2025 09 04 Meeting Minutes

BE IT REMEMBERED, that on this the 4th day of September 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  called to order at 7:00pm Mayor Marc Benton, Tanner Krause, Kason Menges, Will Borski, Harold Minor, Cara McAlister and Town Attorney Ashley Ver Schuur present. Bessie White not present. Visitors present were Sherri Benton, Erna Freeman, Brian Colbert, Daryl Alford, Mandi Alford, Nancy Jane McMillan, Carnell Carrell, Morgan Donnell, Michael Donnell, Charles Borski, Garrett Wesley, Mary Beth Wesley, and Michael Kimich.
2. Invocation given by Kason
3. Pledges to the flags
4. Public Comment Citizens are welcome to address the court, up to 3 minutes each, but the court cannot respond.
   1. Daryl Alford brought to the council concerns over the lack of business owner input for the Main St restriping, calling the parking situation a “crisis of credibility”. He was not presented with all options proposed by TXDOT. Handicap parking spots are poorly located or difficult to access.
   2. Mary Beth Wesley has the same sentiments, doesn’t see that the new parking stripes benefited Anderson, further advising her delivery truck has no where to park and she is losing customers. She hopes to hear about a plan moving forward.
   3. Mike Donnell stated the same and wants a solution to rectify. 
5. Mayor’s Update
   1. Thanks to Tanner for taking over last month and council for rescheduling this month.
   2. Hispanic Heritage Festival is scheduled for Sep 20th, hosted by Grimes County Historic Commission, all encouraged to attend
   3. The visitor center move from Washington County to Fanthorp Inn is complete. There was lack of communication from the movers and Texas Historic Commission on over-sized loads and when the buildings would be coming through town
6. Consent Agenda All consent items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion and vote.
   1. Approval of August 14, 2025 Town Council Meeting Minutes
   2. Approval of the list of claims and bills
   3. Approval of Budget Line-Item Transfers (if needed)
      1. Sewer LIT of $2,356.04 from (ACCT) to 2-7-591 Plant Exp Repairs 
      2. Sewer LIT of $200.00 from 2-7-462 FM 1774 Electric to 2-2-103 Office Supplies (check order)
      3. Sewer LIT of $48.42 from 2-7-402 Operator/Mowing to 2-2-103 Office Supplies (check order)
      4. General LIT of $1607.75 from 1-5-582 Legal to 1-5-592 Grant Expenses
      5. General LIT of $15.98 from 1-5-510 Travel/School/Dues/Clerical Training to 1-7-301 Cleaning Supplies
      6. General LIT of $7.19 from 1-5-510 Travel/School/Dues/Clerical Training to 1-5-260 General Office Supplies
      7. General LIT of $24.08 from 1-5-510 Travel/School/Dues/Clerical Training to 1-5-521Google Suite
      8. General LIT of $24,362.33 from 1-5-582 Legal to 1-7-400 Town Hall Expansion to cover additional closing costs
      9. Correction to 8/14/2025 Sewer bills: moved $160.00 from 2-7-591 Plant Repairs to 2-7-715 Site Maint and Improvements to better align with previous transactions of this nature
      10. Correction to 08/14/2025 General bills: moved $381.38 from 1-7-311 AC heating to 1-7-302 Contract Service – Maintenance to better align with previous transactions of this nature
          1. Motion to approve consent agenda with exception to line item c.(i) by Kason, second by Tanner. All in favor.
7. Reports Informational reports only, no action to be taken.
   1. Permit report
      1. We received funds for a swimming pool and roof replacement that were signed last month. They are now filed and complete.
      2. Multiple vendor permits for the Hispanic Heritage Festival (9 to date)
   2. Sewer Report
      1. Brian Colbert reports that the chlorine line and pump were replaced, anticipates samples will improve w/o having to manually chlorinate
      2. Mowing is behind due to ill employee
      3. Mayor advises there will be a future request for TCEQ violations from Brian. Brian advised we did have high e.coli but never out of compliance.
