A new Dublin City Council member was sworn in to office during the regular council meeting Monday, Feb. 12 as orders for city elections were filed and council members approved taking steps to seek the annexation of more property.
Mayor David Leatherwood introduced Dublin High School Graduate Barrett Joiner as the interim council member to fill the Place 1 seat vacated by Lee Jones. (See accompanying story below.) After council members unanimously accepted his nomination, City Secretary Melissa Minor led him in the oath of office.
The council also unanimously approved the ordinance calling for May 4 elections for Dublin mayor and Council members, Places 2 and 4. (Filing ends Friday, Feb. 16 for City and Dublin ISD elections. (See story of page 3A.) The elections service contract with the county was also approved.
Following the recent successful annexation of land towards FM 219 north, City Manager Bobby Mendez approached the council about annexing property on Highway 6 west towards DeLeon. The sought property runs parallel to the existing city limits to just past the Dublin Loop where a lot of pipe is currently stacked.
Mendez said that the annexation would allow the city to assist in combating speeding complaints in the area.
Mendez also was given approval to move forwards with a grant application for a fitness court after the city was approached by Blue Cross Blue Shield to install a minimal equipment fitness court either at the park or library. Mendez said additional funding to complete the project could be completed by local businesses or organizations.
Council members also approved two recommendations from Planning and Zoning in rezoning two properties from residential to commercial: 801 W. Blackjack (the former site of Pat’s Auto Sales) and 416 S. Liberty (the site of Jerry’s Auto). Both properties had reverted to residential zoning with the sale.
Council members also approved the closing and sale of an alleyway around East Travis near the Memorial Stadium as new residences are being built and the alleyway is offered to homeowners and developers in the block. The price was set at $.90 per square foot. (Council member Darren Turley abstained from the vote because he lives in the area.)
Council also approved two requests from Dublin Police Chief Cameron Ray. The first was for a take home car program, allowing for officers living in a 15 mile radius to be provided a car to drive home based on availability. Ray said the proposed program falls in line with offerings from neighboring departments although some make cars available for up to 40 miles. Ray stated cars would be available contingent on department needs and would need to be wellmaintained by the officers.
The second request was for a $6,700 contract with RCI to help with record retention and audit with Ray and Detective Nanci Wilson reporting a storage building was currently filled with records and evidence dating as far back as the 1970s.
Funding for the project was covered as the city still had $3,500 left after its records retention and $3,150 could be moved from the Capital Expenditure Fund.
The meeting also included a report on Delinquent property tax collections by McCreary, Veselka, Bragg & Allen, P.C. (MVBA) for the city. Present for the report were John O’Connell, Robert Meyers, Julie Keller and Erath Tax Assessor-Collector Jennifer Carey.
O’Connell and Meyers presented a report on MVBA’s collections for the city from 2019 to 2022. The report showed that annual tax collections for the last four years was better than 100% when including delinquent taxes, penalties and interest. (Collections of taxes levied in each year was ultimately more than 99%).
The report also stated that MVBA had sent 902 notifications of delinquent taxes from Jan. 1, 2021 to Dec. 31, 2023. A total of 58 suits on 78 properties were litigated with 34 judgments delivered. From Oct. 5, 2021 to Dec. 5, 2023, a total of 57 properties were posted for sale with 43 sold.
MVBA has represented the city for many years in delinquent tax collection. During the January meeting, City Council approved a contract with Texas Communities Group, LLC and Perdue Brandon Fielder Collins and Mott, LLP to handle delinquent tax collections for the programs it had in helping code enforcement and substandard structures. The city began discussions with Texas Communities Group after the Revitalize Dublin group brought the firm in to speak.
The Dublin City Council meets on the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
All meetings are open to the public.