Disagreements among city council members made up a portion of Alba’s City Council meeting Monday night, attended by all city council members and city attorney Leigh Thompson. 

The disagreements revolved around several agenda items. One such item was regarding the “establishment of criteria & guidelines for employee job duties and job descriptions.” Council member Tammy Kirkpatrick said that the current city secretary job description “takes power” from several other department heads, and thus “needs to go away…. Ee need to vote it away tonight.”

However, Mayor Paul Kelbe said that the job description proposed by Kirkpatrick missed necessary terminology, such as working under “the Mayor and” city council, rather than just “City Council.” While all council members discussed the idea, the council ultimately voted to rescind the old job description, temporarily accept the local government code’s job description for city secretary, and amend Kirkpatrick’s proposed job description to the council’s mutual satisfaction. The vote was unanimous.

Another item was considering the “approval or action regarding the police chief position being named as exempt or non-exempt.” While the item has been on the agenda for several months, the council ultimately voted to change Police Chief Juan Ramirez’ position to an exempt (salaried) position, pay out his accrued compensatory time and increase his salary. Part of the motion is that Ramirez’ position would not involve a contract. After much discussion about specific salary, everyone agreed to the final motion, including the council, Ramirez and Thompson.

The third disagreement regarded “the creation of a full time water/sewer operator.” According to the council, this was a full-time position in 2010, but is not currently. Public Works Director Shawn Newland said they want to hire another person to “(give) us some help again.” However, Kelbe disagreed with the idea, saying that the hiring of another full-time person was unnecessary.

“This is just my opinion – and this is 20 years talking – I don’t know that there’s enough work for three people,” said Kelbe, who was public works director until March. “I would like to know, I would like for them to tell me, what has changed since I left – last year to this year!”

“I think they’re taking on a few more actions and activities,” said Kirkpatrick.

“There’s plenty to do,” said Newland.

“Everybody in town is saying, ‘Things are looking so good. I’m seeing these people out working; they’re cleaning up ditches, they’re mowing, they’re cleaning, trimming up trees…’ they’re looking around for things that need to be fixed, they’re taking care of things,” said Kirkpatrick.

The council ultimately voted, after much discussion, to hire another full-time operator starting in January, at $18 an hour.

They also voted for council member Debbie Shaddox to spend “up to $500” to purchase a plaque with name plates to commemorate previous Alba mayors. Shaddox will work with Assistant City Secretary Jenna Trussell to determine how many mayors there have been in Alba’s history.

The council voted to accept the Alba EDC’s request to change the bylaws regarding how many city representatives must be on the EDC board. Under presently adopted regulations, the board can have “not less than one city representative but not more than three.” They also voted to accept the EDC’s recommendation for members, which includes the new membership of Amanda Bohannan and Karyn Margos, and the re-election of Tammy Kirkpatrick and Casey Bohannan.

They voted to not approve SWEPCO’s (Southwestern Electric Power Company) filing request for a rate increase; this paves the way for SWEPCO to have to petition the Public Utility Commission for it themselves.

The council tabled motions on creating a part-time water/sewer/trash clerk; on establishing an ad valorem tax freeze for residential homestead property owners who are disabled or 65 years or older; and on approving the EDC purchase and installation of a business listing sign above the welcome sign, until Newland – who is also a previous EDC board member – is able to discuss it with TxDOT.

The council made an announcement that Alba historian and citizen Saundra Burge was recognized at Quitman’s Old Settler’s Reunion for her “contributions to the history of Alba and Wood County.” They also noted that the Alba Veteran’s Day Parade is on Saturday, November 8, at 10 a.m.