The Stephenville City Council voted to deal with water issues in the city during the regular council meeting Tuesday, July 2.
City Manager Jason King reported the city’s been dealing with drainage issues in various parts of the city but one he said in particular need is the 900 block of Chamberlain Street.
King said public works has worked on combating but to deal with the issues, sewer lines need to be replaced.
“It’s going to require about $270,000 to fix,” said King. “It’s going to require the sewer line be replaced as part of the project so that would allow utility funding to take on the lion’s share.”
The city had budgeted $1.3 million for water treatment plant improvements so King proposed reallocating $300,000 for the improvements to Chamberlain. Councilmembers present voted unanimously for the reallocation. (Councilmembers Lonn Reisman and Maddie Smith were absent along with Mayor Doug Svien.)
Councilmembers also unanimously accepted a contract with Cruz Hernandez Concrete Construction for emergency repairs to Cedar Street after it was reported the recent rainfalls caused wash outs to big portions of the street. Public works director Nick Williams pledged to let people know when work will start in advance of the project. The repairs will provide a concrete cap similar to work done on Long Street to prevent pavement from coming up as easily as it did. The low bid from Cruz Hernandez was $42,688, which is being taken out of the public works repair fund.
Following a public hearing with no comment, the council unanimously voted to rezone a property at 978 Old Hico Rd from Retail and Commercial to Multifamily Residential following the recommendation from Planning & Zoning.
Council also heard a presentation from Rhea Marrs, Debby Watson and Donna Wesson representing Upbeat Crusaders, a charity volunteer organization whose mission statement is to “bring our personal life experiences and extensive research to enhance older adult lifestyles within our community.”
Marrs said the group wants to transform what it means to be an older Erath resident and aims to partner with other organizations to benefit the community. She also said the group is dedicated to increasing activities and broadening horizons for active, healthy lifestyles.
Council also unanimously accepted recommendations from: the public works committee to approve a pipeline analysis sewer evaluation for Basin 4-South; the Development Services Committee to approve a revision to the subdivision ordinance so the fee schedule for parkland dedication lines up with the ordinance; and the finance committee to purchase digital access to ClearGov Digital Annual Comprehensive Financial Report software until September 2028.
Director of finance Monica Harris delivered the monthly budget report, revealing Stephenville received $834,000 in sales tax for May.
Following a closed session, the council approved a salary proposal for the executive assistant to the city manager.
Economic Development Authority executive director Jeff Standford started off his report with some ice breaking patriotic jokes before briefing council about a recent conference where he was able to see the effects of geofencing as a digital advertising tool. Sandford also spoke of the partnership with Stephenville High School for the career club, which assists in training and career paths for students. Sandford reported 100 percent of the kids that go through the program get job offers.
Mayor Pro tem David Baskett stood up at the end of Sandford’s report to present a Workforce Excellence Award to the Stephenville Economic Development Authority received from the statewide Texas Economic Development Council.
The Dublin Citizen was named as official newspaper of record for the city of Stephenville.
The meeting ended with comments from the city manager and council members, who issued congratulations to: the Stephenville PD whose student-designed SRO cruiser took the best police unit contest at a state convention and JJ Hampton who is being inducted into the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.
Thanks was also issued for city employees, the Main Street program and Upbeat Crusaders for their efforts.