Alderman District 3 Update

Update on Lytle City Council Meeting of October 25, 2021

The Lytle City Council acted on several proposals for housing development plat reviews.

In the continuing effort to bring water well #4 online, the Council approved a contract for work on the last phase of construction. We also approved a proposal from Peerless for equipment to be used in work on the project.

The Council passed a resolution naming Kimberly Faulk the City of Lytle’s representative to the Board of Directors for the Atascosa County Appraisal District.

The Council approved the job description for the newly created position of Assistant City Secretary. We also approved the updated job description for the position of Head Utility Billing Clerk.

The Council promoted Paola Rios to the position of Assistant City Secretary. She will assume that position immediately.

The Council approved allowing the City Secretary to advertise for the Permit, Tax, and Utility Clerk position which became vacant upon the promotion of Paola Rios.

The Council approved allowing the Library Director to advertise for a vacant position in the Lytle Library.

The Council approved the purchase of a small refrigerator and appropriate tools and safety clothing for the Animal Shelter to use when collecting rabies specimens from animals.

The Council voted to approve holding the annual hayride event. The hayride takes a route around the city which allows riders to view Christmas decoration. The event will take place on Saturday, December 1, 2021.

The Council approved a motion which allows the Public Works Department to trim trees around town that have limbs overhanging roadways and may interfere with the passage of emergency vehicles.

The Council approved a request to allow the Horace Fincher Center to be used to administer COVID-19 vaccinations.

The Council approved the purchase of an emergency siren for Coal Mine and the purchase of hardware to install an additional siren which the city already has in stock.

The Council approved paying the bill, which was submitted by Armstrong, Vaughn, & Associates for the 2018-2019 and 2019 and 2020 audits.

The Council received an update on city employee vacation time.

James McGrath from Public Works provided an update on the replacement of a fire hydrant in Coal Mine. They have the hydrant but are waiting on some connecting hardware.

The Council voted to schedule a public hearing on the re-districting of City Council districts based on the 2020 census. The date of the hearing is pending.

The Council approved a motion by Alderman Cate for the city to use an audit matrix to implement the auditor’s recommendations.

The Council discussed two maintenance issues in the city and voted to take no action as Public Works is already working on the projects.

The Council approved acting on replacing the city’s water distribution water lines. The action will require engineering studies and possible grant funding.

The Council approved the purchase of a compact excavator for Public Works.

The Council heard monthly reports from City Department Heads.

Upcoming events in the city:

October 30 – Farmers’ Market and Food Truck Rally at 19332 McDonald Street from 10:00-3:00.

November 13 – Book sale at the Library.

December 1 – Holiday Hayride.

City Council meetings are held every second and fourth Monday evenings of the month at 6:30 in the City Hall courtroom. These are open meetings, so the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

David Emery

Alderman, District 3

830-276-0403

Update on Lytle City Council meeting on October 12, 2021

The first Lytle City Council meeting of October was moved from Monday, October 11 to Tuesday, October 12 because of the Columbus Day holiday which was celebrated this year on October 11.

The Council approved a request from Indigo Construction to place water meter on a fire hydrant for site work in The Saddle Ridge Estates. This will give the company more flexibility is keeping dust down as they move around the site.

The Council tabled a request for proposal (RPF) for a city tree trimming project. They are awaiting more information about the project.

Lytle High School requested that the City help provide brush for their homecoming bonfire. The City will coordinate with Waste Management to have some of the brush from the October brush clean up delivered to the bonfire site.

The Council approved an agenda item to adopt a city ordinance which will regulate construction and demolition within the city limits of Lytle.

The City Council will set a workshop date in the near future to draw up the wording for an ordinance to establish Robert’s Rules of Order as parliamentary procedure for all Lytle City Council meetings as well as other official meetings of various city committees.

The Council approved a proclamation designating October 15 as White Cane Safety Day.

Alderman Emery provided an update on the city-wide clean up day scheduled for October 16.

Mr. James McGrath, Director of Public Works, presented an update on placing the new 25 mile-per-hour speed limit signs on designated streets. He reported that the signs have arrived, but they are awaiting purchase of the poles and hardware to install the signs. Several different styles of poles were discussed. It was agreed that the city would purchase enough break-away poles to install the new signs along Somerset Street first to see how they work out. The new speed limit will be enforced on Somerset Street as soon as the new signs are installed.

Mr. McGrath also informed the Council that the bollard replacement project on Somerset Street, across from the City Park entrance, had been delayed but should be done in the last week of October.

Alderman Emery presented a short summary on the workshop that was held to discuss and make plans to fill open positions at City Hall.

Several agenda items pertaining to filling open positions at City Hall were tabled until job descriptions for the positions could be updated.

