Number of applicants for the new community development director position with the City of Fairfield has been narrowed from 25 original applicants to three finalists, who were interviewed in a special meeting of the city councilmen last week. A final decision, however, has yet to be made.

Also at Tuesday’s meetings, councilmen discussed the city’s options in response to an almost $8,000 fine imposed by the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for wastewater violations.

Interviews and discussion between council members hoping to hire a community development coordinator took several hours, but still did not produce a final selection for the newly formed city department. The issue was tabled to be addressed at an as yet unspecified future meeting.

Finalists are former Fairfield Main Street director Dawn Newman, Joanna Fritz of Streetman, and Liz Thornton of Richland Chambers.

The three each met behind closed doors with the Fairfield councilmen last Tuesday in executive session, prior to the city’s regular council meeting. Also present at the public portion of the meetings was applicant, but not finalist, Sandy Bates Bell. Ms. Bell is curator at the Freestone County Museum, and says she hopes her presence, and letters she has written, will influence the council to choose someone she believes is truly qualified for the job.

“If not me, that’s okay, as long as it is someone qualified,” she said.

A $7,976 fine issued to the city by the TCEQ was explained by city administrator Jeff Looney and Mayor Roy Hill.

“We blinked on a bad day,” the mayor said. “We’re not blinking anymore.”

Looney said that the city has had so many aerator problems in the past, it caused them to be out of compliance with the TCEQ.

“We didn’t try to hide anything, we notified the TCEQ in monthly reports,” Looney says. Apparently, he adds, the TCEQ put the matter before a committee, and sent a letter stating that the City of Fairfield has a number of violations, they want them reconciled, and in the meantime have issued a fine.

Looney says he talked to the TCEQ without much progress—-however, the fine was reduced by about $2,000 from its initial charge. The Austin-based commission also told Looney that either the city pays the fine, or can do an “SEP”, a special environmental project, and use the fine money toward that expense.

The SEP must be a wastewater project, Looney said, and there are several Fairfield projects that he feels would qualify.

A motion was made by Joe Lee Kirgan, and approved by all councilmen, to opt for the project and have Looney look into possible qualifying projects.

Council members approved paying about $6,100 for repairs to the Fairfield chamber of commerce building, in an item tabled from the last council meeting. Chamber director Cheryl Cockerell said repairs were partly for termite treatment, estimated at $1,350 by Mexia Pest Control. That amount would be for a 1-time treatment of the facility. For quarterly check-ups, Mexia Pest Control will not charge the chamber, and the chamber will in turn not charge the company for chamber membership. Mrs. Cockerell says the chamber utilizes businesses who are members of the organization.

Replacement of the air conditioning system will cost about $4,750 and will be provided by Elmer Ballard. Chamber members will provide free labor to reinstall the insulation and underpinning, which was damaged during a search for the initial problem— the unpleasant smell of a dead animal—-which led to the discovery of termites, and a faulty, and old, A/C system.

Funds for the repairs will come from the hotel motel tax.

Roof repairs at city hall were approved last week after councilmen looked at bids received. Low bidder was Parsons Roofing, with a bid of $17,500. An additional bid of $22,439 was entered by Johnson Roofing. For removal of the air conditioners so roof repairs can be made, bids were received by Elmer Ballard for $1,200. and Wortham Air Conditioning for $3,475.

“The bids were apple to apple,” Looney said. “I don’t know why there is such a big difference.”

Both low bids were approved.

Public works department will receive three new trucks from Performance Ford. Bids received for a ¾ ton truck were Performance, $15,991., Bossier, $17,900., and HGAC, $16,111.82. For two ½ ton trucks Performance bid $26,432., and HGAC bid $29,388.38. The trucks are all white, councilmen noted, and cost is included in this year’s budget.

A proposal from Oncor for electric rates for the city was accepted, effective Dec. 31. The city currently pays 6.6 cents, and the new proposal is 6.3 cents, saving the city about $8,500 annually.

Also at last week’s meeting, raises were approved for water/wastewater operator Albert Gallegos, from $18.60 per hour to $19.60; water/wastewater operator Kendal Minyard, from $16.34 to $16.67, water/wastewater operator Becky Boyd from $15.23 to $15.69, and meter reader William Chavez from $12.09 to $12.33.