The Forney City Council met for their second monthly meeting on Tuesday night, January 21, 2014, at City Hall. The council was provided several presentations and considered action on several other items.
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The Forney City Council first heard from Director of Administrative Services Leigh Corson who provided a 1st quarter budget report. Corson explained the revenues and expenditures are almost identical to last year with the exception of a loan repayment.
Forney Police Department Captain Thad Wilson provided the council with an update on the new $1.43 million communication tower and public safety radio system. “We've been up and running on the system since Tuesday of last week … at 6 p.m. and sad to say we found one dead spot.” The good thing, says Wilson, is the dead spot is only about a three foot by four foot spot located at Lewis Elementary School in Travis Ranch.
“As far as we know, all the city employees that are going to have these radios given to them have been trained on how to use them,” said Wilson. “They started installation on all the fire apparatus today. Once they finish that we'll have all the equipment installed and we'll be 100 percent up and running.”
Next to the podium was Community Waste Disposal President Greg Roemer, the contracted waste disposal company for the City of Forney, to give their annual presentation. According to Roemer, recycling efforts by Forney residents has increased approximately 11 percent from 570 tons to 631 tons. Their service inquiries also increased “considerably,” according to Roemer, because of issues early in the year but “corrective” action was taken.
The council then unanimously approved the meeting minutes from the January 7, 2014, City Council meeting. All members were present except Place 1 Darrell Hobbs who was out for a family medical emergency.
The council then approved and accepted public improvements from the developer of Kroger Marketplace. The list of improvements include: the removal of fill from adjacent property of Trailhouse Road; the resolution of a drainage issue on adjacent property; and the completion of the CME book. The developer has posted a bond in the amount of $262,000 for which the City of Forney can use in the event the developer does not complete the public improvements. The developer has been given one year to complete the improvements and until completed will be required to pump any areas of ponding water.
The Forney City Council then approved a resolution ordering the General Election for May 10, 2014, which shall be conducted in accordance with the Texas Election Code. The first date to file an application for a place on the ballot is Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Places one, three, and five are up for election this year which are Council member Darrell Hobbs, Council member Ray Stephens, and Council member Mary Penn.
The council then approved a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a qualified engineering firm to develop a long range transportation plan. After serving as an advisory member to the Kaufman County Transportation Bond, Council member Stephens requested that the county's plans be taken into consideration so there isn't an overlap in studies costing each entity additional funds.
The long range transportation plan sought after is a 10 or 20 year time frame of transportation needs for the area. The council has already approved and budgeted for the funds necessary to complete the transportation plan in their Fiscal Year 2014 budget.
The council approved the amending of the Master Fee Schedule under Article 13.03, Sec. 13.03.002 of the Code of Ordinances to increase the fee for solid waste disposal by two cents. Last year's adjustment was seventeen cents. The new rate for solid waste disposal is now $9.94 each month. Seniors will pay $8.94.
The council tabled the Forney Economic Development Corporation's (EDC) purchase of 110 East Main Street for an amount not to exceed $400,000. Several council members expressed concerns the Forney EDC may be purchasing a “lemon” building. Read more on this story from inForney.com.
The council then deliberated over the approval of an ordinance which would rename Old FM 548 to Marketplace Boulevard and name the new street the Kroger developer built to Kroger Drive. Both streets run adjacent to the new Forney Marketplace which is home to the new Kroger Marketplace.
The ordinance was approved with the recommendation the developers consider renaming Kroger Drive after someone from Forney who has committed to the development in Forney. The developer of Kroger has committed more than $20 million at Forney Marketplace including adjacent infrastructure.
The council also made the following appointments after an executive session: TIF Board Place 1, Darren Rozell, expiring December 31, 2014; TIF Board Place 3, Raymond Smith, expiring December 31, 2015; TIF Board Place 4, Tom Belobraydic, expiring December 31, 2015; TIF Board Place 5, David Johnson, expiring December 31, 2015; and Mindee Allen to the Animal Control Board which expires in June of 2015.
Forney Police Department Captain Thad Wilson provided the council with an update on the new $1.43 million communication tower and public safety radio system. “We've been up and running on the system since Tuesday of last week … at 6 p.m. and sad to say we found one dead spot.” The good thing, says Wilson, is the dead spot is only about a three foot by four foot spot located at Lewis Elementary School in Travis Ranch.
“As far as we know, all the city employees that are going to have these radios given to them have been trained on how to use them,” said Wilson. “They started installation on all the fire apparatus today. Once they finish that we'll have all the equipment installed and we'll be 100 percent up and running.”
Next to the podium was Community Waste Disposal President Greg Roemer, the contracted waste disposal company for the City of Forney, to give their annual presentation. According to Roemer, recycling efforts by Forney residents has increased approximately 11 percent from 570 tons to 631 tons. Their service inquiries also increased “considerably,” according to Roemer, because of issues early in the year but “corrective” action was taken.
The council then unanimously approved the meeting minutes from the January 7, 2014, City Council meeting. All members were present except Place 1 Darrell Hobbs who was out for a family medical emergency.
The council then approved and accepted public improvements from the developer of Kroger Marketplace. The list of improvements include: the removal of fill from adjacent property of Trailhouse Road; the resolution of a drainage issue on adjacent property; and the completion of the CME book. The developer has posted a bond in the amount of $262,000 for which the City of Forney can use in the event the developer does not complete the public improvements. The developer has been given one year to complete the improvements and until completed will be required to pump any areas of ponding water.
The Forney City Council then approved a resolution ordering the General Election for May 10, 2014, which shall be conducted in accordance with the Texas Election Code. The first date to file an application for a place on the ballot is Wednesday, January 29, 2014. Places one, three, and five are up for election this year which are Council member Darrell Hobbs, Council member Ray Stephens, and Council member Mary Penn.
The council then approved a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a qualified engineering firm to develop a long range transportation plan. After serving as an advisory member to the Kaufman County Transportation Bond, Council member Stephens requested that the county's plans be taken into consideration so there isn't an overlap in studies costing each entity additional funds.
The long range transportation plan sought after is a 10 or 20 year time frame of transportation needs for the area. The council has already approved and budgeted for the funds necessary to complete the transportation plan in their Fiscal Year 2014 budget.
The council approved the amending of the Master Fee Schedule under Article 13.03, Sec. 13.03.002 of the Code of Ordinances to increase the fee for solid waste disposal by two cents. Last year's adjustment was seventeen cents. The new rate for solid waste disposal is now $9.94 each month. Seniors will pay $8.94.
The council tabled the Forney Economic Development Corporation's (EDC) purchase of 110 East Main Street for an amount not to exceed $400,000. Several council members expressed concerns the Forney EDC may be purchasing a “lemon” building. Read more on this story from inForney.com.
The council then deliberated over the approval of an ordinance which would rename Old FM 548 to Marketplace Boulevard and name the new street the Kroger developer built to Kroger Drive. Both streets run adjacent to the new Forney Marketplace which is home to the new Kroger Marketplace.
The ordinance was approved with the recommendation the developers consider renaming Kroger Drive after someone from Forney who has committed to the development in Forney. The developer of Kroger has committed more than $20 million at Forney Marketplace including adjacent infrastructure.
The council also made the following appointments after an executive session: TIF Board Place 1, Darren Rozell, expiring December 31, 2014; TIF Board Place 3, Raymond Smith, expiring December 31, 2015; TIF Board Place 4, Tom Belobraydic, expiring December 31, 2015; TIF Board Place 5, David Johnson, expiring December 31, 2015; and Mindee Allen to the Animal Control Board which expires in June of 2015.