City Council members discussed reallocating EDC salary/office funds, improvementstoDouglasStreet,annexation and vehicle fleet services during a lengthy regular meeting Monday, July 14.
The EDC discussion was proposed by councilmember Nancy Williams who thought the funds reserved for a EDC Manager (currently $50,000) and office rental could be better served by going into large projects like the restoration of the city park pavilion or the railroad depot.
She added that she had looked into towns like Coleman, Hamilton and Hico and found that city staff handle EDC grant submissions that are submitted to the board in meetings for approval.
“It would be amazing to drive downtown and see where those funds are being spent,” she said.
She added that she had asked interim city manager/police chief Cameron Ray and city secretary Kim Seider if the city could handle those duties for an extra $500 per month and she said they had responded yes.
She also suggested the EDC office could be relocated into an empty office in city hall to save funds.
Councilmember Bo Kabala said there was a precedent there and since most everybody would remain in place, he was intrigued by the proposal.
EDC board president Paul Bradberry spoke at the beginning of the meeting in relation to the agenda item, saying the Economic Development Corporation was founded 36 years ago in a majority vote by Dublin residents as a means to put 4B sales tax dollars back into the community. He said current member and previous members like James Fritts, Harlan Raley and Monte Thiebaud have acted with their “hearts in the right place” approving grants to Dublin businesses with the goal of job creation, job retention and quality of life for businesses and the community. In the public comment, he said he didn’t know why he was at the meeting since the agenda item didn’t state the proposal.
“I guess now I know why I’m here,” he said when he requested to speak after Williams made her proposal. “There’s a reason the voters of the towns voted for this.”
Bradberry said there was a benefit to the EDC and its funds being separate, because it kept them from getting “mixed together” and ensuring that the tax dollars are reserved to promote business in town.
He also spoke in favor of the board’s track record, saying “virtually all of the facades” of downtown businesses received a grant to help Dublin business owners while opening or renovating their businesses.
Williams asked about the increase in Cullis’s salary from the proposed $45,000 in the budget and asked if that needed to be approved by the council. It was reported that the council annually approves the proposed budget, but Seider said she had found out later that the raise should have gone to council for approval.
Mayor David Leatherwood said review of EDC operations and funds should be tabled until the city approves a new city manager. Councilmember Sammy Moore (who represents the city on the EDC board) agreed and cautioned they need to look at the relationship between the city and EDC.
“For the right person, it could work well,” he said of having a city manager take over director duties. He said the wrong person for those tasks could be detrimental to the city.
“What do you lose?,” he asked. “Getting results is the main thing.”
EDC director Noah Cullis was asked to speak about his duties at the EDC. “First of all we believe in the four C’s,” he began. “We communicate, coordinate, cooperate and we have credibility in what we do.”
He cited the group’s goals of business retention, create workforce development, create business attraction and creating business capital bonds.
Cullis said he has been benchmarking other communities recently to ensure the grants are being fiscally responsible, working on the creation of a website that makes the community look attractive to potential business owners and meeting with potential investor/business owners.
“We have a responsibility of that half-cent sales tax and making sure it’s an investment in the community,” Cullis added.
He also stated that he and board members have to keep discrete about business discussion as it develops so the clients feel comfortable to continue. Cullis said he worried about the ability to have closed door meetings or closed executive sessions in city hall where they might be overheard. Williams suggested that might be a concern at Blackjack Office Center where there office and meetings are currently located.
Councilmember Darren Turley asked Cullis about the hours he worked and Cullis said it could be 55 hours one week and 45 another.
Williams and Kabala asked how many new businesses the EDC had drawn in the last year or two, with it mentioned that clients like Dollar General Market went straight to the city. It was countered that those businesses would go to the city anyway for applications.
Cullis added that board members likely wouldn’t have the time needed to develop relationships with business owners and assist as needed.
“You’re hamstringing the board without this position,” he said.
Ray said they had researched what 4B sales tax dollars could be used for after Williams approached them.
“We are at a crossroads here,” he said. “It’s the nature of small town America. Where is the funding going to come from?”
Moore remarked that the EDC would likely help the city with projects if they asked but said the sales tax while ‘good money’ wouldn’t be enough alone to get major projects done.
Longtime EDC executive director Karen Wright also weighed in during the discussion, saying that the board was formed in 1998 after the state made EDCs an option for sales tax funds.
“There was a huge vote in favor,” she said. “There was a reason why it was kept separate from the city.”
Councilmembers unanimously voted to table discussion until a new city manager was in place. Williams thanks everyone for the discussion. “Asking questions and being educated is what’s important,” she said.
Douglas Street interlocal Councilmembers also unanimously accepted an interlocal agreement with the county for work being done on CR339/Douglas Street though a Community Development Block Grant Erath County had received. In exchange for getting the road paved, the city agrees to take over maintenance once the project is done.
“I really think they’re doing us a favor,” said Ray, adding that road is as much a city street as a county road.
Annexations
The council also approved the annexation of 17 acres for the Stephenville/Dublin KOA camp grounds (on FM219/Clinton) and 12.52 aces for the back side of the Dublin City Park. A public hearing was held on the KOA annexation with Cullis speaking in favor, calling it a great project from owners with good vision to the future.
Enterprise fleet agreement The council also heard a proposal from Nick Hardwick of Enterprise Fleet Services about a leasing contract. Hardwick said Enterprise serves more than 250 municipalities in the state of Texas and performs annual analyses to make proposals on selling vehicles when the city can leverage resale to get the best possible value and replace at the right time to avoid as much maintenance cost as possible.
Hardwick said the city has 21 vehicles and is almost on a 13-year cycle. The plan he proposed would move to cycle vehicles every 4-5 years, netting an estimated savings of $46,286 after 10 years.
Mayor Leatherwood asked about removing the public works vehicles from the proposal because the police vehicles need to be rotated more often from wear. He suggested tabling it to get more numbers. The council unanimously approved.
Other business
A public water contract was presented for Green Creek Water Supply as the utility which purchases city water and provides it to its customers is looking at building an overhead water storage tank. Ray said the construction will help the city but the councilmembers asked to table the matter for more information.
Councilmembers also approved reverting to Fraser Agency as insurance broker for the city with Seider saying that even though they are more expensive, they have more viable options for city employees.
A request was approved for Dublin Volunteer Fire Department to build a 10’x20’ storage building for extra weatherproof storage for the department. DVFD Chief Paul Warner said it would be installed on concrete by the generator and antenna. The building will not stick out further than the generator, will be tan ribbed metal to match City Hall and the labor is being donated by a volunteer. He also said the funds were in place; he just needed approval.
The council also approved a internet and device use policy for the Dublin Public Library after the library held a public meeting.