MINUTES 12/6/05

RANSOM CITY COUNCIL MEETING

This meeting of the Ransom Canyon City Council was held on December 6, 2005, which is the first Tuesday of the Month. The meeting was scheduled a week early in order to respond in time to the POA request for a variance. The meeting was held at the Ransom Canyon Fire Station, # 1 Ridge Road in Ransom Canyon.

Mayor Robert Englund called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. and called for a moment of silence. The full council was present: Earl Starks, David Peterson, Dick Hulslander, Ron Cox and Donna Clarke.

Library Report. The Mayor called on Librarian Kim Copeland to give her report first. Miss Kim reported that the library hosted a large crowd of about fifty parents and children at the Christmas reception. Operation Christmas Card was very successful this year, with donations topping $2500. Also the library had their first inter-library loan for a book on tape. This seems to be a successful service that the library can provide.

2. Minutes: Motion to approve from Dick Hulslander, second from Ron Cox. All voted aye.

Financial Report: Motion to approve from Dick Hulslander, second from David Peterson. All voted aye.

4.A TMRS: There was no motion to approve this item.

4.B. POA request for variance: Dick Hulslander recused himself from this discussion. The Mayor explained that he could not support something that could possible affect citizens health and safety. Councilman Starks moved to approve the variance. The motion died for lack of a second.

4.C PODS: Earl Starks moved to approve the ordinance, David Peterson seconded. David Peterson asked to strike everything in this draft that referred to roll-off containers. With that change, Dick Hulslander moved to approve the Ordinance. Ron Cox seconded, and all voted aye.

4.D. ATMOS: The cities found an error in this filing by ATMOS for a rate increase. The attorneys advised the cities to file a motion to dismiss. Any appeal from Atmos may have a time problem. Attorney John Sims recommended that the city adopt the Resolution. Dick Hulslander made the motion to adopt, and Donna Clarke seconded the motion. All voted aye.

4.E AIR GAP: Mayor Robert Englund reported on the status of the air gap for the water line. The plan for the RPZ has been approved, and Allen Doggett has been assigned to do the job. Robert also reported on his meeting with the City of Lubbock. The City of Lubbock is interested in two things. They want water for Roosevelt Schools, and for this reason, they are willing to increase the allocation to Ransom Canyon. According to the contract, Ransom Canyon must not depend on Lubbock’s water pressure for the Ransom Canyon distribution system.

Secondly, Lubbock is planning two more lakes, # 7 and # 8, one above Ransom Canyon and one below. These lakes will be a holding facility that will readjust the system and will put less pressure on us downstream. Lubbock would like to go forward with these plans for reclaimed water with no objections from Ransom. Lubbock has a problem with continuing to water at the Gray farm, because they cannot reduce the mound underneath until they stop watering. Roosevelt School is considering a water purchase from the City of Lubbock, and to finance a new water system, Roosevelt has a bond election in May. Lubbock suggested that Ransom Canyon could be incorporated into this delivery system.

Attorney Sims made certain that our efforts to date on the air gap situation were enough to satisfy the City of Lubbock.

Mayor Englund reported that the RPZ on the 10” line will cost in the range of $20 to $25, 000.

4.F Speed Control: Chief Rawls has written an article for the December newsletter. Beginning in January any infraction will result in a traffic stop. Licenses will be run for warrants. Citations will be issued.

5.A AUDIT; David Hettler delivered the audit. Ransom Canyon is in good shape. Dick Hulslander moved to accept the audit, Ron Cox seconded, all voted aye.

5.B FEMA requirements: FEMA Flood Plain Responsibilities are becoming more demanding. The council voted to appoint Melissa Verett to serve as the Flood Plain Administrator. This action was taken on a motion from Dick Hulslander, second from Donna Clarke. All voted aye.

5.C Municipal Court Procedure Change: Municipal Court Clerk Linda Williams reported to the council about a new Failure to appear Program. The city contracts yearly with DPS to check for Failure to Appear cases, and will refuse to renew driver’s licenses until old cases are cleared. There is no cost to the city. The computer program will be installed on a computer that was given to the city by the State of Texas specifically for the municipal court. DSL connections are in place.

6. Executive Session: The Council adjourned to executive session.

7. Reconvene into Open Session: The Council reconvened into open session and took the following action. Harold Needham’s job description will have several changes to reflect expanding job responsibilities. Minimum education will be changed to include GED. David Peterson moved to make these changes. Dick Hulslander seconded, all approved. To recognize Harold’s new job responsibilities, the council announced that Harold would be taking the city truck home.

5.D Building Review Committee: The committee reviewed a home at 24 East Lake Shore drive.

5.E HOEVE Dedication Deed: The City accepted the Dedication Deed for B 20 Tract F-1. Earl Starks made the motion to accept. David Peterson seconded, all voted aye.

5.F SPAG Solid Waste Grant Application: Ransom Canyon will apply for this grant. Donna Clarke made a motion to pursue the grant. David Peterson seconded the motion. All approved. This grant is due by December 21. David will head the committee.

5.G Building Codes: The City Council voted to adopt updated versions of Building Codes. This includes the 2003 International Building Code, the 2003 International Residential Building Code, 2003 Plumbing Code, 2003 Fire Code, 2003 Fuel and Gas Code, the 200 ICC Electric Code, and the 2005 National Electric Code. Dick Hulslander moved to adopt these codes, along with all subsequent revisions of these codes as they may be changed. David Peterson seconded the motion. All voted aye.

8.A Operations Report: The Water Tank repair will be done in the spring.

8.B Fire Department Report: There were no fire calls, 1 medical call. The emergency back up generator is now at the fire house waiting for installation. The South Fire Station has been insulated. The Annual Home Tour is Thursday night.

8.C Police Department: Christmas traffic is heavy with many limos and busses. All officers have attended the legislative update. The 2010 census has begun. Our population in 2000 was 1011. The 2005 estimate was 1068. There were 3 citations in November.

9. POA had nothing to report.

10. Open Forum: Nothing

11. Adjourn: Dick Hulslander moved to adjourn. Ron Cox seconded the motion. All voted aye.

Melissa Verett

City Administrator