City council approves sewer project changes
The Navasota City Council met in regular session Monday, April 8, and approved Planning and Zoning Commission recommendations and change orders for the Sanitary Sewer Project.
Piedmont rezoning
passes first reading
City council conducted a public hearing regarding 10 properties in the Piedmont/Victoria Street area being rezoned from Agriculture Open Space District (A/O). Only one public comment was received, and the resident inquired if the rezoning of a particular property was generated by a buyer. Community development director Lupe Diosdado responded that the city knew of no plans by the owner to make a change.
Council approved the first reading of Ordinance 885-19 and recommended zoning changes as follows: two properties with split zoning A/O and B-1, General Business District were rezoned to R-3, High Density, Multi-dwelling Unit, Residential, following citizen feedback before the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Two additional properties were rezoned from A/O District to R-3 while another was rezoned to R-1, High Density, Single Dwelling Unit.
Three properties with split zoning were rezoned to B-1, General Business District.
There were no changes to the final two city-owned properties located in the 100-year regulatory floodway.
Barndominium, metal
siding ordinance passes
After a public hearing with no comments for or against, city council approved the first reading of Ordinance 886-19 regarding the prohibition of metal siding.
The ordinance states: “The use of corrugated metal and/or metal siding on exterior walls is hereby prohibited within the A/O, R-1A, R-1B, R-1C, R-2, R-3, OD, B-1, B-2, and CBD districts with the following exceptions: (1 ) mobile or manufactured homes, (2) federal, state, municipal or school district owned structures, (3) accessory buildings under 250 square feet, (4) commercial buildings granted special authority by the Planning and Zoning Commission and (5) metal trim/gutters/ flashings.
Sewer change order
City council approved Changed Orders No. 4 and No. 5 for the 2017 Sanitary Sewer Project.
Change order No. 4 related to adjustment in the quantity of materials and the completion date due to the 41 rain days from October through December. The cost of Change Order No. 4 was $5,405.
Change Order No. 5 was requested to relocate 390 feet of 12-inch sewer line from the northwest side of Blackshear to the southeast side around Eighth Street. According to the request prepared by Utilities Administrative Assistant Jennifer Reyna, direct replacement would have put the new sewer line going through an existing box culvert. The change is said to allow better creek flow and reduce construction costs. According to Director of Utilities Jeff Greer, the 12-inch line will be replaced by a 15-inch line. Change Order No. 5 will reduce the cost by $1,270.
The original project contract price of $938,626 with change orders is presently $1,022,293.
City in good shape
Councilmen moved to approve the annual independent audit of fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2018.
Robert Belt of Belt Harris Pechacek, LLLP, said, “We’re very pleased to announce it’s an unmodified opinion, which is the highest level of assurance we can provide city council with all the disclosures required by generally accepted accounting principles having been included and the financial statements are materially correct.”
In addition, Belt told councilmen that the Fund Balance is a primary indicator of financial health with any governmental entity and “the city is really in great shape from a fund balance perspective.”
He closed by saying, “I want to commend the city again. We recognize your efforts.”