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Min 05/26/1955 Y.Ortnarnomi•i•a••,,,v,*••••••.••••••••••••••••••m••••••,•*••••••* 540 Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Aldo. May 26, 1955 The Board of Aldermen of the City of Wichita Falls, Texas, met in called session Om the above date, in the Council Room of the Memorial Auditorium Bldg., at 1:00 o'clock / "' P.M., with the following members presexjt: Lloyd C. Thomas Mayor Roy C. Hyatt W. E. (Bill) Reichmuth Jack G. Banner k Aldermen Dr. E. Aubrey Cox Elie E. Lam Gene Liepold Geo. T. Henderson City Clerk H. A. Thomason City Manager J. Walter Rriberg City Attorney Mayor !loyd C. Thomas stated this meeting had been called for the ouroose of hearing a report of the City of Wichita Falls Fire prevention Committee. The report was read in detail by Henry Mason, Member of the Committee, cony of which is attached hereto and made a part of the records hereof. 41103 r}; t' ,r 541 . Moved by Alderman Cox that the above and foregoing renort of the Fire Prevention. Committee be and the same is hereby adopted in its entirety and direct that same be put into effect at the earliest possible time, and does hereby authorize and delegate all the necessary authority to the City Manager to execute and enforce the same. Motion seconded by Alderman Hyatt and carried. Moved by Alderman Liepold that a monthly written report of the directives out— i lined in the report of the Fire Prevention Committee subsequently adopted by the Board of Aldermen, be furnished members of the City Council, also members of the Fire Prevention Committee. Motion seconded by Alderman Hyatt and carried. Moved by Alderman Hyatt that a survey be made of the Police and Fire Departments, as to the efficiency of each Department, their training program for new employees, as well V as old members, and the overall operations of each Department, for the purpose of ascertain— ing their actual needs, in order to better serve the City Wichita Falls; and that the Mayor .t appoint a Committee to make such survey. Motion seconded by Alderman Banner and carried. Mayor Lloyd C. Thomas appointed the entire Council to serve in the above men— ,f' tioned capacity. Alderman Jadk Banner was excused from further attendance at this meetine. ORDINANCE NO. 1725 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAY NO. US 287 AND A PORTION OF U.S. HIGHWAY NO. 281 MAKING USE OF BROAD AND HOLLIDAY STR icrb AND ROWLAND ROAD AS PART OF THE ROUTES IN THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, SAID ROUTES TO BEGIN AT THE WEST CITY LIMITS NEAR THE PRESENT U.S. HIGHWAY 287 ROUTE AND TO TERMINATE AT THE SOUTH CITY LIMITS AT A POINT NEAR A PROPOSED HIGHS^LAY INTERSECTION NEAR THE JUNCTION OF 1""ENTY THIRD AND HOLLY DRIVE AND THE EASTWARD EXTENSION FROM THIS PROPOSED INTERSECTION OF THE U.S. HIGHWAY 287 ROUTE TO TERMINATE AT THE EAST CITY LIMIT AT A POINT NEAR THE INTERSECTION OF GILBERT AVENUE AND ROOWLAND ROAD, SAID HIGHWAYS TO BE CONSTRUCTED AND MAINTAINED AS A FREEWAY AND AS A STREET, HERREINAFTER. REFERRED TO AS "THE PROJECT" AND AUTHORI7ING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY SECRETARY TO AFFIX THE CORPORATE SEAL AND ATTEST THE SAME, A CERTAIN CONTRACT BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS PROVIDING FOR THE CON— STRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, EXISTENCE AND USE OF SAID PROJECT AS A FREEWAY AND AS A STRUT, AND DETERMINING THE LIABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CITY AND THE STATE OF TEXAS WITH REFERENCE THERETO, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING THAT THE ORDINANCE SHALL • BE EFFECTIVE FROM AND AFTER ITS PASSAGE. Moved by Alderman Reichmuth that Ordinance No. 1725 be and the same is hereby approved and passed as read. Motion seconded by Alderman Hyatt and carried by the following vote: Yeas: Aldermen Hyatt, Reichmuth, Cox, Lam and Liepold. Nays: None. ORDINANCE NO. 1726 AN ORDINANCE DELEGATING TO WICHITA COUNTY, TEXAS, THE RIGHT AND AUTHORITY TO ' ACQUIRE RIGHT—OF-LAY WITHIN THE CORPORATE LIMITS OF THE CITY OF vICHITA FALLS, TEXAS' FOR HIGHWAY PURPOSES, EITHER BY AGM:VENT OR BY CONDEMNATION, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY. Moved by Alderman Hyatt that Ordinance No. 1726 be and the same is herehv approved and passed as read. Motion seconded by Alderman Liepold and carried by the following vote: Yeas: Aldermen Hyatt, Reichmuth, Cox, Lam and Liepold. Nays: None. • 542 Moved by Alderman Reichmuth that proposal for the City of Wi&' to Falls to enter into a Contract with Wichita County Water Improvement District No. 1, relative to a'Nine Million bond issue, be and the same is hereby deferred for further study and action. Motion seconded by Alderman Hyatt and carried. Alderman Cox was excused from further attendance at this meeting. r ORDINANCE NO. 1727 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF THE PORTION OF US HIGHWAY NO. 287 IN THE CITY OF WICHITA FALLS, TEXAS, HEREINABOVE REFERRED TO AS "THE; STREET PROJECT" AND AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR OF THE CITY TO EXECUTE AND THE CITY SECRETARY TO AFFIX THE CORPORATE SEAL AND ATTEST THE SAME, A CERTAIN CONTRACT BET"'EEN THE CITY AND THE STATE, ( TDCAS PROVIDING FOR THE INSTALLATION, CONSTRUCTION, MAINTENANCE, EXISTENCE AND USE OF THE SAID STREET PROJECT; FOR THE INDEMNIFICATION OF THE STATE, OF TEXAS, BY THE CITY AGAINST ALL DAMAGES TO ADJOINING, ABUTTING AND OTHER PROPERTY, AND FOR EXPENSES IN CONNECTION wITH ANY CLAIM OR SUIT THEREOF; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING THAT THIS