The Early City Council started its meeting approving the minutes from the last session. There were no citizens’ comments at the beginning of the meeting. 

There was a special recognition of service given to three members of the City of Early. Robert Stewart was recognized for his 50 years of service with the Volunteer Fire Department. Josh Crowder and Nathan Land were both recognized for their 5 years with the Public Works Department

On the matters of new business, the Early City Council first approved amending the City’s designated official for the Bullet Resistant Shield Grant Program to be the City Administrator, Tony Aaron. This is a program that is giving the Police Department of Early 2 bullet-resistant shields.

Next, the Early City Council approved the city elections to be held on May 6, 2023, to elect the Mayor and 2 Council members and provide details relating to the holding of such an election. Mayor Mangrum, Council Members Forisha, and Council Member Eoff are all up for re-election. All are running unopposed. The filing deadline to run for election is this Friday, February 17th. 

The Council then approved continued participation with the Steering Committee of cities served by ONCOR and authorized payment to fund regulatory and related activities related to ONCOR. The city is basically paying an annual membership fee of $329.60.

The Council also approved continued participation with the Steering Committee of cities served by Atmos Energy Corporation and authorizing payment to fund regulatory and related activities related to Atmos Energy Corporation. The city of Early is paying a membership fee of $164.40

The City of Early moved to discuss and consider the Issuance and Sale of the City of Early, Texas Combination Tax and Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2023; levying an annual Ad Valorem Tax and providing for the security for and payment of said Certificates of Obligation; providing an effective date; and enacting other provisions relating to the subject.

However, this adoption required four council members present. Only three were present, so the item was tabled for next Tuesday. City Administrator Tony Aaron did go ahead and conduct a report of the Early Town Center Projected Revenues. Included in the projection were: 

• Real estate sales at $6, $10, and $15 a square foot. 
• The total real estate of pad sites is 223,490 sq ft. 
• The total real estate sales of lot sites is 580,102 sq ft.
• Hotel, restaurants, retail, offices, and multi-family units were included in the projection. 
• The various taxes such as city, hotel occupancy, sanitation, alcohol, etc. were looked at. Additionally, lease incomes were added.
• The total revenue from each of these variables and items. 
• Job creation in total was 732. 
• The total revenue that the City of Early would receive annually was around 2.4 million. 

This item on the City of Early’s agenda is tabled to be discussed next Tuesday, February 21st. 

The Early City Council approved an inter-local agreement with the West Central Texas Council of Governments to provide application preparation and administration for the EDA Public Works grant. This is an application for an economic development grant through the Economic Development Agency. This is a 1 million dollar grant. The West Central Texas Council of Governments will write the grant with the City of Early. They will be the grant writer and first review. The grant will go to the 2 million dollar project of street construction and walkway construction of the boardwalk and Mangrum street. The fee would be $40,000, to pay the West Central Texas Council of Governments. It’s not just the grant writing, but the administration of the grant, compliance with the state, proper procedures, etc. that the West Central Texas Council of Governments will conduct. 

Moving down the agenda, the City of Early finally approved the final 60-acre plat for Early Town Center.

The City of Early then established No Parking zones and regulations for Early Town Center development. This would be the new Kelsey Way and Buena Vista streets, and the public parking lot for the Early Town Center that is behind Humphrey Petes. 

The request was for a no-parking street on Kelsey Way all the way to where it intersects with Buena Vista and the parking lot, as well as Buena Vista itself. The request is also for the new parking lot to be restricted to no trucks over 26,000 pounds to avoid truckers parking there. 

The city council then approved EMDD funds for the bid award for the construction of the batting cages at Town Center to Tony’s Concrete for $74,000. This would be the concrete works for the batting cages. 

The City Council then moved to hear a presentation of the TMCN Leadership Program Team for their 2023 project proposal. Texas Midwest Community Network is a program for young adults with mentors from schools and cities and picks students that have a passion to better their community. The two ladies who gave their presentation on the project were Aryn Lesly and Reese Estess. Both are Juniors at Early High School.

Their project was called Time to Shine, and it will implement a sundial in the new Early Town Center. Lesly and Estess discussed what the benefits of TMCN are for students. They highlighted student development through learning experiences on how to manage a project, carry it out, collaborate from a business perspective, and see the economic side of management. They also highlighted community development through bringing the community together, promoting tourism, and local economic benefits.

They discussed why they chose a sundial as a creative addition to the new town center. It’s tailored to showcase the local identity, it’s historical and celestial in nature, unique and different for the geographic area, and it’s an attraction for visitors.

The sundial would be 40 ft in diameter of crushed granite; 25 ft tall and 28 ft wide. There would be 13 graduating spaced columns, benches, and advertising/memorial plaques. Estess and Reese also have the idea for a rock garden over an underground time capsule. 

