Assistant Manager appointed to perform duties
After convening from closed session, Navasota City Council members voted to appoint the assistant city manager to serve as the administrative officer to perform the duties of the city manager in the city manager’s absence or inability to perform his duties and related issues.
Councilmember Bernie Gessner made the motion, and it was seconded by Councilmember Josh Fultz. Councilmembers present voted unanimously in favor. Absent from the meeting was councilmember Patti Pederson. Navasota Police Chief Shawn Myatt also serves as assistant city manager.
The Council also discussed the dispute regarding the invoice received from Symmetry Energy Solutions, LLC for natural gas supplied to the City of Navasota for the month of February 2021. After reconvening from closed session, no action was taken.
STAFF REPORTS
Capital Improvements Project
John Henry of Bleyl Engineering stated two of the most difficult areas from Schumacher Street to Brosig Avenue that travels all the way down Victoria Street have been designed. “We found a couple more reverse flows that will be resolved during this issue that will help flow go down stream,” explained Henry.
Henry also addressed concerns city staff had to make sure re-piping was done thoroughly and he said he is working to obtain easements to make a more direct route to address the concern.
He also spoke about work being done on a short road off of Laredo, Dallas and Waco Streets to add services to two spots on those streets and while doing so extend to two vacant lots on Waco Street. Henry said they are surveying to see where the services can be run.
National Night Out
Navasota Police Chief Shawn Myatt reported there were seven parties for National Night Out. Myatt said the party at Ketchum Park had over 100 people. “It turned out really great,” he said. “We had the county here, the district attorney, some of her investigators and a lot of firefighters joined in.”
District Attorney Andria Bender gave a speech and firefighter Mitch Kroll talked about fire alarms. Myatt said on average there are 7-10 parties for National Night Out, and with COVID-19 precautions he feels seven parties was a good number.
Economic Development Report
Development Services Director Lupe Diosdado provided a fiscal year report on permitting and investments from Oct. 2020 – Sept. 2021.
There have been 13 residential demolition permits; 64 existing home permits (remodels or additions). “Out of those 64 it was an investment of $667,000, so that is really good,” explained Diosdado. “It shows our residents are putting money into their properties and that makes our city better.”
Diosdado stated there was one new duplex which is the first multi-family unit in a long time, which is valued at a $170,000 investment. There were seven new manufactured homes most of which were replacements that hadn’t been replaced before.
Other numbers include: Single family homes – 128 ($22,068,530.00); Commercial: Demolition permits – four; 10 building permits including multiple airport hangers, Team Elliot Ford, Chicken Express, new Health Point and Key Performance Petroleum; (investment value $17,182,790.00); Remodel/ Expansion Permits – 11; Inspections – 1, 590.
Action Items
• Approved interlocal contract for Cooperative Purchasing Services with TIPS (The Interlocal Purchasing System) Purchasing Cooperative, and Region 8 Education Service Center.
• Approved Resolution No. 702-21, regarding the requested annexation of a 31.79 acre tract of land and a 31.76 acre tract of land in the James J. Whitesides Survey, A-62, Navasota, Grimes County, Texas, setting a date, time and place for a public hearing on a proposed annexation of said property by the City of Navasota.
View the full city council meeting at, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2q846q3cII.