Monday, February 3rd, 2025
6:30 PM. Community Center
Attending: Mayor Steve T. Nichols, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins, Council Members Thomas Gary, Josh Burkhalter, and Mike Barfield. Library Manager Rhonda O., City Attorney Jody Campbell, and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Vilchis. For public assistance, refer to the attendance sheet. Not present: City Clerk Irma Robles due to training. Finance Director Glenda Cantrell, Public Works Director Doyle Samples, and Mainstreet Newspaper (Draft minutes emailed to Mr. Mike Buffington on 2/6/2025).
CALL TO ORDER – Mayor Steve T. Nichols called the Council Meeting on February 3rd, 2025, to order at 6:30 p.m.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE – Council Member Josh Burkhalter led the Pledge of Allegiance to the United States of America flag.
APPROVAL OF FEBRUARY 3RD, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA: The Council Meeting Agenda for February 3rd, 2025, was approved, with Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioning for approval as presented and Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins seconding. There were no discussions, and all were in favor.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 6TH, 2025, COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES. Council member Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the Council Meeting Minutes on January 6th, 2025, as presented; Councilman Lamar Watkins seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.
APPROVAL OF JANUARY 9TH, 2025, SPECIAL CALLED MEETING & PUBLIC HEARING MINUTES. Council member Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the Special Called Meeting & Public Hearing Minutes for January 9th, 2025, as presented; Councilman Thomas Gary seconded. There were no discussions. All were in favor. The minutes were approved.
DECEMBER 2024 FINANCIALS: Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the December 2024 Financials as presented. Council member Lamar Watkins seconded this motion. Councilman Thomas Gary asked the difference between items 53.1230 – Energy and Utilities, and item 53.1231, Electricity City Hall and Others. Mayor Nichols replied that there are three meters at Benton; one is in the back where the daycare center is, the other two are in John Deer Hall, and the City Hall building itself. He added that the annex center feeds off from the city hall meter. Councilman Thomas Gary asked if daycare pays for this meter. City Attorney Jody Campbell explained that the lease is structured so that daycare pays the monthly prorated share based on square footage. Councilman Thomas Gary asked if this revenue is shown in the income section of the financial report, and City Attorney Jody Campell replied that it should. Councilman Thomas Gary found that it shows as an income on the first page of the financial report under Building Rentals – others (utilities). The second inquiry from Councilman Thomas Gary was under Technical Service: There is a charge of $1,270 for Boydtek, and Mayor Nichols replied that it is for storage for all the cameras, but it hasn’t been changed to the new company name, Neatoware, but the name will be changed. There were no further discussions; all were in favor. The financial report was approved.
PUBLIC HEARING
At 7:00 pm, Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins motioned to go into a Public Hearing for House Bill 581. Councilman Thomas Gary seconded, and all were in favor.
City Attorney Jody Campbell updated us that several jurisdictions in Jackson County, such as Jefferson and Commerce, are holding these meetings. The City of Pendergrass has formally opted out, meaning no Jackson County jurisdiction is eligible for FLOST. Councilman Thomas Gary asked what the other cities are deciding about this bill, and City Attorney Jody Campbell responded that most cities are opting out for the following two reasons: 1. Because most properties in Jackson County are residential. 2. Most of the agricultural properties already have homestead exemptions.
Mayor Nichols opened the room for discussions, and a public speaker (name and address were not provided) asked if his Senior Tax Exemption would be affected. City Attorney Jody Campbell replied that it would not. HB 581 does not have anything to do with this. Mayor Nichols added that HB581 would not affect existing Homestead Exemptions.
There were no further comments or discussions about this agenda item.
At 6:44 pm, councilman Thomas Gary motioned to leave the Public Hearing and return to the regular session. Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins seconded, and all were in favor. The motion was approved.
- HB 581 – Intent to Opt-Out from Homestead Exemption. After two requests for a motion, no motion was made by the city council, and the agenda item died for lack of a motion, which means Nicholson stayed in House Bill 581, Mayor Nichols explained. There were no comments or discussions.
