Consultants Kay Howard and Jan Torres, who are part of the Public Management team contracted by the City of Spur to assist with grant seeking and processing, were on hand at last week’s regular city council meeting April 20, 2021, to recap the city’s current grant for water and sewer infrastructure.
Details provided by Howard on the project since its origins in 2013 helped shed light on where the process stands in 2021, after several recent adjustments in the work contract.
“Because of competition in this area, it was difficult for getting grants funded” in the 2013-14 application cycle, explained Howard. “Initially the project consisted of two kinds of construction: replacing water lines on the Hill Street curve and partially on 6th Street, and also to replace the pump on the sewer lift station at 1st and Carroll.” The application process involved a survey of residents in the affected areas to determine their median household incomes, in hopes of qualifying for more generous grants for lower-income neighborhoods. (In a household of four persons in Dickens County, “low income” would be $47,100, Howard said.)
The sewer project apparently qualified on a city-wide basis.
Spur resubmitted the application each year until it was fully funded in 2019. But by then, two critical changes kicked in.
“Costs have been skyrocketing, and grant had to be reduced to covering the greatest need, which was one water valve and a lift station,” Howard said. And then, only after the digging started, the contractor encountered problems with the lift station. About 800 feet of collection lines were obstructed by dirt—involving extra, unanticipated work.
When the Texas Department of Agriculture, which administers the grant for the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), was asked to approve the adjustment, they raised an additional questions: Did that lift station serve the entire city, but just one part of town? As it turns out, no—it serves only one portion, which apparently had not been accurately surveyed years ago when there were few residents. Now, many of those vacant lots have been sold and new homesteaders are moving in.
Howard said that a resurvey of that area would be required, and an administrative penalty of possibly 10% to 15% of the grant total may be assessed via reduction of funds unless HUD agrees to waive it.
Howard was upbeat about Spur’s qualification for competitive grant projects in the past— such as the city’s community center and homes rebuilt after tornado destruction. “Y’all will be applying for other grants,” she assured the council and audience, “and this will be useful learning.”
Information from county appraisal district
Dickens County chief property appraiser Patti Abbott was also present to discuss the forthcoming preliminary values that will enable the city to begin working on budget, and notices of appraisal that will soon be going out to all taxpayers. Abbott said that the Dickens appraisal district had recently passed all of its audit evaluations with no recommendations.
The council permitted Abbott to field questions from the audience. She explained that each property is appraised during its cycle without consideration of neighboring properties, and that because sales of local residential properties have been increasing, the county’s tax ratio will go up. Each county is required to increase its tax ratio according to state norms, Abbott said, “or the state will do it for you.”
Abbott explained that the appraisal district only figures property values but does not assess taxes. Subsequent discussion focused on appraisal procedures, on questions regarding the nature of city ordinances to ensure that owners maintain properties responsibly.
Abbott said that derelict houses are appraised based on what the cost was when new, minus depreciation, following standard depreciation values. While one commentor felt that “the city should be doing something to make corrections to these houses that are bringing everyone’s property down,” Abbot said, “As long as there is something there, there is a value that keeps depreciating.”
Vicious dog
Council also heard the complaint of Spur resident Roy Garcia regarding about vicious dogs in town, specifically a pit bulldog on West 3rd St. that had chased Garcia’s grandson and caused an incidental injury. The dog has reportedly gotten loose on repeated occasions and chases children near the school. While there are limits to the action the city can take if a bite has not actually occurred, Mayor Louise Jones said, “Don’t think that we’re not taking this seriously.”
Department reports
In other business, council heard reports from the Sheriff’s Department, which is filling in for police during the city hiring period (278 9-1-1 calls, 101 non-9-1-1 calls, and 49 Spur PD calls during March, and 7 prisoners held in Dickens County Jail), City Works (repaired one water leak at the wye west of town; replaced one valve; sprayed and mowed parks; resolved water issues with TCEQ); Codes compliance (complaint about dog bite, application for a tiny house Max and 3rd, assigned addresses to tiny houses/modular home, notices sent to ordinance violators, estimated $5,500–$8,000 cost of digging a new disposal pit, and awaiting renewal of current disposal pit permit).
An extended report from fire chief Wess Abbott will be covered in these pages separately, given the detail provided regarding the recent project to mark and evaluate fire hydrants; consideration of a forest Service grant for an emergency non-potable water supply if the old tank at the top of Hill Street proves usable; fund-raising ideas for the volunteer department; and the city’s insurance Safety Office rating inspection that was conducted in Nov. 2020.
Municipal court reported violation letters sent out and $415.10 in collections for the month.
City secretary Lisa Forman noted the joint City of Spur/Spur ISD election as May 1, canvass of election Thursday, May 5, at 2 p.m., Tuesday, May 18 as next city council regular meeting and Monday, May 31, as the upcoming Memorial Day holiday.
Forman reported that funds had been transferred to cover replacement of three fire hydrants, and posting of the police chief position vacancy had been expanded. On interlocal work, Forman said that the city expects to soon receive funds for seven in-trust property sales that took place in March.
Other agenda items
Council then considered a price quote from Cap Rock Telephone Cooperative on replacing City Halls circa-2000 telephone equipment, which lacks voicemail or call transfer capability. The city is looking at upgrading nine lines. The matter was tabled pending more investigation.
Council approved the price quote from Odessa Pumps of $16,664 for work on the Hulen Street sewer lift station.
Council granted a six-month extension on a zoning variance for Victor Flores for a travel trailer at 501 Sterley Avenue.
Council acted to approve bids on properties through the Texas Community Group website: parcels 5562- $1,058; 5437, $401; 4658, $3000; 4994, $3000; 5332, $504, 6875, $400; 5322, $1,200; $8505.
Council approved Laurie Hinson as election judge to replace previously approved Melinda Mendez, who will not be available May 1.
Mayor Jones and all council members were present with the exception of Crystal Leary.
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