City Council - Regular Meeting

Do you want to give the blessing?

Yes, sir.

Father God, we just thank you for this day.

Well, I'm going to call a meeting to order. Sorry about that, Ty. Call a meeting to order July 27, 2026, 6 p.m. Ty, will you give us a prayer?

Father God, we thank you for this day. Thank you for allowing us to come together, Lord God. We just pray that you give us the insight and wisdom, Lord God, as we make decisions for the city. Lord, we just pray for everyone that's working out in this heat, Lord God, that you bring the moisture, bring the rain, Lord God, that we need, we desire.

It's in your name we pray. Amen.

Amen. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America,

Okay, we'll move on to the consent agenda approval of minutes from July 13th, 26th regular council meeting and approval of June financials and bills.

About 80% complete with this year, this fiscal year. Everything's connecting very well. We have some overages and some line items, but we should come out very well ahead. Thought we would be, so I'm very pleased.

How's water doing?

Very well.

Black?

Everything is burning us.

I move that we accept minutes in the financial report.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? All right then. I'll move on to item two, public comment. I don't have any public comments and I think everybody else is here for an agenda item.

I will ask that by Thursday this week, We need to know if you're going to TML or not, because next Monday or Tuesday, the fourth is when we have to register. I need to know that.

And they need to know if they're going to fly or drive.

Well, if you're going, this is the first thing. Yeah. So we can get registered and get a hotel. We can make just this. later but sooner the better on that too um also we are working on the budget we got our last set of numbers we finally got our certified tax values friday so we're plugging in the last numbers i'm hoping about the next meeting we're going to have our first budget workshop and uh and i'm just going to go ahead and put it up front it's going to be a lean year there's a lot of legislation that was put in place this last session that's We don't know exactly how it's going to shake off, so it's going to be very conservative and very lean, I guess you could say. There's not going to be a lot of frills in it. Is that it?

Well, we're going to reinstate that. With TML, they're going to reinstate. We used to have a mayor's meeting, and we're reinstating then. And we're probably going to have some Zoom meetings with the city managers and the mayors because this legislative session is really going to be hard on cities and counties now so they're trying to strip all local control from myself just everybody be aware of that it's every time people control local funding everything Okay, we'll move on to item two, discuss and act upon the street closure request from Dower and Airbury Chamber of Commerce for the farm to table events.

What was that?

Hello?

Yes.

Good evening. And yeah, this is just the 7th, annual farm to table showcasing as much local produce and goods. Meet whatever we can find kind of just depends on the weather, but we do our best and it'll be downtown on Denmark as usual. And it's always a great time. So, hopefully you guys can all come.

What are the dates?

September 12. Yeah, it's the same idea as all in the past years.

same times and everything number 12 uh 10 a.m to 10 p.m is when they're requesting the clothes so i could set everything up make a motion that we grant the street closures request for delhart area chamber of commerce for the farm to table event second motion two seconds any further discussion all in favor aye

Any opposed? There are none. Thank you, Christy. Item three, discuss or enact upon the second reading and adoption of Resolution 2026-12, Resolution of the City of Dalhart, Texas approving a project with the Economic Development Corporation, 4B, with Dalham and Hartley Counties Health Care Foundation, Inc., and authorizing Executive Director of DDC to factuate and fund the project including the executing any and all documents instruments necessary or appropriate in connection therewith providing a severability clause savings clause and an effective date yes sir this is just the second reason of that resolution i know most of the time we just do

One reading of a resolution, please. This falls into the category we talked about last time. This is just for the EDC to go into agreement with the Health Care Foundation for the new nursing home. Are you happy to answer any questions?

I make a motion that we approve the second reading of resolution 2026-12. Second.

I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed? There are none. Thank you. Item 4, Discussion on Second Reading, Adoption of Resolution 202613, a resolution by the City Council, City of Dalhart, authorizing the City Manager to enter into a multi-use agreement with the Department of Transportation to achieve the proposed phases of the TxDOT right-of-way beautification project in conjunction with the Dalhart Economic Development Corporation, 4B.

Yes, sir. This is just a second reading of a text up resolution that we talked about last meeting to help beautify the right of ways and with some other stuff. And the reason we're doing it this way is because there'll be different phases instead of coming to you all each time. We can just keep rolling all day.

I move we adopt resolution 2036-13.

A motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? All right. Item 5, discuss or act upon adopting Resolution 202615, Resolution to the City of Council of the City of Dalhart, Texas, approval of a real estate purchase and sale contract for Howard Economic Development Corporation, 4B, to purchase Block 3, Block 3, Dalhart Business and Industrial Park Division Unit, authorizing the Thank you, Director and Vice President of the Board, to finalize into entering into the closing contract, providing severability clause, saving clause, and an effective date.

Yes, sir. This has to do with real property with EDC. And I think Kevin's going to kind of go over what they're proposing.