Mayor Gonzalez presented an update on a recent Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) meeting where projects in the City of Lytle were discussed. Among the potential projects discussed were:

- A redesign of the intersection of TX Hwy 2790 at N. Prairie

- Upgrading of the IH-35 frontage roads within the city limits of Lytle, which will include adding sidewalks

- Adjustment to the traffic light on TX 132 at McDonald Street to allow more traffic to turn right or move north on TX 132

- Adding a traffic light at TX 132 at TX 2790

- Repairing the sidewalk over the canal on TX 132, across from the Baptist Church

- Adding a north-bound off ramp and a south-bound on ramp to IH 35 at TX 2790

- Adjust location of north-bound on ramp to Lytle at TX 3175 to allow for increase traffic flow which is expected due to new businesses coming to the area

- Adjustment to the traffic light on IH 35 frontage road at TX 2790 to reduce the hazard to northbound traffic

The Council agreed to adopt a paid quarantine leave policy/ordinance which will apply to police, first responders, and all other city employees. The policy will make paid quarantine leave retroactive to October 1, 2021.

The Council heard quarterly City Liaison reports from the Library Liaison, the Police Department Liaison, The City Hall Liaison, the Public Works Liaison, and the Street Liaison.

City Council meetings are held every second and fourth Monday evenings of the month at 6:30 in the City Hall courtroom. These are open meetings, so the public is invited and encouraged to attend.

David Emery

Alderman, District 3

830-276-0403

September 30, 2021

Update from Lytle City Council meeting of September 27, 2021

Mrs. Debbie Frazer, who conducted audits for 2019 and 2020, presented Audit Reports to the Council. Following her presentation, the Council approved the Audit Reports.

The Council approved the plat for the McQueen Subdivision which will be located along Wisdom Road, just past Tippen Road.

The Council considered and approved a lot size variance from property owners on Somerset Street at Hester Street. The approval was contingent upon the property owners ensuring that when the lots are developed, driveways or parking areas will allow for pull out onto Somerset Street as backing onto the street is too dangerous.

The Council approved a payment of $15,000 for the Alfaro Sanitary Easement at the location of the City’s new water well. 

The Council considered establishing a city ordinance regulating construction and demolition within city limits. After discussion the item was tabled until there is time to consult with our City Building Code officer to avoid redundancy with already existing City Codes.

The Council considered establishing a city ordinance requiring Robert’s Rules of Order as parliamentary procedure for all Lytle City Council and other Committee meetings. The item was tabled until the Council members have time to study a draft of the proposed ordinance.

The Council entered into Executive Session to discuss the possibility of hiring an Assistant to the City Secretary. No action was taken.

The Council considered and agreed to set a date for a workshop to discuss currently open positions within City Hall. The workshop was set for Monday, October 4, 2021, at 6:30 in City Hall. The positions to be considered are the newly established position of Special Assistant to the City Council, the recently vacated Financial Director position, and the Assistant to the City Secretary position.

The Council tabled an item until the first meeting in October to accept a proposal from the Peerless Company on the water well.

The Council accepted a bid for construction and installation work on Phase #4 of the City Well Project.

The Council approved an Interlocal Cooperation Contract with Medina County for road work.

The Council approved an Interlocal Cooperation Contract with Atascosa County for road work.

The Council considered city streets for the Street Improvement Project. The list of streets was adjusted, and the item was tabled until measurements can be made on the streets proposed for repair and estimates of cost can be attained.

The Council approved the application form for Phase 2 of the Small Business Recovery Grant Program. November 17, 2021 was set as the final day for small businesses within the City to apply for some of the $17,300 in funds left over from Phase 1 of the Program. The application process and requirements have been simplified to make it easier for businesses to apply for some of the funds. 

The Council and the Lytle Restoration and Beautification Committee set October 16 for a city-wide clean up day. Roll off dumpsters will be placed in the Beall’s parking lot, at City Hall, and in the large Lytle High School parking lot for citizens to dispose of items too large for the trash cans at their homes. Waste Management will provide a list of items which cannot be disposed of in the dumpsters. The clean up event will be from 9:00-1:00. Volunteers will be solicited to pick up trash along city streets.

Alderman Emery reported that the Lytle Restoration and Beautification Committee met on September 21. The Committee discussed plans for the Clean Up day set for October 16. 

The Council approved moving the first Council meeting in October from October 11 to October 12 because of the Columbus Day holiday.

The Council approved moving the New Year’s Day holiday for city workers from Saturday, January 1, 2022, to Friday, December 31, 2021.

The Council authorized the ordering for a 2022 F-250 Super Cab vehicle for the Animal Control Department.

The Council tabled action on the Community Center Communications Contract.

The Council approved spending up to $2,000 to decorate a float celebrating the 70^th anniversary of the City of Lytle, which falls on October 27. The float will be in the Lytle Homecoming Parade which is scheduled for November 6.

The Council voted to approve allowing bills to be paid from this year’s budget if monies are available.

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Please feel free to contact me at david.emery@lytletx.org if you have any questions, concerns, or suggestions.

The next City Council meeting is September 13 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Hall. These are open meetings, so everyone is welcome to come.

David Emery

Alderman, District 3

City of Lytle