ORDINANCE SHALL BE EFFECTIVE FROM AND AFTER. ITS PASSAGE. Moved by Alderman Reichmuth that Ordinance No. 1727 be and the same is hereby approved and passed as read. Motion seconded by Alderman Lam and carried by the following vote: Yeas: Aldermen Hyatt, Reichmuth, Lam and Liepold, Nays: Drone. Moved by Alderman Reichmuth that the meeting he adjourned. Motion seconded by Alderman Lam and carried. The Board of Alderman then then ' urned. APPROVED this the / day o , 1955. /41..077a- -.. - yor ATT 1 / -5, City Clerk % May 24, 1955 Honorable Lloyd Thomas, Mayor City Council Mr. H. A. Thompson, City Manager City of Wichita Falls, Texas Memorial Auditorium Wichita Falls, Texas Gentlemen: Your Fire Prevention Committee has spent numerous hours on and has given considerable thought to the subject of Fire .Prevention, yet we realise this is quite large in scope and it is nearly impossible for any individ- ual or any group to cover the entire subject giving the proper answers to the many problems which confront our City in the prevention of fire. We want you to know that our recommendations or suggestions are based up. on findings after having interviews with various individuals within and outside of City Departments, and after studying Recommendations made to the City by the National Board of Fire Underwriters in October, 1948, as well as a report presented by Mr. Hugh Keepers of the Fire Prevention and Engineering Bureau of Texas in December, 1954. The majority of our recommendations will require the expenditure of con. siderable sums of money, yet there is no doubt of the need; however, we feel that certain items should be taken care of immediately and a definite program authorized for the future. First, we will list what we think should be accomplished within your pre— sent fiscal year and if these things cannot bedone for financial reasons, only then should they be placed in your budget for the year beginning Octo4 ber 1, 1955. WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM It is noted that considerable progress has been made in the improvement of our water distribution system, and we express to you our appreciation for your having realised the need for this improvement, and for the allocation of funds to do same. We hope that the money provided for in the Bond Issue will be used at the earliest possible date in the fulfillment of this pro. gram. FIRE PREVJNTION CODE We appreciate your adoption of the Fire Prevention Code, as we recommended in our report to you of February 8, 1955, as this will be most beneficial to the enfarcements for the correction of fire hazards as are found to exist by our inspectors. FIRE ALARM SYSTEM This is clearly covered in Mr. Beepers' report; however, we understand work is now in progress in moving all alarm. boxes to properly cover the main busi. ness district and at the same time the system is to be properly repaired and to be kept in workable condition at all times. FIRE MARSHALL This department is not now connected to the Fire Department, and, in our opinion, it should continue to function separately, but close cooperation and understanding should exist between the two. Later in this report our recommendations will be made as to the supervision of,, this department. For a City of our size, we are lacking greatly in the manpower available for this work. We recommend a minimum of five (four inspectors and one clerical person) be maintained to accomplish the necessary results. In this department there should be at least one person who is, without question, well—trained, and who has the ability to train others; and further, to be so enlightened as to properly deal with the public in sea curing their voluntary cooperation. FIRE DEPARTMENT • Let us specifically refer to Mr. Keepers' report of December, 1954, and recommend that it be followed in its entirety; however, we do want to make some remarks on his report. Station No. 5 was recommended in the report to be temporarily closed and to make these men and equipment available at other stations. We think this station should be permanently closed at the earliest possible date and the property either be disposed of or put to some other use by the City. There is no doubt that our personnel is not properly trained; therefore we think it most important that our Drill Master receive the proper trains ing so he can institute a training program, and that this program be car• tied out without any reservations. Additional men are badly needed, and we recommend that steps be taken to bring our personnel up to nearly equal the prescribed number, Personnel should be increased by not less than twelve (12); however, we need twenty (20) people. Unless the training program is inaugurated and maintained, it will be unwise to add this personnel. A2. Equipment: This has been well outlined by those in authority, but we feel that the money to do this should be provided without any further • delay. We have been fortunate to keep some equipment running that is so old and obsolete, that if it should fail sometime it could mean additional loss of property and possibly loss of lives. However, the additional equip. meat would be of no avail unless we had the ©en trained to put it to proper use. We are told that inspection by the Fire Department has been started as out. lined in Mr. Keepers' report in that the firemen will be well versed as to the outlay of all buildings and their occupancy. We think this is most im- portant and it should be a past. $PRINKLER STST1 4S A few of the Sprinkler Systems are wired to the Fire Department; others have an alarm outside of their building that sounds notice of the sprinkler causing on; however, should the outside alarm go unanswered, the Fire Department would have no knowledge of a fire or other happenings. We suggest that an ordia.