April 3, 2025 – During the regular meeting of the Sulphur Springs City Council on Tuesday April 1, 2025, City Manager Marc Maxwell submitted his monthly report.
TO: CITY COUNCIL
FROM: CITY MANAGER, MARC MAXWELL
SUBJ: MANAGER’S REPORT
CLAIMS – We had 2 workers compensation claims in March for police officers who were exposed to blood. We did not have any liability claims. The City filed a claim of its own for wind damage to the animal Shelter.
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN – Kimley Horn is collecting data for their baseline. They will also attend the Claws For a Cause event on April 26 where they will be seeking input from the public.
MIRACLE LEAGUE FIELD – I expect 100% construction drawings this week.
THERMO WATER – The Capital Construction Division has installed 1,600 feet of 18’ water main into the site. It will replace an old 8” main. This will be the first water project of many at Thermo.
THERMO ROAD – All of the concrete road for this project is complete. All that remains is some work on the shoulders. This $4.4 million project is partially funded by a $2.4 million grant from the Economic Development Administration (EDA).
COLEMAN BALLFIELD LIGHT UPGRADE – This $250,000 grant from the State Energy Conservation Office (SECO) to upgrade the ballfield lights to LED is on again, off again. It’s currently somewhere in between. We’ve been told to select our contractor to do the work, but not to spend any money yet. This may still happen.
MIDFIELD APRON – This concrete pavement/drainage improvement is approximately 90% complete. This project includes drainage improvements as well as repaving the midfield apron in concrete. Total project cost is $5.28 million, of which 90% is funded by a grant through TXDOT.
WASTEWATER CHLORINE CONTACT CHAMBER – Hayter Engineering is presently designing the new chlorine contact chamber. Everything we are hearing reinforces staff’s belief that we will be able to re-rate the plant to at least 10 MGD. This $2.2 million project will repurpose a former (abandoned) sand filter turning it into a chlorine contact chamber. Chlorine contact time is a bottleneck at the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The WWTP has a rated capacity of 5.4 MGD. Staff believes we can increase the capacity to 10 MGD when the project is completed. The increase will require TCEQ approval, but staff thinks it is feasible. The project is being funded from the Enterprise Fund balance.
STREET IMPROVEMENT PLAN (SIP) –
REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES – Finance Director Lesa Smith will present the monthly report of revenues and expenditures.
Elsewhere around the city, employees:
- Patched 130 potholes.
- • Performed 1 major street repair following an Atmos repair.
- • Cleaned storm catch basins 5 times.
- • Installed 2 no parking signs and replaced 3 stop signs.
- • Removed 8 fallen trees from roadways.
- • Installed 528 feet of Curbs and 5 new driveway approaches on Alabama. • Received 8600 feet of water pipe for Thermo.
- • Conducted 89 building inspections, 21 electrical inspections, 19 plumbing inspections, and 5 mechanical inspections.
- • Issued 28 building permits, and 69 trade permits.
- • Responded to 172 fire/rescue calls including 2 structure fires, 1 vehicle fire and 11 grass fires.
- • Performed 45 fire inspections.
- • Performed preventative maintenance on 78 fire hydrants.
- • Treated wastewater to a daily average total suspended solids reading of 0.79 mg/L. • Hauled 651 tons of sludge to the landfill.
- • Repaired 11 water main ruptures.
- • Replaced 13 water meters.
- • Repaired 4 sewer mains.
- • Washed 81,000 feet of sewer mains.
- • Performed preventative maintenance and repairs on water treatment and wastewater treatment items.
- • Filled in tree wells on College/Main.
- • Sprayed for weeds on athletic fields.
- • Prepped ball fields for 74 youth games.
- • Rented the Grays building 16 times.
- • Installed 6 new scoreboards at Coleman Park.
- • Made repairs at Kids Kingdom.
- • Planted 6 Bur Oaks in Colman Park (North Side).
- • Responded to 201 Animal Control calls while achieving a 76% adoption rate. • Made 0 felony arrests in the Special Crimes Unit.
- • Responded to 30 accidents, issued 444 citations, recorded 38 offences and made 49 arrests in the Patrol Division.
- • Checked out 4,064 items from the library plus 1,028 eBooks. • Sold 3,619 gallons of AvGas and 8,356 gallons of JetA fuel. • Accommodated 1,841 takeoffs/landings at the airport.
