2025 06 12 Minutes

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this the 12th day of June 2025, at 7:00 p.m., there was begun and holden a Regular Meeting of the Town of Anderson, Grimes County, Texas.

1. Call the meeting to order and establish a quorum. At 7:00pm members present Will Borski, Tanner Krause, Mayor Marc Benton, Kason Menges, Cara McAlister. Arriving at 7:04pm Harold Minor, Bessie White. Not present Ashley Ver Schuur.
2. Invocation given by Kason Menges.
3. Pledges to the flags.
4. Public Hearing 7:02pm
   1. Discuss and obtain public comments regarding a proposed performance statement amendment to the Town of Anderson’s 2023 Texas CDBG Program Community Development Contract CDV23-0078. This amendment is to reduce the project within the funds available. 5 minutes will be set aside for this, but will be extended as necessary.
      1. Scope exceeded funds, the lift station will provide the same benefit, but a portion of the line will need to be removed to bring the project within the budget;
      2. the Town desires to amend its contract to reflect these changes for the general improvement of sewer service in the area.
      3. Visitor question: if add’l funds can be raised would the scope be adjusted again? Mayor agreed that would be the plan.
      4. Unsure of additional funds needed at this time.
   2. No additional comments or questions.
5. Public Comment:
   1. No public comment.
6. Presentations:
   1. Town of Anderson’s Proposed RCP Goals, Objectives & Next Steps – Dalton Aiken
      GLO requires draft goals and objectives: preserve community small town character; develop and maintain resilient infrastructure; expand and improve housing options; protect and share local history.
   2. A historical assessment to be conducted
   3. Aiming for Aug/early Sep for next Town Hall
   4. Kason asked for further clarification or information on ‘affordable housing’ and an average home size and cost; may need to adjust to ‘attainable housing’
   5. Will require zoning and subdivision rules.
   6. Next month he will have a draft land use map to use for zoning; will rely on property owners to provide feedback; additional discussion at that time.
7. Proclamations:
   1. Fair Housing Month
      1. Proclamation presented by Mayor Marc Benton and read aloud.
8. Mayor’s Update:
   1. Upcoming events of interest
      1. Closing at 101 S. Main St to occur next week
      2. Juneteenth and Freedom Picnic
      3. GLO MitMod meeting kickoff Friday June 20th
      4. Chamber meeting Tuesday June 24
      5. TML Region 14 Spring Conference in March 5-6, 2026 Anderson to host; historical based; Fanthorp to run stagecoach; additional details to follow.
   2. United States Navy Fleet Week in Houston and the Mayor would like to bring officers to Anderson for the night to host fleet week.
   3. Additional item: BVCOG economic development coordinator suggested a new loan for economic development with 80/20 match, up to $2mm, tied specifically to job creation – we put up the 20% they match the rest.
      1. Upgrading 2” lines to 6” lines could bring in business
9. Consent Agenda: Motion to approve consent agenda in its entirety by Kason Menges, second by Tanner Krause, all in favor.
   All consent items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion and vote.
   1. Approval of May 8th, 2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes
   2. Approval of May 22nd 2025 Town Council Special Meeting Minutes
   3. Approval of June 3rd, 2025 Town Council Special Meeting Minutes
   4. Approval of the list of claims and bills
10. Reports: Informational reports only, no action to be taken.
    1. Permit report
       1. Demo, Anderson car wash
       2. Res Construction, Roof replacement
       3. Utilization of power at the Historic Grimes County Courthouse Permit sent to Mary Beth for Freedom Picnic
    2. Sewer Report – Brian Colbert
       1. Current status
          1. Elec line casing collapsed during pump repair, needs to finish final repairs, provided estimate to re-bury
          2. Chlorinator pump is dry rot at wastewater, est. $11,000 repairs – flow meter.
          3. Need concrete pads at lift stations for a new portable crane, quote for $2,500/each at 6” thickness, includes bolt down. (needs: replace all electronics, control panel, fuse panel, pumps and generators OK).
          4. Will eventually need 4’x5’ concrete pad at each of the four sites – not pressing.
          5. Electrical panel, Hahn requesting sole source contract to install panel. Current panel is rotten, currently temp repair
          6. Council to review for next meeting
          7. Samples a little high in pH, two April fails were due to the chlorinator pump concern
