Meeting Minutes
The Town of Anderson, Texas
5-12-2016
Members Present: Gail Sowell, Mayor; Alderwoman: Erna Freeman; Aldermen: Tom Johanson, Joe Boudreaux
Members Absent: Alderwomen: Carol DeBose, Karen McDuffie
Anderson Attorney Present: Michael R. Casaretto
Visitors Present: Cindy Bell, David Dobyanski, Kristin Keally, Miriah Cunneen, Nicole Stelivan, Daphne Giles, Felisha Green, Danny Coffman
There was a quorum thus a public open meeting was called to order at 7:10 P.M. by Mayor Gail Sowell.
Pledges were recited and Tom Johanson spoke the invocation.
Remarks of visitors:
David Dobyanski introduced Anderson High School /FFA member Kristin Keally. Kristin gave a well organized professional presentation of an Animal Shelter for the County of Grimes that she has been working. Her goal is to execute a sustainable community Animal Shelter. She has spoken to key people with-in Grimes County such as Sheriff Don Sowell, the Commissioners, local veterinarians, town council members and boards, just to mention a few but not limited to those and all have been very helpful and encouraging. She is seeking grants, a permanent place for the shelter, and the details of what type of shelter it will be are still in the discussion stage. Miss Keally thanked the board for their input and will keep them abreast of the progress.
Cindy Bell thanked the town for participating in the Navasota Grimes County Chamber business expo held at St. Stanislaus Hall on Thurs. 5-12-16. No action needed by the board on remarks of visitors.
There was no opposition to the positions of three aldermen up for re-election. Therefore Joe Boudreaux and Erna Freeman stated and signed there statement of office and was sworn in by Mayor Gail Sowell as aldermen of the Town of Anderson, Texas. Karen McDuffie was absent and will be sworn in at the next town council meeting. Joe Boudreaux made a motion to table the re-organization by electing one of its members Mayor Pro-Tem and one Secretary until the next town council meeting. Erna Freeman seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Minutes of previous meeting held on Thursday, April 14, 2016 were read by each board member present. A motion was made by Joe Boudreaux to approve the minutes as written. The motion was seconded by Tom Johanson. All approved, motion carried.
Mayor Gail Sowell presented a proclamation to Steel Heals Woman’s Motorcycle club from the Town of Anderson declaring May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.
Joe Boudreaux made a motion to table agenda item # 6: Anderson Water Company representative will be on hand to give a quarterly report and agenda item # 9: Discuss/consider/approve a new waste water fee for town businesses and residents until Anderson Water Company representative is present at the meeting. Erna Freeman seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
The aldermen postponed agenda # 7: Road and Bridge Engineer, Mr. Greg Blake, will attend the meeting to meet the council and answer any questions concerning the town’s roads and drainage; until Mr. Greg Blake is present at the Town Council meeting.
Mariah Cunneen stated she met with Town of Anderson attorney, Michael Casaretto to discuss preliminary set of restriction. She stated all infrastructure will be put in by the developer and when finished will be taken over by the Town of Anderson and or other companies such as electricity and water but not limited to just those mentioned. She discussed square footage to accommodate price range; finalization of plots, street lights, fire hydrants, and her original plot diagram might have to change slightly due to reevaluating slope of land. Mariah has been working with an engineer out of Houston, Mr. Troy Anthony. Specifications on roads, curbs and gutters are still being discussed as to what would be the best for longevity and low maintenance. Mayor Gail Sowell will give Mariah, Mr. Ronnie Hale’s contact information for Entergy. Mariah is anticipating in the commercial section of the development to have a place for a daycare business, real estate office, office space, some type of market and a café/brick oven eatery. She is still communicating with the surrounding home owners about annexation and there was a concern of a competitive shooting site close by to the proposed neighborhood. Attorney Casaretto will start working on the legal writings and by the July or August meeting there should be a Platt. He is also working with Jones & Carter to establish development standards then we can adopt the standards for long term and town-wide permitting.
Erna Freeman made a motion that based on Mariah’s presentation and Mariah’s discussions with attorney Casaretto and tonight with the board of alderman that the board approve the annexation of the section of land (A0031 P C JACK, TRACT 31, ACRES 20 ; a Tax ID of :R12578; and mailing address of 1496FM149W Anderson, TX 77830 ) and still allow other land owners from the present town limits to the edge of said property being annexed the opportunity to be annexed into the Town of Anderson during this annexation process. Tom Johanson seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Erna Freeman made a motion to accept the first reading of the Mobile Home Ordinance #___ (not available at meeting time) (number to be brought to the second reading). Tom Johanson seconded the motion. Discussion and clarification on permanent foundations, manufactured homes, mobile, homes and modular homes were discussed. All approved, motion carried.
Attorney Michael Casaretto gave an update on various issues. He informed the board that he sent a letter to the owner of the safety hazard, vehicle hanging by a chain, and he stated the hazard has been removed. He also responded by letter, to Taya Shipman whom requested minutes be sent to her. He stated in his response letter that all meeting minutes are viewable and printable from the town website. He sent a letter addressed to the owner of the trailer that was impeding a roadway. He was informed by council member, Carol DeBose that the trailer has been removed however there are still impediments in the way. Michael will address this issue asking them to remove or face violations. Attorney Casaretto has been working on the slave cemetery issue of ownership and it actually could very well be owned by the county. He is working with the county office to clear this matter up. Mr. Casaretto informed the town that the county took action to file suit about the high speed rail survey issue.
Joe Boudreaux made a motion to pay invoices currently due as presented. Erna Freeman seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Mayor Sowell stated the town’s clean-up day was a success and thanked all who participated. She also stated the Chamber’s Business Expo was good and she informed the board that the next scheduled town meeting falls on the same evening as the live auction at the fair.
Joe Boudreaux made a motion to move the town council meeting in June to the 16th of June. Erna Freeman seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.
Open session adjourned: 8:32 P.M.
Closed session opened: 8:33 P.M.
Closed session closed: 9:12 P.M.
No need to reopen open session .
Next regular scheduled meeting: June 16, 2016 @ 7:00 P.M.
______________________________ Attest: ______________________________
Mayor Secretary