Their rough estimated cost for the rock columns is $125,000 and $65,000 for the steel columns. Their goal to fund this project is through local business funding, grants, private donors, labor donations, and fundraising ideas. Their time frame would be to present the sundial on September 20th. After hearing the presentation, the City of Early approved the project.

The City of Early moved on the agenda by approving the use of American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds for the purchase of fire bunker gear and fire equipment air packs for the City of Early Fire Department.

The City Council approved Resolution 2023-R05, to designate authorized signatories for the Texas Community Development Block Grant program. These would be representatives for the City of Early in participation of the grant program. They are the Mayor, City Administrator, and Assistant City Administrator. The City Secretary will also be authorized to certify and request payments. This is a $500,000 grant to reconstruct McDonald Drive. 

The Early City Council then adopted Resolution 2023-R06 for the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant program application and adopting required CDBG Civil Rights policies. This decision is authorizing the submission of the grant program to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Community Development Fund. This includes the procedures which the City of Early will apply and follow according to the block grant requirements. 

The City of Early furthermore adopted a Citizen Participation Plan required by the Community Development Block Grant program. The plan involves notifying the public and keeping them informed on what is going on, on the city’s website, and social media. It also provides Early citizens on how they can file grievances.

The City of Early moved to approve the application submission for the Assistance to Firefighter Grant Program. This is a grant through FEMA and the Assistance to Firefighter Grant program. This is for a Pumper Tanker that carries 3,000 gallons of water. This is a 95% grant so the City of Early only has to match 5%.

The City of Early approved parameters for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Brownwood regarding the sale and transfer of camera equipment. The Early Police Department uses WatchGuard camera systems. However, WatchGuard was bought out by Motorola, and they are phasing out WatchGuard and implementing their own Motorola systems. The Early Police Department will need to change out systems as time goes on. The Early PD has a brand new WatchGuard camera. But they don’t want to put it in since Motorola will not service it. Brownwood still has WatchGuard and was willing to buy the camera.

The City of Early then approved parameters for a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Early ISD and the Early Police Department for a School Resource Officer on campus. Part of the parameters is that Early ISD reports issues with the School Resource Officer to the Early Police Department Chief. It will be a 50/50 split between Early ISD and the City of Early in terms of salary and benefit payments. The City of Early provides the equipment and vehicle. The officer is used as a school resource officer during school. During summer and holidays, they work for the City of Early. The officer position takes effect on August 1st. Additionally, Early ISD will pay for school-related training that the officer has to take. 

The City of Early then amended the 2022-2023 Fiscal Year Budget to make accounting adjustments. The City of Early had so many projects at the end of the last budget year. Now they’re wrapping those projects up and trying to kick off new projects. There were costs they did not think they were going to have, and costs they did not spend before the last budget year. 

After an executive session, the City of Early approved a professional services agreement for Victoria Retail Group. 

After new business, the City Council moved to hear the Quarterly Department Reports. 

First up was the Fire Department Report. There were 174 calls for the first quarter of this year. The calendar year for last year was 738 calls. 

Included in the report were the Fire Department’s concerns about manpower. They can hire two people, but it’s been hard to find those two people. It’s also hard on the volunteer side. They are having the struggle to get volunteers to show up and work. Another problem is that their main engine is seeing some wear and tear. New engines, fire gear, and equipment are taking a long time to deliver 

The Fire Marshall noted that a problem during the inspections is that the Fire Marshall has to keep going to the same businesses in order to get them to comply with the regulations. The Fire Marshall will have to go 4-7 times back to the same business. A problem for businesses is that they are having a hard time getting people to update the systems. 

One solution the Fire Marshall had was handing out business inspection forms to give to businesses to check out what needs to be inspected and repaired to help out the Fire Marshall lower trips. Lastly, it was the recommendation of the Fire Marshal that the City needs to be considering that, as Early grows, it will be hard for the Fire Marshall to do his duties, plus help out with the Early Fire Department.

Second was the Police Department Report. The City of Early Police Department had 730 calls for service over three months and 624 traffic stops. The officers continue to train in active shooter classes and Early PD hosted two active shooter classes in cooperation with Early ISD. 

Two vehicles for the police department will be here in the summer. 

The Early Police Department graduated its DREAM class in December. This is a class that the police teach to the fifth graders about drugs, bullying, and general things they will experience as they go into middle school.

The total number of 911 calls was 21,427.

There are Text 911 calls that citizens can use.

Lastly was the Finance Department Report. For this first quarter, the budget amount for all departments falls right where it should be at 25%. The Early Municipal Development Department revenues are at 70%. The City of Early received good numbers of increased sales tax. In the second quarter, anywhere from 50-75% of the budget will be collected from sales tax. Expenditures are where they should be in the first quarter. Checking account balances are in good standing with their pledged requirement. Total sales tax in what the city collected is higher than what the city collected in the fiscal year 2022. There are increased water rates and sanitation.

In the announcements before the end of the meeting, the filing period for elections ends this Friday 17th. There will be a called meeting next Tuesday, February 21st.