City approves early pool payoff, digitizing cemetery

An early payoff of the pool loan and a project to digitize the city’s cemetery were approved during a Houston City Council meeting on Monday. 

POOL PAYMENT

An early payoff of the remaining balance of the pool loan – approximately $741,000 – was approved unanimously. The payoff is made possible from the city’s recent $2.15 million fiber internet sale to Steelville Telephone Exchange. The council believes that the payoff will save money in interest and generate funds for the quadplex project. Members agreed that making tangible progress on the quadplex is a top priority. 

CEMETERY IMPROVEMENTS

A $14,000 bid from Lazarus and a proposal from Cemify including a $330 initial setup fee and $1,159 annual recurring cost were approved to digitize the city’s cemetery plot process. According to Barbara Rodgers, city clerk, the printed map is hard to follow and not trustworthy. This will also allow the public to have access to the map. 

A dormant checking account containing $42,000 allocated to Pine Lawn Cemetery will help fund the project. The council approved a $28,000 certificate of deposit (CD) at Simmons Bank for a 12-month, 3.8% interest term. The rest will be used for the digitization project. 

OTHER MATTERS

• Hunter Stilley, fire department, presented the council with a letter regarding a reprimand he was issued for alleged violations of the city’s employee handbook concerning political activity. He requested that the reprimand be removed from his record. 
• Members agreed that if the school district is willing to pay for a survey to establish a legal description, they would deed Hill Street, south of the track, to the district. It is a city street that has been utilized largely by only the school district.
• A resolution to renew the terms of James Huff, Seth Walker and Steve Hutcheson on the Texas County Memorial Hospital Community Improvement District (CID) board was postponed. Walker has to be replaced due to his mother, Sheila, serving on the council. 
• The city will seek bids for a cost survey of all utility services and for an electric department digger truck. 
• A $1,857 pool cleaning estimate from Brandon Wildhaber was approved.
• Sam Kelley, mayor, was authorized to sign a letter to send to the owner of two Grand Avenue buildings south of a health food store concerning its dangerous status. If necessary, the opinion of a structural engineer would cost the city approximately $2,000. Barricades were installed earlier in an alleyway. 
• Bill Ramsey, public grounds foreman, has resigned. His last day is Friday, May 9. The position is open. 
• Don Romines, Ward III alderman, asked about the progress of an easement for Hungry Holler sewer access and enforcement of an ordinance concerning unlicensed vehicles. Lloyd Wells, city administrator, stated that the easement is progressing with minor complications. Sean Smith, attorney, said he has not received any citations for the ordinance. 

The meeting adjourned into closed session at 6:29 p.m.