City of Kress Council Meeting  June 17th  2025 
Kress Senior Citizen Center 
306 Skipworth Kress, TX  79052

Mayor Johnny Taylor called the meeting to order at 6:00 PM with Council Member Kelly Durham being absent. City attorney Lanny Voss was present. A moment of silence was called for by Mayor Johnny Taylor.

No one signed up for public comments.

City Council reviewed meeting minutes from 05-16-25 and motion to approve was made by Council Member SaraLee Vuittonet with a second by Dane Sisemore. City Council approved with no nays.

Mayor Johnny Taylor moved to reviewing the city's financial statements and accounts. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated there are several upcoming payouts coming along with updates on the emergency generator, well communications, and sirens. Spending was discussed as well stating some meters will still need to be replaced. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested a motion to approve with Council Member Dane Sisemore making a motion with a second by Council Member Deelane Buske. City Council approved city financial statements with no nays.

City Secretary Tracy Coleman provided Kress Fire Deparment report mentioning incidents and spending. A raffle event by Kress FD was also mention.

Mayor Johnny Taylor moved on to a public hearing and public comment for a ordinance requiring a permit for fireworks in town. There were none. The city council then moved into a executive session with city attorney Lanny Voss at 6:12PM 

City Council returned to open session. Discussion about the city financial audit reports with city attorney Lanny Voss which stated the city audit reports would normally be public but due to information in the audit reports being under criminal investigation, audit reports cannot be public until the criminal investigation & prosecution is complete. It is by the city attorney Lanny Voss's advice no information about the city audits be made public as this time. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested a motion to approve the city audits 2016, 2017, 2018 as reviewed. Council Member Deelane Buske motioned with a second by Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet. City Council approved with no nays.

Mayor Johnny Taylor begun discussing city employee Miguel to be moved to a full-time permit position with the city. Mayor Johnny Taylor asked City Council if they had any questions for Miguel. Council Member Glenda Davis ask if Miguel loves his job, Miguel replied with yes. Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet complimented Miguel for his hard work. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested motion to approve Miguel with a motion by  Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet and second by  Council Member Dane Sisemore. City Council approved with no nays.

Mayor Johnny Taylor started the discussion on city ordinance #20250617, fireworks at the rodeo area on July 4th and New Years. City council member Glenda Davis questioned who would be enforcing the ordinance and stated she does not approve the permit. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated the code enforcement official will be enforcing the permit. Council Member Glenda Davis argued $5.00 may be too much for some in the community due to the current economy.   Mayor Johnny Taylor stated he was recommended to charge $15 to $20 dollars but decided on only $5. Council Member Glenda Davis and Mayor Johnny Taylor continued to discuss the pricing. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested  recommendations. Council Member Glenda Davis stated that the city did not charge last year. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated the fee is for safety and clean-up. Mayor Johnny Taylor recommended the fee be good for a full year and that this ordinance is not about money, it is about the safety for the community. Council member Glenda Davis recommended the city should not charge the $5.00 but just issue the ordinance. Mayor Johnny Taylor replied that could not work due not being able to charge a fine to those that do not. Mayor Johnny Taylor added how there is a state mandate banning fireworks within town. Council member Glenda Davis asked the question again of why $5.00 dollars. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated this was not up for debate and Council member Glenda Davis stated that this is what a city council is; Mayor Johnny Taylor then ask the rest of the council if anyone else would like to continue the conversation about the ordinance. Council member Glenda Davis and Mayor Johnny Taylor continued discussing. Mayor Johnny Taylor asked Council Member Deelane Buske if she had any issues. Council Member Deelane Buske stated she would like everyone to do fireworks at one spot instead of all over town.   Council Member Deelane Buske asked if the $5.00 dollar fee is to know who is popping fireworks. Mayor Johnny Taylor replied with yes and to make sure they understand the rules. Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet ask how would we know who has a permit and who doesn't. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated that there will be a permit that people will carry on them.  Council member Deelane Buske asked where would they purchase the permit which Mayor Johnny Taylor replied with at city hall and possibly looking into a online option. Council Member  Deelane Buske recommended only having the fee $1.00 dollar.  A question of liability was asked by City Secretary Tracy Coleman which Mayor Johnny Taylor directed the question to City Attorney Lanny Voss. Lanny Voss stated they city has a responsibility and obligation to make the area where fireworks are allowed to be as safe as possible, to make sure adult users are responsible as well as a defined rational start time and end time, and to provided safety and security if allowed within the city. Council member Dane Sisemore commented that how this includes having the fire department staff and fire truck on site which means they will have to compensate the fire department for being there. Lanny Voss agreed and there should be reasonable compensation for the fire department. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated that the fee will be used towards the compensation for the fire department. Mayor Johnny Taylor mentioned if there was a burn ban in Swisher county fireworks will be not be allowed. Council Member Deelane Buske commented that they need a dollar amount and time. Mayor Johnny Taylor asked the council if they want to move forward on the ordinance and change the dollar amount. Council Member Glenda Davis asked if there was already a fireworks ordinance which Mayor Johnny Taylor replied that was a resolution to allow the community to pop fireworks that year although Texas Law stated otherwise. Council Member Glenda Davis stated again she does not approve of the $5.00 charge. Council Member Dane Sisemore commented how because of liability the city needs to know for sure if a fire department staff will be present and compensate. Council member Glenda Davis asked if the fire department was present last year. City Secretary Tracy Coleman was not sure who was there but stated she will ask the volunteers fire fighters if they could be on site. Mayor Johnny Taylor and the council continued discussing how permits work. Council Member Deelane Buske asked the council what do they think of the amount. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated he was fine with $1.00 but the amount needs to be enough to compensate the fire department. Council Member Deelane Buske state she had no problem with charging $5.00. Council member Glenda Davis asked what about those that pay for a permit and those that do not pay that will continue to pop fireworks. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated that the ones getting a permit will pay $5.00 and those that do not could pay up to a $500.00 dollar fine. Council member Glenda Davis asked who will be enforcing. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated the code enforcement officer Amber will be enforcing. Council member Glenda Davis stated Amber was not going to be in town. Both Mayor Johnny Taylor and City Secretary Tracy Coleman stated Amber was not going to be available. Council Member Deelane Buske asked if she was going to be available to enforce. City attorney Lanny Voss commented what other cites around the area do and advised the council of recommendations. City attorney Lanny Voss took questions from the council about permits and prices which he stated other cites do permits and charge $10.00 for them. Mayor Johnny Taylor spoke how the goal is to educate the community and other ordinances have made the city better for making people responsible. Council Member Deelane Buske motioned to make the cost $5.00 per family. Lanny Voss clearifed if it would be per family or per household, Mayor Johnny Taylor stated per household. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested motion for $5.00 per household with Council Member Deelane Buske making a motion and Council Member Dane Sisemore second. The council voted with 1 nay by Council Member Glenda Davis for $5.00 fee. 

