Code enforcements were the highlight of the Fairfi eld City Council meeting on Tuesday, March 11. All council members were present for the meeting.
Citizen Lynn Byrom spoke to the board about trash and debris located at a house on Fount Kirby. Byrom said that it is an ongoing issue for the area.
Mayor Bobby Nichols thanked Byrom for speaking and noted that the city was currently working on code enforcements.
David Reyes with Safe Built was present at the meeting as well. He had been working with City of Fairfield Code Enforcement Officer Opal Oliver throughout the day.
“You have to take it one property at a time,” Reyes said. “And it does take time.”
Reyes noted that the process could take from 30 to 45 days to get an area taken care of.
Oliver noted that there were currently two areas, one on Bonner Street and one on Fount Kirby, that she was in communication with the residents about the code violations.
“We need to take care of this for the citizens who have to deal with it,” Place 2 Councilmember Arland Thill said.
Place 5 Councilmember Angela Oglesbee pointed out that citizens could view the monthly agenda and reports online to keep up with what is taking place within the city – specifically the code enforcements that had been handled throughout the month.
“We are working on it,” Nichols said. “However, it does take time.”
Councilmember James Tyus asked about a drug task force officer for the City of Fairfield. It was noted that some areas in town were just a revolving door. A drug offi cer could cost the city more than $50,000 per year.
Nichols noted that the city is looking at some grants for the parks through Texas Parks and Wildlife. An eight- to 10-year plan will be set up with the grant to improve the parks. Nichols noted that the city would get input from citizens if the city was approved for the grant before moving forward.
The council approved the minutes from the Feb. 11 council meeting and the bill register as of Feb. 28.
The council approved a municipal maintenance agreement between the City of Fairfield and the Texas Department of Transportation. It is a standard agreement that the council signs each year.
Glick was approved to repair the washout at the North Retention Pond at Mims Creek for $15,000. Glick had the lowest bid. The next bid came in at $25,900. The council did approve a bid back in December for $10,600, but the contractor backed out. There was no signed agreement, and he never started the job.
The council approved adding Scott Leatherman as a reserved police officer to the Fairfield Police Department.
The next scheduled City of Fairfield City Council meeting is set for Tuesday, April 8, at 5:30 p.m.
