At its regular monthly meeting of March 15, 2022, the Spur city council handled a long agenda that involved hearing complaints from two citizens on unrelated issues, and ended with personnel actions related to probationary employment of three recently hired staff.
First up in public form was resident Metessa Thomas, who owns numerous rental houses in Spur and inquired about the unusually high water meter reading at one of these occupied by her daughter. Thomas brought documentation that she claimed indicated irregularities in reading or operation of the meter. The city offered to look further into the matter; no action was taken on this nonagenda item.
Resident and business owner Doug Blackburn, whose complaint regarding “City Harrassment” was first on the discussion/action agenda, arrived with wife Linda 45 minutes into the meeting after other items had already been addressed. Given his opportunity at the lectern, wrecker service operator and salvage yard owner Doug Blackburn lowered his voice so that it was at times hard for both the public and council members to hear, as Mayor Louise Jones asked him to speak more clearly. Blackburn indicated a document he had brought with him from city codes compliance officer John Schmidt highlighting guidelines related to junkyards, and argued that the document had been delivered to him with no cover letter or explanation. The crux of Blackburn’s complaint seemed to center around the term “investigated” as reported in The Texas Spur, which he appeared to take as an indication that the city was investigating his business. No action was requested and none was taken.
Later in the meeting, Texas Spur staff located the relevant passage from the March 10 issue of the newspaper regarding the February council meeting and asked to read it aloud for council’s benefit, though the Blackburns had left by then: “Reporting on codes compliance, John Schmidt said investigation into a complaint regarding extension of the Blackburn Wrecker junkyard was ongoing; due to uncertainty regarding city versus county situation of the land, the city attorney had been consulted and the city was awaiting a response.”
In agenda item 3, council discussed, considered and acted upon “a Laundry Mat RV park in the residential area located on Clarity St. for Wes and Say Joplin.” The Joplins spoke in support of their anticipated project, which would include an RV park on property directly behind their house with 15 RV spots and laundromat (which would be open to the public). The park would be fenced on north and east sides with graveled driveways and other enhancements. A required canvass of neighbors had yielded no objections; the request was approved unanimously.
Council members Don Wright and Rhea Melton requested clarification of some terms informally agreed to by the library board and Friends of the Library regarding costsharing and insurance. Mayor Jones asked for Melton and Wright, along with library board members Darla Thomason and Kristy Price, meet and draft a new memorandum of agreement to be presented to the council and eventually recorded with the state library board.
Council unanimously approved the customary letter of waiver for Payments in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for the City of Spur Housing Authority, which must be acted upon by each taxing entity.
Council appointed Melinda Mendez as election judge at an hourly wage rate of $10 and Marlena Alvarez and Brittany Campos as election clerks at $10 hourly rate for the May 7, 2022 general rlection of the City of Spur.
Upon the request of police chief Billy R. Spears, who reported that the police department’s evidence room contains unclaimed items going back to the 1990s, council designated two representatives to handle notifications for seized property from the Spur Police Department. Spears said that he had inherited an evidence room of property siezed over many years (including firearms and electronics) for which last known owners must be contacted and offered an opportunity to claim before the city could auction such property. (Some categories of evidence were not subject to action, the chief explained, and must instead be mandated for destruction.) Council appointed Don Wright and Fronye Morris as trustees for this responsibility, requiring both to sign off on actions.
Citing the need for improved lighting and ventilation at the Spur Community Center, council accepted the bid from Alexander Electrical Services for $4,380 for installation of ceiling fans and upgraded LED lighting.
Council approved demolition and disposal of city-owned substandard structures on Block 7 Lot 8, Gabriel addition (the former Hispanic Catholic church building), Block 4 Lot 10, Freeman addition (a residence on 1st Street behind the Lakeside church), and Block 14 Lot 4, Highway addition. John Schmidt said all parties to the interlocal agremeent were in accord regarding need for demolition and disposal, so that cleared lots can be offered on a future tax sale.
Council discussed an option, presented by city secretary Ashley Carothers, to contract with ArchiveSocial for Social Media Compliance. Given the limited activity and low risk on the city’s social media at present and the considerable cost of the proposed monitoring and archiving software, council delayed action on the matter.
Payment of invoices from Dorado Construction Group of San Angelo, Texas, general contractor for the repair of the sewage lift station south of the city, was approved. The company has billed the city for the upgrade to a Hill Street water line and for replacement of fire hydrants; these expenses are covered by a Covid-19 relief grant.
In Department Reports, police chief Spears noted arrests, citations and calls for service (due to space requirements, this will be published in a future issue of the newspaper); fire chief Wess Abbott provided a monthly report; city director of public works Chris Cornett noted calls for service; and code compliance officer John Schmidt noted three letters of non-compliance sent.
Schmidt noted that the burn ban in Dickens County covers only unincorporated portions of the county, and suggested that the city of Spur adopt language to honor county burn ban within its city limits. Schmidt also noted that Dickens County commissioners expressed a desire to salvage materials from the demolition of the Godfrey Building for the firehouse project, for future use as material in road projects.
For municipal court and the city, secretary Carothers said there had been no collections for March; new judge Duggan will be back in the office March 16. City offices will be closed April 15 for the Good Friday holiday, and the next regularly scheduled council meeting is set for April 19. Money was transferred money from the pool fund to the bathhouse fund, Carothers reported, and letters had been sent out for canvassing requests. Carothers said she was hoping Spur would be appoved by SPAG for funded for an annual cleanup day. The Texas Municipal Leage would be meeting soon in Lubbock, she said, and council members might wish to attend.
Mayor Jones reported informally on a meeting with Argo Blockchain CEO Peter Wall and Matt Nackino, the company’s construction manager, regarding work on the Spur swimming pool.
Council adjourned to enter executive session at about 7:30 p.m. and with no action taken reconvened in regular session at 8:04 p.m. Council then handled the personnel matters on the agenda, voting to remove the six-month probationary period for police department hires Billy Spears and Taylor Howerton. In unanimous action, Chief Spears was designated a permanent hire. In unanimous action, Officer Howertion was designated a permanent hire at an annual salary of $32,000. In unanimous action, Katie Tiede was not recommended for permanent employment in the city clerk position.
Invoices for the previous month were paid, and minutes for the previous regular meeting of February 15, 2022 were reviewed and approved as corrected; minutes of the meetings of February 22, 2022 were aproved as presented.
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