City eyes building codes; renews Entergy franchise
Trinity Standard - December 2007

TRINITY – Updated building codes are on the horizon for Trinity residents as a result of discussions last week before the Trinity City Council.
During their Dec. 13 meeting, the council also renewed the city’s franchise agreement with Entergy for electrical utility service within the city.
As part of their discussion with Martin Lessor, the city’s new code enforcement officer, the council agreed to adopt updated national building codes for the city early next year.
Lessor noted that the last time the city approved an update was in 1997.
City Manager Phil Patchett told the council that the new building codes would be placed on the agenda for the council’s Jan. 10 meeting.
Lessor also received permission from the council to begin running public notices in The Trinity Standard after Jan. 1 to notify area residents of the requirements of city ordinances and that they will be enforced.
“We need to let the people know what the ordinances require and that we will be enforcing them,” he told the council.
Lessor said he wanted to give people time to make their own corrections and starting on March 1, the city would begin cracking down on violations through citations and court summons.
In related discussion, Lessor also briefed the council on the ongoing clean-up effort that includes the removal of dilapidated homes, non-running vehicles and trash.

Entergy franchise
During the meeting, the council also approved a new 10-year franchise agreement authorizing Entergy/Gulf States Utilities to operate within the city and to use city right-of-ways for utility lines and repair work.
Stan Foley of Entergy’s Huntsville office told the council that the last time the city approved a franchise agreement with the company was in December 1957.
While the council members had praise for Entergy and its overall service, none wanted to approve another 50-year agreement.
Councilman Wayne Huffman noted that the city’s attorneys had recommended a 15-year franchise with a 10-year option clause.
“I have nothing against Gulf States but the day to day business of the city is a lot difference than it was in 1957,” Huffman said.
Foley noted that he understood the council’s concern and explained that regardless of the number of years involved, the city would have the right to cancel the agreement or to negotiate a new one at any time.
Councilmen Dayrl Morrow and Neal Smith both agreed that another 50-year agreement was not needed and Smith made the motion for the council to approve a 10-year deal. That suggestion was quickly passed by the council.

Other action
During the meeting, the council also:
• Learned that the $150,000 grant to fund sidewalk reconstruction has been finalized with the Texas Department of Agriculture and that the city will have two years to spend the money.
Patchett indicated that the city is targeting the east side of Robb Street (Highway 19) between Main and Caroline as the starting point. One of the first actions will be the replacement of a utility pole located on the northeast corner of Main and Robb that has been leaning for the past several years. Patchett noted that the replacement of that pole alone is estimated at $20,000.
Additional sidewalk work will depend upon available funding once the east side of Main is completed.
• Authorized Patchett to have one of the bays located at the city barn enclosed for use by mechanics.