Agenda light in lieu of city manager
The agenda was light at Monday’s Regular Meeting of the Navasota City Council but that didn’t translate to a short meeting. Council members met in Executive Session as permitted by Section 551.074, Texas Government Code – Personnel Matters for more than hour to discuss topics related to the search for a new city manager.
Reconvening, Mayor Bert Miller had little to add from the Nov. 14 Special Meeting, reiterating that there are three finalists, interviews will begin next week, and the goal is to have someone hired and ready to start Jan. 1, 2022.
AWOS on the horizon
Utility Administrative Assistant Jennifer Reyna advised that a grant agreement with TxDOT Aviation for the Automated Weather Observing System (AWOS) has reviewed by city legal counsel, signed and returned. Following three weeks of public notice about the project, the City will open for bids Nov. 28, and council will award the bid Dec. 10.
Reyna said, “This project will take approximately a year to complete.”
According to Reyna, she will also initiate a Letter of Interest to the TxDOT Aviation Division to provide an Update Layout Plan (ULP), something which hasn’t been done since 2004.
Reyna said, “This will help guide us in a direction for our growth in the future.”
Other council action:
•Approved Consent Agenda which included the second readings of Ordinance No. 982-21 approving a conditional use permit for Mount Calvary Baptist Church, Ordinance No. 983-21 approving the 2021 appraisal roll for the Brazos County portion of the City of Navasota, and Ordinance No. 984-21 approval 2021 appraisal roll for the Grimes County portion for the City of Navasota.
Reports from City staff or City officials:
•Mayor Bert Miller announced that Washington Avenue is in the top 25 of the Main Street Contest and said voters can vote up to 25 times per day at www.mainstreetcontest.com. The winner of the Main Street Contest will receive $25,000.
•Council member Grant Holt gave an overview of the Nov. 18 Planning and Zoning meeting.
Public comments:
Navasota resident Archie Sauls who lives on Sauls Street talked about health issues he said were caused by the proximity of the City’s wastewater treatment plant to the Sauls Street neighborhood. He said the waste products from local residents and businesses plus outside businesses the City contracts end up in their “backyard.” Sauls said that since the City would not relocate the wastewater treatment plant, he was asking the City to relocate Sauls family members living by the plant. Sauls advised that more than 14 individuals have died from upper respiratory infections and cancer. While he didn’t give an exact count, Sauls said individuals occupying 28 bedrooms and 17 bathrooms on Sauls Street have been impacted by the wastewater treatment plant.
Mayor’s calendar:
•Nov. 26 – Black Friday shopping day.
•Nov. 27 – Small Business Saturday.
•Dec. 2-5 and Dec. 9-12 – Navasota Theatre Alliance presents “The Man Who Wanted to Be Santa Claus.”
•Dec. 4 – Sip & Stroll in downtown Navasota.
•Dec. 11 – Home for the Holidays activities, Christmas parade and tree lighting in downtown Navasota.
View city council meetings in their entirety at www.navasotatx.gov/city-council/pages/meeting-videos.