Council approves change to Shipton agreement

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The Snyder City Council approved another change in the city’s agreement with Marc Shipton and two companies he owns.
The new sales tax rebate agreement now includes one company that owns the 7.346-acre tract where the former Walmart is being developed into a shopping center, and the second owns a .637-acre tract where the former Dickey’s restaurant was located. According to the original revised agreement the council was to vote on, the Dickey’s tract covered 3.637 acres. That figure was corrected just before the meeting after City Manager Merle Taylor received questions about the tract’s size from the Snyder Daily News.
The companies are called Gold Sky Capital and Power Sky Capital, and both have the same Lubbock address.
The agreement calls for Shipton to receive up to $450,000 in sales tax rebates over five years if certain employment levels are reached. Depending on the tenants, some sales goals may have to be achieved as well.
The council approved three of four final readings on ordinances. The ordinances address a $2.50 monthly service charge increase for use of fire hydrants, clarify that water is not to be shared between houses and grant Oncor an electric power franchise.
After several questions about the need to install improved pads for recreational vehicle storage and a requirement that they not be allowed to be connected to a home’s electrical system for more than 72 hours, the council voted to table the ordinance and asked the city staff to change those two provisions in the ordinance.
“It seems like we need to tweak a little more for the pad issue and electricity issue,” said council member Luann Burleson. “We don’t want people living in them and we don’t want them on the street.”
City Inspector Dan Hicks said that the electrical connection was not an issue and that there are usually other signs that someone is living in a recreational vehicle.
The council re-appointed Duane Summers and Vernon Clay the Tax Increment Financing Reinvestment Zone No. 1 board of directors and appointed Michael Hoyle to the Development Corporation of Snyder board of directors.
The council approved a $99,989 bid for 169 three- and four-yard side load containers. The city budgeted $100,000 for the purchase. The containers will be purchased from Wastequip in Durant, Okla.
Council members also approved the Emergency Management Finance Annex, which is part of the emergency training and response policy. The plan outlines financial procedures that would take effect in a disaster situation, and is needed in order to receive federal disaster funds in case of a disaster.
Plans for a $1.341 million renovation and expansion of Snyder City Hall were presented, but no vote was taken. The renovations are needed to bring the existing building into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The $736,000 expansion would include new bathrooms and a larger council chambers/courtroom and create room for more offices.
The council discussed phase III of the water line improvement project, which would take place over several years and would seek to remove all the remaining cast iron water lines. The project’s cost will be more than $1.1 million, according to a handout from Jacob and Martin. The city is hoping to get the engineering done and begin work this fiscal year. The city budgeted $500,000 for the work.
The council did not discuss solar power at the landfill because new technology that is expected to be incorporated into solar power systems may drive down prices, Taylor said.