Council discusses annexation, illegal signs, paving
The Friona city council met Monday December 14 in regular session with all present. Mayor Rick White presided.
During the opening public comments portion Ben Kirton addressed the council and thanked them for their service to the community and especially for the playground area at Reeve Lake and the construction of the turn lane and landscaping at Main and Highway 60.
A new city attorney was introduced to the council. He is Marcus Norris from the Underwood Law Firm in Amarillo. Mr. Norris served 15 years as the city attorney in Amarillo.
Police Chief Isidro Jimenez gave the police report. In November the police made 18 arrests. Three of them were felonies. They made 217 traffic stops, wrote 81 citations and 131 warnings. The department received 326 calls for service in November.
The mayor was authorized to sign an interlocal agreement with the city of Hart for a $90,000 sealcoating contract for the two cities. An agreement was reached with the Mariah Del Norte wind project to begin construction of a transmission line in May 2016. The city should realize about $3,000 per year in lease payments on city land the transmission line will cross.
A brief discussion was held on the expansion of the RV Park at Reeve Lake but no action taken. City employees Pam Mercado, the city human resources manager, and Rosa Mendez, deputy city secretary, addressed the council and explained their job duties.
Attorney Norris gave the council legal perspectives on the legality of signs and posters on public property. Garage sale signs, etc. attached to the poles along Highway 60 are illegal and are safety hazards. He said the state could fine people that put such signs on the poles but not the city.
A discussion was held on procedures for annexing property into the city that are not paying city taxes. Norris outlined three ways the city could use to take action and annex property. Finally, a discussion was held on costs of paving a portion of Virginia St. where truck traffic has caused damage, using either public or private money. No action taken.
For more detail and information about city business read the Mayor's Minutes on page two.
