Changing of the Guard

FERRIS – In a special-called meeting on Monday, May 13, the council canvassed the votes from the May 4 election and the new council members took their respective seats on the podium.

Councilman Bobby Lindsey, who was defeated by Tommie Scott in a race for his seat, did not show up for this final meeting, but outgoing councilman Rick Barrett, who did not choose to run for his seat this year, was present.

With council members Jay Walsh, Clayton Hunter and Sherie Chapman a quorum was established allowing Mayor Jim Swafford to proceed with the canvassing of the May 4 election. City Secretary Callie Green administered the Oath of Office individually to Michael Martinez, who defeated Cindy Aspin for Barrett’s seat, Tommy Scott, who won over Lindsey for his seat, and Chapman, who defeated her challenger to regain her seat.

Upon being sworn in each took their seats and thanked voters for supporting them.

Martinez said his main objective was economic development, Scott mentioned supporting the city’s youth and street maintenance and Chapman said, “I believe we can be a city to be proud of.”

Scott was voted as mayor pro tem and the council retired to an executive session, “to discuss ethics and releasing confidential information.”

No action was taken when the council reconvened in open session.

Previously, during the May 6 regular council meeting, before the newly-elected council members were seated, four new police officers (Bruce Richardson, William Phillips, Peter Santi, and Sarah Stastny) were sworn in by Mayor Jim Swafford and one officer, Christian Cortez, was presented the life-saving award.

According to Police Chief Eddie Sanchez, Cortez had responded to a request for back-up from an Ellis County constable to find a man in his car bleeding profusely from a self-inflicted wound and immediately applied a tourniquet, saving the man’s life before paramedics could arrive on the scene.

In other action at last week’s meeting the council unanimously approved a final plat of the South Creek Addition, and a replat of lots 4-7 to Lots 4R-8R in Mutz Second Addition and of lots 11-14 in the Ferris Addition.

Lots in the Andrews (The area around the old Ferris Nursing Home on 5th Street), according to City Manager Bill Jordan, would allow for two lots to be zoned commercial similar to downtown business and the rest would be residential on 4th Street with a rear entry to 5th. Councilwoman Sherie Chapman objected and insisted she wasn’t the only council member who previously heard it described as a potential strip-mall type development, not residential.

Jordan said it was always planned to include residential, and this item was tabled.

The council also unanimously approved authorization for the Ferris Fire Department to apply for a FAST grant that had to be submitted by June 13 for a new city-owned fire engine. Jordan said the 2020 budget would later include matching funds for the engine.

A rate change requested from Oncor was denied.