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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN FEB 20 1990 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD FEBRUARY 20, 1990, 1:15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 20th day of February, 1990, with the following present: HONORABLE: Maurice Meyers Mayor Bob Lee, Jr. Mayor Pro Tem Councilman At Large Andrew P. Cokinos Councilman At Large Lulu L. Smith Councilman, Ward I Michael Brumley Councilman, Ward II David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III Ray A. Riley City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend B. H. Clendennen, pastor of Victory Temple Assembly of God Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Councilman Smith. -000- Mayor Meyers announced that an Executive Session will be conducted in accordance with Section 2 (e) of the Texas Open Meetings Act to discuss pending or contemplative litigation immediately following the Workshop Session. -000- Mayor Meyers reported a delightful experience this morning of dedicating the George Brown Plaza. The dedication of the plaza was part of a Beautify Beaumont Project in conjunction with the George Brown family in memory of Mr. Brown. The Plaza is located at the intersection where Phelan Boulevard and Calder Avenue meet. Mayor Meyers said he feels this was a very appropriate way to remember a citizen who gave a great deal to our community and expressed appreciation to Mr. Brown's family for the way they chose to remember him. -000- -48- February 20, 1990 (DEEVY AND SHANNON/SANDWELL CORPORATION PRESENTATION) MAYOR MEYERS• We have taken occasion, and will continue to do so, as we recognize what continues to be our primary need -- and that's the creation of jobs and business development. And, as has been my policy, we've allowed such opportunities to get one free advertising session at our microphone so that they can talk about a business that's expanding or merging. And, I 'm pleased today to ask Mr. Ray Shannon with Deevy and Shannon, Inc. , who's here with us, to talk about a merger with Sandwell Swan and Wooster, an engineering firm. And, I think this is a good thing for our community. They visited with me about it. I think it' s particularly good because it's drawing again a focus on our community because of the work -- particularly the industrial work -- and a lot of the construction that's taking place. So, companies are looking again at Beaumont as an area where they want to create more business and get more business. And, I 'd like you to welcome Mr. Ray Shannon. Ray, this is your first and last non-paid commercial! MR. RAY SHANNON: Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Councilmembers. As the Mayor said, my name is Ray Shannon. I 'm Operations Manager for Deevy and Shannon, Division of Sandwell, Inc. , formerly President of Deevy and Shannon. Sandwell is an old, well-established engineering firm which began about 1925 in Canada, has operated in the United States since about 1960. Their expertise is primarily in the field of forest products, especially paper mills, ports, and bulk material handling. Of course, our, Deevy and Shannon has been operating since 1958 providing engineering services to refineries and petrochemical plants in this area. So, the combined operation will continue with this office under the same management, as a branch office of Sandwell, providing engineering to plants throughout the area. Now I do have an announcement to make which my associate from Atlanta, Mr. Mo Zareh, who is the Vice-President of Sandwell and Manager of U. S. Operations, wanted to make to you himself, but he's prevented from being here by the press of other business. We have recently concluded an agreement with Temple-Inland's Evadale papermill whereby we will furnish all of the engineering services for a multi-million dollar project, modernization and expansion which they currently have underway. So, this work instead of being done in Houston or some other state, will now be handled through Beaumont. And, of course, we're excited about this, and this will bring about many changes. Among them, as the Mayor mentioned, an expansion of our staff from about thirty (30) now to a contemplated one hundred (100) people in three years. So, this will be seventy (70) new jobs for engineers, designers, and CAD operators. We're busily looking for new office space and acquiring new computer furniture and computer equipment and seeking employees. Sandwell was attracted to this area by the improving economic outlook, which is due in no small measure, to the hard work of this Mayor and Council, among others. We're optimistic about the outlook, and we appreciate, Mayor, the opportunity -49- February 20, 1990 for this free commercial. MAYOR MEYERS• Well, thank