   3. Grants Report
      1. 2017 Harvey Grant – nothing to report
      2. ARPA Grant 
         1. Mayor states remaining funds will be used to pay the sewer repairs-chlorine line and pump
      3. 2023-2024 CDBG
         1. Payment received and paid vendors
         2. Still expect to be complete with pipe replacement prior to festival. 
         3. Steve Duncan, Bleyl Eng, will complete a ride around, to be scheduled.
      4. 2025-2026 CDBG
         1. Aron, PMI, expects to have approval and start this fiscal year.
      5. CDBG MIT-MOD
         1. Amendment submitted and approved.
      6. Harvey Reallocation Funds – nothing to report
      7. RCP
         1. Waiting on Bleyl’s water reports to reach 50%.  Proposing Sep 15th for next Town Hall.
   4. Texas Water Development Fund (DFund) – nothing to report
   5. Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) – nothing to report
8. Business Discuss, consider, and possibly take action regarding:
   1. Discuss community concerns around striping on Main Street.
      1. Mayor stands by the reporting and TXDoT provided three viable options, agrees there must be better communication and paper trails. Apologizes for that. There were 17 or 19 parking spaces before, depending on who counted. The first draft proposal was all the Mayor received. Courthouse Antiques owner also allowed for two additional spaces in front of her building bringing the total of new parking spaces up to 24. Ability to get in and out of vehicles was a concern of the Mayor and addressed with the TXDoT rep. The spaces are larger than standard TXDoT sizing, allowing for wheelchair access.
      2. Will Borski reiterates the communication to business owners was lacking and the new parking has hurt business downtown. Council was not made aware of the transaction with TXDoT before the parking changes were made. Decisions are being made without council knowledge by Mayor and not transparent. Indicates council cannot lie to one another and states Mayor lied to council and citizens. We are put on council by the community vote and should be transparent, and legally right. 
      3. Ashley Ver Schuur reminds everyone that the Main St parking was on the agenda at the last regular meeting, no open meeting violations have occurred. 
   2. Discuss establishment of a quarterly Town of Anderson Business Forum.
      1. Mayor proposing an open forum that council does not have to attend, for business owners to meet with the Mayor and discuss grievances, etc. As a group talk about a solution all can agree with. Unable to give answer or solution to the parking right now but open to further discussion. Business owners present agreed to attend the forum. First schedule Oct 2nd 
   3. Discuss and possible action to approve the FY26 Town of Anderson tax rate of 0.131698/$100. 
      1. Table this item until the budget has been adopted. 
   4. Discuss and possible action to set new rental rates for the Community Hall effective October 1, 2025.
      1. Propose amendment or update to Ord 148-22, previously amended 148-22A and 148-22B. Mayor recommends new daily rate of $350, currently $150 and remove the set up option of $40. 
      2. Council discusses how to make enough to cover repairs and occasional improvements. Option to increase to $250. What is the goal for the town, to make money or break even. Will doesn’t think we should lose money on the building and should make enough money to cover repairs and maintenance for continued use of the building by citizens.
      3. Kason wants to quantify the increase and additional information about the operations and what we’re missing out by not allowing setups. This is not a recorded/measured variable currently. Tanner suggests an increase to the setup fee.
      4. Harold ok to increase rental fee but within reason, we are not comparable to Knights of Columbus with a larger building but much higher fee but they are the next closest building.
      5. Get agreement on changes then work with Ashley to amend or replace 148-22 (a&b). No action.
   5. Discuss and possible action to approve entering into a service agreement with BIG Services (BVR) to provide a small dumpster at 415 Hill Street and authorize the mayor as signatory.
      1. Motion to approve a new service agreement with BIG Services to provide a dumpster authorizing Mayor as signatory by Tanner, second by Harold, all in favor.
   6. Discuss and possible action to propose the FY26 Town Budget.
      1. Mayor proposes review tonight and if acceptable a vote to approve at a to be scheduled special meeting. 
   7. Discuss, consider and take possible action to approve updates to Ordinance 113-16 pertaining to Mobile Home, Manufactured Home, and Mobile Home Parks.
      1. Kason addressed concern over language used in the proposed ordinance and collectively a term of ‘mobile home’ was used instead of the defined terms.
