Verette and Yarbrough honored at March City Council Meeting

Brandon Verette works for the City of San Saba in the Street Department. He was awarded the Employee of the Month award at the March City Council Meeting. Brandon has been with the City six month, and his supervisor, Luis Rios, stated Brandon is doing a great job and always stays busy.

Code Enforcement Office Wayne Yarbrough was chosen as Supervisor of the First Quarter of 2024. City Manager Scott Edmonson noted Wayne was hired a few months ago and is doing a good job.

Mayor Jordon congratulated both award recipients and thanked them for all the do for the City and the citizens.

Mayor Jordan then read Section 3 Policy Updates and information for the City of San Saba, TxCDBG Contract #CDM220038. No action was needed. This was just an announcement for the City Council.

The Council then approved the Consent Agenda Items:

• Council Meeting Minutes from February 13, 2024

• Payment of bills as presented • Approval of April as Child Abuse Prevention Month and April 16th of 'Go Blue Day' to support Child Abuse Prevention

• Resolution No. 2024-05 waiving noise ordinance on March 23, 2024, at Risien Park Pavilion for Laura Martinez

• Resolution No. 2024-06 waiving noise ordinance on March 23, 2024, at Mill Pond Park for Sara Sanchez The Council approved the following Action Items: 1. Resolution No. 2024-07 appointing Election Officials for the May 4, 2024 election, basically school elections.

2. Issue Certificate of Election to re-elect City Council Mayor: Kenneth G. Jordan; Aldermen: Oleta Behrens and Robert Whitten.

3. Resolution No. 2024-08 cancelling the City Council Election and accepting the Certification of Unopposed Candidates for the May 4, 2024 City Council election declaring the unopposed candidates elected to office.

4. Ordinance No. 202402 amending Ordinance No. 2023-16 and setting fees for various City Services and consolidating those fees for convenience; amending various City Ordinances; and containing a severability clause and an effective date.

City Manager Edmonson addressed the Council on this in regards to the renting of the Civic Center. It was proposed that the hourly fee is increased. He also addressed the deposit amounts. The current deposit for events is $100 without alcohol and $500 with alcohol. This would change it to $1,000 without alcohol and $1,500 with alcohol. There have been many instances where folks just don't clean up at all, leave the property damaged, and don't mind losing the small deposit. He noted this issue is mostly with folks from out of town. This increase in deposit amount will help the renters take better care of the property and be more mindful of observing the rules. The renters will get the deposit back if the Civic Center is cleaned up and undamaged.

Another item was to increase the animal quarantine fee from $15 per day to $20 per day.

5. New Civic Center Application and Terms and Conditions, Update Civic Center Lease Agreement, and Update Civic Center General Rules and Regulations.

City Manager Edmonson stated that an event at the Civic Center has alcohol, it requires security. A police officer has been doing this. These new terms will now have the renter responsibility to get the security. The security personnel will have to be submitted to the City to give them time to verify that the security personnel are certified/bonded. The number of security personnel needed for an event (with alcohol) in the lease agreement is as follows: 0-200 = one licensed peace officer or one bonded security officer; 201-300 = two licensed peace officers or two bonded security officers; 301-400 = three licensed peace officers or three bonded security officers.

City Manager Edmonson stated that the new Terms and Conditions will be advertised in the paper before they take effect. They have not been updated since 2017.

City Manager's Report

• Civic Center issues getting hot - the insulation has been replaced. Mr. Edmonson passed around the thin tin that had been used as insulation. Now there are several inches of insulation.

• Downtown Revitalization Project/ADA study - did get approval on the environmental study

• Splash Pad - Norman, Buddy, Colby, and Scott have been down at the Splash Pad getting the pump house ready. Denver and team has been running the electricity. The Splash Pad company will be here next week. Jacob Stone has donated a stone for the sign, and we are working on verbiage for that. Jacob stone also donated the rock for the outside of the pump house. 

• Meeting with some counties in COG - Update was given on a grant project that would benefit multiple counties. A proposed for a radio tower. The San Saba County Commissioners approved supporting it.

• Nature Park Bench - LCRA supported us with some of the funds. City guys have been working hard on that.

• LCRA Step Forward Program - scheduled for April 12th.

• Spring Clean Up - scheduled for April 13th.

• Radios - all should be good for the eclipse. The new radios and in and installed.

• Eclipse - 175 people attended the Town Hall Meeting. It went really well. Mill Pond Park will be closed to foot traffic only during the eclipse event, and there will be signage pointing people to go park at the Civic Center instead.

Risien Park is rented on Saturday by the Boy Scouts. Thinking about what to do about traffic/ entrances to the park.

There will be Porta Potties placed in Mill Pond Park. The chamber will have a few by the Courthouse.

There will be more trash receptacles for downtown.

Trash Pick Up will be modified that Monday to only to Commercial Pick Up just like on a holiday.

Reflective vests have been ordered for City Workers. They will be working and will be ready for any emergency that may arise.

You are invited!

City Council meetings are open to the public, and you are invited to attend. There is a time at the beginning of the meetings for Public Comments. Just sign up when you get there if you would like to address the City Council.