The City of Teague Board of Aldermen approved a Home program, discussed repairing or replacing the Teague Volunteer Fire Department’s Engine 92 as well as their deficit budget from last year along with other items at its monthly meeting on Monday night, March 17. All Board of Aldermen members were present for the meeting.
Teague volunteer firefighters Ron Stewart and Bryan Teer, along with Brandon Martin with Siddons- Martin Emergency Group, spoke to the board about repairing or replacing Engine 92.
Engine 92 has been out of service for about six weeks. A recent inspection showed the fire truck from 2006 needs in excess of $50,000 in repairs. The men also presented new fire trucks ranging in prices of $550,000 to $620,000.
Mayor James Monks asked the firemen, “How did the engine get to this shape?”
They said they knew of a couple of things that needed to be fixed, but when the inspection was completed, more issues were found.
The Teague VFD had selected a new fire truck that cost $574,000 from Siddons-Martin Emergency Group. The trade-in value of Engine 92 is $62,000.
Currently, the city owes $211,000 on an engine that was purchased in 2018. The City of Teague is rated as a Class 4 with their volunteer fire department. Without their second engine, the rating could change which would make insurance and other costs increase.
¨Please don’t wait until the last minute to come to the council next time,” Place 2 Alderman Jerry Ballew said. “You are asking us to make a half-amillion- dollar purchase on a 15-minute presentation.”
Martin bragged about the Teague Volunteer Fire Department.
“Kudos to these men. There is no one that keeps their trucks, station, and equipment clean and up to date like them. They do a top notch job,” Martin said.
To get the engine back in operation, the starter and AC needs to be fixed which will cost about $10,000.
The board asked the Teague VFD to receive three bids on fixing the starter and AC and then they would hold a special called meeting to discuss the bids.
The board members said they would look into a new engine at a later date, but the cost of the new fire truck needs to be put in the new budget for the upcoming year.
The board postponed approving Budget Amendment Ordinance, No. 202517-03, to the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 budget until more accurate numbers can be presented. Numbers are currently showing that there is still an approximate $500,000 deficit in the budget from last year.
“We can’t spend $500,000 on a new fire truck, but we can spend $500,000 on reckless spending,” Place 5 Alderman Timothy Campbell said. “We have to do a better job than this.”
The aldermen discussed having the department heads come before the board to make purchases once their budget reaches close to 100%. The matter will be discussed more at next month’s meeting.
Rob Bathen from Grantworks discussed the HOME program with the board of Aldermen. The program helps lower-income families tear down and rebuild a three bedroom/ two bath home. There would be a 3% match for homse built. The program would require the family to move out and store items for about three months while their home is torn down and rebuilt.
The program allows for up to 10 homes to be torn down and rebuilt. According to Bathen, for a city the size of Teague, the program usually rebuilds about four to six homes in the community.
The HOME program is approximately an 18-month process for a family. GrantWorks does the application process and scores and chooses the home that will be rebuilt in the city. If a home is sold following the rebuild within a certain time frame, the homeowners would have to pay a prorated cost.
The HOME program was used in Teague back in 2006, when four homes were torn down and rebuilt.
The board approved the City of Teague/Freestone County to authorize Request for Proposals (RFPs) for administrative and construction management services related to the HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Homeowner Reconstruction Program by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
The board also approved Resolution No. R2025-03-17 regarding the City of Teague/Freestone County participation in the State of Texas HOME Investment Partnerships Program (HOME) Homeowner Reconstruction Program administered by the Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs.
Citizen Pablo Jiminez Jr. discussed with the board the possibility of an installation of an Atmos Energy main gas line from 10th Street to Circle Drive and Wildflower Lane. There are 14 residents in the area and he has signatures from seven of the residents who were onboard for the project. The board decided they wanted a representative from Atmos Energy to make a presentation to the board to see if there would be any costs for the city in the project.
The board approved the conveyance of the lift station property located on Hwy 84 from the EDC to the City. The cost for the city will be approximately $2,700 for the cost of reserves, replat, and attorney fees.
The board accepted the certification of unopposed candidates for the May 3 general election for Jerry Ballew, Bridget Gauntt and Timothy Campbell.
The board then adopted Ordinance No. 202503-17-A declaring the election scheduled to be held on May 3 cancelled in accordance with Section 2.053(a) of the Texas Election Code and repealing all other ordinances in conflict.
At the beginning of the meeting, Allyse Long read a letter from former alderman Marilyn Michaud thanking the Teague Police Department for all that they did for her. She was involved in an accident on Dec. 3. Since then, the police officers have helped her recover from the accident since her family lives out of town.
The next City of Teague Board of Aldermen meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 21, at 6 p.m.
