The Levelland City Council made quick work of their regular meeting Monday evening as the agenda list was limited.
Mayor Barbra Pinner began the meeting by reading a mayoral proclamation deeming May 2024 as Community Action Month.
Moving forward, City Manager James Fisher provided the council and public an update regarding the Red Flour Beetle Investigation at the Kaufman Addition.
The Texas Department of Agriculture has been responsible for monitoring and reporting numbers from the traps placed within the surrounding area. Fisher added that the latest county as of May 2 has shown to be zero.
Fisher explained that a zero count is good news, however, he does understand that there are members within the Kaufman Addition reporting there are beetles within their homes. Fisher explained to council that he is still working with Republic and what may happen in the future during contract discussion is raising the number of dumpster replacements even through the months.
“Our goal is to get those cleaned out and if possible changed out to limit the number of factors at play,” said Fisher. “We are continuing to watch the situation as temperatures begin to warm. We are doing everything else we can right now.”
The next item of discussion was the second reading for Ordinance No. 1079 Closing a portion of the 200 block of Poplar Street in Levelland.
The property has been surveyed and re-platted by request of the owners. The approached the city asking for the 60 foot street closure of Poplar. The owners do own both sides of Poplar and have the intention to sell it as one large parcel of land.
The reason for the street closure is to give potential buyers the option of using the 60 foot street as a parking lot for future apartments. There is a 12 inch municipal water line running east to west in that street. A 30 foot easement has been dedicated in the re-plat for that water line. This gives the owners more land to build on and increases the options as to how it is utilized.
City Attorney Matt Wade conducted the second reading with the council unanimously approving the ordinance.
The council considered an interlocal agreement with the South Plains Public Health District (SPRHD).
The SPRHD has requested the renewal of the interlocal agreement for the City of Levelland as the original agreement had been approved in 2017 and has not changed since.
Fisher explained that the annual fee has increased from $40,000 to $50,000 and added the inspections of food trucks, which was not in the original agreement. The changes will go into effect October 1.
The council unanimously approved the agreement.
The last item for discussion before executive session was the approval of Resolution No. 202408 authorizing the submission of an applications to the Events Trust Fund Program for the 2024 Clovis Horse Sales Breeder’s Futurity.
The Event Trust Funds Program is comprised of three separate funds: the Events Trust Fund, Major Events Reimbursement Program and Motor Sports Racing Trust Fund. It was explained to the council that they only use the Events Trust Fund which is targeted at attracting various types of events to the State of Texas.
Kelly Hancock, with the Levelland Chamber of Commerce added that the funds can assist Texas communities with paying costs related to preparing for or conducting an event by depositing projected gains in various local and state taxes generated from the event in a dedicated event-specific trust fun to cover allowable expenses.
Following further explanation, the council unanimously approved the resolution before entering executive secession to end the meeting.