The Denver City City Council met in regular session on Monday, December 19, where they addressed their regular agenda.
During the announcement portion of the meeting Chief of Police Jack Miller noted he had hired a new officer to replace Oran Duncan, who had gone to work with the Sheriff’s Department. Miller said he would bring the new officer to the next Council meeting and introduce him.
Mayor Tommy Hicks also complimented Chamber of Commerce Manager Marilyn McCurley for the Christmas parade she helped organize. Hicks also had high compliments to the participants in the parade especially the large number of floats that lighted the parade route.
And also as part of the announcements Councilman Ronald Weir volunteered to serve on the Denver City Housing Authority board. This board helps manage two apartment complexes in Denver City.
Moving into the agenda the board was given information concerning a surface lease with XTO Energy Inc. for water wells. City Manager Stan David explained the city had a prior lease with Exxon for the surface where the city’s airport water wells are located.
The city entered into this lease back in the 1980’s for $845 per year. However this lease has not been renewed since XTO Energy became part of the equation. Each Council member was given a copy of the lease with XTO at the same terms as last renewed. After more discussion the Council unanimously approved the new lease with Councilman Weir abstaining from the vote.
In the next item City Manager David informed the Council that something was needing to be done with the ground storage tanks on 8th Street and Avenue B to bring them into compliance with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). The Council was given several options for both repair and new tanks.
Public Works Director Dave Tedford informed the Council several “band aids” had been put on those tanks over the last several years for needed repairs. He felt like repairing these tanks once again would not solve a long term fix.
After several more minutes of discussion Councilman Robert Hanneman made the motion to not repair the existing tanks, but to move forward with new tanks and to hire West Texas Consultants as the engineering firm to perform the work. The motion was unanimously approved.
The Council went into Executive Session to discuss the next two items on the agenda. The first item was to consider the use of the airport city owned mobile home and the second item was to consider plans for Lots 43 and 45 in Summerfield Place #2.
Following the Executive Session the Council unanimously approved a motion to table any decisions concerning the airport mobile home. They also unanimously approved a motion that the City was not interested in selling any portion of Lots 43 or 45 at this time.
The Council then approved the payment of $135,146.43 in November manual checks that included $26,392.50 for October natural gas transfer. They also approved the payment of $93,714.99 in monthly bills.
The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 3 at 7 pm to coincide with the New Year’s Day holiday.
Council members Joan Breith, Ronald Weir, Robert Hanneman, Clinton Bowman, Mark Sherman, and Keith Mensch along with Mayor Tommy Hicks were all present at the meeting.
