Long awaited AWOS bid approved
The Navasota City Council approved a bid award for the Automated Weather Observation System (AWOS) at its Regular Meeting Monday, Jan. 24. Council member Josh Fultz was absent.
According to Jennifer Reyna, Interim Director of Utilities, two bids were received with Pappas Technologies, Inc. providing the lowest bid in the amount of $124,600 which includes the $107,100 Base bid, Alternate bid No. 1 and Alternate bid No. 2.
Alternate No. 1 at $14,000 is the Thunder Strike Alert which alerts pilots to thunderstorms. Alternate No. 2 at $3,500 is an upgrade to the Ultra Sonic Wind Sensor which provides wind speed and direction.
The AWOS allows pilots to know what to expect when arriving or departing and provides information as it relates to wind, cloud height, visibility, temperature, dewpoint, atmospheric pressure and lighting.
It was noted that currently, pilots have to call the Brenham airport to attempt to get information about Navasota weather but the weather in the two towns is frequently different.
City of Navasota Airport Advisory Board member and Fixed Base Operator, Mike Dearing, said, “Charter operators have to be based at an airport that has weather reporting. Charter operators can fly to airports that don’t have weather reporting, like Navasota, but usually they don’t have the same level of comfort. On a day like today, an operator would choose not to, but if we had the weather station, they probably would choose to come here. So, it does provide that comfort factor.” Addressing the Brenham-Navasota weather differences, Dearing said, “Central Texas always has a low cloud layer that starts around Brenham, especially in the mornings, and the weather there always seems to be a little bit worse than it is here in Navasota.”
Council member Grant Holt said, “I know this has been a longtime goal of the airport committee. I can remember 5-10 years ago starting to talk about this. It is exciting to see it finally coming and getting there.”
Dearing said, “It’s going to be a really anticipated and valuable service for the pilots based here and the people who come in and out of there.”
Dearing added that Navasota’s weather data does become part of the meteorological data network and will probably show up on newscasts from time to time.
Mayor Bert Miller reminded that 75% of the AWOS is being funded by TxDOT. Miller was referring to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) Aviation Capital Improvement Program (CIP). Of the $200,000 AWOS price tag, grant funds cover 75%, or $150,000. The remaining 25%, or $50,000, will come from budgeted airport funds.
Heavy equipment lease purchase gets OK
Council members approved Resolution No. 709-22 regarding a five-year lease purchase financing agreement with Government Capital Corporation to purchase heavy equipment in the amount of $1,033,020.60.
According to Finance Director Lance Hall, council had approved a purchasing agreement with GCC in November, but the quotes had increased from $918,000 to $966,822.16 in the interim from when originally obtained at budget time.
The equipment being purchased includes a jet rig, tractor/mower, sweeper, backhoe, dozer and vac truck.
The lease purchase agreement is for five years with equal payments of $206,604.12 beginning Feb. 3, 2023, with an interest rate of 2.249%. Interest to be paid is $66,198.48.
NPD reports no complaints for racial profiling
Council approved acceptance of the Navasota Police Department’s 2021 Racial Profiling Data Report presented by Lt. Mike Mize. Senate Bill 1074 requires the annual report, and according to Mize, NPD received no complaints of racial profiling.
There were 1,137 stops in 2021 and race or ethnicity was known prior to the stop in 17 cases. Broken down by race, 472 were White, 325 were Hispanic, 309 were Black, 23 were Asian/Pacific Islander and 8 were Alaska Native/American Indian. There were 39 searches for which 8 gave consent.
Other council action:
•Approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 991-22 authorizing Navasota’s participation with Entergy Service Area Cities in matter concerning Entergy Texas, Inc. at the Public Utilities Commission in 2022.
•Received the Navasota Quarterly Investment Report as presented by Finance Director Lance Hall.
•Approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 990-22 authorizing Navasota’s participation in the Texas Enterprise Zone Program and its nomination of Champion Home Builders, Inc., as an Enterprise Zone project.
Reports from City staff or City officials:
• Navasota Police Department Lt. Mike Mize reported that the Operation Blue Santa Project was very successful and 90 children received Christmas gifts.
View city council meetings in their entirety at www.navasotatx.gov/city-council/pages/meeting-videos.