Quinlan Council Retains ETJ, Approves Blevins Septic System

Quinlan council members voted twice Monday night for the city to retain regulation of its extra territorial jurisdiction (ETJ.)

The first vote on the ETJ came in the form of a resolution that assumed complete regulation of the area as opposed to joint regulation with Hunt County.

City Consultant Billy Green told the council that County Judge John Horn had notified him that the state no longer allowed joint regulation as it had been in the past. Green said the regulation had to be either by the county or the city.

"I was pretty certain that we wanted to control our ETJ," he said in recommending that the city retain the authority. The vote was unanimous to retain control.

The second vote on ETJ came on a request from Sunrise Municipal Utility District for the city to release its authority over a three-acre plot the district had purchased after the initial request for release of the entire ETJ. The first request was denied, and the council voted unanimously to decline the latest request.

Green said the district had not responded to a letter from the city’s attorney that stated it did not have enough information to make a decision.

The council voted unanimously to approve an underground septic system on land owned by Eddie Blevins at the intersection of Second and Fifth Streets.

The council had voted last month to award Blevins back charges for sewer service in the amount of $1,130.82 and gave him four months to connect to the city’s sewer. The city had not been aware of the septic tank, the only one in use in Quinlan, and had billed him for sewer service for almost four years, which he paid until he learned that he did not receive the service.

Green told the council Monday night that the Blevins home was located several hundred feet from the nearest sewer line. The resolution states that although city rules prohibited the use of septic tank systems in the city, they were allowed if property was not located within 200 feet of the city sewer collection line. The resolution also provided that the septic system be operated in a safe and sanitary condition and could be inspected by the city twice annually and other times deemed necessary.

A drive-by water meter system was approved at a cost of $24,850.

Green told the council that John Lab and Supply Inc. of Palestine offered the package deal in a special promotion that included 60 meters, software and training.

Green and Utilities Director Rick Morgan explained the system that provides for reading meters up to a quarter mile. The meter’s signal is read by laptop computer and transferred to the city’s computer.

Green said the system could initially be installed in the city’s oldest section, then replace meters throughout the city over a four-year period. He said the Cash Special Utility District already used the system.

• The council accepted the request to accept the high bid of $877 on resale property.

Councilwomen Carolyn Strickland and Carole Petty questioned the use of the parcel of land, located in the Quinlan Oaks Subdivision. The tract was only 20-feet wide.

• Action was tabled to a future meeting on a non-binding grant contingency contract for the police department. A presentation was heard at last month’s meeting to provide background criminal information by police radio. However council members discussed availability of other programs to secure the information.

• Green reported that he had had a request from a city businessman to utilize pods outside his business to store tires for a tire shop. The consensus of the council was against the proposal.

• The city administrator reviewed a city water violation that was required by the state to be published in a legal notice in The Quinlan-Tawakoni News. He said the violation carried no fine. Utilities Director Morgan said the notice was required after he failed to submit a report within the required time limits. He said the report had since been delivered to the state.

• Green advised the council that he had been notified that someone was circulating a petition to call a liquor election in November. He said he did not know if it was for beer and wine off-premises sales only or if it called for liquor sales.

• He said the county had recently completed revision of its subdivision regulations. He said he believed the city should also upgrade its regulations. "I think its pretty important to have it in place before the election," he said.

• Green said he had attended a drought contingency meeting at Cash Special Utility District. The company provides the city’s water supply. He said it was felt that if the area did not receive significant rainfall during the spring, the district would be back on a drought plan. The city’s contract calls for it to enact the same plan as called for by the Cash company.

• Mayor Protem Richard Whitehead presided in the absence of Mayor Sharon Royal. All council members were present.