- Plaque Recognition to John Ring – Nicholson Planning Commission Chairman. Mayor Nichols recognized John Ring for fourteen years of dedicated service to the Nicholson Community and his leadership to our citizens. John Ring thanked the City of Nicholson Mayor, Council, Staff, and Attorney for all his support these fourteen years. There were no discussions or comments from the city council.
- Fireworks Show Date and Quotes. Councilman Thomas Gary motioned to approve Pyrotecnico’s bid for $10,500 for the Independence Fireworks show to be displayed on July 3rd, 2025. Council member Josh Burkhalter seconded this motion. There were no comments or discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- IWorQ Utility Billing Software. Councilman Josh Burkhalter motioned to approve the IWorQ Utility Billing Software proposal for the sanitation – garbage pick-up billing. Council member Thomas Gary seconded this motion. Council member Thomas Gary asked once this is approved what is the timeline for implementation, and Administrative Assistant Jennifer Vilchis replied that implementation would be within a month or two. City Attorney Jody Campbell pointed out that the original proposal price they sent was for a three-year agreement, and this version is for a one-year agreement, which changed the price; it went up since the city can only contract for one year. Councilman Mike Barfield asked if the city could bid out this contract since this change was made, and City Attorney Jody Campbell replied that the city could. There were no further comments or discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
- City Hall Annex Building Interior Renovation Bid Package. City Attorney Jody Campbell stated that after a lot of reading, he had emailed City Clerk Irma Robles a revised version this afternoon, and the dates are the following:
1.Bids are due Wednesday, March 12th, 2025, at 10:00 am
2.Pre-Bid Meeting on Wednesday, February 19th, 2025, at 9:00 am
3.The deadline for submitting questions is Tuesday, March 11th, 2025, at 5:00 pm
4.Final Amendments to bids must be received by the close of business on March 12th, 2025.
The deadline for submitting the ad to the newspaper is this Wednesday so that the first ad will run on February 12th, 2025, and there will be thirty days from the start of the ad to when the bids are due on March 12th, 2025, at 10:00 am.
Council member Thomas Gary made a motion to amend the presented bid package with the dates given by City Attorney Jody Campbell. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded this motion. There were no comments or discussions. All were in favor. The motion was approved.
OLD/UNFINISHED BUSINESS: N/A
LIBRARIAN’S REPORT
Rhonda O’Keeffe, Library Manager
Nicholson Library exhibit (banners) on the Holocaust was from January 27 – Feb 3, 2025. People could come through to read and study the banners. The exhibit was changed today to Women’s Voices for Civil Rights. This exhibit will be here until Feb 13, 2025.
The library is continuing the Homeschool Adventure Club. This program will be held in the winter months. It is sometimes difficult to socialize during winter with unpredictable weather.
The drop in craft this month is a cup of hot cocoa magnet. Participants will be offered a cup of cocoa.
The Adult Book Club will be held Feb 20 at 1:30 PM. Books can be checked out at the circulation desk.
Library Manager Rhonda O. will be at SJES on Monday, February 24 w, with PuRL.
The Quilters meet on Tuesday mornings starting at 10:00 AM.
Rhonda O. will be attending a Programming Conference on Friday, Feb 28.
Passports for January 2025: 37
City Council Members asked about passport processing times, prices, and if the Nicholson Library also takes passport pictures, to which the Library Manager responded that they do not.
- MAYOR’S REPORT:
Mayor Steve T. Nichols
-Mayor Nichols mentioned that at the retreat meeting, the city covered a lot of items for 2024 and 2025, and the city will continue to work to serve this community.
-Councilman Thomas Gary invited everyone from the city council and staff to start selling ads for the 2025 Daisy Program.
CITIZENS REQUESTING TO SPEAK: N/A
ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Pro Tem Lamar Watkins motioned to adjourn the February 3rd, 2025, Council Meeting. Councilman Josh Burkhalter seconded, and all were in favor. The meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.-
Announcements:
*Next Daisy Festival Planning Meeting – February 13th, 2025, at 6:00 pm
*Next Work Session – February 27th, 2025, at 6:30 pm
*Next Council Meeting– March 3rd, 2025, at 6:30 pm
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Approved by City Clerk Irma Robles