2015 05 14 Minutes

Meeting Minutes
The Town of Anderson, Texas
May 14, 2015

Members Present: Gail Sowell, Mayor; Alderwoman: Erna Freeman, Karen McDuffie; Aldermen: Joe Boudreaux, E. Tom Johanson

Member Absent: Carol DeBose

Anderson Attorney Present: Michael R. Casaretto
Visitors Present: Cindy Bell, Chester Finke, Z. Brett Mize, Ken Sanders, Louise Sanders, Vida Slaton

There was a quorum thus a public open meeting was called to order at 7:01 P.M. by Mayor Gail Sowell. The Pledge of Allegiance and the Texas Allegiance were recited. Tom Johanson spoke the invocation.

There was no opposition to the positions of Mayor and two aldermen up for re-election. Therefore all duly elected candidates shall qualify by taking an Oath of Office. Mayor Gail Sowell and Alderman E. Tom Johanson signed their Statement of Office. David Paskett, Grimes County Clerk, swore in Gail Sowell as Mayor, and E.Tom Johanson as Alderman. Carol DeBose was not present and she will be sworn in as alderman at the next regularly scheduled meeting.

The aldermen re-organized by electing Erna Freeman as Mayor Pro-Tem and E. Tom Johanson as secretary.

Remarks of visitors:
Cindy Bell thanked everyone for the clean-up day. She reminded everyone that on Sat., May 16, 2015 a little dance group will perform in the park. Cindy also reported an issue of a hazardous swimming pool at 165 Fanthorp Street.
Ken Sanders stated that he would be happy to open the meeting with prayer when Tom Johanson is unavailable.
The board will look into the swimming pool hazard issue and act if necessary.

Minutes of previous meeting held on Thursday, April 9, 2015 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 Erna Freeman. All approved, motion carried.

Erna Freeman made a motion to accept the totals of the canvass materials provided by Becky Duff, Grimes County Election Registrar for the 1/4 of 1% local sales and use tax in Anderson to continue providing revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets by Resolution # 64-15. Joe Boudreaux seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.

Joe Boudreaux made a motion to accept the proclamation declaring May as Motorcycle Awareness Month in the Town of Anderson. E. Tom Johanson seconded the motion. All approve, motion carried.

Erna Freeman made a motion to postpone Anderson Water Company’s request of an increase in pay for the sewer operator until next month with the request that the board receives a thorough written job description of the operator, accountability of performance, specifically who is doing the job on a daily basis and who is the replacement for when that person is out of the office. Joe Boudreaux seconded the motion. All approved, motion of postponement passed. Mayor Gail Sowell will inform the Anderson Water Company of the requested items before next meeting.

Discussion of Main Street issue and Grimes Co. Road & Bridge bid was tabled until better assessment of issues were done. Bob Cochran of Road & Bridge will assess the town’s issues when the rain subsides.

Erna made a motion to postpone the request from Brett Mize concerning the east end of Johnson Street until the next regularly scheduled meeting in June. Joe seconded the motion. Discussion took place between Brett Mize, Michael Casaretto, and aldermen on the issue. Michael Casaretto will meet with Brett Mize on June 5 at 11:30 or noon to discuss the issue and look at property. All approved, motion postponement carried.

A follow-up letter to those whose yards which are still an issue after clean-up day non-participation by them was discussed. A list of possible businesses that would help with lawn maintenance /clean-up of brush and trees should be included in the letter along with a non-compliance of ordinance notice. Mayor Gail Sowell will compose a letter and list of possible businesses/workers in the lawn care/clean-up business. Mayor Sowell stated that Mr. Ken Burkholter owns vacant lots and stated he wants to comply. He is in need of some names that he can contact locally so he can contract them to do his lots. Mayor Gail will give him some names to contact.

Mayor Sowell updated the board on the issue at the end of Hill Street. The part in question was actually county property. Issue needs to be taken up with the county not the city by the property owner.

Mayor Sowell sent a list of needed signs to Road & Bridge and she will get a bid for what is needed.
Michael Casaretto stated there may be some changes to annexation for cities and towns. He will keep the board informed.

Joe Boudreaux made a motion to pay bills currently due as presented. Erna Freeman seconded the motion. All approved, motion carried.

Mayor Sowell reported that the clean-up day was very successful. She thanked the probation officer for their help. Each year seems to be better and better and the participation from citizens cleaning their yards was great as well. A letter of appreciation to the probation office and Brazos Valley Solid Waste Management will be sent out. Suggestion for next year’s cleanup was to make sure we put BVSWM as our sponsor for the event. Also, next year maybe elicit more involvement from the school, churches, and community organizations to help during the clean-up.

Open session adjourned: 8:08 P.M.
Entered into closed session: 8:09 P.M.
No need to reopen Open session
Next scheduled meeting: June 11, 2015 @ 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