Council/Ambulance Committee ready grant application
The Friona City Council met in regular session on Monday, June 12, 2017 in the Council Chambers.
The Action for an Ambulance Committee of Kitty Gallman, Sharon White and Kathryn Goddard met with the Council to discuss the progress they are making on the purchase of a new ambulance. The committee is working with City Manager Patricia Phipps to apply for a grant from the Amarillo Area Foundation. The required information will be ready by June 16 and sent to the foundation. The foundation will make their judgment in September after extensive study is made. The Committee will be sending solicitation letters to all the businesses in Friona in the near future. Their goal is to raise $220,000. The council approved the grant application.
The council approved a mission statement for Friona. It reads, “The mission of the City of Friona is to enrich the quality of life for our citizens by providing a safe community, being responsible caretakers of the public trust and delivering exceptional services.”
Approval was given for Phipps to transfer up to $60,000 from the Water Fund into the General Fund. She was also authorized to transfer up to $90,000 from the Sanitation Fund to the General Fund.
Friona Police Chief Isidro Jimenez addressed the council and reported that the Police Department had made 7 arrests and 71 traffic stops in May. The department made 159 calls for service and 15 incident reports. Police, Fire, and EMS departments made 200 calls total. He informed the council that the police department is still locking the cemetery gates every night and the city is unlocking them every morning. This measure was taken after recent vandalism at the cemetery.
The city will be selling at auction the following: 2003 Chevrolet pickup, 2005 Chevrolet pickup, 2005 F-150 pickup, 2008 and 2009 Dodge Charger police cars.
The council approved a requested variance requested by Virginia Coronado at 408 Woodland to build a carport on the property line instead of the five feet required from the property line.
The council voted to approve the accounts payable and the financial statement for May before going into Executive session to discuss the annual evaluation of the City Manager.
The Friona City Council will meet on July 10, 2017 at 6:30 p.m. at the City Council Chambers at 619 Main Street. All meetings are open to the public.
