2016 01 14 Minutes

Meeting Minutes
The Town of Anderson, Texas
1-14-2016
Members Present: Gail Sowell, Mayor; Alderwomen: Erna Freeman, Carol DeBose, Karen McDuffie; Aldermen: Tom Johanson, Joe Boudreaux
Anderson Attorney Present: Michael R. Casaretto
Visitors Present: Cindy Bell, Frank Matejicek, Christopher Creeks, Miriah Cunneen, Nancy Perry, Jenna Blinn, Chris Blinn, Cody Davis, Sara Goolsby, Dorothy Hassell, Jim Hassell, Kermit Bostelman, Rocky Weller.
There was a quorum thus a public open meeting was called to order at 7:09 P.M. by Mayor Gail Sowell at Zion Lutheran Church fellowship hall located at 455 FM 149 east, Anderson Texas. Pledges were recited and Tom Johanson spoke the invocation.( Note: The meeting was moved to Zion Lutheran due to a problem with a natural gas smell in the town Hall)
Remarks of visitors:
Cindy Bell commented on how good and productive the workshop was that was held on January 11, 2016.
Minutes of previous meeting held on Thursday, December 10, 2015 were read by each board member present. A motion was made by Erna Freeman to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Joe Boudreaux. All approved, motion carried.
Joe Boudreaux made a motion to approve the Proclamation of April as Fair Housing Month. Erna Freeman seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Mr. Frank Matejicek was on hand to discuss the mowing of the sewer plant. He stated that he had to bale hay this year because it was too high to cut. The weather made it hard to get back there to keep it cut down. He has no intentions on selling the hay. He will continue to mow three times a year as weather allows.
Mr. Christopher Creeks discussed issues he has in regards to some lots he owns in town and other lots he is cleaning up. Michael Casaretto advised Mr. Creeks that he should contact the electric company and property owners beside each lot that he will be doing possible ground shaking work. Also suggested was that Mr. Creeks sends a certified return receipt l letter to the owner of the leaning house on the property next to the one he wants to work on because he was advised by attorney Michael Casaretto that if he shakes the ground with his dozer on his property and it causes the house to fall down, he could possibly be held liable. Joe Boudreaux stated he is available to meet with Mr. Creeks and the electric company when they come out. One property listed in his name is actually a slave cemetery. Mr. Creeks prefers that that piece of property not even be in his name but would like for it to be cleaned up and makers found. He was informed that the board of Alderman is looking into that site to see what can be done to clean it up and make it an historical site; however a lot of research needs to be done yet. Mr. Creeks was advised to stay out of the cemetery and do not do any clearing until more research by the board has been completed. Mr. Creeks also brought up the Terrell School and he thought the ASCISD was named the Alex Terrell School and should be named that now. Superintendent, Sara Goolsby will research that and get back with Mr. Creeks. Mr. Creeks stated he is having a hard time getting back to one of his properties due to an unusable road, Houston Street. The board will look into that street on the Town map and get back with Mr. Creeks.
Realtor Miriah Cunneen presented a general business plan for a proposed subdivision just outside the city limits. She addressed certain concerns that the Alderman mentioned at the workshop held on January 11, 2016 in regards to school district concerns, drainage, sewer/water, timeline, goals, roads and infrastructure just to mention a few items. Mr. Steve Duncan , county engineer, requested some information from Ms. Cunneen so he can assess the site for lift stations, look at capacities and be able to speak with the Anderson Water Company and talk with them about the possibility of a fire protection system. Also, depending on the capacities for commercial buildings if the sewer system would be able to handle the growth and usage that comes with that growth. Michael Casaretto thanked Miriah Cunneen for “doing her homework”. He requested that she’d call him to talk with him about the annexation process.
Erna Freeman made a motion to table Item Number 8 on the agenda; discuss take action on Town Hall rental agreement, cleanup and other. Tom Johanson seconded the motion. Upon discussion Erna made a friendly amendment to the motion to table everything except the clean-up. Tom seconded the friendly amendment. All approved., motion carried.
Erna Freeman made a motion to authorize the town to hire a third party to clean-up the town Hall when needed. Joe Boudreaux seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Carol DeBose requested that we discuss nuisance properties/condemnations in closed session.
Board members were assigned to several projects as discussed in workshop held on January 11, 2016. Appointments as follows: Erna Freeman & Joe Boudreaux*: Town Hall Bldg. Inspection, Grants for Roads and Town Hall Bldg, School Traffic Pattern Meeting with Superintendent of ASCISD and Michael Casaretto; Mayor Gail Sowell : call Engineer Steve Duncan on the new proposed development, call Melissa Bochat about lighting replacement, contact Boy scouts about slave cemetery; Mayor Gail Sowell & Mary Bostelman; locate most recent copy of Inter-local agreement, contact Rocky Weller to come to 1-14-16 Town Hall Mtg.; Mary Bostelman: call Mr. Gillikin to reschedule meeting and get quote for Insurance the Town Hall.; Carol DeBose: make slave cemetery contacts, give updated delinquent tax info to Chief Appraiser, Mark Boehnke, create new condemnation list (with Karen McDuffie*) for letters to be sent to those in violation and give to Michael Casaretto.; Michael Casaretto: Call TML and check on insurance quote for Town Hall, Check into Michael Blackshears Life Estate, research the new ruling on audio taping council meetings, write condemnation letters to those on Carol Debose list of violators. attend meeting with Erna Freeman and Joe Boudreaux in regards to school traffic patterns. Karen McDuffie made a motion to approve the assignments of each member. Carol DeBose seconded. *Discussion by Joe Boudreaux requested he be added to the grant assignment and Karen McDuffie be added to condemnation assignment. All approved, motion carried.
Mayor Sowell reported that Ryan Rutledge is working on the issue of health hazards at the house on Hill St. He found the owner of each vehicle and the name of the owner of the house. Michael Casaretto will call Ryan and follow-up with him.
Joe Boudreaux made a motion to pay bills currently due as presented. Carol DeBose seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Open session adjourned: 8:25 P.M.
Closed session opened: 8:40 P.M.
Open session re-opened: 9:33 P.M.
Erna Freeman made a motion that the Town hire Rocky Weller and pay him $15.00 per clean-up plus $10.00 hour as needed for extra duties. Pay period would be once a month and Rocky is to submit an invoice. This agreement will be reevaluated in 90 days from the start of hire. Tom Johanson seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Open session closed: 9:45 P.M.
Next regular scheduled meeting: February 18, 2016 @ 7:00 P.M.
______________________________ Attest: ______________________________
Mayor Secretary

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TOWN OF ANDERSON

P.O. Box 592
Anderson, TX 77830

Ph: (936) 873-3102

Office Hours : Tuesday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m