Agenda Ark-Tex Council Of Governments

Agenda Ark-Tex Council Of Governments
Executive Committee Meeting
July 27, 2017

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) will meet
at 10:00 am, Thursday, July 27, 2017, at the Titus County Extension Office, 1708 Industrial Road, Mt. Pleasant,
Texas.
Item 1. Call to order.

Item 2. Invocation.

Item 3. Self-introductions.

Item 4. Approve the minutes as submitted by the Ark-Tex Council of Governments Executive Committee Meeting
held Thursday, April 27, 2017, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
Executive Closed Session

Item 5. The Executive Committee will recess the Open Session and go into Executive Closed Session to discuss
personnel matters as allowed by the Texas Open Meetings Act, Section 551.074, Personnel Matters.

Open Session/Review and Comment

Item 6. The Executive Committee will reconvene in Open Session and take action on Item 5 above, as necessary.
(To be presented by Board President, Judge L.D. Williamson)

Item 7. Review and comment on the Environmental Assessments to the Texas Commission on Environmental
Quality (TCEQ) for proposed Water Quality Permit Renewals by the following (see page 6 – to be presented by staff member Paul Prange):
a) The City of Hooks, proposed water quality permit renewal, authorizing the discharge of treated wastewater from the facility located at 449 Willow Oak Drive, Hooks, Bowie County, Texas, ultimately to the Lower Red River.
b) The City of Roxton, proposed water quality renewal, authorizing the discharge of treated wastewater from the facility located near the intersection of FM 137 and Chaparral Railroad, Lamar County, Texas, ultimately to the North Sulphur River.

Item 8. Review and comment on an Environmental Assessment to TCEQ for proposed major amendment and water quality permit renewal by International Paper Company to authorize the discharge of treated wastewater and the addition of new internal outfall 101 at the Texarkana Mill located at 9978 FM 3129, Queen City, Texas. (See page 10 – to be presented by staff member Paul Prange)

Item 9. Review and comment on an Environmental Assessment to TCEQ for a proposed air quality permit renewal for Big Tex Trailer Manufacturing, Inc. located at 850 I-30 East, Mt. Pleasant, Titus County, Texas. (See page 12 – to be presented by staff member Paul Prange)

Item 10. Review and comment on an application by Detroit Independent School District to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start, for a grant of $9,308, to be matched with $2,327 in-kind, to provide a Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for head start staff. (See page 14 – to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

Item 11. Review and comment on an application by Sulphur Springs Independent School District to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start, for a grant of $12,708, to be matched with $3,177 in-kind, to provide a COLA for head start staff. (See page 17 – to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

Item 12. Review and comment on an application by Sulphur Springs Independent School District to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start. It is a grant of the amount of $86,194, matched with $22,906 in-kind, to purchase one 2018 school bus and 40 child restraint systems for
the head start children. (See page 19 – to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

Item 13. Review and comment on an application by Southwest Arkansas Development Council to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, for a Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) of $395,651 for personal care, transportation, energy assistance and case management services to very low-income residents in Southwest Arkansas. (See page 22 – to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

Regular Business

Item 14. Review and consider nomination (replacement of current member) to the Regional Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (RCJAC) to serve through December 31, 2017. (See attachment 1 – page 25) (To be presented by staff member Patricia Haley)

Item 15. Review and consider authorizing the Executive Director as the ATCOG Authorized Official to apply an application to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division, for a grant to provide Regional Law Enforcement Training in the ATCOG Region for FY2018 and FY 2019. (See attachment 2 – page 26) (To
be presented by staff member Patricia Haley)

Item 16. Review and consider approval of a Resolution in support of the Executive Director’s Board Secretary nomination for the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO) Board of Directors. (Information to be provided at meeting – to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

Item 17. Review and consider approval of a Resolution in support of particular EDA and CDBG programs outlining
the effect on our region. (Information to be provided at meeting – to be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

