Council nixes special meet
By Lori Mellinger

Bullard City Council members made the decision last Thursday to call off the special meeting set for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 23.

At the regular Jan. 9 meeting, Mayor Pro- Tem A.W. Hines made a motion to assist with a portion of a wet well for Bullard Creek Ranch -- contigent on final numbers.

But now it appears a wet well -- which is a chamber that collects sewage for pumping -- won't even be necessary.

"Since the time we met, everything has changed," said Bullard City Manager Larry Morgan. "We don't think a wet well will be necessary, but again, we still don't have any firm plans or number from the engineer."

"We do need firm figures before we agree to anything," Hines said.

Architect Kenneth Kline said at January's meeting it would be cheaper for Bullard Creek Ranch to put in a lift station - but if it does so, the city will be forced to maintain it.

"A lift station would be a hindrance and financial burden to the city in the long run," Kline said. "With the maintenance, electricity costs, etc., it wouldn't make sense."

Councilman Rodger Johnson agreed.

"As far as Bullard Creek Ranch goes, we support them," Johnson said. "We absolutely want growth, we just need good financial figures."

Owner Chip Jones approached the city a few months ago asking the council to consider participating in the expansion of sewer capacity.

Since then, Jones' engineer Allan Ross and city engineer Brian Capps have been putting together designs and preliminary figures to see if it's a feasible project.

Capps and Ross approached council together at the meeting to answer the myriad questions about the proposed project.

Nothing has been negotiated yet as to They will do so at the next meeting. what the next step will be or who will be responsible for what percentage for any work done, but that decision is expected to come at the next regular meeting Feb. 12.

"When you build a sewer line, you want to put it in as low as possible - it's easier to tie into a 7-10-foot deep line than one the that is 3-4-feet deep - as the current one is," Ross said. "And it's in the better interest of the city."

Ross said his early estimate is about $59,000.

"I did preliminary calculations - but they didn't take into account depth - just capacity," Ross said.

Mayor Connie Vaughan agreed a wet well was a better solution - but final plans weren't available.

"We've got a professional city engineer and we need to rely on his recommendation," Vaughan said. "We have six lift stations, we don't need more."

And while the rest of the council agreed, they want firmer figures before anything is signed.

Also on the agenda will be City Manager Larry Morgan's evaluation.

The council met in executive session at its last meeting, but due to the wording on the agenda, was unable to act upon anything.

Also expected is a discussion on an increase in rates by Allied Waste - the company that contracts trash pick up for the city. The rates for solid waste collection and disposal are going to go up - but the city is not yet sure how much.

The council will act upon the city increasing its rates to residential and commercial customers.

After Hines asked to table an item at this month's meeting on appointing a new planning and zoning board member, the council will once again discuss action to replace Jimmy Clark - who resigned because he moved from the city limits.

And the council will also face two property owners - Tony Davis and Betty Bever - both residents of Courtney Street on damages due to sewer overflow.

At January's meeting the council agreed to - instead of writing a specific ordinance - take on a case-by-case examination of any reimbursement costs residents believe are owed by the city for sewer/water damage.

The Bullard City Council meets at 6:30 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at Bullard City Hall. For more information, call 903-894-7223.