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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMIN JUN 18 1985 REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL - CITY OF BEAUMONT HELD JUNE 18, 1985 - 1 :15 P.M. BE IT REMEMBERED that the City Council of the City of Beaumont, Texas, met in regular session this the 18th day of June, 1985, with the following present: HONORABLE: William E. Neild Mayor Joseph D. Deshotel Councilman At Large Nell Pruitt Weisbach Councilman, Ward I Mike Brumley Councilman, Ward II Audwin Samuel Councilman, Ward III David W. Moore Councilman, Ward IV Absent: G. Wayne Turner Councilman At Large Karl Nollenberger City Manager Lane Nichols City Attorney Myrtle Corgey City Clerk -000- The Invocation was given by the Reverend Kirk Muller, Beaumont Bible Church. The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Mayor Neild. -000- Two proclamations were issued: Recognition of K. W. (Kinky) Shane as the first recipient of the Beaumont Aviation Award and "Olympic Volleyball Day in Beaumont" - June 19, 1985. -000- The following Consent Agenda items were considered: Approval of the Minutes of the regular City Council session held June 11, 1985; and Resolution 85-175 reappointing Raymond Chaison to the Community Development Block Grant Citizens Advisory Committee, term to expire May 31, 1987. The Consent Agenda was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Deshotel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- The Reverend M. Timothy Hunley, 1698 LaSalle, addressed Council to speak in opposition to the annexation of 85.8 acres of land when there are so many vacant tracts and buildings within the present city limits not being utilized. -133- June 18, 1985 The second and final reading of Ordinance No. 85-59 annexing 85.8 acres abutting the western City limits at Washington Boulevard was held: ORDINANCE NO. 85-59 ENTITLED AN ORDINANCE ANNEXING THE HEREINAFTER DESCRIBED TERITORY TO THE CITY OF BEAUMONT, JEFFERSON COUNTY, TEXAS, AND EXTENDING THE BOUNDARY LIMITS OF SAID CITY SO AS TO INCLUDE THE SAID PROPERTY WITHIN THE CITY LIMITS, AND GRANTING THE SAID TERRITORY AND TO ALL FUTURE INHABITANTS THEREOF ALL OF THE RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES OF OTHER CITIZENS; AND BINDING SAID FUTURE INHABITANTS BY ALL OF THE ACTS AND ORDINANCES OF SAID CITY. The ordinance was approved on a motion made by Councilman Weisbach and seconded by Councilman Samuel. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution 85-177 authorizing Change Order No. 1 to Contract 17D for the Broadway Separation Sewers with Sterling Utilities Company to provide cement stabilized sand backfill material (increasing the amount by $192,501.17 for a total contract amount of $2,607,041.17) was approved on a motion made by Councilman Moore and seconded by Councilman Weisbach. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Resolution 85-178 authorizing purchase of 1200 feet of 5 inch fire hose from Casco Industries of Highlands, Texas at $6,540.00 was approved on a motion made by Councilman Brumley and seconded by Councilman Weisbach. Question: Ayes: All Nayes: None -000- Councilman Samuel reported receipt of a complaint from Mrs. W. C. Ross, Sr. , 1348 Johns, saying that the driveway culvert was removed from property she owns at 1345 Johns and not replaced making the driveway inaccessible. Councilman Deshotel requested that those persons pleading guilty and paying Court fines for the charge "no liability insurance" for their vehicles be given some type of information from Municipal Court stating they must notify the State of "proof of insurance" within four (4) months or lose their driver's licenses. -000- -134- June 18, 1985 MR. BILL DeMORE: Mayor Neild, distinguished Council, Ladies and Gentlemen. My name is Bill DeMore. I live at 1185 Chatwood here in Beaumont. Eight weeks ago, when we came to Council to announce the Kitty for the City program, it was for the intent of pulling our community back together and it was with the intent of helping in having a say in the writing local and national and area news stories about our community and how the community here feel about this community. And, I think we have achieved the purpose that we set out to start with. People from the entire community have come together in support of our City, not necessarily its individuals or its individuals in office but in support of the City of Beaumont itself. Individuals, families, organizations and businesses have come forward to make this Kitty campaign a success. The reason I am here now is to make a presentation of some new money, some money that has not been reported or acounted for yet. Saturday afternoon, with the help of several local businesses