Sulphur Springs City Council approved 2 ordinances and appointed a new public works director during the regular January 2023 meeting Tuesday evening.
City Appointment
The City Council met at 6:30 p.m. in executive session, just prior to the open portion of the Jan. 3, 2023 meeting, to discuss deliberations regarding economic development for Ashoka Steel, personnel matters — including the public works director position — and to consult with their attorney.
At the end of the meeting, Place 1 Councilman Jay Julian made a motion, which Spraggins seconded, to appoint Bryan Craig as the city’s public works director. The City council unanimously agreed.
Craig was re-hired by the city on March 2, 2015 as Capital Construction Assistant Superintendent. He was promoted to Capital Construction Superintendent on Oct. 25, 2015, a position he held until Tuesday. Public Works Director Russ Nuss passed away in early December, leaving the position open. Craig was promoted Jan. 3 to public works director.
Sanitation Ordinance
Sulphur Springs City Council was asked Jan. 3 to consider on second reading Ordinance No. 2815, amending the sanitation rate ordinance setting new sanitation rates.
When presented for discussion, Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Lesa Smith reported no changes had been made to the policy presented in December for first review.
The City Council voted earlier in the year when approving city utility rates to postpone making a decision on the sanitation rates so that the fees would be based on more accurate rates based on consumer price index rates. In August, city officials proposed a 9.8% increase to reflect contract provision with sanitation services providers.
The City’s sanitation revenue was less than projected over the last year, city staff reports. Both sanitation companies serving Sulphur Springs submit rates at the end of October, which is after the annual budget is adopted in September and, typically, utility rates for city residents as well. Annual contract increases over the past 5 years have been based on the consumer price index-for urban wage earners and clerical workers (wages for hourly staff — CPI-W) in October, but the city’s rates, including any increases, are decided on in September.
At the Dec. 6, 2022 City Council meeting, Smith proposed a 6.16% increase in rates using a weighted average increase for the contracts.
The landfill sanitation contract increase is based on the CPI-W for October, with the Sanitation Solutions contract based on December’s CPI-W, but capped at 5%. There is no cap on the landfill contract CPI increase. The CPI-W for October came in at a 7.9% increase over October 2021. Although the December CPI wasn’t expected to be available until this month, Smith in December noted it it is highly unlikely the CPI percentage increase would fall below the cap of 5%.
Using the weighted average increase for contract, city staff proposed a 6.16% increase in sanitation rates, The landfill charges comprise about 40% of the sanitation expense, with a proposed increase to rates of 7.9% and the collection contract comprises the other 60% of the cost with a proposed increase of 5%. Using the weighted average of the two contracts, the result and proposed sanitation rate increase would be 6.16%. This increase will generate the increase in revenue needed to cover the increase in expense.
At the Jan. 3, 2023 meeting, Sulphur Springs City Council Place 7 Councilman John Sellers made a motion, which Place 5 Councilman Gary Spraggins seconded, to approved Ordinance No. 2518 as proposed on second and final reading. The motion received unanimous approval of the ordinance, and will become effective on February 1, 2023.
The monthly charge for residential sanitation collection twice a week will be $13.88 for each dwelling unit, including each unit in multi-family residences and each unit in mobile home parks. That’s an $0.81 increase in the residential hand-collection sanitation rate. The monthly charge for commercial hand collection will be $27.76 for each commercial unit, a $1.61 increase per yard.
Rezoning Ordinance
The City Council also considered, on first reading, Ordinance # 2820, a request by Kennedy Commercial-Shannon Rd LLC to rezone 0.78 acre of property at 1439 East Shannon Road from heavy industrial to multifamily sot hat it can be developed as Cadi Lane North subdivision.
Assistant City Manager/Community Development Director Tory Niewiadomski noted city staff and the Sulphur Springs Planning & Zoning Commission have reviewed the request, and given the zoning around it, recommended approving the request.
The property is surrounded by a variety of zoning types. To the north is a heavy industrial zone, which includes warehousing and offices. To the east is another heavy commercial zone on Helm Lane, where apartments are located. To the south and west is a neighborhood with single family housing which are zoned single family-6.
The developer indicated plans to construct three duplex-style rental properties on the property, located on the back side of the East Industrial Drive property, near the intersection of Cadi Lane and Helm Lane. The intent is for the property to be very similar to the units Joe Ardis had constructed on Lundy Street, Niewiadomski reported.
Residential development is not permitted in heavy industrial zones. Heavy industrial zoning currently allows for auto wrecking yards, lumber mills, junkyards, factories, and other commercial and rental uses, thus, the request for rezoning.
Niewiadomski said multifamily zoning would be a step in the right direction, a bridge of sorts from the Helm Lane apartments to the single family residential neighborhood behind the complex.
Certified letters were sent to 13 surrounding property owners within 200 feet of the proposed zoning change, notifying them of the request and P&Z meeting on Monday, Dec. 19, 2022. The City of Sulphur Springs received received four in opposition to the zoning change. The developer claimed adding duplexes right next to the entrance to Woodcreek Subdivision would further impact his ability to sell the homes being built there, including the five single family homes he had yet to sell in December.
Spraggins noted that initially, considering the address for the requested zoning change, he did not think making the property that backs up to five homes in that addition which have not yet sold would be appropriate. However, after driving over to see the property thinks the multifamily designation and duplex-style rentals would be a better transition between the apartments and residential addition than a heavy industrial use.
Spraggins then made a motion, which Place 4 Councilman Tommy Harrison seconded, to approved Ordinance #2820 granting the zoning change. The ordinance will need to be read and approved a second time at a future meeting by the City Council in order for it to go into effect.
