Sulphur Springs City Manager’s Report

 

CITY COUNCIL

FROM: CITY MANAGER, MARC MAXWELL

SUBJ: MANAGER’S REPORT

Covid–19 response: The number of active cases in Hopkins County decreased by 11%. Since our last meeting with a total of 150 active patients as of January 04, 2021. The state tested 7,197 people at the Hopkins County testing site since this whole thing began. We have had 2,095 cumulative recoveries and 70 cumulative fatalities, up 40%

from last month in Hopkins County. The hospital has 30 patients in the COVID-19 unit, which is up 30% from last month.

As a part of the City’s response to COVID-19, the City suspended the practice of cutting off water service for non-payment. Some of the balances are growing relatively high. The total arrearage is $152,037.68, with 584 accounts, 8.71% of all charges in arrears. We now

have a vaccine available on a limited basis. As it becomes more widely available, we will have to decide how to bring the delinquent accounts up to a current status. I will likely propose requiring residents to pay their current bill along with 1/6th or 1/12th of their arrearage to avoid cut off. In this way, it would bring their accounts up-to-date in either six or 12 months.

Grays building: They’ve completed the steelwork, and wooden framing has begun. You can now walk through the building and get a real sense of what it will look like when finished.

Senior citizens building: REES Associates are still preparing construction drawings. We have hired Tandem Consulting to oversee the construction just like the Grays Building.

Mccann street: Texana Land and Asphalt paved McCann Street in December. This project is now complete.

WOODLAWN STREET –The Capital Construction Division has completed the sewer 201 N Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 • 903.439.3700 • sulphurspringstx.org 

Main and the water main: They are now replacing portions of the curb and gutter. Texana Land and Asphalt will then cement-stabilize the road base and pave the street with asphalt.

Saputo sewer main: This is the next capital improvement project. This $750,000 sewer project is funded entirely by a grant from the Texas Department of Agriculture. The new water main will supplement an older

undersized one. The path of the new one begins at Saputo and continues under the interstate. It then continues South for 3,500 feet before connecting to an existing trunk line. The new main has a 15-inch inch diameter. The grant is because of a $50 million plant upgrade at Saputo and their cooperation with the Texas Department of

Agriculture. Without their collaboration, this project would not have been possible.

College Street: This will be the next project after the Saputo Sewer Line Project.

Claims: We did not have any worker’s compensation claims in December. We did have one liability claim for a sewer back up. We have submitted the request to the TML risk pool. We recently began paying an extra premium for supplemental sewage backup coverage, so I expect this claim paid.

Revenues and expenditures: Finance Director Lesa Smith will present a report of revenues and expenses.

Elsewhere around the City, employees:

• Made 12 extensive street repairs following utility repairs.

• Repaired 726 Potholes at various locations.

• Replaced three stop signs and three street signs.

• Hauled off concrete from buildings that they removed at the airport.

• Put out barricades for a power pole that someone knocked down on Texas St.

• Put out barriers in flood areas for storms.

• Finished hauling street sweeper material to the Republic/Malloy Landfill.

• Installed curbs on Davis Street, in place of the approach for the old Ashcroft St, as well as a driveway next to it.

• Cleaned out storm drains four times.

• Repaired and replaced sidewalks at various locations around Coleman Park.

• Began installing new sidewalks at two places at the airport.

201 N. Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 • 903.439.3700 • sulphurspringstx.org

• Replaced two sections of the Cross-Town Trail to comply with the Americans With Disabilities Act.

• Responded to 277 fire/rescue calls, including four structure fires, three vehicle fires, and ten grass fires.

• Performed five fire inspections and reviewed 78 pre-fire plans.

• Performed preventative maintenance on 78 fire hydrants.

• Responded to 183 animal control calls.

• Achieved a 72% adoption rate at the animal shelter.

• Made two felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.

• Seized four pounds of marijuana and over $15,000

• Responded to 33 accidents, wrote 493 citations, recorded 56 offenses, made 36 arrests, and responded to 2,125 calls for police service.

• Conducted 30 building inspections, seven electrical inspections, five plumbing inspections, six mechanical inspections, and issued 19 building permits.

• Installed retrofit LED in Coleman Water Tower office.

• Installed retrofit LED in soccer field concession, bathrooms, and storage facility building.

• Maintenance of Christmas lights on several streetlights and buildings.

• Installed a new flow meter at the wastewater treatment plant.

• Installed fire extinguishers at the airport, hanger #27.

• Began installation on electrical service and powers for the newly refurbished hangar at the airport.

• Installed light at the police department under the awning in the back lot.

• Replaced lights at animal shelter dog kennels with LED.

• Replaced water valve and flush valve in women’s restroom at the Library.

• Maintenance work in the bathroom at Imagination Mountain.

• Maintenance work on locks for the Parks and Recreation Department.

• Maintenance work on central heat at the wastewater plant.

• Delivered door frames to Grays Building.

• Maintenance work on padlocks at the service center.

• Routine inspection and checks on central heat and air units at city hall.

• Meeting with East Texas Compost regarding compost operations on needed structural repairs to a composting facility.

• Completed 4th quarter Bio-Monitoring DMR.

• Replaced Chlorinator auto switch over on one-ton cylinder.

• Ordered and installed a flush valve on final clarifier #2.

201 N Davis Street, Sulphur Springs, TX 75482 • 903.439.3700 • sulphurspringstx.org 

• Changed bearings in Bar-Screen “B.”

• Assisted GraCon in installing flow meter on north aeration