you, Ray. I appreciate you coming today very much, and we wish you all the best. And, as you mentioned, that is a significant increase in employment for your firm with the merger now. And, again, I think it does tie directly to the turn-around that's taking place and the attention being drawn. And, it's a good relationship between you and Temple Inland who certainly continue to be real good corporate citizens for our area. Thank you very much, Ray. (MENDED HEARTS PRESENTATION) MAYOR MEYERS• Next, I 'd like to call on Ms. Eunice Davis. She is with an organization known as Mended Hearts and perhaps some of you have heard of that organization. She has a very special message today to bring those of us here, as well as the media and others, who would perhaps pay attention to Ms. Davis' plea and what Mended Hearts is about. Ms. Davis, won't you come forward. MS. EUNICE DAVIS: Thank you. I appreciate the opportunity of coming. I 've been here many times before, but always with the health care industry, and I 've sort of changed horses in the middle of the stream since I 've had heart surgery. I have my sister-in-law with me here today, Ruth Killen, and we do come on behalf of Mended Hearts. Mended Hearts is a volunteer group, a support group for heart patients. We visit patients in the hospital and follow up with them at home and help them and their families in any way we can. We have meetings once a month that help us as we get sort of fixed up to stay fixed up, and we do a number of other things in the community, but this is the first time we've tried anything like what we're doing now. About three or four months ago I received a call, and the person said, "can you help us?" And, you know when someone says to you, "can you help?" At that point you have to make a decision if you're going to do it or not do it. I had read about a lady named Wanda Pairett in Vidor who was in need of a heart transplant, but I had laid my newspaper aside and meant to send some money, and, of course, I had not done it, but when they said, "can you help us?" I said I 'll take it to Mended Hearts. So, we did vote to support the fund raiser for Wanda Pairett. This Saturday at the Knights of Columbus Hall. . .we're going to have a fund-raiser. Beginning at 10: 30 a.m. we're going to sell Bar-B-Q plates for $4.95. We have a wonderful list of auction items which the merchants have given, which I 'm going to pass out to you. We're going to have an auction with Colonel Luke Brown, a professional auctioneer at 1: 00 P.M. We're going to have a sale of used items, and we're going to have a drawing for donations. If anybody ever says the people of Beaumont do not care, that is not true. The merchants and everyone in -50- February 20, 1990 Beaumont has turned out to support this group. The Knights of Columbus have donated the hall, my employers, Beverly Enterprises with the nursing homes, are furnishing the food, Eckerds has given a microwave, Conn's has given a TV, the Quilt Guild gave a quilt, people have given their time and talent. We're going to have the Sky Divers come and jump for us. We're going to have Jingles the Clown there, and everyone has turned out to really make this a success, and I do want to give all of you a special invitation to come and to speak to all of our guest there this week. We'll try to introduce all of you. We do invite you to try and make this fund-raiser a great thing for Wanda Pairett. She has gone. . .she's fifty- four (54) years old. . .she went to Houston. . .she has been approved for a heart transplant. She has 20% of her heart left. They took her to surgery at Saint Luke's and literally cut away all the dead part of her heart. She has 20% left. She's today going to Saint Elizabeth for further evaluation. At Saint Luke's you have to have. . .her insurance company flatly refused to pay for the transplant. . .but you have to have available to you $80, 000 to be put on the heart transplant list. If you don't have the $80, 000 available or insurance, you just don't get on the list. She's on S.S.I. She will get $10, 000 from S.S.I. which leaves $70, 000 for her to have available before she goes on the heart list. We're hoping to make at least $10, 000. We really need your help, and we appreciate it. Thank you. MAYOR MEYERS• Thank you, Ms. Davis. We wish you the very best of luck. Thank you for coming and sharing that with us today. And, Ray, thank you very much. Your business again I think speaks to the diversification and different kinds of business that are developing. -000- One Proclamation was issued: "National Engineers Week, " February 18-22, 1990. (Received by Mr. Tom Warner, Public Works Director and President of the Sabine Chapter of the Texas Society of Professional Engineers) -000- Citizen comment was invited on the Consent and Main Agenda items. No one wished to address these items. