Dublin City Council meetings have officially moved to the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. (instead of 6:30) following a vote during a brief regular Council meeting Monday, Jan. 9.
The Council quickly worked through four agenda items which also included a request from Dublin Volunteer Fire Department Chief Paul Warner and the 2022 racial profiling report.
Warner appeared at the meeting to request funds to start the purchase of a new brush truck. Erath County has given each fire department within the county $150,000 after receiving funds through the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). Warner requested up to $108,000 of the acquired funds for the initial purchase of the truck, which will have to be outfitted following purchase.
Warner was asked what would happen to the current truck once it is replaced. He advised they would probably turn it into a ‘blocking’ truck with warning lights to alert drivers when firefighters are working on or around roadways.
Council member Sammy Moore asked about making the motion not to exceed $150,000 if the funds were all going toward the vehicle so that DVFD had more latitude on the purchase and work. The council unanimously approved the vote.
Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray presented the annual racial profiling report which revealed no instances or complaints of profiling. He reported Dublin PD conducted 1,799 with 1,600 of those on city streets and the rest in the area around Dublin. The drivers were predominantly white males. Officers conducted 50 vehicle searched with 20 of those yielding the discovery of contraband (16 drugs and four alcohol). No physical force was exercised in any of the stops. The council also unanimously approved a resolution stating intent to use a tax note to cover extra expenses in the construction of the planned EMS building. City Manager Bobby Mendez presented the resolution saying it was recommended as the construction crew is getting close to starting work and the funds won’t be available until after the city’s next audit (which is expected to be given in the February meeting). Mendez expects that there will not be any extra costs, but the resolution is required due to the overlap in timing.