Loading...
1961 06 22 CC Minutes1624 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN June 22, 1961 The City Council of the City of Baytown, Texas met in regular session on Thursday, June 22, 1961, at 7 :00 o'clock p.m. in the C6uncii Room of the Baytown City Hall with the following members in attendance: Absent: Seaborn Cravey W. L. Ward Velma J. Ansley R. H. Hughes J. M. Bryan Al Clayton J. B. LeFevre Edna Oliver C. A. Hansen - George Chandler Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilman Councilman Mayor City Manager City Clerk Councilman City Attorney BUSINESS OF THE 6:00 PM SESSION Creation of Temporary Position - Advisor - Street Methods Councilman Cravey moved to create a temporary position of Advisor to the City Manager on street repair methods. This position will be created to become effect- ive immediately. with a base salary not to exceed $350.00 per month, and will termi- nate as of January 1. 1962. Councilman Hughes seconded the motion. The vote foll- ows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Mayor Clayton Nays: None Audit Committee - Appointed Ward, Ansley, Hughes, Bryan Mayor Clayton appointed an Audit Committee composed of Councilmen Cravey, Ward and Bryan. Councilman Cravey will serve as Chairman of the Committee which will make a study of the present audit methods being used and make any recommenda- tions deemed advantageous to the City of Baytown for the 1961 -62 fiscal year. BUSINESS OF THE 7 :00 PM SESSION The Mayor called the meeting to order, the Invocation was offered by Council- man Bryan, afterwhich the City Clerk was instructed to read the minutes of the June 16th meeting. Councilman 'Ward moved to dispense with the reading of the minutes and they be approved. Councilman Ansley seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Mayor Clayton' Nays: None Report on Unfinished Business Item 1. Ward, Ansley, Hughes Bryan The City Manager reported that Reid, Strickland and Gillette, Attorneys, were still trying to locate ownership on some of the property which will have to be used as a street right -of -way if Green Street is opened to intersect with North Jones, If ownership is established he will proceed to negotiate for the necessary right -of -way dedication. Item 4. Mr. LeFevre reported that a sanitary sewer easement instrument has been delivered to one of the two remaining property owners from whom the City must L f I. 1625 secure a dedication to lay the sanitary sewer trunk lines, but he could not sign until his wife returned. She is away on vacation and will not be home for at least two weeks longer. In the meantime, the remaining property owner, Mr. Troxell, will be.co.ntacted. . . Item 6. Mr. LeFevre reported that Mr. Gentry, School Superintendent, had informed him that the building facilites of Carver High School will be extended within the next year or two. He does not want to obligate the School System by allowing the City to close the ditch running through the school property and using the site as a little league ball park for residents of Oak Addition. The Council agreed to aban- don this idea and will seek a new ball park site. I tem 7. The City Manager informed the Council that he had nothing more to report on Pruett Street Extension right -of -way dedication as he did not know the feelings of the Council; should he carry his appeal to the Highway Department or allow the matter to drop? The Council unanimously agreed that every attempt should be made to obtain the necessary rights -of -way for North Pruett Street extension from Schil- ling to Spur 201 right -of -way and from Spur 201 right -of -way on the north into Glen Arbor Subdivision from the present owner, Mr. Perrin White, afterwhich, these in- struments,. or possibly a written agreement, will be submitted to Mr. Carmichael, State Highway Bngineer, District No. 12, as evidence to support the Council's recent request for an overpass at Spur 201 and North Pruett intersection. The City Manager was instructed to make an appointment with Mr. Carmichael and Mayor Clayton named all members of the Council, the City Manager, Karl Opryshek, representing the School Board and W..D. Broyles, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce Highway Sub - Committee as a Committee to augment the request of the City and Baytown Chamber of Commerce, by carrying this appeal personally and directly.to Mr. Carmichael. The City Manager will notify the members of the date and time of meeting after he has talked with Mr. Carmichael. Item 10. Mr. LeFevre reported that he had contacted Mr. Gentry, School Superintendent, to learn if it were true that .the School District had leased that section of right - of -way presently used as an extension of Gentry Drive from Oak to Carnegie, from the Southern Pacific Railroad. Mr. Gentry had told him that no lease had been sign- ed but the School District has given the