Mayor Martha Herden called the Blanco City Council meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. on March 24, and it was streamed live on the city’s Facebook page.
Mayor Pro Tem Martin Sauceda and council members Matt Lewis, Keith McClellan and Martha Gosnell were present. Council member Tony Vela was out with an excused absence. After the pledge of allegiance was recited, Ben Oakley, Blanco EMS Chief, provided an update on COVID-19. There was only one confirmed case in the county at the time of the meeting, and that person has self-quarantined. Oakley explained that due to state laws, they are not able to release the location of the individual.
Public health education is being provided to citizens and restaurant/business owners during this time. Oakley has been making sure that regulations are being followed by restaurants as well. Next, the council adjourned into executive session. No action was taken following the executive session.
The minutes of the previous meetings, March 10 and March 17, were approved.
Next, council members discussed the engineering firm to provide engineering services in connection with the Texas Water Development Board-funded 1 million gallons per day (MGD) water treatment plant improvements.
A task order was discussed for Freeland Turk Engineering Group to provide engineering services to amend the city’s wastewater treatment plant permit application. Tom Turk, project manager, provided a quick review of where the city is in the process. The application was made and submitted to TCEQ in 2016 and a draft permit was issued. TCEQ called for an administrative hearing; there was also a lawsuit and settlement.
Turk explained that a few of these issues have been resolved. The discharge route has been narrowed down to two different routes. A beneficial reuse plan including irrigation, reclaim water and discharge is being worked on for the city. Turk informed the council that they are working with the city attorneys and are ready to move forward.
The scope of work includes: collaborating with the city, meeting with TCEQ to review the permit application and the proposed amendment, addressing the flow process and phasing, reviewing the 1 million gallons per day figure and looked at more realistic figures, and discussing the discharge route. The irrigation system is probably going to have to be expanded, Turk said. The amount of the flow dictates the extent of the system and cost; the goal is to be as inexpensive as possible.
Turk predicted it will be another two months until the meeting because currently all of TCEQ’s hearings have been pushed back. The council moved to approve the task order.
Another task group was created for Freeland Turk Engineering Group to provide on-call general engineering services to the city. This is a general engineering contract that allows the city to reach out for any small, quick needs/items. Some of the roles include: consulting, responding and requesting information, representing the city, taking on project manager rolls, permitting assistance, and more. It is on call unless the city makes a request.
The engineering firm has worked under this role informally already, including assisting with the Canyon Lake water contract. There are no fees in the contract, but fees can be added. The engineering firm is aiming to keep costs as low as possible. Sauceda moved to create a task for Freeland Turk Engineering Group to provide group on-call general engineering services and put a $24,000 fee in the contract. Gosnell seconded and the motion carried.
Next, the council discussed the utility rates. Herden expressed concerns on raising the prices during the current pandemic. Gosnell suggested having a public hearing regarding the rates. Public participation in the next month might not be possible with the governor’s order limiting groups meeting to be 10 or fewer people.
The TWDB encourages a water rate increase to help pay for the water treatment plant. There is an increase every year from the garbage services and the garbage rate hasn’t increased for citizens in many years. No action was taken at this time.
Next, the intergovernmental agreement between the city and county was discussed. The mayor and Ronnie Rodriguez, public works director, and Tommy Weir, county commissioner for precinct 1, have been working together to find a solution to the road and drainage issues near the Emergency Services District No. 2 building. This is located on the corner of Jones and Blanco streets. There were no draining issues before, but the road is now 6-8 inches low.
When the ESD building was first completed, the first heavy rain flooded the building. A wall was built to redirect the water, however, they are now handling water from across the street. The ditch needs to be cut deeper and the roadway fixed. Most of this will be done by city employees and about $6,000 would be used to fix the area. The county would loan their tractors.
The intergovernmental agreement doesn’t mention cost and the city attorney suggested adding the amount total before accepting the contract. Lewis brought up concerns about the flooding of the neighboring land. Rodriguez reassured the council that this issue only affects the ESD. No motion was made at this time.
Next, the COVID-19 disaster declaration and council resolution updates were discussed. The county has limited gatherings to 10 people and has made restrictions to the county building. Section 7 of the declaration states, “That the holder of a permit to manufacture, sell and/or distribute wine, beer, distilled spirits and/or mixed beverages is ordered to close dining areas and consumption areas open to the public, which includes tasting rooms and i prohibited from allowing consumption on the premises until the expiration of the Governor’s Executive Order.”
The county has not issued a stay at home order at this time. There have been other counties and cities that have declared a stay at home order including, Williamson County. A stay at order entails residents to stay at home and prohibits public gatherings of more than 10. Essential services would remain open including medical and grocery services.
Several city employees live in San Antonio and have been able to set up computers to work remotely. A rotating schedule of one person coming into the office one to two days a week has been proposed. Everything is done, online which caused security concerns from the council members. Work computers would be used by the employees and the information would remain protected and confidential as they work from home.
The Henry House, which is classified as an assisted living facility, will remain closed to visitors. The city will continue to follow the county’s declaration at this time and not declare a stay at home order.
The council adjourned into executive session at 7:49 p.m. Lewis moved to authorize the legal counsel to make a final counter offer as discussed in executive session and McClellan seconded; it carried.