too numerous to mention, with the assistance of Lamar University, with the assistance of Channel 6 television and their large viewing audience, we held a television auction with items that were donated from various businesses throughout the community and we are happy to have cash and checks totaling $5,818.00 which we are going to present to Council. I am also pleased to say the way national and other television and radio stations an newspapers covered the fund raising efforts made us all feel pretty good about the place we live in. Our people came through and we do indeed control our own perceived images and I think that says a lot for citizens of this community. Now, I would like Mr. Bruce Thompson who is the owner and president of Market Basket Stores to come forward and make a few comments and also a presentation. MAYOR NEILD: Thank you, Bill. MR. BRUCE THOMPSON: Mayor Neild, members of the Council. Market Basket is indeed proud to be a part of the City of Beaumont and pleased to have the opportunity of participating in the Kitty for the City. We were able to raise $10,657.85 by the sale of our milk, bread, and egg program and, in addition to that, at this time, we would like to prepay a portion of our city taxes in the amount of $40,000 and I have a check with me. MAYOR NEILD: Thank you, Mr. Thompson. That is really beautiful. I think I recognize these next two fellows. Hello, Maury. Hello, Mr. Pollans. -135- June 18, 1985 MR. MAURICE MEYERS: Bill DeMore really did express, I think, very well, the thought and concept behind this effort - that being that with our economy as it has been, something that was beyond our control; we didn't determine how the oil industry should take a downturn with the problems that were worldwide of nature that were impacting us. I think everyone would agree that we had had enough bad news and then, unfortunately, the things that were being written and said and reported on television about the ESM incident, so, as Bill stated, all of us as a community I think can be proud of the fact that . . . I've had people areport from San .rose, California; Cincinnatti, Ohio; Baltimore; Virginia; St. Louis. People have talked on the radio about the City of Beaumont and what the people there are doing for themselves. This was strenuously reported - not individuals and not Councils and Mayors, but citizens of a community and what they are doing. Comparisons were made. There were some other communities who had . . . some had just made bad investments and had to take write-offs last years, others involved, and so a lot of news media started to make comparisons of communities. Now, again, we are speaking of a community and the people who live there. And, it was nice to hear and read about what they were saying as far as this City and how the citizens were reacting. It didn't say that people weren't angry. It didn't say that people weren't upset, but it did say something that no other City could say about itself and so, I think I think in that sense, without question, the effort which was made up really by everybody - large and small - it was spontaneous. I would wish that we could have had an advertising budget but I think we could hae blown what we collected pretty fast - but it did spawn off of itself and it was spontaneous from the $2.00 contributions, $1.00, $20.00, $100.00 or a couple of people who sent in $1,000.00, so I think that purpose was achieved. We do want to restate the fact that the stated goal of $12.3 million which appeared first in microprint on the front page of the Enterprise and then improved to about 15 point print was never intended nor would it have been not only unreasonable, it would have been totally unrealistic to expect us in eight weeks to raise $2.3 million. We are not sniffing around on glue orsmoking some kind of illegal cigarettes to imagine that we would do that. That was not our goal and we didn't set it out. What our goal was to try to impact which at that time was a preceived need to borrow the $2.3 million and how we could impact the interest that would have to be paid back on that money. Because a lot ofpeople, I mean people who lived here and wre moved to California and heard it or saw it on national tv and sent in money, this has been accomplished. The figure that I am going to speak to in just a moment does have a couple of items still yet to be finished. A retailer in San Antonion who sells all of the Armstrong floor dealers here, they closed out their fiscal year May 31st, but he has yet to send the check from his corporation which was going to be $0.10 a square yard for every piece of Armstrong floor and carpet that was sold so we don't know what that is. I think that Mr. Les Moor and a musical group has taken