Mayor:
Mayor’s Monthly Report
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ISSUES ADDRESSED DURING MY TERMS AS MAYOR
The following list identifies needed improvements, plans, services, grants, budgets, staffing, and business interests within the City of Bogata from November 2020, through December 2024. Nov. 2020 – April 2021 (Pro Tem Leadership)
Completed paperwork for Care Grant (COVID compliance) ($59,000) and considering sale of Old Nursing Home property ($200,000).
Review staffing needs and changes.
Review policies and procedures needs and changes.
Review and edit Job Descriptions.
Bonding of city staff.
Assist Azam brothers with plans and implementation of truck stop project.
Acquire an Audit Firm to begin audits for finance, payroll, and vendors.
Review and set up vendors for city services.
Hire a municipal judge for the city.
Set up sub-committees for budget, ordinance, and infrastructure review.
Review and edit the website.
Review and edit the Employee Handbook.
Inventory fixed assets and equipment within the city.
Begin work with GIS system for mapping of water and sewer lines as well as locations of businesses and/or sites within the city.
Plan and secure access to towers, controls, and waste dumpsters.
Begin CDBG Grant plans for street repairs. ($350,000)
Infrastructure improvements through American Recovery Act for water and sewer projects. ($262,000) May 2021 – April 2022 (begin term as Mayor)
Plan to upgrade salaries and staff certifications.
Agreement with ADP for payroll management.
Extension of Azam project.
Plan for separation of water and sewer services between a business (Trucking Awesome) and private citizen.
Continue plans for mapping of city with the GIS.
Begin plans to set up Bogata Economic Corporation and move the American Recovery Act grant funds for infrastructure projects.
Supplies for current Projects.
Consider staff for Code Compliance needs.
Revise and edit employees’ pay scale. May 2022 – December 2022
Azam Truck Stop groundwork project started.
CDBG street project is getting started.
2022 –2023 Budget completed.
Improvements and upgrades to wastewater plant have begun.
Materials for new fencing for security of tower controls
Reorganization of Bogata PD, Code Compliance and system upgrades.
Construction approval for CDBG Street Repairs finalized.
Organize Emergency Management plan and appoint a Coordinator. January 2023 – April 2023
Pond docks at the Wastewater plant have been rebuilt and are ready to be placed on the ponds.
New pond monitoring instruments have been purchased for more accurate measurement of ammonia, oxygen, pH, and chlorine levels.
A free consultation visit, from the TRWA to assess our wastewater facility and procedures has been completed and has provided us with many resource options to improve our processes.
Review suggestions from the representative from TRWA concerning improvement measures for the wastewater systems.
Steps taken to drain and clean wet tanks in the Master Lift Station at the wastewater ponds.
Reviewed and changed assignments for Standing Committees.
Begin the application process for CBDG Street project for north side of city. If we can qualify for the Grant, it could be for up to $500,000 (3/30/23). WE DID NOT QUALIFY FOR THIS FUNDING! However, we can re-apply at the end of 2024 for funding of this project in 2025. (8/1/2023)
Organize a city Park Improvement Committee.
CDBG Street Project Completed.
May 2023 – December 2023 (2nd Term as Mayor)
Security Fencing completed.
Water Towers and Ground Tanks PM and cleaning completed.
Azam Truck Stop / Sonic project – underground Electrical, Plumbing, Gas Lines are in various stages of completion. (as of July 1, 2023) Update: As of 8/17/2023, all the above underground needs are completed; 80% of concrete pours are done; fuel tanks, pumps, and service area, as well as building supplies are due at the site, soon. 4. Contractor selected for tree removal and clean-up at the city park after storm damage. 5. Health Insurance for all employees selected to start in November of 2023 January 2024 -July 2024
- New Truckstop and Sonic Delayed until the end of Feb or early March. But getting close .
- Planning for Total Eclipse Event on April 8th has begun.
- New Truckstop and Sonic is completed and open for business.
- Needed maintenance to pumps at the wastewater plant is being scheduled.\
- Sewer Plant repairs to pumps and lines are completed.\ August 2024 – December 2024
Final payment of IRS payroll taxes.
A Study Grant (Community Resiliency) is being sought for improvements to infrastructure in the city.
Repairs to Weather Alert Siren has been completed.
The application process for TxCDBG Projects is being sought for more city street repair on the North side of town.
Talks with a new Attorney Group for the collections of delinquent taxes is underway. The need to get abandoned property and unpaid taxes back on the tax rolls will help get these properties cleaned up and productive for property owners and the city. Approved in October 2024.
Renewal of Health Insurance with Texas Health at a better rate and less deductible costs. Approved to start November 1, 2024.
Approved KBB Consulting a Grant Administrator for TxCDBG funding for infrastructure grant. Waiting for approval for roads on North side of city.
2024 / 2025 Budget approved in September 2024.
Assisted the re-organization of the Crime Board and the identity of the many programs they could/should support.