Good evening. I'm standing in the place of Sean this evening. He normally probably would present this, but I'll send it on behalf of the first of all, I just do want to thank you guys for. What you're doing to hear JJ say that you're 80%. into the budget year and things look good has got to feel good to you guys because you've worked hard to bring us from one place to another and and i appreciate that very much as a citizen so thank you very much for what you're doing um so i am here on behalf of the economic development corporation We're here to ask you to consider the adoption of Resolution 2026-15. This resolution is asking that the EDC be given the go-ahead to purchase a piece of property in the business and industrial park subdivision that was purchased previously by Natalie and Jay Peoples in October of 2024. At that time, they purchased the property for $54,440.32. After the purchase of the property, they began to make improvements by clearing trees and debris and cleaning up the property and remodeled to some extent an existing building that was on that property. They put a new roof on it and other improvements and their improvements totaled about $50,000 in doing that. In December of 2024, Jay Peoples passed away. Mrs. Peoples has tried to sell the property, but due to certain restrictions and covenants associated with the property, she's been unsuccessful in being able to get that done for whatever reasons that her prospective buyers were wanting to use the property didn't fall under those restrictions. Earlier this spring, Mrs. Peoples approached the EDC to see if we'd be interested in buying back the property from her for the amount they paid for the property, $54,440.32. After discussion in EDC, and we held a proper public hearing on the matter, the EDC moved unanimously to recommend to the City Council to authorize the purchase of the property using EDC funds. The purchase of the property will cause surrounding property owned by the EDC to remain contiguous. And in addition, the EDC will be gaining the improved structure ready for occupancy at any time at no cost to the EDC. The EDC respectfully request your favorable consideration in adopting Resolution 2026-15 and authorize the purchase of this property. And I'll entertain any questions you might have.

I stand with them on this one. I mean, any time a city or school district or an EDC has a chance to buy up this property that's next to them, that's what you do just so you can, I hate the word control, but it's in your possession at that point.

Basically, it's more of a win probably for the city because they actually did do some improvements on this building that's there and putting a new roof on it primarily, but you know, have it ready that somebody could use it at any time. We are not offering to buy those improvements from her. It goes through a whole different process. Shawn could explain that better to you. It's much, much cleaner if we just give her what she gave us back and doesn't have to go out for bid or anything to do that.

Make a motion that we adopt Resolution 2026-15. Thank you very much.

I have a motion. And a second. Any further discussion? All in favor?

Aye. Any opposed? Thank you very much.

Thank you, Kevin.

Yeah, that's a plan for us.

Item 6, discussing our Act Fund adopting Resolution 2026-18, the Resolution of the City Council of the City of Dallard, designating certain officials as being responsible for acting for and on behalf of the applicant dealing with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department for the purpose of participating in a local parks grant program.

That's interesting. We're with the PLRPCs here to kind of go over this.

Okay.

So the Economic Development Board and JJ contacted us a couple of months ago about a park grant with Texas Parks and Wildlife. And so part of the process for that grant application is the council has to pass a resolution. There's actually 2 steps 1 doesn't require any action from the council and that is there. There's an assurance given for basically the city manager slash director and y'all's case. Both of those gentlemen have signed off on that, or we'll sign off on that. But tonight, we're needing the resolution to apply. That's the requirement for the grant. And so the way the grant works is it's a 50-50 grant. And it's interesting to talk about the fact that y'all's budget's looking really good. And then here I am asking for money. The good thing is, is that the money is already in hand by the EDC. They have the grant matches, 150,000 would be Dalhart's portion. It's a $300,000 grant. And the EDC actually has what we call overmatch. So they have 10,000 extra because with any project, I'd love to say in a perfect world, they never go over budget, but just in the timing of everything in the world, they will probably go over budget. just based on the way the budgeting process works and the way these grants happen. This grant application will be submitted if you approve it tonight, will be submitted probably on Friday of this week, if not next Monday at the very latest, because next Monday at 5 p.m. is the deadline. And then we do nothing but wait and wait and wait until January of 27. And then we'll know at the end of January of 27, whether or not the city was awarded that grant. After that, it's a four year cycle. And so basically, not a lot of things will happen that will cost much money the first year. That's the planning year. And then after that, the money will come about being applied to the actual project the remaining three years. So the money in this case is already in hand, which is great for the city of Dalhart, because a lot of communities, they make the pledge that they'll have it, but they don't actually have it in hand at that particular time. And according to Sean, he has the money and so that's that's kind of a plus for the application. Now, with any grant application, there's no guarantees. I wish I could see it here in front of you tonight and say, yes, it's a guarantee and come January of 27 will know. Sadly, I can't make that promise, but we are putting together a good grant application for the city of heart. I went up today and I got here a little earlier and I went up and took some pictures of the park. Excellent location. The park, that corner of the park, which is the northeast corner of the park, that's a great location. It's crying for something. And so splash pad would be a great addition to that park. So that's what the application will be for. And so what I'm needing from you tonight is to pass the resolution to apply. We already did the master park plan with the first one we did in 20. 2021 into effect 2022. So looking back on it, it looks kind of like it kind of bled into both years. But yes, and what's good about that for this particular grant application, it's not required to have a master park plan, but it's a plus that the city basically had leadership to see that back then that this would be needed down the road. And so y'all are in a good place for this application.