      2. Will is concerned with language addressing long-term permanent residents occupying temporary hookups/rv parks, previously Anderson chose to ban long-term use rv parks, did not allow rv’s to be hooked up to water and thinks this ordinance might be adding rv parks into city limits. 
      3. This will be brought to Kaitlyn Higgins, PMI for review.
      4. No action taken.
   8. Discuss and possible action to approve a request from the Grimes County Historic Commission for the closure of College Street from 1774 along the Historic Anderson Park to support the Hispanic Heritage and History Festival on September 20th, 2025 from noon to 6:00 pm.
      1. Historical Commission has requested 8am to 8pm and stated sheriff’s office will assist with event. Mayor proposes to offer Noon to 6pm closure instead of the 12hr request.
      2. Mayor offered our cones as we will not officially close the street, it’s up to them to monitor as fire and emergency would still need access to the street, as needed. Not to impede emergency services.
         1. Motion to approve the GCHC request road closure/block of College St. from Noon to 7pm by Tanner, second by Kason. All in favor.
   9. Discuss and possible action if needed to review plans for October Trunk or Treat event.
      1. 5pm-9pm closure request discussion
      2. Mayor asking if council wishes to participate, setup at the new Town Hall or out of a vehicle. Set aside $300 for trunk or treat. Mayor is unable to attend.
      3. Kason and Tanner will attend and Will at his business on Main St.
   10. Discuss and possible action to approve resolution to agree and request closure of Main Street from TxDOT on October 25th from 5:00 to 9:00 pm in support of Trunk or Treat event.
       1. Motion to approve resolution to close Main Street from TxDOT on October 25th with the change of time to 5:00 to 9:00 pm in support of Trunk or Treat event by Kason, second by Tanner. All in favor.
   11. Discuss and take action to approve September 15th, 2025 starting at 6:30 pm (or another option in September if needed) to hold a public hearing on FY2026 town budget, special meeting to approve the budget, and RCP Comprehensive Plan Town Hall.
       1. Per new laws in effect September 1, 2025 agendas must be posted 3 business days in advance – proposing September 23rd.
       2. Cara will reach out to the Grimes County Citizen’s Academy coordinator to move their event on Sep 23rd.
       3. Mayor will reach out to PMI for rescheduling of their Town Hall meeting.
          1. No motion required.
9. Executive Session at 9:13pm (moved to end of meeting)
   1. Convene into Executive Session pursuant to Sec. 551.072, Texas Government Code, to deliberate the sell, purchase, exchange, or value of certain real property located within the limits of the Town of Anderson
10. Possible Action from Executive Session at 9:32pm
    1. Reconvene into public session and take action as appropriate at the discretion of the Town Council regarding the sell, purchase, exchange, or value of certain real property located within the limits of the Town of Anderson.
       1. Motion to allow Town Attorney and Mayor to negotiate terms of potential vacation of a portion of Houston St, South of Buffington by Will, second by Harold, all in favor.
11. Around Town at 9:06pm
    1. Kason asked if any power poles were marked for removal from Entergy during the recent unplanned review. No notice was provided to the Town for this activity by a third party contractor.
    2. Will agrees to be liaison with County Road and Bridge, Jon Strieber for asst with tree trimming
    3. Harold asked about the over-spraying of personal property around town with our new mowing contract. Will offers to meet with Red Line, Mayor asks to be involved with any meeting.
    4. Harold also asking for assurance the streets currently involved in sewer improvements will be repaired to the Town’s satisfaction.
12. Discussion of agenda items for the next scheduled meeting
    1. Public hearing on Budget
       1. Scheduled for Sep 23, 2025
    2. Adopt the budget or reschedule if there are significant changes
    3. Adopt the tax rate
    4. Town Hall for RCP
    5. October Meeting
       1. Pass Rental Hall Ordinance modifications
       2. Resolutions for Anderson Baptist event and Veteran’s Day Concert street closures
       3. Anderson Holiday Fest, address with 
       4. Trunk or Treat participation
       5. Ordinance for manufactured homes
13. Adjourn at 9:34pm.

Signed: Tanner Krause, Mayor Pro Tem

Attest: Cara McAlister, Town Clerk