Club Oaks - Deferred-
The Council deferred action on the request for a change of street names
in Country Club Oaks until the next regular meeting. It was explained that
all Council members were not present at this meeting, neither had the new
Councilman from District No. 4, Mr. Reeves, had sufficient time to make a
study of the proposed.changes.
Review Budget
The Council agreed to meet at 6:30 P.M., Friday, August 28th to continue
its review of the 1959 -60 proposed budget. They will discuss dalaries and
capital improvement items.
Appoint Civil Service Commission - Director
Councilman Ward reminded the Council that it will be necessary for four (4)
new patrolmen to be hired as of the new fiscal year 1959 -60 and the Civil
Service Commission Board presently has two (2) vacan6ies. It was his rec-
commendation that Ervin Flowers, local attorney, be appoin ted to the position
of Director of the Civil Service Commission, Should the Council have another
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candidate in mind, he could be appointed to the other vacancy. After some
discussion, it was moved and seconded that Mr. Flowers be appointed to the
position of Director of the Civil Service Commission effective as of July 1,
1959. When it was learned that Mr. A. C. Chaddick, former Director, has not
been contacted relative to his continuation in this position, the motion and
second were withdrawn and it was agreed that the need would be discussed at
the budget review the night following. -
Adjournment
Councilman Badgett made a motion for the meeting to adjourn. Councilman
Reeves seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared
the meeting adjourned.
ATTEST: R. R. Pruett, May -or
Edna Oliver, City Clerk
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