The governing body of the City of Littlefield, TX, met at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 28 th at the City Council Chambers for their regular meeting.
Mayor Eric Turpen called the meeting to order at 6 p.m. and Mayor Pro Tempore Kenny Rucker led the invocation. Mayor Turpen led the Pledge of Allegiance and no one requested to comment during public forum.
There were no new City employees to introduce and Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker made a motion to approve the minutes from the Aug. 24 th meeting. The motion was seconded by Council Member Buddy Holmes. The motion carried.
Departmental Reports were given by the Police Dept., Fire Dept., EMS, Code Enforcement, Animal Control, Landfill, Water/Wastewater, Streets and Parks, Municipal Court, Monthly Financial Reports, Sales Tax Collection, Property Tax Collection Reports, LEDC A and B minutes (if Boards met).
The motion to approve the Departmental Reports was made by Holmes and seconded by Council Member Eric Saenz. The motion carried.
The council went over August Expenses and the motion to approve the expenses was made by Saenz and seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker. The motion carried.
The council went over All-Ways Towing August Expenses and the motion to approve the All-Ways Towing August Expenses was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker and seconded by Holmes. The motion carried.
Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker made a motion to approve the appointment of Municipal Court Judge Leslie Perkins and it was seconded by Holmes. The motion carried.
Next on the agenda was a public hearing regarding The No-New Revenue tax rate for the tax rate for the 2021 tax year that will raise the same amount of property tax revenue for the City of Littlefield from the same properties in oth the 2020 tax year and the 2021 tax year, as prescribed by tax code 26.06.
Mayor Turpen closed the regular meeting and opened a public hearing at 6:13 p.m. The public hearing was closed and the regular meeting was reopened at 6:14 p.m.
The motion to approve an ordinance levying taxes at the rate of $0.6884/$100 valuation which will raise same revenue as previous tax rate was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker and seconded by Holmes. The motion carried.
Item 13 on the agenda was to consider and approve acceptance of Property #18202 Crescent Park Addition, Block 15, W/50’ Lot 3 & E/40’ Lot 4, 132 E. 23 rd St.
City Manager Mitch Grant explained this house had been struck by lightning and burned substantially. The non-resident owner has no insurance and requested to donate to City. After demolition, Mitch Grant states the lot can be sold on Texas Communities Group Website. Mayor Turpen made the motion to accept the property and it was seconded by Holmes. The motion carried.
The motion to approve the TxDOT Routine Airport Maintenance Grant was made by Holmes and seconded by Mayor Turpen. The motion carried.
Next the council discussed expenses for the Water Well Project. Grant presented proposed expenses for the Water Well Project and the motion to approve up to $13,000 caliche and up to $40,344.66 for Xcel Energy powerline was made by Mayor Turpen and seconded by Holmes. The motion carried.
Grant presented proposed expenses for Aquatic Center landscaping. The motion to authorize the City Manager to prepare to go out for bids on landscaping and irrigation at the Aquatic Center was made by Holmes and seconded by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker. The motion carried.
Next the Board discussed a resolution by the City of Littlefield, Texas, (“City”) denying Southwestern Public Service Company’s Request to increase rates in connection with its statement of intent submitted on about August 8, 2021; directing SPS to reimburse the City’s rate case expenses; finding that the meeting complies with the Open Meetings Act; making other findings and provisions related to the subject.
The motion to approve the resolution denying the SPS rate increase was made by Holmes and seconded by Mayor Turpen. The motion carried.
The motion to approve the Interlocal Agreement with Lamb County for Sunset Blvd. Maintenance was made by Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker and seconded by Holmes. The motion carried.
The council went into executive session at 6:39 p.m. regarding Annual City Manager Evaluation and returned to regular session at 7:35 p.m. No action was taken.
Mayor Turpen stated City Manager Mitch Grant was doing a good job and made the motion to give salary increase to $115,000. Mayor Pro Tempore Rucker seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Mayor Turpen adjourned the meeting at 7:38 p.m.