Thursday's Internet Edition, December 04, 2008.
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| CLOSE PLAY- Bulldog short stop Jorden Lowe awaits a throw at second base as a Santo runner starts his slide recently during the annual Bulldog tournament. The Bulldogs were scheduled to start district play this week on Tuesday night in Crawford, but weather conditions were threatening. Staff Photo |
Mayor Roy Rumsey pre-sided over the meeting and all members of the council were present- Bradley Haile, Helen Townsend, Betty Jenkins, Grant Lengefeld and Mike Collett.
Because he had to attend youth basketball games, Polster was allowed to address the council first.
Polster told the council that he had heard concerns from parents regarding the fees charged to participate in this year’s youth baseball and softball programs and also was aware that some of the council members had been approached with the same concerns.
The fees charged this year are $45 to participate in T-ball and $60 for all other baseball and softball participation.
Polster told the council that the fees were based on projected expenses.
He said that complete uniforms are provided each participant in baseball and softball, including pants, belts, shirts and caps at a cost of about $28 each. T-ball participants receive a tee shirt and cap at a cost of $12. However, these costs do not include the price of insurance, baseballs, helmets, trophies for each participant and the most expensive two items, electricity for lights and the cost of hiring umpires.
The electricity cost for the season is estimated at $1,125 and the cost of umpires $3,900.
Townsend asked Polster about the cost of operating the lights. She said that people who had contacted her said that in the past all the games were played in the daytime and lights were not used.
Polster said that last season the lights were not ready and all the games were played in the daytime. He added that some of them had to be played during the heat of the day, which would not be necessary this season.
City Administrator Bill Funderburk added that most games will be played on Saturdays, but not all of them.
There are three new fields ready for use this year in the Pecan Creek Recreation Park.
Funderburk said, “We are not trying to make any money, just trying to break even.”
He also said that the projected expenses are based on the last year’s numbers.
Polster said that for next year, sponsors are being considered to keep the kids from having to bear the entire expense.
Funderburk said he is somewhat hesitant to go back to local businesses for sponsorships. “Our businesses have already contributed a lot of money to that park. Also, it’s a city program now and they are already paying taxes.”
Lengefeld said, “I think everyone’s concern is that no kid gets left out.”
Polster said that there are provisions to take care of kids who just cannot come up with the money. He said that those who cannot afford to pay the entire amount are asked to pay what they can and that there is a sponsor who has offered to pay the remainder. He also said there are scholarships available for those who cannot pay that allows them to play one sport per year free. Polster said the fee for every sport is different, based on the expenses involved.
Otherwise, Polster told the council that progress in all the parks is continuing and that vandalism has been minimal recently. He also said he has been in contact with officials at the Gatesville TDC to arrange to have inmate help with park maintenance in the coming months.
Logan then talked to the council about the Hamilton Volunteer Fire Department. He said he was recently re-elected to his second year as Fire Chief. He said in the past year, “lots has changed in the fire department and it’s good.”
He said that the City of Hamilton has been very generous to the department furnishing equipment, water, a building and fuel and that it has been very appreciated. He noted that the city has not only supplied water and fuel for use in the city, but for use in the county as well.
Regarding the usage of fuel, he commented, “I am sorry that your hospitality was abused in the past and I want to publicly tell you that we are very sorry. It will never happen again.”
He said that the department is growing and currently has 31 members, including six junior members. He said that every member is now CPR certified.
“We did more training last year than in the previous five years,” said Logan. “It is all coming around.”
“We are giving back to the community, not just waiting for a handout,” continued Logan.
He said that members of the department installed 63 fire and smoke detectors last year in the community for residents who either could not afford them or were not physically able to install them. He said this year they will go back and replace the batteries.
He said perhaps the biggest thing in the past year was the creation of the Junior Fire Fighter Program.
“These guys are going to the same training we go to. They are learning. These guys will be our replacements someday,” said Logan.
He also said that members of the department are taking out of their own pockets to establish a scholarship program for young people wanting to pursue emergency services education.
He explained that the junior volunteers are required to keep up their grades in high school in order to participate in the program.
Logan said that the department wants to install 911 signs at every residence. He said that being able to find the location of an emergency quickly is very important to providing the services needed.
“The fire department is willing to donate their time to put these signs up,” said Logan, but asked the city to help them find funding for the signs.
Jenkins said, “I think that’s an excellent idea. I think a lot of people would pay for their own.”
The council then discussed possible grant sources to help pay for the 911 signs and Funderburk said he would look into the possibilities for finding funding.
Logan said that the department will continue to train and that it is getting better all the time.
“This is a good bunch of guys and girls and I want you all to be proud of them,” concluded Logan.
In other business, the council agreed to participate in a procurement card program.
Funderburk told the council that the program is contracted through the State of Texas and that every employee who is authorized to make purchases for the city will be issued a credit card. He said every card issued will have a monthly limit and that each card can only be used at designated businesses and stores. He said that transactions on each card are reviewable at City Hall on a daily basis.
Funderburk said that for each purchase made with a card, the city will receive an almost one percent rebate at the end of the year. He said that rebate is likely to be as much as $10,000 a year.
He said another advantage of using the cards is that the city will not have to write nearly as many checks. He also said the card program includes fraud protection.
Townsend made a motion to authorize participation in the card program, Jenkins seconded it and it passed unanimously.
The council approved bids for the sale of used equipment totaling $44,684. A Caterpillar track loader was the highest priced piece of equipment, bringing $27,600. The other two largest amounts were $5,201 for a John Deere 310 backhoe and $5,000 for three rotors for a wastewater treatment plant.
During the reports portion of the meeting, Sheriff Randy Murphree told the council that the jail was filled to capacity with 27 inmates that morning. He said that illness has been a problem in his department recently, just as it as been throughout the community.
He said over the weekend, one of his officers had made an arrest in Hico for possession of cocaine and marijuana after a traffic stop. He said the majority of the narcotics arrests made by his department do not involve local people and are most likely to be made on Highway 281 or Highway 6.
He also said that his officers have made several minor in consumption arrests recently and that in the past week there had been three mental commitment cases.
In the past month, he said his department has issued 71 citations and 56 warnings.
Public Works Director Ronnie Harris reported that there have been a lot of sewer complaints recently and that many of them have turned out to be on the customers’ property and not in the city lines. He also said that he hopes to have paving contractors start on North Railroad Street the last week in March or first week in April.
John Ratliff, Community Development Director, told the council that there has been $11,307 in permit fees collected so far this year
He also commented on the response he has received regarding articles he has published in the newspaper recently concerning the creation of zoning ordinances. He said the consensus has be favorable.
Funderburk reported that the work at the wastewater treatment plant is expected to be completed by the end of May. He also said that work on the water standpipe at Fair Park should start within the next few weeks and the company has three months to complete it.
Funderburk said he met with officials from the school, hospital, county and the sheriff’s department last week to discuss the possibility of placing a resource officer at the school and potential ways to fund such a position.
He said that a resource officer from Stephenville told him that since the position was created there about five years ago there has been a noticeable improvement in student conduct, not just in the school but in the community as well.
Funderburk said that poten-tially, a resource officer would have a presence on all three of Hamilton’s school campuses. He said he would not just be there as a law enforcement officer, but he would also teach classes on behavior and be a trained counselor.