Council amends soliciting ordinance

Posted 8/3/16

The Mineola City Council voted unanimously to amend the Solicitor Permit Ordinance during their regular July meeting last Monday at Mineola City Hall.

The meeting was conducted by Mayor Pro-Tem …

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Council amends soliciting ordinance

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The Mineola City Council voted unanimously to amend the Solicitor Permit Ordinance during their regular July meeting last Monday at Mineola City Hall.

The meeting was conducted by Mayor Pro-Tem Kevin White in the absence of Mayor Rodney Watkins. All councilmembers were present.

The council had previously discussed the changes during their workshop that precedes the regular meeting on Thursday. In that meeting City Administrator Mercy Rushing had explained that, with the amended version, the city would continue to require professional door-to-door sales people to fill out an application, and now there will be a $100 fee. The applications would be made to Police Chief Chuck Bittner and if he is not there, to the city administrator. Previously the applications had been made to the city secretary, but had in the past been a responsibility of the police chief.

Rushing explained that the fee would be waived for nonprofit organizations. And any “out-of-the ordinary or above and beyond” fundraisers for the school would be asked to fill out applications. She pointed out sometimes professional business people tell people they are from the school and the city does want to know about those type sales people.

She had also noted in the workshop that this did not pertain to sales people who are suppliers of local business people.

Those paying fees would pay them to the staff members who work on the administration side of city hall. The amended ordinance was approved on a motion by Sue Jones and seconded by Mitchell Tuck.

Also in the meeting, the council approved resolutions for the sale of three tax struck-off properties. Those properties had been presented during the previous month’s workshop and council meeting but were tabled. The bids were placed by Michael Anderson and were for $755, $255 and $250 for lots on Hart and at Landers and Revelle Streets.

Tax Attorney David Hudson said the lots, which included one with $11,190 in unpaid taxes, had been offered for sale on the courthouse steps with no takers.

Despite the small price Anderson bid, Hudson recommended the sale to get the properties back on the city, school and county tax roles. It was also noted that the city had been mowing the lots. Anderson had previously bought lots in the city and had cleaned up the properties, it was noted.

During the consent agenda portion, in which items are passed in one sweeping motion, the council approved:

Submitting an amended contract for a Texas Community Development Block Grant to use grant funds that exceeded the amount needed to repair another street, McDaniels. The work on the original projects is expected to begin the middle of August and to concluded by November;

Replatting lots of McWhorter Street where a property owner wants to move in a house that would go over a property line;

Replatting property at the location of the Mineola League of the Arts so the organization can add-on;

Final payment of $16,525 for mainly electrical work done on the McKaig pump station;

The city administrator advertising for requests for qualifications for auditing services;

In the meeting Rushing reported there is a mandatory employee meeting tomorrow (Thursday) from 8 to 9 a.m. on Texas Municipal League insurance. City hall will be closed during this time. She also reminded the council of the grand opening celebration for the splash park Saturday to which Ward 2 Alderman Jayne Lankford asked if the park would be opens to “big kids” too. Rushing said that she believed they would be able to stand under one of the features and get wet.