Huntsville City Council will consider resetting the first meeting in November, as it has for many years, as to not conflict with Election Day. If approved, a Special Session will be scheduled before the second City Council meeting in November to canvass the election results.
In other business for the 6 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 17 meeting, Finance Director Steve Ritter has two ordinances on the consent agenda for budget amendments. The first addresses supply chain issues and shortages that have impacted the City. Ritter noted there are various purchases of goods and services in FY 22-23 that could not be completed. The “source” of funds for these “rolled” purchases is Unallocated Reserves/Fund Balances of the applicable Funds. In that, the purchases were budgeted for in FY 22-23 but were not able to be fully completed, which has generated Unallocated Reserves/Fund Balance. Significant purchases in the General Fund are: Fire Truck & accessories for $645,000, outfitting new police vehicles for $140,000, uncompleted street paving/repairs for $43,000, and the extension of garage bay for $165,000. Significant purchases in the Utility Fund are: Robinson Creek WWTP gearbox replacement for $165,000, and Vactor Truck repairs for $68,000. Significant purchase for the Solid Waste Fund is the rate study for Solid Waste for $75,000. For the School Resource Officers Fund, the amount of roughly $23,000 is for outfitting new vehicles. For the Capital Equipment Replacement Fund there are seven Police vehicles still to be delivered for about $333,000 and two trucks for about $115,000. Lastly, for the Computer Equipment Fund, this roughly $134,000 is for servers, routers, etc.
Another consent item includes the purchase FY 2024 vehicles and equipment from multiple vendors, in the total amount of $2,627,484.74.
The vehicles and equipment requirements for FY 2024 include:
- Three (3) Ford F150 Ext Cab 4×4 pickup for (2) Inspections (1) Wastewater (Silsbee Ford)
- One (1) Ford F150 Ext Cab (1) Central Inspections (Silsbee Ford)
- Two (2) Ford F150 2WD Regular Cab 8 Foot bed (2) Water 1 Decision Package for Meter (Silsbee Ford)
- One (1) Ford F150 Ext Cab 4×4 8foot Bed (1) Streets (Silsbee Ford)
- One (1) Western Star with Stiller Roll-Off for (1) Solid Waste (Bryan Freightliner TNTX, LLC)
- One (1) Autocar/Heil Automated/Side Load (1) Solid Waste (Chastang Auto Car)
- One (1) Western Star Heil Rear Load Trash Truck (1) Solid Waste (Bryan Freightliner TNTX, LLC)
- One (1) Freightliner M2 Container Truck (1) Solid Waste (Houston Freightliner)
- One (1) Chevy Traverse (1) Tourism (Lake Country Chevrolet)
- Four (4) Ford Explorer Police Package SUVs (4) for HPD Patrol, (Silsbee Ford).
- Two (2) Western Star 12YD Dump trucks (1) Streets, (1) Wastewater, (Bryan Freightliner TNTX, LLC)
- One (1) Chevy 2500 Express (Electrician Van) (1) Wastewater (Lake Country Chevrolet)
- One (1) Kubota Zero Turn Mower (1) Water (Kubota Tractor Corporation)
- One (1) Caterpillar D3 Dozer (1) Shared asset (Mustang Caterpillar)
- One (1) Caterpillar 320 Excavator (1) Shared asset (Mustang Caterpillar)
- One (1) John Deere 320 P-tier Backhoe Loader (1) Wastewater (Doggett John Deere)
Public Works Director Brent Sherrod is asking for Council’s approval of a Sourcewell Contract for the purchase of a new Sewer TV Truck (Ford 3500 HD Transit High Top Van), with a new complete sewer video system, in the amount of $269,103.90.
“The 2008 model Chevrolet one ton box van has outlived its useful life within the City of Huntsville Fleet. The truck currently has 100,600 miles on it and has become a maintenance issue. The sewer camera equipment has spent more time in the shop than it has in the field over the last two (2) years. In order to have the camera equipment maintenance/repaired it must be sent to California or Kentucky, which lengthens the down time on this equipment even further
Fire Chief Greg Mathis is asking for the Council to approve the City Manager to purchase a Pierce Enforcer Pumper for $1,054,966. The proposal is for an NFPA compliant 2000 gpm pumper that would be equipped to meet and receive the maximum ISO credit when evaluated.
Mathis added that the purchase would allow the city to retain the required ISO reserve apparatus. This truck will match the last two apparatus purchases as closely as possible to assist in keeping our fleet uniform, improve response capabilities, as well as increase equipment similarity and ease of use.
“Additionally, this will allow our volunteer staff to be more familiar with our equipment and its abilities, which, in turn, can improve our response as well,” said Chief Mathis. “Keeping our fleet uniform also contributes to the ability of the fleet department to maintain our equipment.”
Assistant City Manager Sam Masiel also has a consent agenda item for review by City Council for work boots for all employees that spend time out in the field.
“This is a steel toe boot with slip resistant tread. Employees that participate in this program are required to sign a boot slip voucher that deducts the amount of the boots from their paycheck,” explained Asst. City Manager Masiel. “The bid on this item is awarded with a 3-year contract with the local Cavender’s for $66,000, which is a budgeted item for the Risk Management department.”
Several more consent agenda items are listed on the agenda packet, posted to www.huntsvilletx.gov.
To close out the Tuesday meeting, Council will adjourn into closed session regarding economic development negotiations with Economic Development Director Tammy Gann.
This agenda summary is not reflective of the posted agenda.
All Huntsville City Council meetings are broadcast live on their website and Facebook.
