BY K. MCSTAY

HERALD DEMOCRAT

DENISON -- The City Council met Wednesday in a special meeting and a work session to determine the result of possible litigation against the city, and to discuss necessary repairs to Lake Randell's water system.

During the special meeting, which was held in executive session, the council discussed the possible claim of Main Street Lumber Company -- a sewer pipe stretched across a piece of property on the east side of the city, said City Attorney Tom Akins, with no easement filed. "It was obvious it was detracting from the property," he said. There were elevation changes, among other issues. "Over the course of several months, we decided to settle the claim and purchase the property." The cost to the city will be $15,147, plus closing costs.

In the work session, councilors discussed Monday's agenda. Public Works Director David Howerton and Finance Director Susan Way presented the council with information about the engineering services and financial options for the work at Lake Randell. Two years ago during an evaluation, several deficiencies in Lake Randell's dam were identified, Howerton said. "They were certainly not pending crises, but they were needs," he said.

The repairs include rehabilitation or replacement of the steel bulkhead wall along the face of the dam, compacted concrete filing of the scoured area beneath the spillway, repairs to small seepages at the base of the dam, addition of electric operators to all 23 gates and replacement and filing of the 1909 and 1941 pipes through the dam. "There's some concerns that there could be some leakages around the pipe," Howerton said.

These items were discussed in budget planning this year, Howerton said, and have been needed for several years. In line with those replacements, Howerton said he would be asking the council to authorize the first steps, including an update of the hydraulic adequacy of the dam, a breach analysis with inundation mapping and the development of a plan and costs for automating the gate operators. These steps, Howerton said, could make available grant funds for the city, and would cost $27,000, from the water and sewer reserves.

Way proposed a timeline for selling bonds for the issue. The project cost, she said, including possible grant money, could be $9 million. "We have some pretty significant amounts of debt payments that drop off after this current fiscal year," she said, though those would be almost entirely replaced by the addition of payments for the dam project.

"We labored long and hard during the budgeting process," said Denison Mayor Robert Brady. "Its something we have to do."

Also during the work session, the council discussed the addition of a "No Left Turn" street sign near Hyde Park Elementary. The sign would only be effective from 3 to 4 p.m., and would be placed on Sunset Street. "We have a traffic issue on Hyde Park during the minutes of 3:40 and 3:45 p.m. each afternoon, and it's causing frustration to area residents," said Hyde Park Principal Regina Prigge. "We've received complaints."

The Campus Improvement Council reviewed several alternative plans, but this, she said, seemed most feasible. The sign would require drivers to go through Stafford Drive and to Sunset Street via Martha Drive. That Martha Drive is not currently zoned school zone is a concern, Prigge said, but that could be addressed at a later council meeting.

There are no traffic problems in the morning, she said, though in the afternoon, the back up continues to South Hyde Park Avenue. "We're the only property on the left side, so they'd only be turning into the school, and the sign wouldn't close the road or street in any way." The issue was moved to Monday's meeting for a decision.

Also at the work session, Carlos Chapa presented the council with his request for a conditional use permit for a private club in order to serve alcohol at the restaurant he plans to open at 505 S. Armstrong (the old China Inn building). Planning and Zoning Director Faye Brockett said P&Z received three approvals and one disapproval regarding the request. Chapa, who lives in McKinney, said he has managed restaurants for 40 years, and the planned restaurant would be family-oriented. "I do intend to get everyone drug tested, and ... run a very decent operation," he said. "I'm looking forward to opening in your community." His request was moved to Monday's meeting.

The council also moved to Monday's meeting:

• a decision on votes for the Grayson County Appraisal District Board;
• award of demolition bids;
• award of bids for the 2009 distribution system project, involving boring under Spur 503;
• purchase of capital equipment for the public works department;
• extension of the street overlay program contracts, due to inclement weather.