Crockett council renews youth-baseball lease, updates personnel policy and confirms appointments

CROCKETT — At its October regular meeting, the Crockett City Council approved a package of routine but consequential items: a five-year lease for Crockett Merchants Youth Baseball, updates to the city’s personnel policy and pay schedule, appointments to the Building and Standards Commission, surplus listings for auction, a street closure for a downtown fall festival and confirmation of a newly hired utility supervisor.

Lease renewal: Unidentified Speaker 4 told council the organization formerly associated with the Little League has reconstituted as Crockett Merchants Youth Baseball and has been a long-time, active tenant caring for the former Boys and Girls Club building and ball fields. Speaker 4 recommended renewing the lease for five years. Unidentified Speaker 6 moved approval; council approved the renewal by voice vote.

Personnel policy and pay schedule: Speaker 4 asked the council to adopt updates (appendix D) that reflect pay schedules tied to tax rates approved during the budget process. "If this is passed, then this would go into . . . our new pay period," Unidentified Speaker 4 said, noting timing tied to the council’s pay period and budget. Unidentified Speaker 1 moved to approve the personnel-policy updates; the motion carried by voice vote.

Appointments: Staff reported two vacancies on the Building and Standards Commission and presented applications from Shanice (Shannon) Harris, Scott Shelley and Charles Arnold. Council members nominated and voted to appoint Shannon Harris and Charles Arnold as permanent members and to designate Scott Shelley as an alternate. Earlier members Diane Roan, Moe Amjad, Courtney Yarborough, Louise Wooten and Reggie Gregory were listed as no longer serving.

Hiring and SSO position repurposing: The city said it would repurpose its state-required sanitary sewer overflow (SSO) technician role (the requirement dates to 2016) into a utility supervisor position that splits technical GIS/camera responsibilities from field work. Staff introduced Rick Gilson as the new hire (the speaker initially named Scott Shelley but corrected the record). "We've made him a job offer, and he started last Friday," Unidentified Speaker 4 said. Council moved to confirm the hire and approved the confirmation by voice vote.

Surplus auction and street closure: Staff presented a list of 11 surplus items to be listed on an online auction platform through Renee Bates Auctioneers Inc.; council approved the surplus list. Separately, council approved closing Milam Avenue for a November evening fall festival hosted by The Gathering Place; speakers discussed logistics and volunteer needs and approved the closure by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: minutes approval (approved); Crockett Merchants Youth Baseball lease renewal (approved); personnel policy and pay schedule updates (approved); purchase of 2003 motor grader from Houston County (approved — see separate article); approval of surplus auction list (approved); appointments to Building and Standards Commission (Shanice/Charles appointed, Scott Shelley alternate — approved); confirmation of utility supervisor hire (Rick Gilson — approved); Milam Avenue closure for fall festival (approved).

What happens next: Staff will finalize lease paperwork, implement the updated pay schedule, publish the surplus items to auction, onboard the utility supervisor and execute event logistics for the fall festival street closure.