Company a letter assuring them that the district was not trying to seize its property when the school shelled the Company's right -of -way to provide ingress and egress,to Memorial Stadium. This is the team track right -of -way that the Company is asking the City to abandon if and when Oak Street is opened across the Company's right -of -way to connect with Gentry Drive. Mr. Gentry had asked that the City do nothing to cut out this strip of street as it is used constantly by the School District for bus service. Mr. LeFevre stated that it was his opinion that the City had no right to sign an agreement to close this strip as it has never belonged to the City and City funds have not been used in improving or maintaining it as a street light -of -way. Since it would create an even grater traffic problemly abandoning the right -of -way, Councilman Ward stated he was .•illing to abandon all efforts to negotiate with the Company for the Oak Street extension to Gentry Drive. Councilman Ansley said that the property could be condemned if,it was found that the opening was needed, as it would definitely be an asset to the City..f,Councilman Hughes suggested, and the Council agreed, that the project be dropped from items of unfinished business and further action be de- ferred until the Council has had an opportunity to confer with the City.Attorney and learn all the ramifications necessary to effect the opening of Oak Street. Item 11. Mr. LeFevre reported that he had started negotiations for the lease of the old railroad "Y" as a park site. He had learned from Mr. Draper, of the Baytown Hous- ing Authority, that the site could be leased for $1.00 per year. Mr. LeFevre will inform the Council of the company's decision. Item 12. Mr. Leo Frost submitted a cost estimate of approximately $100.00 for changing a traffic light on West Main (Bayway Drive) and Harbor to operate flashing all 1626 hours of the day except between the hours of 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., when it will operate as standard type timed traffic.light. Councilman Ansley moved to approve the expenditure and authorized the Electrical Department personnel to proceed with the change of -the traffic light into flashing amber on West Main and flashing red on Harbor all hours of the day with the exception of from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. when it will operate as a standard timed traffic light. Councilman Ward seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Ansley, Hughes, Bryan Mayor Clayton Nays: None The Council discussed the contents of a resolution, drafted by the City Manager and Tax Assessor - Collector, as procedures and policies to accelerate the processing of problems arising within the Tax Department, The City Manager will discuss the procedures with the City Attorney and a resolution will-be prepared for presentation at the next regular meeting. Report on Water Problems - Proposed Expansion Long Rance Program The Council heard a general report from the City Manager and Director of Public Works on immediate needs and future expansion of the waterworks distribution system. At the onset of the report, City Manager LeFevre recommended that the Council give priority to •:use the funds presently remaining in the Waterworks and Sewer System Bond Improvement Fund for the improvement of the water distribution' system and forgo any additional sanitary sewer-projects other than those outlined and included in the original bond program. He estimated that approximately $90,000 remained in the fund; this could be used to finance the first recommended improve- ment and as funds were made available the entire proposed water distribution ex- pansion project could be made to tie in with the present Improvements.. Mr. Grantham enlarged on the existing needs and explained the overload that well No. 6 - Old Baytown area is presently carrying. This well is presently pumping five (5) feet above the top of the bowl and has not cut off since the 10th day of May due to the decreasing efficiency of the pump and the water level. The East James well started to sand recently and was shut down for repairs. Upon investigation it was learned that it must be rebuilt from top to bottom; this was caused by the overload due to the great demand in the area. In his report Mr. Grantham submitted daily pumping schedules from all wells which revealed that some of the wells were being overwork - edi•and others were not working one -third of the time. This is caused by the inade- quate distribution trunk lines. In order to relieve the situation presently exist- ing in distribution, he proposed that the City start-at the Park Street well and storage tank and extend a 12" water main across Decker Drive and stub:' out on Air - hart Drive; this should be done first in order to allow the City to be through be- fore the Spur 201 construction begins; secondly, extend 