this is at the northward park i'll entertain a motion i move to adopt resolution 6.18 okay now motion second any further discussion all in favor any opposed gentlemen thank you

item seven discuss our act upon 2026 seal code yes on july 6 we had a bid opening uh for our 2026 silco projects which it's going to be limited this year um just due to monetary and time constraints because I put some other things at play because if you approve this tonight, when we get through with the seal coat project, I'm going to have the engineering firm come in and do kind of an overall. Master plan, you would say of our streets and kind of get us on the schedule. We're going to do these streets in 272829 in the next 5 to 10 years. This street can't be so coded. You need to go ahead and. of plan for a uh complete overhaul uh resurface of the street but with that all being said we are going to if it approved tonight we're going to do jefferson um strong and 16th in front of the schools from 87 to Tennessee. We had two bidders, G&G and Buyers out of Amarillo. G&G came in with a low bid of $125,706.12. Everything checked out in their bid packet. The engineer signed off on it, and that's what I'm presenting tonight for the bid.

Make a motion that we accept the bid from G&G for the 2026 field code bid.

Second.

We have $125,776. How many cents? 12. 12 cents. Don't forget that 12 cents. That's right. Second. We got it.

I'm stuck with it. Second.

Second. I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Any opposed? I may discuss and act upon first reading ordinance 202607, an ordinance amending city of Dalhart, Texas ordinance chapter 14, finance and taxation. Article one in general, adding a section credit card payments and processing fees, establishing a fee to recover expenses incurred by the city and processing credit cards for payments, providing an effective date and providing a saving clause, providing a repealer and providing for publication.

Okay, I apologize. We talked about this last year and I did not think it would ever be this big of a process, but this is the final step in negotiating with credit card companies or billing software. I mean, I hate to do this, but we offer so many different forms to take payment that. The city, I feel as though we shouldn't be eating these fees. We're on pace to eat about 150,000 dollars worth of fees. Just in credit cards this year. Passing this resolution. I mean, that's ordinance and then the 2nd reading at the next meeting. We anticipate that we'll save around 120,000 dollars a year. We're still, we will still have to eat some fees just the cost of doing business, but.

Well, every business in town is doing that. Yes. It's called a convenience fee.

Yeah. You use a credit card, they charge you extra 3%. That's it. And ours will be 3.5%, and that's what we can do. City attorney signed off on this, and he actually said we're late to this game when it comes to cities. Credit card and debit card is different, or is the debit card the same 3%? It's different. Those would be the ones we kind of eat just because the way it's calculated different. But the way it's explained to me by the global payments who handles our stuff, debit cards, most of our stuff is ran as credit cards. Even if it is your debit card, it's still ran as a credit card. There are only very few that are ran as a true debit card.

And it won't affect the drafts and anything like that. Absolutely.

So it's one of those things that I hate to do, but I just feel as we need to, because you take a cash check, draft, cashier's check, you do money order, whatever you need to, to avoid that fee. So I'll answer any questions about that.

I don't hate to do it. I move that we accept ordinance 2026-07. Second.

I have a motion and a second. Any further discussion?

all in favor uh any opposed darn it can I add something for me to turn I remember I want to mention something too go ahead um if you'll notice that across from the Dust Bowl the old apartments same thing as you're going they're gone oh we're the apartments are gone um they're tore down you never saw that oh yeah they're behind me they have it they're still holding off they're they're gone materials but it's gone the house on rock island by the park it's coming down next week yes the house on fifth street that bird is coming church is coming down next week um we will set a public hearing uh next meeting for the house on first street that we've been working on for since i've been here to Get that down. I mean, we're, we're making progress to try to clean it up. And, um, I know there's been, I've had a few calls and I'm sure y'all been asked, what are we going to do about. For the parade with the lip and stuff. We've been talking to the contractor between us and then we think we have a plan basically just going to build like a ramp. Uh. Asphalt? No, just something we can... Millings, that's what I was thinking, millings. Yeah, I mean, that's the best thing and we're not going to really work on that until probably Thursday or Friday of XIT to try to keep it as smooth as possible. But traffic is going to be a nightmare because- And nothing we can do about that. No, but with all the constructions, the best option we've had, we can think of is we're going to block the road at 87 in Ninrock and nobody's going to be able to come downtown. Usually we take trucks and divert them around, but they can't make the turn off of Rock Island onto 7th. So- Just get ready. We're going to have trucks backed up for a little while during the parade time.

That's fine.

I'm really happy about the desk hold. What's going on? Who took down the old parking lots? I think G&G took it down, too. But they hauled it somewhere else. So it's good. We're going to have an abatement with it. We went through the whole process and got everything done.

Kevin, I bet you never thought you'd see them go away, huh?

How many meetings we sit through? They're gone.

So what's the property going to get?

I don't know. One step at a time. That was the first step to get them gone. That's all I have. I'm sorry.

motion that we adjourn all in favor all right you are adjourned down if you if you never drive down there you'd have never noticed it no i drove down there because she actually called me and she said or she texted me and she said the apartments are coming down i said you got to be kidding i'm going over there i'm over there you see the next day they were gone