March 14, 1985
The Marfa City Commission discussed the opening of a new city landfill and the response from Presidio County about the project at their regular meeting Tuesday morning.
The new facility is located on county-owned land and County Commissioners are asking the City of Marfa to sign a separate agreement including the maintenance of a 50-foot fire break around the perimeter of the area, a wind fence, picking up of refuse along the golf course road and a hold harmless agreement to the county.
Mayor Jane Shurley, said, “The County is just trying to get rid of another of their obligations in wanting the City to pick up trash along a road that is in the county. “Since the City serves county residents as well as those within the city limits, I am going to request that the County con- tribute 20 percent of the cost of the operation of the landfill. There are about 3,000 people in and around Marfa with approximately 2,500 of those living within the city. If we are going to service the other 500 that live outside the City Limits, I feel we should be reimbursed for the cost.”
Jimmy Melvin met with the Commission in response to a complaint about him parking his Mack truck at the rear of his home on North Highland Ave. Melvin was advised that the area was not zoned commercial and therefore could not leave his truck parked there. “My truck is backed into the yard. It is not out in the street and besides it is only moved once a month. I don’t store my tractor there.
Aren’t these long gooseneck stock trailers that we see parked all about the residential area of Marfa considered equipment? My truck is kept clean and most of those stock trailers are not.”
Mayor Shurley asked the question to be tabled until the Commission had a chance to discuss the matter with the Zoning Board. Another special meeting was called for 7 p.m. on March 26 to discuss the matter further.
Commissioners were advised that the new Peddlers Ordinance was now in effect and that a yearly license fee of $100 was being collected. Commissioners also accepted the audit for fiscal year 1984, prepared by Bobby Lassiter.
In a discussion about the coming Clean-up Campaign, Commissioners were asked if something could not be done about the grass growing in the streets. Mayor Shurley advised that the City would not do anymore work at the Marfa Airport until the disagreement between the City and County is settled over the operation of the airport and to take the weed and grass spray that was purchased for the airport be used within the city on sidewalks and streets to rid them of the grass.
City Secretary Shelagh Abbott asked the Commissioners to set a work session on the city budget to discuss the possibility of a utility rate increase and an increase in the annual water contracts. A work session for this matter was set for 7 p.m. on March 18 at City Hall.
