City of Kress Council Meeting  May 16th 2025 
Kress Senior Citizen Center 
306 Skipworth Kress, TX  79052

City Mayor Johnny Taylor called the meeting to order 6:07 P.M. Moment of silence was called by Mayor Taylor. Last call for public comments was ordered by Mayor Taylor.

Mayor Johnny Taylor called for Public Comment which no one signed up, Mayor Taylor checked with the public to make sure no one wanted to speak before moving on.

Meeting Minutes from April were reviewed by City Council with a motion by Glen Owen and seconded by Kelly Durham to vote on approving. All council members approved with no nays.

Mayor Taylor discussed and reviewed the city's financial accounts. Mayor Taylor discussed upcoming spending for projects and repairs. Motion to approve city financials was made by council member Glen Owen with a second by council member Dane Sisemore. City council approved with no nays.
 
Mayor Taylor moved on to Oath of Office, starting with a statement from Mayor Taylor about Council member Owens thanking him for his time with the council over the years. Owens provided a small parting statement. Deelane Buske was introduced as Mr. Owens replacement on city council and swore in with Statement of Officer and Oath of Office. Re-elect council member Kelly Durham was swore in with Statement of Officer and Oath of Office. Re-elect council member Dane Sisemore was swore in with Statement of Officer and Oath of Office. 

The Pro Tem Mayor nomination begun by Mayor Taylor with recommending council member Deelane Buske. Deelane Buske recommended council member Kelly Durham or council member Dane Sisemore. Council member Kelly Durham nominated council member Dane Sisemore and Mayor Taylor second the nomination. The city council voted and approved Dane Sisemore as new Pro Tem Mayor with no nays.

Mayor Taylor moved on to discuss the city sirens repairs for the city council to consider approving. Mayor Taylor went over the issues with the sirens and grants for repairs, which would take a couple of years, in the meantime seeking to start some repairs/upgrades till the grant is approved. Proposed cost should not exceed $9,000 for labor and materials. After discussing Mayor Taylor considered a motion to approve proposal to repair the sirens with new communication. Council member Kelly Durham motioned and second from council member Saralee Vuittonet. City council voted for the sirens repair with no nays.

Condemnation structures to be reconsidered discussion, replacing 2 on the list that had been previously voted on. Mayor Taylor discussed the properties that were removed from the list and asked the council to vote on others to add/replace, the properties to consider: 509 W First, 405 West First, & 201 Paul Ave. Mayor Taylor stated the vote is for 2 properties to replace the 2 taken off with the 3rd possibly added if allowed.  Motion to approve 509 W First and 405 West First as the 2 to be used for replacements with the 3rd 201 Paul as a possibility if allowed, council member Kelly Durham motion with a second by council member Saralee Vuittonet. City council approved with no nays.






Mayor Taylor moved on to the Fire Station repair updates. The deck will need to be paid for costing $5,000-$7,000 dollars which insurance will not pay for. Mayor Taylor spoke about how the city's insurance works stating the city is not receiving any money from the insurance. 

Grant updates were discussed by Mayor Taylor. Mayor Taylor stated there will be some cost to add new meters into the system for new residents with properties that did not get meters. Mayor Taylor then discussed  the current water billing issues which has been in placed for decades of bills being 2 months behind. Mayor Taylor recommended to forego a month for the new system to work properly. Tracy Coleman vol. City secretary assisted discussing the current billing issues and what plans are being considered to fix billing. New water meters were discussed and how much they will help with billing. Mayor Taylor also discussed how there are extra cost estimated $10,000 for a inventory test with the meters & pipes that is required by TCQ to have.

Mayor Taylor moved on to discus the financial audit  2016-2023 with Tracy Coleman providing some updates. Mayor Taylor stated the city is is unable to publish any documents from the audit due to a ongoing investigation. Council member Deelann Buske had a question for Mayor Taylor if the cost was $5,000 per year which Mayor Taylor stated yes. Mayor Taylor asked a question about a past audit in 2018 to council member Deelann Buske who was on city coucil at the time. Deelann Buske was unsure about the audit. Mayor Taylor stated after he receives permission results from the audit will be posted.

Mayor Taylor discussed he is looking into a dump trailer for the city and stated he is waiting what the car business is doing before buying a vehicle. 

Mayor Taylor thanked council member Glenda Davis for her work on the sirens.

Fireworks for July 4th were discussed to add to the agenda for next meeting.

Mayor Taylor discussed how all tires were moved from the area around the bonfire and baseball field. Mayor Taylor stated the city now has a key for the bonfire to help keep people from throwing mattresses and tires stating if anyone sees someone illegal dumping to report them with photos. Council member Glenda Davis questioned about the dumping near 788. Mayor Taylor stated he talked to TCQ asking for assistance from Amarillo and Lubbock offices due to the city wells being near the dumping. Mayor Taylor stated if the ground gets contaminated it would shut down the wells, the State of Texas needs to help. Mayor Taylor spoke with TxDOT as well but no one can figure out the property owner. Mayor Taylor asked the public to take photos of anyone dumping in that area and report it.

Mayor Taylor discussed how The Texas Community Group will come through the city for inspections on the last Thursday of the month. Asking the community to keep their properties clean and cut. Mayor Taylor stated the city cannot assist in cleaning up properties until authorization also stating owners will receive a bill and renters will get a citation. 

Mayor Taylor asked the council for anything else to be added to the agenda for next meeting stating any council member may call him later to add items to the agenda.






A request for a motion to adjuren the meeting was maybe by Mayor Taylor. Motion was made by council member Sarelee Vuittonet with a second by council member Dane Sisemore.
 





 Signed:
Johnny Taylor


Dane Sisemore