8" main down Decker to tie into an existing 8 Later an 8 inch main should be installed on Airhart Drive and tie into existing 8 inch on Market Street. In the long -range program, the plans are to locate another well in the northwest area; replace small water lines present- ly existing in isolated areas, loop:,the Cedar Bayou area add make overall improve- ments along Highway 146 which will provide good fire protection and increase the productivity of the water supply and distribution systems. Money has been allocated in the 1960 -61 budget for re- working the No. 6 waterwell but nothing was provided for emergency measures. Since the repair to the East James Street Well is declared an emergency, City Manager LeFevre asked for an appropriation of $3,702.53 to be taken from the Emergency Waterworks Contingency Fund, as required by the 1957 bond ordinance. to pay Layne -Texas Company, Inc., for services rendered. Councilman Ward moved to approve and authorized an appropriation from-the Emergency Waterworks Contingency Fund in an amount of $3,702.53 to pay Layne -Texas Company for repairs made to the East James Street Waterwell. Councilman Ansley seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Ansley, Hughes, Bryan Mayor Clayton Nays: None ORDINANCE NO. 628 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER OF THE CITY OF BAYTOWN TO APPROPRIATE THREE THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED TWO DOLLARS AND FIFTY -THREE CENTS ($3,702.53) FROM THE WATERWORKS REVENUE CONTINGENCY FUND TO BUD- GET CLASSIFICATION 1001 4 -7. r r When questioned, Mr. Grantham stated that he and the City Engineer had checked out the proposed improvements but no estimates had been prepared on cost. It was suggested that preliminary engineering on the long range program be prepared in order that immediate approved plans may be made fit into the whole. Also, the plans should be presented to the Baytown Advisory Board for their observation to coordinate with any street plans recommended by the Board. later, the City Manager and City Engineer were instructed to proceed with engineering estimates on the first proposal; to extend a 12 -inch water main down Park Street to cross over Decker Drive and extending an 8 -inch water main down Decker to tie into existing 8 -inch. Appointment Bill Strickler - Member of Library Advisory Board. Councilman Ansley moved to accept the recommendation of the City Manager Levre to name W. J. (Bill) Strickler as a member of the.Baytown Library Advisory Board to replace Dr. Wayne McCleskey who has resigned to accept a position with the Methodist Conference. Councilman Cravey seconded the motion. The vote follows: Ayes: Councilmen Cravey, Ward, Ansley, Hughes, Bryan. Mayor Clayton Nays: None Peoples State Bank - Britton- Cravens Lbr. Co. - Extend Paving - Participation The City Manager submitted a proposal which he had received from Peoples State Bank and Britton- Cravens Lumber Company for a participation street improve- ment agreement to extend the width of the street paving abutting these business firms on Market Street. If the proposal meets with the approval of the Council, he will authorize the City Engineer to proceed with the engineering estimates. Councilman Ward replied that the City was not financially equipped to share in1he program; should any money be received in tie Street G Drainage Improvement Bond Fund from payment of street paving assessments; East Texas Avenue, from the "Y" to Bayou Drive; has been promised priority. Councilman Cravey agreed with Council- man Ward by stating that, if the City should do this work, other request would be received of similar nature. The City Manager will relay the Council's decision to management of both business firms. Investigate - Complaint - Meter Reading - Mr. Grantham Mr. Grantham agreed to investigate complaints received from several resi- dents on James and Third and Fourth and Hunnicutt regarding the City being off schedule in reading water meters within the area. Revert - 2nd and 4th Thursdays - Council Meetings The Council agreed tothe proposal of Mayor Clayton to revert to the 2nd and 4th Thursday nights as regular scheduled meeting dates. The next regular scheduled meeting will be Thursday, July 13th, however, should an emergency arise,. the Mayor will call a special meeting, Miscellaneous The Council was informed that Ned Bishop, of Radio Station KWBA, has agreed to make some improvements to the Public Address System.used in the Council Chamber, at no cost to the City. Councilman Bryan transmitted his daughter Donna's thanks to the Council for the Get Well Greeting received during her recent stay in the hospital. Adjournment Councilman Ansley moved that the meeting be adjourned. Councilman Ward seconded the motion. The ayes were unanimous and the Mayor declared the meeting adjourned. A Al Clayton, ryor Edna Oliver, City Clerk 1627