Thursday's Internet Edition, December 04, 2008.
planning and zoning ordinance
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FLAG RETIREMENT- Members of Hamilton American Legion Post 222 held a formal flag retirement ceremony on Flag Day, last Saturday morning at their post north of Hamilton. Above, Robert Jackson salutes a farewell to a burning flag, as Post Commander Don Damron stands by with another flag. In the back ground, other post members are preparing other flags for cremation. Approximately 70 flags were retired Saturday morning. Staff Photo
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Mayor Roy Rumsey presided over the regular monthly meeting of the council and council members Mike Collett, Betty Jenkins, Grant Lengefeld and Bradley Haile were present. Helen Townsend was absent.
At the beginning of the meeting, the second public hearing regarding the proposed zoning ordinance was held. No one from the public spoke.
During last month’s meeting Boyd Holley had expressed concerns over a provision in the proposed ordinance prohibiting single-wide manufactured houses. Council members Lengefeld and Townsend were somewhat sympathetic to Holley’s position. As a result, a workshop with the council and planning and zoning commission was scheduled and held two weeks ago.
At Thursday’s meeting, Lengefeld told the council that because he had voiced his concerns over single-wide manufactured housing, he wanted to make a statement.
He said, “First, I would like to thank the Planning and Zoning Committee for their hard work and due diligence. As stated before, I believe we have a very good and sound document in front of us. My only concern is that other than someone developing a plot of land for the purpose of creating a park for manufactured homes, there is no place within the city limits allowed for someone to bring in a single-wide manufactured home and have access to sewage and water.
“When looking at our median household income levels …this is a real concern. A concern that I believe is shared by all of us here this evening. However, our current residents living in single-wide manufactured homes are protected from immediate change, and I understand that if this becomes an issue in the future, this is a document that can be revisited.
“As a whole, I do believe that this ordinance will have a positive long-term effect on our community, and therefore, after much thought and deliberation, I am prepared to give my support in implementing this ordinance tonight. If there is no further discussion, I would like to do so in the form of a motion to adopt this Zoning Ordinance for the City of Hamilton as presented by the appointed Planning and Zoning Committee.”
Haile seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously without further comment.
Elsewhere in this week’s newspaper Community Development Director John Ratliff has written the first in a series of articles explaining the new zoning rules and their intent.
Ratliff states, “Zoning is a tool used to implement a city’s land-use plan and allows the city to set aside specific areas for residential, commercial and industrial growth. It protects residents’ investments in real estate.”
In other business, the council denied a request from Frank Butts to lease him seven acres at the airport for building a personal hangar/house and office structure. He proposed that the lease be from 25 to 30 years and suggested that in the future he might build other similar structures on the property to either rent or sell to other individuals.
Funderburk said that it is questionable whether TxDOT would approve of this type of lease. TxDOT grants and matching grants are used to maintain the airport and therefore they have a voice in determining how the property can be utilized.
The city was in lengthy negotiations last year with another individual who had plans for developments at the airport. At that time, TxDOT made it clear that any development had to be related to aviation.
Collett said that after the lengthy negotiations last year, he is inclined to think that any development at the airport should be in small parcels.
He explained, “This keeps us in a flexible position, as opposed to tying it all up.”
Jenkins commented, “It would still be nice to have something going out there.”
Collett made a motion to follow the city administrator’s recommendation and deny Butt’s proposal “at this time.” Haile seconded it and it passed unanimously.
Jenkins said, “Mr. Mayor this might be a good time for you to appoint a committee to look into opportunities at the airport.
Funderburk said, “I think it would be a great idea to have a committee and include some of our local pilots.”
Jenkins and Lengefeld agreed to represent the council on the committee and the Mayor said he would try to find two individuals active at the airport to join them on the committee.
The council also accepted the financial statement for the prior month, accept the quarterly financial report for the Hamilton EDC presented by executive director Jane Crouch, and reappointed Collett, Dorothy Harelik and Tom Adams to another two-year term on the EDC board.
The council voted to make a request to the EDC board to forgive the remaining $19,000 owed to the EDC on the Spring Creek Edition. Funderburk said that their accountant had recommended that the remaining amount be removed from the books for both the city and EDC’s benefit.
Funderburk said that all of the lots in the subdivision have been sold and therefore there will not be any additional income for the city.
The original note to the EDC was for approximately $78,000.
The request for forgiveness of the note will be presented to the EDC board at its next meeting.
During the reports portion of the meeting, Sheriff Randy Murphree told the council that “school is out, and summer is here.”
He said that there has been some criminal mischief, but that some of this has not been committed by local people. He said that cold drink machines at Hamilton and Hico businesses have been vandalized. He also said a small trailer was stolen from a Hamilton residence and that several lawnmowers have been reported stolen. Murphree said that gas drive-offs are continuing at area stations.
Murphree reported that six Gators were stolen Monday night from Lawson Implement Co., Inc.
During the prior month, he said his department issued 54 citations and 64 warnings.
Murphree said that with the economy in the shape it is, crime is on the increase and warned that the public needs to be very aware of their surroundings and be very diligent.
City Works Director Ronnie Harris reported on connects and disconnects. He said, “It was a busy month. People continue to move in and move out.”
He also said that the new backhoe is working well and that the city workers wanted to express their appreciation to the council for purchasing it.
Funderburk gave the parks report because Parks and Recreation Director Ryan Polster was attending a school in Arlington.
Funderburk said the municipal swimming pool is open and had has a very successful first week of operation. He said that TML insurance inspectors made a surprise visit to the pool and found everything in good shape.
He also reported that there will be a meeting with TxDOT officials, city officials and the contractor who will install the historic Bulman Bridge in Pecan Creek Park next Friday in Gatesville.
He said that the city will host a week-long baseball tournament in the new park starting June 28.
Community Development Director John Ratliff reported that last month was a slow month for building permits, but that they are still up for the year. He said that Animal Control Officer John Couch is now also doing code enforcement.
Ratliff said that he plans to start doing condemnations again soon on substandard structures.
Funderburk reported that the city is in the process of renewing its wastewater permit and that the wastewater treatment plant improvement project is nearing completion.
He said that the refurbishing of the water standpipe at Fair Park is complete and would be inspected by the engineer on Friday. He said it should be back in use in 10 to 14 days.
He said that the drainage projects on Sherry Lee and Bell street have been completed and appear to be well done, but have not yet been tested by any rain.
He also said that the sales tax collection continues to go up. He reported that it is up about $3,000 from the same period last year.
Funderburk asked the council to schedule a budget workshop to follow the regular council meeting on July 10.
The meeting lasted about one hour, the shortest in several months.