Other Business

Item 18. Working for Ratification of Services Agreement between ATMOS Energy and ATCOG. (See attachment 3 – page 28)

Item 19. Executive Director Report (For information only; see appendix 4 – page 35) (To be presented by Executive Director Chris Brown)

• Financial Report

• Update on North East Texas Economic Development District (NETEDD) Board
• Strategic planning for Regional Development
• September/Annual Meeting
• Review of Annual Memberships

Announcements

The next Executive Committee Meeting will be held Thursday (Aug 31) at 10:00 am, at the Titus County Extension Office, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Pursuant to the Texas Open Meeting Act, Government Code Chapter 551 one or more of the above items may be considered in executive session closed to the public, including
but not limited to consultation with attorney pursuant to Texas Government Code Section 551.071 and Section 551.074 arising out of the attorney’s ethical duty to advise ATCOG
concerning legal issues arising from an agenda item. Any decision held on such matter will be taken or conducted in open session following the conclusion of the executive
session.

Persons with disabilities who plan to attend this meeting and who may need auxiliary aids or services are requested to contact Administration at 903-832-8636 two (2) work
days before the meeting so appropriate arrangements can be made.

All agendas are sent electronically and available at www.atcog.org. Should any Board Member need a copy printed and available at the meeting, please call 903/255.3555 or
email athurston@atcog.org.

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MINUTES
ARK-TEX COUNCIL OF GOVERNMENTS
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETING
APRIL 27, 2017
The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Ark-Tex Council of Governments (ATCOG) met at 10:00 am, Thursday, April 27, 2017, at the Titus County Extension Office, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

Item 1. L.D. Williamson, Judge, Red River County, called the meeting to order.

Item 2. Brady Fisher, Northeast Texas Resource Conservation & Development, gave the invocation.

Item 3. Each attendee introduced themselves at this time. Chris Brown, Executive Director, presented the following new ATCOG employees: Shena Washington, Controller, Melinda Tickle, Finance Manager, and April Carl, Regional Development Coordinator-Paris.

Item 4. The next order of business was to approve the minutes as submitted by the Ark-Tex Council of Governments Executive Committee meeting held Thursday, February 23, 2017, in Mt. Pleasant, Texas. Motion to approve was made by Brian Lee, Judge, Titus County, and seconded by Lynda Munkres, Judge, Morris County. The minutes were adopted as submitted.
Review and Comment

Item 5. Vickie Williamson, Regional Development Coordinator, presented for considering an application to the Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Head Start by Sulphur Springs Independent School District for a grant of $1,290,911, to be matched with $322,725 in-kind, for continuation/refunding of Head Start. Motion to approve was made by Robert Newsom, Judge, Hopkins County, and seconded by M.C. Superville, Jr. Judge, Lamar County. It was adopted.

Regular Business

Item 6. Sharon Pipes, Director of Administration, presented for consideration approval of revisions to the ATCOG Policies and Procedures Manual, as revised by the Board of Directors March 27, 2014. Motion to approve was made by Scott Lee, Judge, Franklin County, and seconded by Judge Munkres. It was adopted.

Item 7. Ms. Pipes presented for consideration approval of revisions to the ATCOG Ethics Policy Manual dated December 16, 2010, to comply with the Department of Health and Human Services. Motion to approve was made by Judge Munkres and seconded by Marc Reiter, Councilman, City of Hooks. It was adopted.

Item 8. Patricia Haley, Criminal Justice Coordinator, presented for consideration approval of priorities/recommendations established by the Regional Criminal Justice Advisory Committee (RCJAC) concerning projects submitted to the Office of the Governor, Criminal Justice Division (CJD), for funding consideration through Violence Against Women Justice & Training Program, General Victims Assistance – Direct Services Program, Juvenile Justice Grant Program, and Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) Program. Motion to approve was made by Becky Wilbanks, Judge, Cass County, and seconded by Mr. Fisher. It
was adopted.

