Mayor Pro-Tem Ken Reiley opened the Kenedy City Council meeting on Dec. 11 following a workshop and review of the five-year Veolia contract.

Karen Kibbe asked for approval to go forward with an application for a renewable energy grant that would enable the city to purchase ten solar panels plus five-day battery backups that could save the city some of its electricity costs.

The grant is part of a state pilot project to help the effort for "greening" areas of Texas. A portion of the grant for the city would be about $33,400 dollars.

"We’re going to buy this anyway," Councilman Bob Patton said, adding that the city would welcome the help of the grant. The council authorized the grant application.

Postmaster Jimmy Loya presented a proclamation from the Pony Express Association in appreciation for being included in the dedication recently of the Kenedy City Park. Loya said that he hoped the Pony Express would be invited to come through Kenedy again next year.

City Manager Reggie Winters asked the council for approval of several items. His recommendation to continue with Blue Cross/Blue Shield and MetLife as the insurance companies for city employees in 2008 with a slight rise in cost was approved. He also stated that the TxDOT Aviation grant for maintaining the Kenedy Airport runways and grassy areas, plus help with the cost of a new beacon and runway lights required an authorized representative from the city for contact purposes.

After discussion, the council agreed to have Winters be the designated representative. City Attorney Craig McAda informed the council that after reading over the documents concerning the airport, he found that there must be a designated fund established requiring that any income earned by the airport would go into this fund for additional upkeep costs. The council agreed.

Winters made the request for advertising for bids from engineering firms to conduct a water study, rate increase study, and impact fees study. This was approved. The council discussed that since the University of Texas group had worked with the city council on well repairs and other water issues that they might be considered for help in these studies. It was discussed that the studies can be used as a review and a master plan for the future.

Councilman Felipe Leal suggested that there be separate studies for each of these.

McAda asked for changes in the wording of the Whipple property contract.

"The property was given to the city for water lines from wells 11 and 12 to be used and involved to flush arsenic and a possible backwash area due to the arsenic problem," McAda said.

McAda said that Whipple is unhappy with the concept of arsenic seeping into his land and property. There should be a survey along with changes in the wording according to McAda. The changes were approved by the council.

Councilman Reiley said that he would like to propose several motions that would lead to an integrated network to move toward enhancements of the city’s water system.

His first proposal is to go ahead and firm up the funding of the budgeted work to be done this year.

His second proposal is the water meter replacement asking Veolia and city staff to come back with information of potential cost.

His third proposal is to go ahead allowing enhancement and the acquisition needed to do so.

His fourth proposal is to reschedule staffing adjustment and maintenance repair training for same.

Councilman Leal added a fifth proposal to allow Veolia to purchase maintenance tools as recommended.

The council approved all of the proposals.

Councilman Reilly also stated that he would like to reschedule a meeting to look at other items recommended.

Before the closed session occurred, several items that had been on the agenda were tabled or no action was taken at this time.

Winters reviewed several alleged violations that had been brought to his attention from TCEQ, including needed capping of wells, concern of the old water tower and process for arsenic review. He assured TCEQ that they had taken care of, or were in the process of fixing these items and TCEQ said they would accept a letter documenting the information.

After the closed session concerning the employment status of City Manager Reggie Winters, it was disclosed that no action was taken on this matter as well.

The meeting was adjourned after Winters gave his staff report that TCEQ wants the city to have a small pilot study on the arsenic issue.

Southwest Engineers needs to submit a request to buy the equipment to conduct the study at a cost of $3,500. The study would run for about 90 days.

Winters said he just wanted the Council to know that this is coming and is giving them a general outline at this time. Mayor Garza said he would accompany the report of this study to the required meeting when completed.