The Dublin City Council discussed the demolition of the old EMS building and renovations to the Train Depot in Monday’s meeting, which also included several introductions.
The first two came in the swearing-in of new council members, Orion Gallagher (Place 2) and Keegan McInroe (Place 4), at the beginning of the meeting.
Up for a decision for the full council was the demolition of the old rock EMS building adjoining city hall. EMS Director John Tadlock reported that the city had already received a bid to do the demolition and he expected to have three by the end of the week.
Tadlock said that an asbestos test was being run on the dilapidated building, which is expected to be negative. Tadlock was told if there was asbestos in the building, it would be in the 15 square feet of tile that is still in the building.
Mayor David Leatherwood also offered that public works employees could perform the work with city equipment. Tadlock and Mendez felt that might be unlikely since the city is down several employees in the department and the job will require removing a structure that is attached to the city building and inches away from a residence.
Once the building is demolished, a new EMS building will be constructed in the same footprint. Upon Tadlock’s request, the council unanimously voted to approve up to $40,000 for the demolition.
As the city will be opening Request for Qualifications and Request for Proposal packets on Monday for renovations to the historic train depot, the council approved committee members for the project including Paul Bradberry, Lynn Tidwell, Jeff Weaver, Ben Pate, Jill Moore, David Leatherwood and Karen Wright.
Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray came to the council regarding upgrades need to police equipment including radios, cameras and in-vehicle computers and printers. Ray reported that the finance payments on all the departments current equipment have finished but replacements and upgrades are needed for the equipment that is all between four and eight years old as two of the computers, four radios and a printer are inoperable. There are also several other issues with some of the equipment.
Chief Ray reported that the total cost of replacements would be $92,000 to $95,000 while the most needed replacements (radios and camera system) would be $57,000. Ray asked if the council would like to pursue a phase-in for the rest of the equipment or purchase all at once.
It was reported that the annual finance payment, which is now complete, was $22,000. The council directed Ray to check the price difference between purchasing everything outright and just the radios and camera so they can make a decision in a future meeting.
City Park arena manager Cody McClinton also spoke to the council, saying he would like to renew his contract with the city and extend it from two years to four years. Mc-Clinton discussed working to bring rodeos to town and plans for an even larger rodeo to host an event as well as weekly bucking events and working with the Chamber of Commerce and Rodeo Heritage Museum.
The council unanimously approved to keep THL as the health insurance provider in a policy to being on the fiscal year. City Secretary Melissa Minor presented the item, saying the policy will go up 5 percent from the previous year, meaning an extra $740 (approximately) per month. The decision to renew at the fiscal year will make budgeting easier since the city won’t have to estimate the payments from January through September.
At the beginning of the meeting, Chief Ray introduced officers Kristi Bonilla and Jacob Carpenter who are in their second week of field training and came to the department through the cadet program. (See full story in the June 2 edition or find it at dublincitizen.com.)
Brad Stanford introduced the new Dublin EDC Executive Director Amy Wright, who is coming to the position from Comanche with a lot of experience through Chamber of Commerce Small Business Development Center work. (See story in next week’s edition.)
The council voted to approve Steve Hightower to a three-year term on the Upper Leon Municipal Water District Board and Sammy Moore as Chairman of the Finance Committee.
The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held at 6 p.m. Monday, July 11 at City Hall.
All meetings are open to the public.