Majority of Ferris City Council say no to water improvement study

FERRIS – In a 3-2 vote Monday night at the Ferris city council meeting, Mayor Pro Tem Tommy Scott and Place 5 councilmember Sherie Chapman were the lone two members on the council to see the benefit of a water and waste water study.

The study would also have included a long-term financial plan to improve the water issues that have been plaguing the city for decades.

Dan Jackson from Willdan Financial Services presented a plan that was designed to help Ferris address the increasing costs of providing water and wastewater service.

Jackson said this study would help minimize the impact of rate adjustments on ratepayers in the future.

The plan also would have helped council understand the social, community and political decisions they make in regard to economics with an examination of alternatives to help the city set the right policy for its community.

The plan Jackson presented would have cost the city $24,000 in total.

Place 2 councilmember Michael Martinez said he would not vote for the study because the city is still trying to “figure the water out.”

He said he did not think the city was ready for Jackson’s services yet.

It was emphasized during the presentation and discussion that by the end of November, a new 8-inch water line would be installed in the city.

Upon recommendation, it was suggested the study and the water line installment being done in a parallel timeline would be a proactive choice for improving the state of Ferris water.

It was said that while all citizens are currently paying the same price for water, not all citizens are receiving the same quality of water.

“The study is an advantage, because the city can plan for the future, and residents will know what is going to happen in terms of always rising water costs,” Jackson said.

Mayor Pro Tem Scott acknowledged there were water problems, and voted yes to get ahead of the curve in regard to the water situation.

Chapman too, acknowledged the problems with the water in Ferris, and was all for establishing a strategic plan to deal with future infrastructure problems and new development – and getting a better idea of the cost of water existing and new residents would need to pay.

Councilmembers Place 1 Clayton Hunter and Place 4 Jay Walsh had no comment during the discussion as to next steps to improve the Ferris water situation following the November water line installment, or their decision to vote against the water and wastewater analysis.

However, after the meeting, both councilmembers stated their concern of the cost hitting the existing Ferris city budget.

The council voted – after many years of discussion – to finally approve the Type B Economic Development Corporation’s request to spend (no more than) $450,000 for the long-planned Ferris Senior Center project.

When the unanimous vote for the center passed, those in the audience broke into applause.

An Animal Shelter Advisory Board was finally named in Ferris. City council members voted yes to Len Baxley, Stephanie Timko and James Shivers as the first board members. Baxley and Timko were officially sworn in, with Shivers not present at the meeting.

There was some question by councilmember Hunter as to the qualifications to sit on the advisory board. It was determined there were a variety of different open seats with different criteria.

It was also mentioned a veterinarian needed to sit on the board. However, Baxley said he had asked three veterinarians if they would participate, and all had refused due to time restraints.

The consent agenda items passed with the exception of an item regarding expenditures from Aug. 1 to 15, 2019.

Councilmembers Chapman and Martinez both had questions about some of the particular line items.

Martinez questioned charges that included landscaping, fire department charges and payments for vehicle maintenance.

Chapman questioned charges relating to backup cam replacements, fire hydrant charges – and a charge regarding a police department employee’s psychological evaluation.

Ferris Police Chief Eduardo Salazar responded he would only discuss that item in executive session.

Chapman also questioned several professional training charges, one of which was related to a court clerk who is currently out on paid leave.

Charles Banks III was sworn in to the Ferris Police Department as its latest officer. Banks graduated from Cedar Valley College, Police Academy in July, and is from Waxahachie.

Council went into executive session to discuss the agenda items carried over from the Aug. 12 special caled council meeting. Those items concerned Ferris Mayor Jim Swafford’s giving out of raises, certain other financial decisions and hiring consultants for the City of Ferris, as well as authorizing an investigation into a city employee – all done without council approval. Council also wanted to discuss any monies spent in regard to the investigation.

Swafford was unable to attend that meeting due to a sudden illness – and an unplanned surgery.

Several people were called back into the meeting, including Police Chief Salazar and Interim City Manager Clovia English. 

When council returned to the open meeting after 10 p.m., it was stated no action would be taken on the items from the executive session, and the meeting was adjourned.