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City of Shenandoah News

Posted on: February 22, 2023

Shenandoah City Council February 22, 2023 Update

Supporting Documents for Agenda Items can be found HERE.

Missed the Council meeting? Check out our YouTube channel and watch at your convenience.

Attendance: Present: Mayor John Escoto, Mayor Pro Tem Charlie Bradt (Position 4), Mike McLeod (Position 5), Jim Pollard (Position 3), Ted Fletcher (Position 2) and Ron Raymaker (Position 1)

ITEM 6: CVB Annual Report - The Shenandoah CVB (dba Visit Shenandoah, Texas) presented its annual report to Mayor and Council, including a brief overview of various performance measures, highlights, and accomplishments from FY 2021-22. No Council action required; report only.

ITEM 6: Municipal Development District (MDD) Monthly Report - No action required.

ITEMS 8-10: Comprehensive Plan Amendments - Council postponed this discussion to a future meeting.

ITEM 11: Equipment Replacement Fund Purchase- Public Works is looking to replace a current fleet vehicle with a truck for the functionality of the public works department’s duties. The vehicle price of $40,457 reflects a $9,500 trade-in value from the 2010 Toyota. Council voted 5-0 to approve purchase of the truck from the Equipment Replacement Fund.

ITEM 12: David Vetter ACP Waterline Project Design - At the 2022-2023 Budget Workshop,Council agreed to fund all the water and sewer projects presented and review funding options once all requested operating budget changes were made from the meeting. After further review, this project will be exceeding the original cost due to scope changes and increasing labor and material costs from inflation. Staff recommended that Council approve the costs for just the design work of $30,850.00 at this time. Council voted 5-0 to approve the design costs.

ITEM 13: Minutes from January 25, 2023 Meetings - Council voted 5-0 to approve the minutes as written.

ITEM 14: Ratification of January Accounts Payable - Council voted 5-0 to ratify the accounts payable.

Civic Club Update:

Civic Club and the City will begin one of the busiest 6-week periods of the year for events. Civic Club will join the Public Works Department for the Annual Arbor Day on March 4. On March 18, Civic Club will hold annual Spring Community Garage Sale if there is enough interest. March 25 is the Spring Trash Bash, a community favorite of the Public Works Department. Civic Club helps with checking resident addresses. The week of March 27, Civic Club will be working with the Easter Bunny to get ready for the Easter Egg Hunt on April 1. Finally, Civic Club will help the Shenandoah Police Department as they co-host the Montgomery County Safety Expo on April 8.

City Attorney Updates :

In response to questions from Councilmember Charlie Bradt, the City Attorney commented.

Should this City Council discuss pending litigation or the City’s litigation strategy in Open meetings?
- No. Discussing litigation strategy in an open meeting would provide the adverse party with a strategic advantage. That is why the Texas Open Meetings Act, Section 551.071, specifically provides that a governmental body seeking the advice of its attorney regarding pending or contemplated litigation can be held in Closed Meetings.
Is the public informed when the City Council is discussing lawsuits, legal strategy or other advice regarding pending litigation?
- Yes. The subject of the City’s closed meetings are listed on the agenda. For example, the City Council Agenda of January 25, 2023, informed the public that City Council would be discussing all of its pending litigation in the closed part of that meeting.