Council approves broadband agreement

The Yoakum City Council approved an agreement for the use of poles and rightsof-way at the May 14 meeting. Rise Broadband aims to use these for the installation of fiber lines.

Rise Broadband is installing fiber lines in smaller cities in the Houston and San Antonio area.

“Basically we take fiber into the city and we take that straight to the customers home or business,” Rise Broadband Launch Manager and Market Developer Jeremy McDonald said. “It’s straight fiber, so there’s no sharing of bandwidth. Everybody gets what they’re paying for. We want to hit 3,021 homes and businesses. We believe fiber drives the economic development so businesses can come and have that ability to make fast transactions and operate quicker with what they’re doing.”

McDonald also believes it will bring residentials into the city as well for those that work at home.

“When we come in, we’ll put door hangers on everyone’s door (notifying them) that we will build down that alley,” McDonald said. “We will work with utilities hand in hand to make sure we are not overutilizing the city’s resources.”

If lines are down, once this is installed, the turn around time to get them fixed would be about 48 hours.

Council members also heard a request from the Yoakum Golf Association. Requests were made to rebuild the golf course’s #7 greens.

“We’ve had some issues with the greens over the last three or four years ever since the freeze,” YGA President Patrick Matusek said. “These greens are 70 years old and have not been reworked in 70 years.”

Other requests from the association included a purchase for a new sander, closing of the course for tournaments, and a rental cart agreement. The only request council did approve was a lease agreement for the rental of golf carts.

Other items on the agenda included:

• Place 5 incumbent Michael Brandt took the oath of office. It was also reported that there were a total of 376 votes in this election. Council approved a runoff election to take place on June 15. Early voting for this election will run through June 3 to June 11. Those running for this election are Place 4 candidates Mitchell Franz and Vanita Cheeves and Place 2 candidates Daniel Driskell and Jay Cassell.

• Reports of junked vehicles and building code violations at 104 Ellen May Rd. was heard at council as well. That area is a RV park. People in that area were building structures on their RVs. More than half of those RV registrations are expired. Council ordered the owner of the park to issue citations or evictions, and if people don’t comply, further action could be taken.

•A second and final reading of an ordinance granting a request from the Yoakum Independent School District for the closure of McKinnon St. was approved.

• Cindy Maynard gave information to council regarding stop signs, animal control issues, and street cleaning services for water flow. According to Maynard, her neighbor has been putting their dog on a leash all day and night.

•Council awarded a contract for the 2024- 25 Brush Grinding Bid. This is not to exceed $88,000.42.

• Council authorized staff to advertise to rebid the Street Improvement Project.

• Council awarded a contract for the 24-25 Street Material Bid from multiple bidders.

•Council tabled a proposal from Texas Disposal System for outsourcing the Yoakum Municipal Solid Waste Transfer Station.

• Council approved obtaining bids for a new garbage truck for the Solid Waste Department.

• A request for additional funds for a digger truck for the Electric Department was approved.

• Council awarded a $40,000 contract for the City of Yoakum Classification and Compensation Study.

• A proposed fee schedule for engineering services through CSRS LLC of Dallas for water and wastewater engineering for Industrial Park II was approved.

• The annual Memorial Day Event is scheduled for May 27 at 10 a.m. at the Yoakum Fire Station.

• A special meeting will be scheduled for canvassing the June run-off election results.