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Item 9. Ms. Williamson presented for consideration approval to proceed with the creation of a non-profit corporation to administer various regional development projects, secure funding for those projects and make application to the Texas Community Capital to be a Community Lending Center of Northeast Texas. After general discussion, motion to approve was made by Mr. Fisher and seconded by Judge Newsom. It was adopted.

Item 10. Mr. Brown presented for consideration approval of support for designation of May 2017 as Older Americans Month.
Motion to approve was made by James Carlow, Judge, Bowie County, and seconded by Judge Munkres. It was adopted.

Other Business

Item 11. Mr. Brown presented for approval ratification of a service agreement between Frontier Associates LLC and ATCOG.
Judge Brian Lee made a motion to approve and seconded by Ann Rushing, Mayor, City of Clarksville. It was adopted.

Item 12. Mr. Brown presented an Executive Directors report providing an update on the following:
• Quarterly Financial Report
• Area Agency on Aging RAC Meeting Minutes
• Housing SEMAP Assessment Rating – ATCOG is considered a High Performer. Mr. Brown also mentioned a complaint filed by a tenant to HUD. Mostly, HUD sent ATCOG a conciliation
agreement that was not agreeable by Mr. Brown. After much deliberation with HUD, the board struck down the conciliation agreement due to incorrect information on HUD’s behalf and the tenant was able to get back on the program.

• TRAX passenger compliments from two riders in the region. ATCOG also received an award from the Texas Transit Association for the Paris Metro Bus System. There have also been two national recognitions for the Metro System, as well. Mr. Fisher commended Nancy Hoehn, Transportation Manager, Ms. Carl, Mr. Brown and all staff who had any involvement in the Metro System for the efforts put forth. Mr. Fisher also made mention of the recent Meals on Wheels Legislative Bill, asking all attendees to rally against the budget cuts proposed.
• Update on Austin and Washington Legislative Visits

Announcements

Judge Williamson announced the next Executive Committee meeting is Thursday, May 25, 2017, at the Titus Co. Extension Office, Mt. Pleasant, Texas.

There were no other announcements, so Councilman Reiter made the motion to adjourn seconded by Mayor Rushing. The meeting adjourned.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS PRESENT
L.D. Williamson, Judge, Red River County
M.C. (Chuck) Superville, Jr., Judge, Lamar County
James Carlow, Judge, Bowie County
Scott Lee, Judge, Franklin County
Lynda Munkres, Judge, Morris County
Robert Newsom, Judge, Hopkins County
Brian Lee, Judge, Titus County
Becky Wilbanks, Judge, Cass County
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Ann Rushing, Mayor, City of Clarksville
Emily Glass, Mayor, City of Sulphur Springs
Bob Thorne, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Daingerfield
A.M. “Rip” Benefield, Councilman, Queen City
Marc Reiter, Councilman, City of Hooks
Brady Fisher, Northeast Texas Resource Conservation & Development District
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT
Ralph Robertson, Mayor Pro Tem, City of Mt. Vernon
Billy Trenado, Councilman, City of Paris

GUESTS PRESENT
Daniel Alders, Office of Senator Ted Cruz
Courtney Smith, Office of Senator Bryan Hughes
Ray Wilson, Office of Senator Bryan Hughes
Robbin Bass, Office of Congressman John Ratcliffe
Robert McGee, Chief of Police, Queen City
Susan Thorne, Member of the public
STAFF PRESENT
Chris Brown, Executive Director
Sharon Pipes, Director of Administration
Melinda Tickle, Finance Manager
Nancy Hoehn, Transportation Manager
Mae Lewis, Housing Manager
Shena Washington, Controller
Vickie Williamson, Regional Development Coordinator
April Carl, Regional Development Coordinator – Paris
Patricia Haley, Criminal Justice Coordinator
Leslie McBride, Human Resources Coordinator
Amber Thurston, Executive Assistant
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L.D. Williamson, President
Ark-Tex Council of Governments