          8. Entergy contact to reach out for 3-phase panel option needed for the new electrical panel.
       2. Sole source contracts
       3. Plant work estimates
    3. Grants Report
       1. 2017 Harvey Grant – no updates
       2. ARPA Grant
       3. 2023-2024 CDBG
          1. On schedule, rework scope
       4. 2025-2026 CDBG
          1. Application to submit this month
          2. Need tier sheet from examiner and photos of the area
       5. CDBG MIT-MOD
          1. Kickoff Jun 20, 2025
       6. Harvey Reallocation Funds – no updates
       7. RCP – Dalton update
       8. Texas Water Development Fund (DFund) – no updates
       9. TDA CDBG Downtown Revitalization
          1. No word, most likely did not get awarded
    4. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
       1. Anticipate updates at next meeting
       2. At Navasota Grimes County Realtor’s and Developer’s Breakfast held June 11, 2025 Mayor brought up the need for 149W improvements and expansion
       3. Open discussion of turning Main St one-way, change parking options
11. Business: Discuss, consider, and possibly take action regarding:
    1. Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution 121-25 Contract Amendment Request for Texas Community Development Block Grant Program (TXCDBG) Contract Number CDV23-0078
       1. Motion to approve Resolution 121-25 by Tanner Krause, second by Kason Menges, all in favor.
    2. Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution 122-25 Authorized Signatories for CDBG Program
       1. Motion to approve Resolution 122-25 authorizing the Mayor and Town Clerk to execute contractual docs associated to CDBG program; authorizing the Mayor and Town Clerk to execute the St of Texas Purchase Voucher and Request for Payment Form documents required for requesting funds approved in CDBG, and authorizing the Mayor to execute environmental review docs between TXGLO and the City by Kason Menges, second by Will Borski, all in favor.
    3. Discussion and possible action to approve Resolution 123-25 Civil Rights Adoption & Affirmation
       1. Motion to approve Resolution 123-25 and authorize the Mayor as signatory by Kason Menges, second by Will Borski, all in favor.
    4. Discussion and possible action toward town’s participation in Juneteenth Parade
       1. 85th year, Parade, bbq dinner, and festival and rodeo
       2. Bessie desires the ToA to participate in the parade in some way, sign for the city.
    5. Discussion and possible action toward town’s participation in Freedom Picnic 2025
       1. ToA participation, sponsorship, open discussion.
          1. Kason suggested providing tea or drinks, will reach out to contacts for donation
       2. Option to provide funding as a sponsor or pay for porta-cans. Local restaurants have offered bathrooms for use, but suggestion for ToA to provide two stall and hand-wash station.
          1. Cara will reach out to last year’s vendor for quote
          2. source cups and ice if we provide drinks
    6. Discussion of updates to town priority list.
       1. Parking on Main street discussion. For future review and decision.
12. Around Town
    1. Salvador sent a photo, manhole full of grease, needs to be addressed with Juan and Linda’s, could be Kott’s? Is J&L not emptying regularly or is it not big enough? Caused the 3 sewage backups at bank. Discussion to add a second trap at J&L or ensure it is big enough.
       1. Suggest to reach out to vendor who cleans the grease trap for records of reports that are sent to TCEQ, restaurant, and city. are we receiving copies of the TCEQ reports from the restaurants when grease traps are cleaned?
       2. Gas station would be included as it also serves food.
       3. Salvador may be able to assist with J&L discussion.
    2. No noticed street lights out.
    3. Wise Landscaping sold to Red Line, Marc will meet with them next time they come out and modify service around town. Wants them to setup scheduling with ToA.
       1. They didn’t blow grass off main street well.
       2. Could put back out for bid or see how this new company does. Hold for now.
    4. Can county shred the roads better? Trees in the way.
    5. Seeking historical photos from community. The Saga of Anderson loaner books.
13. Discussion of agenda items for the next scheduled meeting
    1. Kason suggests to invite community involvement in the new building, school to paint mural, we can paint walls. Would have official grand opening once abatement complete.
    2. Proposed renaming of current town hall as the Community Center, other?
    3. Main St parking and one-way further discussion
14. Adjourn at 8:30p motion by Tanner Krause, second by Kason Menges, all in favor.

Signed: Marc Benton, Mayor
Attest: Cara McAlister, Town Clerk