City doing damage control

FERRIS – Outrage of being misled that 65 and older Ferris citizens would be exempt from a property tax increase came to a head last Thursday during the first-scheduled Town Hall Meeting to discuss the upcoming Ferris Municipal Center Bond proposal on the May 5 ballot.

Bill Jordan, city manager, presented the amenities of the proposed $12-million municipal building to be built by RamTech Building Systems of Mansfield.

According to Jordan, a 24-year bond would need to be approved by Ferris voters during the May 5 city election to fund the project.  Interest accrued on the life of the bond would exceed $7-million.

The first speaker during the question and answer segment was Chuck Goodwin, wishing to know who was going to pay the salaries of the staff required to run the new building’s recreation center and commercial kitchen, let alone a building manager – and the liability insurance associated – since those numbers weren’t included in the bond proposal’s budget.

The next speaker, Shane Oaks, asked Jordan a myriad of questions. 

“Where were the police housed before, and why couldn’t improvements be made to that building?”

Jordan said it was more cost effective to replace the building than fix it.

“There is black-mold in the building, and one support wall would need to be completely replaced,” he said.

This led to a discussion concerning the old nursing home on 5th Street.

The city manager said the city was moving toward tearing it down very soon.

Oaks asked how much it would cost, and Jordan replied it would not cost the city anything, which led to quizzical responses of “nothing?” from the audience.

Returning to the bond proposal, Oaks asked, “how many bids did you get?”

Jordan replied three, and only two of the three responded to requests for bids. Only one met the criteria.

The third speaker, Sherie Chapman, said, “In presentations to groups including the Chamber of Commerce, one of the main selling points has been that residents 65 or older would be exempt from a property tax increase from the bond.

“That comment was completely wrong and brought to your (Jordan’s) attention two days before tonight’s Town Hall meeting by resident John Riley, who personally met with Ellis County tax officials and was told 65 and older would not be exempt.

“Riley confronted Jordan at City Hall about the incorrect statement.

“The city manager then rushed a correction over to The Ellis County Press to be printed, saying he got his numbers wrong.

“Why didn’t you ask our City Attorney (Michael Halla – who offices with Pratt Aycock PLLC – Real Estate Attorneys) how the tax law could affect the residents?”

Jordan told the audience the city attorney did not craft the bond election – it was from Norton Rose Fulbright US LLP, Dallas attorneys specializing in city and municipal bonds.

Hilltop Securities, the city’s financial advisors, provided templates for the city to use, but provided the wrong one.

“The bond election was patterned for a school bond election in error,” Jordan said.

Chapman continued, “Then how can you expect us to believe ANY of your numbers regarding this BOND when you didn’t do your research?

“And, how can you ask the citizens to pay for new water and sewer lines for the new building when the city has only allocated $12,500 total for Ferris water and sewer repairs for 2018?

“Our family had to replace every pipe under our house last year due to a problem with the city’s sewer line – and we spent $6,100 just on our house.”

The last speaker was Cindy Cousins Aspin, who questioned the $138,000 spent already with the chosen firm and wanted to know who voted for that expenditure.

The next Town Hall meeting will be at 1 p.m. on Saturday, April 21, at the Ferris city council chambers.