City council holding first meeting of the year tonight

By LYNETTE SOWELL
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove city council will hit the ground running for 2018 with its 6 p.m. meeting this evening, with several purchases, bids, resolutions and appointments to two city boards up for decisions. 
As part of the consent agenda, the purchase of two light duty Ford F-150 trucks along with equipment upfitting for Animal Control in the amount of $57,669.10 is up for a vote tonight. Also, the council is begin asked to authorize the city manager to execute a letter of agreement between the city and Central Texas College District, assuming responsibility for the waterline service relocation under Interstate 14. An ordinance that lowered the speed of vehicles during road construction of a section of F.M. 116 North is set to be repealed by the council tonight. Two truck bodies and a crane are set to be designated as surplus property and be disposed by the city. 
Also on the consent agenda, the emergency purchase of a new influent screen for the South Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the amount of $88,650 is being requested.
The council is holding two public hearings tonight, one being the first public hearing for a 2017-2018 budget amendment. The amendment is to use fund balance for the above purchase of the influent screen. Also, the Police Department is ending its buy-back agreement for four motorcycles totaling $40,000 and will use that money to purchase two new motorcycles. 
The second public hearing is for the proposed revisions to the city’s parking and zoning ordinances. 
Five vacancies on the Keep Copperas Cove Beautiful Commission are up for appointment and reappointment tonight. Current members Mary Derrick and Marc Payne both applied for reappointment, as did former KCCB board member Bob Hill, with Elizabeth Chrzastek and Julie Norman also applying for a position. 
One position on the Copperas Cove Economic Development Corporation board of directors is also to be filled this evening, after the resignation of place 3 board member Harald Weldon. Applications being presented to the council come from Elizabeth Chrzastek, Edgardo Febles, Gary Kent, and Marcie Lowery.
Councilman David Morris is bringing a recommendation to refund Cove House Emergency Homeless Shelter the rental fees it paid to the city for using the Civic Center for its annual banquet, in the amount of $450. 
The city’s Parks & Recreation Department received three bids for the golf course cart path construction, amounting to with base bids of $747,332.50, $865,140.15, and $687,267.17 received, which is higher than the budgeted amount for those projects. The department is bringing the bids to council this evening with the recommendation to reject those bids, and is also asking for authorization to rebid the project in phases. 
The Police Department is also bringing a recommendation to reject bids received for police pursuit SUV upfitting, and a request to authorize the city manager to rebid the upfitting of police vehicles. 
Several items from the fire department are up for approval this evening, to include renewing a memorandum of understanding with the State of Texas for interoperability communications; designating the city manager as the authorized person to apply for, accept, reject, alter or terminate, and close Homeland Security grants; authorizing the city manager to enter into a memorandum of agreement with the Capital Area Trauma Regional Advisory Council; and a resolution to allow the city manager along with the city’s Emergency Management Coordinator and Director of Finance to conduct actions necessary to apply for, accept, reject, alter, terminate, submit progress reports, and close an Emergency Management Performance grant.  
The council will also discuss dates for the upcoming council and staff retreat and planning session. 
Heather Bryan, the city’s Tourism and Information Coordinator, will give reports tonight on the 2017 Copperas Cove Farmer’s Market along with the Fall-O-Ween Festival.
An executive session is also on the agenda to discuss the former city utility department building located at 305 S. Main St.
The 5 p.m. workshop has no discussion topic on the agenda, but the time is solely dedicated to recognitions, with Nora Couch retiring as a senior records clerk after 22 years. Five-, 10-, 15- and 20-year service awards will be given to six current employees. KCCB will recognize outgoing board members, and the city will also recognize volunteers for the recent Operation Holiday Uplift.
Meetings will take place in the council chambers at the city’s technology center, located at 508 S. 2nd St.