• ance be passed requiring that such systems be tied into the alarm boxes or direct to the Fire Department. RECORDS An up-to-date record system should be installed and it should be seen that same is maintained. From time to time certain information is given from one department to the other by word of mouth, then when something happens this information was not transmitted; therefore, some written form should be re- , quired in transmitting information from one department to the other, and a record of same should be kept by each of the departments. ELLCTRIC AND PLUMBING PERMITS In granting permits covering the installation and repairs of electrical and plumbing equipment, the individual or firm. receiving this permit should be required to correct all defects, but should the owner or tenant of such fail to permit the firm to do so, then the electrician or plumber should be re. quired to report same to the proper City office and, if they fail to do so, be subject to fine or having license revoked. pIR1 CTOR OF PUBLIC SAM" It is recommended that a new office or department be installed:- that of Director of Public Safety. This position should be accountable to the City Manager only (realising the City Manager is responsible to the Mayor and Council) and said Director should be charged with the responsibility of the following departments and be given the necessary authority: Fire Marshall Fire Department Police Department Inspection Department ' Traffic Department -3- Our City has reached a size whereby it is an impossibility for the City Manager to personally supervise any one or more departments, and in conso.- . lidating these five departments under one head it should result in complete and uniform operation of all departments which more or less tie in with each other. POLICE DEPARTMENT Investigation reveals that the Police Department is cooperating IOO; with the Fire Department in the handling of fires. There are certain phases of prevention that fall under the jurisdiction of the Police Department and in most instances they are doing their work; how- ever, we feel that all personnel of the Police Department should be required to file a written report with the Fire Marshall's office when they see or discover a hazard; and not only do this, but also be on the lookout for these hazards when making their usua ll rounds. ALLEYS AND STR E S Cleanliness is preventionp--tut out streets and alleys are not in the best condition in this respect. We know that this situation has improved some in the past year or so, but we need to work constantly on this and see that every department of the City is doing its duty. Alleys are not as congested as in the past; however, the Police Department is handicapped somewhat by the lack of personnel. We think it can be in.. proved if each individual assumes his duties. PHYSICAL EXAMINATIONS We 'understand a physical examination in now required annually in the Tire Department and possibly in other departments, but that it is not being en.. forced. We strongly recommend that each person pass a physical examination each year to determine if his condition is satisfactory for fulfillment of the duties required by him. Consideration should further be given a number of items, which should be accomplished at the earliest possible date but should not be delayed for years. RETIKEIORM Certain departments, including Fire Department, have no mandatory age or length of service requirement, and knowing the required physical strength demanded of these men it is felt that this subject should be studied and a definite retirement age be set. FIRE STATIONS There seems to be a sufficent number of stations, if not too many, but cer- tain ones need to be relocated. We therefore recommend that this be placed on your program and that you secure from the State their opinion as to the proper locations. -$. ALLEYS Where there is a permanent place being used in alleys, except for loading and unloading, a program in cooperation with those businesses involved should be worked out whereby alleys can be traveled at all times. BUILDING CODE AND FIRE ZONE Consideration should be given to the extension of our present fire zone to more effectively cover the congested area and, too, consideration should be given to Mr. Beepers' report on the changing of the building code. If It were legal, there should be certain restrictions placed on the construction of apartments, hotels, motels and other buildings where there are more than four (4) families; regardless of the building's location. This should apply to all new construction or construction replacing those that may have been destroyed or torn down. This report, as stated in the preceding, would require the expenditures of considerable money. Yet on the other hand,' the citizens are paying now in other ways. Also, we have not lost a life in the recent fires, but it could happen. let us for once get our departments properly manned and equipped, then it could easily be kept that way; however, we want to again emphasise that with all the necessary men and equipment they would be of no value un- less they are trained and definite programs outlined and enforced. This report unanimously approved by all members of the Committee being pre- sent in a call meeting May 24. 1955. Respectfully submitted, L. S. Munkres, Chairman L. H. Estes Walter Pelteson George Edwards Henry D. Mason .5.