The Early City Council meeting opened with prayer and the pledge of allegiance

The City Council considered the minutes for the regular meeting held on December 13, 2022, and those minutes were approved.

There were no citizen comments

On the Matters of New Business, Mr. Tony Krischke presented the Fiscal Year 2021/2022 audit for Early City Council to review and accept. According to Mr. Krischke, there were no difficulties or internal control problems. The financial statement complied with the laws and regulations necessary.

Some highlights from the audit include the City of Early finished with 207 days of unrestricted cash, compared to 180 days the year before. The City of Early’s net position (equity position) was 52% the same as the year before, according to Krischke. The City’s net position increased by 1.3 million. This shows a positive change in net position and a good revenue margin which indicates that the City of Early can service the debt well. The City of Early additionally had good liquidity. Mr. Krischek also gave out a transparency letter that reflects the conduct of the audit. But because there were no issues, that letter basically says there’s nothing to point out. This was accepted by the Council. 

The Council then approved the adoption of  Resolution 2023-R01, creating 2023 Building Early, Texas Initiative; an economic development program under Chapter 380 of the Texas Local Government. This is a program that the city has been doing for 5 years. On single-family resident constructions, the program waives all fees associated with the construction. No permit fees the homeowner or builder would have to pay. Usually, the program is a savings of $1000-2000 depending on the size of the house. This year they’ve waived less than $5000 in fees. The taxable value and utility revenues make up for lost funds.

The Council tabled consideration to approve final plat for Early Town Center for another time. 

The Early City Council then approved the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for ARPA Project 01-2022 West Water Treatment Plant, to include for the pond liner repairs determined after inspection. The City of Early previously approved the project, and then went out for bids. The City of Early awarded the bid to Leonard Irrigation to install a new irrigation pump for the West Water Treatment Plant.  While doing the work, the company noticed other repairs that needed to be made on the pump and valve system in the amount of $4,000. There are liner tears that need to be repaired but the City of Early does not have the equipment to repair them. There is a request for $6,000 of ARPA funds to pay another company to do the repairs.

The Council then approved awarding the bid for ARPA Project 08-2022 of a sole source supplier for the purchase of water meter sets with the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. The City of Early has been upgrading its water meters by contracting Atlas Utility Supply Co. The price per meter unit is $310. The bid award has a not to exceed amount of $100,000. That would allow around 320 meters to be replaced. There are 1400-1500 total water meters in the ground. The City of Early has already upgraded 400 of those.

The City of Early Council approved to go out for bids for ARPA Project 05-2023 from a sole source supplier for the purchase of fire equipment with the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. This is fire service equipment. The City will be purchasing 3 Air Packs from Casco Industry for $30,000. The City of Early is also buying NAEFCA bunker gear from Line Apparel for $15,000. This is a request to go out for a proposal for bids up to $36,000.

The City Council then approved to solicit for bids for the construction of the Autumn Drive Street improvement project. The City of Early has already gone out for bids that came back. One bidder was over budget, so the City of Early rejected the bid. The City has been looking for new ways to save money and is ready to go back out for bids. There are several cost reduction options City Administrator Tony Aaron discussed. One option is purchasing all the materials, and then doing a labor-only contract. Another option for the City is to do the underground drainage system, then the contractor does the paving. The city has already purchased the materials for it.  Another option is asphalt instead of concrete related to driveways where the right of way is located. These options would give the City of Early savings of around $300,000–$400,000 of the bid price.

The City Council then approved the disposal or sale of items as salvage or surplus. These are sections of pipe the city has no use for. Examples would be bleachers, scoreboxes, and various segments of pipe that the City does not need. City Administrator Tony Aaron wants to find a way to sell it.

The City of Early Council discussed a proposal for an agreement between Early ISD and the Early Police Department for a School Resource Officer on campus.  Early ISD does not have a School Resource Officer, only officers routinely going to the schools. Early ISD’s proposal wants to split 50% of the cost of the salary and benefits to the officer. The City of Early will provide a vehicle, equipment, and training.

The City of Early can use this officer during the summertime and breaks. Overtime would be paid on behalf of the school for school-related activity, and vice versa on the city side for city-related activity. The Council discussed a salary of around $40,000. That does not include the city’s benefits, insurance, workers comp., and so on. Plus with new equipment, vehicle, training, etc., this could be up to a $100,000 expenditure.

The City would start with one officer for the four campuses. They would be both an Early police officer and school security. This benefits both the school and Early, TX by providing another officer. Ideally, the officer would start on Aug. 1st.  No current safety program at the school would be stopped. This was a discussion only and no council action was taken.

The City Council then discussed updates regarding the issuance of debt in the form of Certificates of Obligation. The update was that the City of Early is moving with the calendar as previously decided. The opportunity to further discussion will be on the Council agenda later.

The Early City Council then approved an encroachment agreement of a city utility easement for property located at 124 Rainbow Drive. There is a utility line on the City easement. Almost half of the resident’s driveway is on that city easement. The agreement is that encroachment is allowed if the utility line is damaged, then the city can replace the property and ground and pay for it all at no cost to the resident.

The Council then approved Resolution 2022-EDR10, the second and final reading, approving the Early Municipal Development funding request from Pate’s Hardware Inc. This is approving an agreement between the Early Municipal Development District and Pates Hardware Inc., awarding economic development sales tax funds in a not to exceed amount of $30,000 for the fiscal year 2022-2023

The Early City Council then moved on to reports from the City of Early Police Chief, and the Ambulance Advisory Committee. 

Police Chief Mercer provided the 2022 Racial Profile Report. Chief Mercer focused on traffic stops and had 2,527 total stops for the year. Of those stops, 596 were Hispanics, 1759 were White, and 144 were Black.

On the question of if the race/ethnicity was known before the stop was made? 253 of the reports said yes, and 274 said no. On the question of if physical force resulting in bodily injury was used during the stop? Reports saying yes was 0; reports saying No were 2527.

There were 0 complaints of racial profiling for the year. In the chief’s opinion, Early police officers do not exhibit racial profiling or excessive use of physical force. He views videos and will be out with the officers. He has not seen or has any complaints of racial profiling. The design of the report is by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.

For the report of the Ambulance Advisory Committee, they will be convening today at 2:00 pm Wednesday, Jan. 11th to discuss a proposal by Lifeguard that will ask for a substantial increase in subsidy because they are losing money. The total is $750,000 additional subsidy. There are other factors such as the lack of ambulances and shortages of paramedics that come into play. 

Brown county has the major financial burden; the cities pitch in a percentage by population. The real authority belongs to the County Commissioner’s court. The advisory committee provides council to the Commissioner’s Court. 

In the Administrator’s Report, City Administrator Tony Aaron updated the council on the progress of the Town Center project. Aaron was excited to highlight that the City of Early made the Volkert national calendar. Volkert is an international company.

In terms of lake construction, Volkert is clearing out muck where the lake is and is starting to work on it with heavy equipment.

The City of Early received $10,000 in a Texas Parks and Wildlife Grant. One of Texas Parks and Wildlife’s grants with another entity fell through, and so the agency gave the City of Early $10,000. 

Encore still needs to give power to the street near there, to open

Lastly, the City of Early will be going to the International Coalition of Shopping Centers next week, highlighting and featuring the Town Center Project for developers and in-users of real estate the Town Center will have.  

For announcements, the 2023 Candidate application period is next Wednesday, January 18th till  February 17th at 5:00 p.m.