Groesbeck Street repair prioritized by Council

Street repair projects, mobile food vendor permits, and National Night Out were just a few of the topics discussed by the Groesbeck Council at their hour-long meeting on Tuesday, July 20, resulting in several decisions for the city.

City Administrator Chris Henson introduced homeowner, Glenda Davis to the council, who explained her frustration with a recurring drainage issue on North Dallas Street that backs up pipes in her home and floods the bathroom floor anytime substantial rainfall occurs. Davis stated that her neighbors, past and present, have experienced similar (if less severe) conditions, and that though she has seen the city make occasional efforts to clean the main street drain in recent years, the problem persists and still needs city attention or intervention. After hearing her piece, Mayor Ray O’Docharty asked Henson to shed more light on the situation.

“So one of the problems, which is not the fault of Mrs. Davis, is that the property sits lower than the street where the water/sewer lines are,” Henson said. “They put in new lines, and backflow preventers to try and resolve that, but the problem that we can’t resolve is where the property sits, and as long as that house sits lower than the street and the water/sewer lines, it is going to be a problem.”

He further expressed that Keith Tilley of Public Works and the city has done all it can to alleviate the problem without crossing property lines, aside from possibly scheduling a more stringent maintenance schedule, which Henson said he was prepared to do.

In that same vein, Henson requested permission from the council to use up to $25,000 to bring in a company to completely redo two streets in town that desperately need attention - North Grayson Street from Cypress to Church; and Angeline Street. Waller County Asphalt, which has done similar projects in Mart, could complete these streets in a matter of weeks, milling the roads up, putting it back down, and finishing with overlay, whereas it would take the city staff and equipment a year, according to Henson. He also noted that the company would train city employees to use their product and method while working on Groesbeck roads.

“Going forward, there are some streets we’re going to propose doing that way because they warrant it, and when I get them a list of streets that you’ve approved, they will roll into town and hit every one of those streets, and then they will leave,” Henson said. “It won’t be one at a time, it won’t be one per month, it’s all one shot. I’m really excited about it.”

Council approved the use of up to $25,000 to bring in the company for road work on the two streets recommended and will consider future road work that may benefit from this method at a later time.

As promised in a previous meeting, Henson presented the board with a potential permit and fee structure for mobile food vendors, recommending an annual fee of $120 for repeat vendors, who frequently set up shop and do business in Groesbeck throughout the year. He requested the fee be paid in January so all permits expire in December, and the rate of $120 because it equates to $10 per month, so food vendors that start selling in June for example would pay $60 to be able to sell in Groesbeck for the remainder of the year. Henson said that in his research, he found cities charge anywhere from $75 to $300 for permits and mobile food vendors are used to and willing to pay.

“What this does is gives us the right to have to require them to come to register with the city, because we had one that rolled in all weekend and outside of the hot dogs and hamburgers and methamphetamine he was selling, his truck was just a wreck and he didn’t have to tell us he was here. This will require people to prove their health permit, their insurance, and other paperwork. It’s not about generating revenue, it’s about regulation”

Council member Kim Harris suggested requiring no fee for vendors, which Henson agreed was possible, but Henson reminded him that since mobile food trucks do not have to pay in on city taxes, this guarantees some of the money they make back to Groesbeck. It was agreed that a flat-rate $10 fee should be included as an option for one-time or stand-alone event vendors, and the council approved the permits and fees for mobile food vendors as discussed.

The Police Department’s annual event “National Night Out” was also discussed by the council, with O’Docharty reading a proclamation to recognize the occasion, which will take place on August 3 from 6 to 9 p.m. (For more info about National Night Out, see this week’s Chat with the Chief, as well as the front page.)

The need for future budget workshops was briefly mentioned by Henson, as well as a few goals and plans for the upcoming year.

In other business the council:

- Approved the consent agenda;

- Approved reappointing members Kenneth Gipson and Joe Rosas to the Housing Authority Board for two more years; and

- Approved resolution 21-R-05, authorizing a warrant for the city’s annual fire truck payment;

The next city council meeting is scheduled for August 17 at 6 p.m. in the City Commons.