The Devine City Council voted to begin the process of terminating the City’s garbage disposal contract with Republic Services and approved maintenance work on the tennis courts, Briscoe Park walking path, and Municipal Airport during the meeting held on December 14.
Tennis courts
Darren VanFossen, Facilities Director with Devine ISD, presented Council with a proposal to resurface the tennis courts and re-lamp the lights.
Mayor Cory Thompson explained that the City signed an interlocal agreement with DISD to split the cost of maintenance at the courts, with the school district paying for two-thirds of any work and the City paying for the remaining one-third. In return, the courts are left unlocked and available for use by residential use.
The City’s portion of the maintenance cost is $10,165.65.
A motion by District 3 Councilman David Espinosa and District 1 Councilman Rufino “Flipper” Vega to amend the budget for that number and pull the funds from the Parks and Recreation department passed unanimously with support from District 2 Councilwoman Angela Pichardo, District 4 Councilwoman Kathy Lawler, and District 5 Councilwoman Debbie Randall.
Garbage rates
Republic Services, the company that provides Devine’s garbage services, issued an initial denial of the City’s request to lower the service charge of churches and non-profits who use just two waste wheelers to the residential rate from the commercial rate (see “Animal Control and library Facebook pages on the way” in the Dec. 1 edition of The Devine News).
Thompson said that since the matter was placed on the meeting agenda, Republic has asked for a meeting to discuss it.
“Obviously we need to formulate some sort of a response to Republic Services,” Thompson said. “Starting the termination process is a very long process.”
The City’s contract with Republic was amended under former City Administrator Gary Pelech to institute a four-year rolling contract that renews every year.
“The terms were something that the City Administrator and Republic had worked out and presented it to the Council, and based upon the administrator’s recommendation that’s what they accepted,” Cate said. “I think the thought behind it was by having such a long-term contract, our rates were going to be more steady.”
A Pichardo motion to discuss the contract with Republic failed for lack of a second.
An Espinosa-Randall motion to begin termination procedures with Republic Services passed 4-1 over Pichardo’s objection.
Briscoe Park walking path
Council then reviewed a quote from Double J Asphalt regarding repair of the walking path at Briscoe Park.
A full repair featuring a two-inch asphalt overlay of the entire 15,630 square foot path was quoted at $43,200. An option to crack seal 5,280 linear feet of cracks and sealcoat the entire path was $6,547.50, with no additional charge for the restriping of two handicapped parking spots.
A Lawler-Pichardo motion to move forward with crack sealing and sealcoating the path pending an inspection from City Engineer Raul Garcia, Jr., passed 5-0. Funds will come from the Parks and Rec budget, with work planned for some time in the spring.
Municipal Airport ramp and apron
Garcia provided a cost breakdown of various repair and improvement projects at the Municipal Airport. Replacing asphalt, regrading a channel, and grading a hydromulch area was pegged at $61,549.20. Additionally, construction of a taxiway through the hydromulch area was estimated at $48,878, while a taxiway between the long hangar and the runway was $72,630.
Each year, the City can utilize the Routine Airport Maintenance Program grant (RAMP) for up to $100,000. The RAMP grant is a 50/50 matching grant, which means the City can be reimbursed for up to $50,000.
A Randall-Pichardo motion to approve the asphalt replacement, channel regrade, and hydromulch grade, amend the budget for $61,549.20, and apply RAMP grant funds to the project passed 5-0.
Redistricting meeting Dec. 29
A Special meeting to discuss redistricting the City’s voting district based on the 2020 Census was scheduled for Wednesday, Dec. 29 at the George S. Woods Community Center at 6:00 pm. The meeting will be live streamed and archived at cityofdevine.org/live-council-meetings/.
By Marly Davis
Staff Writer