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held February 13, 1990; Resolution No. 90-28 authorizing purchase of a three-quarter-ton carryall type vehicle, 1990 Chevrolet Suburban, for the Fire Department from Beaumont Motor Company in the amount of $19, 548. 00; and -51- February 20, 1990 Resolution No. 90-29 authorizing an agreement with the Jefferson County Appraisal District for purchase of aerial mapping services (through Merrick and Company) at a total cost of $11, 044 .00. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-30 authorizing filing application for a $38, 000 federal operating assistance grant (local match consisting of lease value of use of building at 875 College, value of volunteer, City staff, and Trinity Valley Baptist Association services) with the Department of Housing and Urban Development for the Shelter for the Homeless operated by Trinity Valley Baptist Association under contract with the City ($30,400 for maintenance and operation of the shelter, $3,800 for essential services and $3 , 800 for homeless prevention) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Cokinos. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-31 authorizing contracts for furnishing traffic marking materials with: Production Components, Inc.--500 sign posts at $14.85 each, $7,425.00 ; Trantex Transportation Products of Texas, Inc.--3, 000 lbs. glass beads at $.249/lb. $747.00, 5, 000 yellow ceramic markers at $. 51/each, $2,550.00, 5, 000 white ceramic markers at $.49 each $2,450.00, 5, 000 2-way reflective markers at $1. 08/each $5,400.00; Highway Signs & Paint, Inc.--500 gallons yellow and 500 gallons white traffic paint at $6.50/gallon, $6,500.00, 2, 620 sign blanks, prices ranging from $2 . 00-$15. 66 $12,376.30, Southwestern Materials--5, 000 lbs. marker adhesive at $.29/lb. , $1,450.00, 3 M Company--5, 000 1-way reflective markers at $1. 01/each, $5,050.00, 8, 000 feet marking tapes, prices ranging from $. 78 - $4 . 68, $13,260.00, 70 rolls reflective sheeting, prices ranging $56.25-$283 .50 $14,928.75, and Mid-Ohio Markings and Traffic SuRDly--1, 675 sign faces, prices ranging from $2 . 69-$9.27 $7,937 .00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution No. 90-32 awarding an annual contract for furnishing limestone base material for the Streets and Drainage Department to T-Mix Materials at $11.80/ton delivered to Zone 1, $11. 60/ton delivered to Zones 2 and 3, $11. 40/ton delivered to Zone 4, and $10. 90/ton loaded on City trucks at the vendor's plant was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Moore. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -52- February 20, 1990 Resolution No. 90-33 authorizing purchase of a Kobelco K916LC Mark II model excavator equipped with a counterweight removal device from South Texas Equipment Company in the amount of $224,259. 00 for use at the landfill was approved on a motion made by Councilman Cokinos and seconded by Councilman Smith. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Lee asked when plans would come forward with a commencement date and prioritization of the Street Rehabilitation Program. Mr. Riley said schedules are currently being prepared and probably will be available by mid March and reported that the City is working with Jefferson County with regard to scheduling joint repair efforts for Helbig Road, Walden Road, Old Dowlen Road, and Plant Road. -000- Mrs. Marilyn Adams, 4695 Dellwood, Chairman of the Census Count Committee, addressed Council to report preparatory activities for the 1990 Census Count and to solicit support for promoting awareness and need for a full count. "Count me in Beaumont" is the slogan that will be used widely throughout the city via various organizations and publications to promote awareness and importance of the census. Mayor Meyers emphasized that it is vital that an accurate count be taken since the census count is the major figure used in formulas for receipt of federal monies for almost a decade. The Census Count Committee will serve as a watchdog to avoid an undercount. Mr. Henry Dannenbaum, 1567 Wall Street, addressed Council regarding store vandalism and the number of meals provided needy people. Mr. Mike Luther, 1085 North 14th Street and Mr. Frank Bly, 932 North 14th Street, addressed Council in opposition to Ordinance No. 89-58 and Ordinance No. 90-2 establishing and amending the street user fee. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the Workshop Session. -000- I, Barbara Liming, Deputy City Clerk of the City of Beaumont, Texas, certify that the above is a true copy of the Minutes of the Regular City Council Session held February 20, 1990. Barbara Liming Deputy City Clerk -53- February 20, 1990