opportunity to try to assist the Kitty and hopefully by the record sales that will come from this record that's been produced - it's professionally done - it's important that everybody recognize and agree that this is something that we need to laugh at ourselves about and not also take too seriously but the intent is pure and I suspect it will do quite well. -136- June 18, 1985 MR. MEYERS continued: So, with those things yet to come, I'd first like to read the names in addition, and these were provided by the Manager and I agree - I think it is important to recognize the fact that in their way - Mr. Lisotta. . . I don't know— I'd asume that's the same Lisotta who has the sign, he sent in . . . is that A. Lisotta? Okay, I'll just say A. Lisotta sent in $5,000.00 taxes in advance; Burt's, Inc. , $1,982.46; Manpower, Inc. of Beaumont, $1,122.73; - you getting nervous? (to Al Pollans) Oh, you're starting to shake. A. M. Phelan, $40,000 - we are building to a crescendo— the accountant here. . .plus Mr. Thompson's contribution today of $40,000, so that's a significant amount, close to $100,000 in prepaid taxes. I do want to publicly thank Al Pollans of the firm of Pollans and Cone. From the day we started this and opened the account which was closed this morning, his firm of Pollans and Cone has been responsible for getting the receipts from the bank, putting it on a computer, providing the reporting that's gone out relative to the recognition of the people who contributed. I think before I end it, Al, and speak to the numbers, I think you had a comment or two that I thought was quite significant. AL POLLANS, Pollans and Cone: The point I wanted to make is that there is a significant benefit from this project because of the way it was viewed. It was viewed in a very positive way by the grading agencies in New York and as I understand that I elieve that our bond rating . . . to the extent that our bond rating was higher than it otherwise might have been. Our interest costs in future years will be much lower. I believe while it woud be difficult to estimate, I think it might be fair to say that perhaps this project resulted in the savings of many hundreds of thousands of dollars to the citizens of this community because of the positive way it was viewed by the bonding agencies. . .by the rating agencies in New York and I think that needs to be acknowledged. MR. MEYERS: Thank you, Al. With the $5,818 that was secured from the TV auction, I am also pleased to state than an anonymous $10,000 contriution has been added to the Kitty that will be paid in full to the City in increments between now and September 30th plus a check that I have here for $38,106.23. Mr. Manager, we would present to you a total of $53,924.23 which roughly we estimate at 8-1/2 or 9 percent had you borrowed the money would have carried you on your interest for about ten months. It has been a pleasure to do this and I feel that it has been a worthwhile project for the city and everybody that lives here. -137- June 18, 1985 MAYOR NEILD: In addition to that, Maury, it's . . . there's been countless folks that have come forward from the standpoint of providing professional time and assisance to this City in excess of $30,000 of offering firm time and that sort of thing to deal with any issue in which the City needed. So, it just shows that the effort and I think you put it very appropriately. This sort of activity sets aside personalities or frustrations, angers. What we are talking about is a City that involves all people and we all make up those people, whether we agree or disagree and that's not important. What we are working for is a City and that is what the Kitty has done is allowed people to come forward and express their feelings about a city that they live and work in so I cannot thank you and Bill and Mr. Thompson and all those who have participated. All I can say is thank you, thank you from the bottom of our heart and than you for being one of our citizens. -000- Mr. Ted Binks, 4730 Lufkin, addressed Council in opposition to the sale of Spindletop Park and Morgan Parks for the recent bid amounts received and to say he had many ideas to offer about projects for the enhancement of Beaumont. Mr. Odell Stanley, 1295 Royal, addressed Council to again request removal of flouridation from the City's water supply. -000- Mayor Neild called an Executive Session, pursuant to Section II of the Texas Open Meetings Act, to be held immediately following the Council Workshop Session. -000- There being no further business, the meeting was recessed before continuing with the Workshop Session. -000- I, Myrtle Corgey, 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 June 18, 1985. Myrtle Corgey City Clerk -138- June 18, 1985