The council then discussed the start time and ending time with Lanny Voss stating what other cites times. Mayor Johnny Taylor commented he would like the end time around midnight or 1am. Mayor Johnny Taylor asked Council Member Glenda Davis what she thinks of the time which she stated to make the end time 1AM. The council then discussed the start time suggesting to make it 7PM by Council Member Deelane Buske and Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet suggesting 8PM. Lanny Voss recommended to the council the end time is more important and he would recommend nothing later than midnight. Council member Deelane Buske commented she has no problem with 1AM with council member Glenda Davis commenting 7PM to 1PM. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested a motion to set the time 7PM to 1AM for both July 4th and New Years with a motion by Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet and a secound by Council Member Dane Sisemore. Council voted  yes with no nays.

Mayor Johnny Taylor asked the council if there are any other changes they would like to see made to this ordinance. Council Member Dane Sisemore stated there needs to be something in there about providing fire department and possibly law enforcement. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated that the city cannot require the county to send law enforcement with Lanny Voss commenting the same. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated he would look into a possible security. Council Member DeeLane Buske asked if they could ask Swisher County if they could possibly have someone drive through. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated yes they could ask if Swisher County could. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested a motion to approve the ordinance #20250617 regulating fireworks requiring permits with changes made. A motion by Council Member DeeLane Buske and a second by Council Member  Sarelee Vuittonet. Council voted yes with no nays.

Mayor Johnny Taylor moved on to discuss the new billing platform and the issues with community billing being behind 2 months. Mayor Johnny Taylor proposed billing water for 2 months to fix the billing due to the new system in place. Council member Glenda Davis asked if this is a one time increase or 2 months, Mayor Johnny Taylor stated this is a 1 time increase. Mayor Johnny Taylor used a resident bill to give a example of the new proposal. Mayor Johnny Taylor continued discussing how the new meters are more accurate and residents are able to see water usage. Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet had a concern about senior citizens not able to afford this bill. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated the city will make commendations. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated the billing needs to be straightened out to move forward due to the new system in place with the billing to be for April and May. City attorney Lanny Voss asked if this new billing was due to new software, Mayor Johnny Taylor stated yes and continued discussing how the city no longer needs to read the meters physically with the new system sending readings. Mayor Johnny Taylor requested a motion to change the billing to be caught up with a motion by Council Member Sarelee Vuittonet and a second by Council Member Dane Sisemore. Council voted yes with no nays.

City attorney Lanny Voss questioned if there will be something on the customer's bill discussing this change, Mayor Johnny Taylor stated City Secretary Tracy Coleman will add something to the bill and the city will send a alert stating the change. 

Mayor Johnny Taylor discussed updates on the fire department's damaged roof repair and city sirens updates and testing of the sirens stating an alert was made to the public about testing. The city is looking into grants for new sirens. 

Council Member Glenda Davis asked if there is anything for the next agenda, asking if the the streets are still being fixed. Mayor Johnny Taylor stated yes and the new city maintenance hire will they can return to working on that. Council Member SareLeee Vuittonet asked about TxDOT, Mayor Johnny Taylor had no new updates.

Mayor Johnny Taylor requested a motion to adjourn with Council Member SareLee Vuittonet making a motion and a second by Council Member Dane Sisemore. Council voted with no nays.

 
Signed
Johnny Taylor - Mayor
Dane Sisemore  - Mayor Pro Tem /Council