COUNCIL PREPARES FOR JUNE DEMOLITION OF BURLINGTON AVENUE BUILDING
Spur’s Mayor Louise Jones has served her small city through a decade of change, from welcoming tiny houses and the crypto industry to handling numerous changes in its law enforcement to seeing the rehabilitation and reopening of the city’s swimming pool. But her retirement from those responsibilities came to an end May 20 when she handed over the gavel to John Schmidt during the city’s regular city council session.
City secretary Ashley Carothers administered the statement and oath of office to each of the newly elected and appointed officials: to Schmidt, then to returning Mayor Pro Tem Rhea Melton, Ward 3 council member; new council member Tom Martin, Ward 1; and reelected council member, Ward 2, Don Wright.
The newly installed council got right down to business after hearing public-forum comment from Calvert Street resident Beverly Pickett regarding unrestrained dogs in Spur, against city ordinance. Pickett thanked city workers for their efforts to control loose dogs, especially those that are aggressive to people and other animals; she noted, after observing loose dogs’ aggressive behavior towards children and people out walking, that she doesn’t want to see a person harmed, “if the only way to enforce an ordinance is after someone is bitten or harmed.” As always with public comment, the council listens but is not permitted to respond.
Council approved minutes of April 15 regular meeting and May 9 special meeting, and approved April invoices for payment. A motion to approve carried unanimously.
Regarding agenda item 8, Spur resident Craig Hamilton, who as school superintendent lives in a schoolowned house, inquired about the possibility for his household to take over the water meter on a city lot he had recently purchased from a neighbor (in a private transaction, not related to the school property), allowing the Hamiltons to take over responsibility for the meter and for the adjacent EMS Building in order to have water to their newly acquired parcel. After no objections were expressed from council; council member Rhea Melton moved acceptance of the agreement, and the motion was seconded passedunanimously. Reporting for the swimming pool committee, Marcella Bilberry reported that three trained lifeguards will be returning from last year, and two new ones have recently been certified. She inquired about an incremental increase in pay rate for the returning staff, especially as retention is important, and the pool must have two lifeguards present for every shift. After brief debate, council member Landon Hinson moved to implement a pay 25-cent raise to $9.25 per hour, applicable to all; the motion passed 5 ayes, to 1 nay, with one council member remarking that an across-the-board increase did nothing to provide a fair incentive.
On agenda item #10, council approved the application of Joan Day for emergency roof replacement on the Back Door Inn annex via Spur Economic Development Corporation funding, previously approved by the EDC board in March 2025 for the lower of two bids. Day, present with her husband, Leo Day, explained that the work was necessary after the roof was torn off during March storms. Melton approved the request for $44,200; Hinson seconded; the motion carried unanimously.
Regarding agenda item #11, fire chief Wess Abbott explained in detail a request for Dickens County indemnity from the City of Spur during the upcoming planned demolition of the Burlington Avenue building north of the new fire station (which was traded to Dennis Wyatt for the old fire station property). The building is at some risk of collapse, said Abbott. Dickens County commissioner Charlie Morris, who had helped facilitate the previous demolition of the Rickels auto dealership to make way for the new fire station, explained what measures were being put into place for the next phase—also at no charge for county equipment or supervision—to mitigate any risk of collapse. The work is tentatively scheduled for June 2025, though this could shift depending on other county priorities.
Mayor Schmidt recommended inquiring with city and county counsel. The matter was tabled pending fuller consideration. Schmidy noted that a special meeting of council might be required, to keep work on schedule.
In the next matter of business, council considered and approved an amendment to Ordinance #738, Water Rates for City of Dickens, and approved price increase to the same rate as the recent increase approved for Valley Water District. The motion carried unanimously.
The 2024 audit report of city financial records was presented by accountant Tony Fidelio of Scott Northam, CPA. Fidelio’s firm issued an unqualified opinion, finding no irregularities.
Fidelio praised leadership for improving the city’s financial position, with cash down after restricted funds had been spent as planned, while unrestricted funds increased. “Debt is getting paid down,” he said, “and
Fidelio praised city secretary Carothers for her increasing skill and knowledge in city financial management. Council member Wright moved acceptance of the audit report; the motion carried unanimously.
In project updates: Marcella Bilberry reported for the pool committee that the Swenson Park Pool was scheduled to reopen this Saturday, May 24, for the 2025 season. No change was planned from last year on the price of single admission or annual passes. Bilberry thanked the Volunteer Fire Department and local folks who assisted in removing the winter cover tarp May 19, saving the city $3,500 over having to contract out the job.
No police report was provided.
For the fire department, Chief Wess Abbott expressed thanks for outgoing mayor for supporting the department’s work.
Abbott also provided updates on equipment and costs for future planning. The more work the department can do on monitoring hydrants, he said, the better the city’s fire insurance rating should be. Another factor to help the fire insurance rating would be the addition of a hydrant adjacent to the swimming pool in Swenson Park.
Abbott stressed the need for certifying vehicles and equipment, including the city’s Class A pumper truck, a task that hasn’t been done in a while. Abbott noted that the city’s pumpers are 36 and 22 years old; as a standard, departments try to replace them every 10 years. New pumpers run $750,000, a cost that departments often seek to address via grants; Spur is “about two years away on grant eligibility,” he said. The city’s refurbished brush truck, he said, is a 1967 model.
Regarding recent malfunctions of the city’s storm sirens, Abbott expressed thanks to Jerry Alexander for gratis electrical work but said it’s not likely Spur’s aging sirens can be kept operational much longer, and their dependability is uncertain.
“We’re constantly putting Band-aids on Bandaids,” Abott said, noting that because the department does not trust the remote radio activation system to work in an emergency, the department keeps a schedule of volunteers on backup to for manual activation.
Even if Spur were able to budget for better technology, such as the City of Lubbock had recently installed, it’s likely residents now have a variety of electronic apps and other tools that are more reliable and handy than the physical sirens, and suggested those might be more trustworthy.
For the city secretary’s report, Carothers expressed condolences to city works director Chris Cornett, who was absent from the meeting
For codes enforcement, newly hired official Michelle Bilberry reported that she had submitted a report on substandard properties. She had also responded to a loose-dogs complaint on Calvert Street, an RV violation on a lot behind the Spur post office, and a loose dog report in the Freeman Addition. Bilberry said she had attended an animal control webinar and learned a lot.
Once city council reviews the substandard housing list, Bilberry said, she expects yto submit a priority to list to Molly Forman of Texas Communities Group, which has been newly contracted to come and inspect properties for action. She is hoping for a time frame of May 26–28.
Carothers presented the municipal court report. The judge was in court May 12, and would be back June 16; no fees had been collected or new violations issued.
City Hall would be closed May 26 for the Memorial Day holiday.
Carothers and council member Kristy Price attended the Texas Municipal League’s Small Town Conference, learning useful information.
The city conducted and canvassed its May 3 general election.
Advertising has been posted for recruiting summer help.
Carothers had been working with Dickens County on a proposed interlocal agreement for demolition work.
There were no updates on grant applications.
Council went into executive session at 7:15 p.m.
Council members present were Ward 1, Tom Martin and Kristy Price; Ward 2, Rhea Melton and Don Wright; Ward 3, Landon Hinson and Laidy Vasquez.
