World Polio Day proclamation read during Tuesday evenings City Council meeting

The Big Spring City Council convened for a regular meeting Tuesday afternoon in City Council Chambers to discuss various topics concerning aesthetics throughout the community.

A proclamation declaring Oct. 24, 2020 as World Polio Day was made by Mayor Shannon Thomason. According to Thomason, Council member Gloria McDonald once had the disease and was then asked by Thomason to sign under the Mayor's name in honor.

After the declaration of the proclamation, a presentation video from Neon Cloud was given to the Council. Neon Cloud is a Dallas-based company specializing in economic development videos. The video presented was meant to highlight 10 locations in Big Spring and encourage visitors to visit and tour Big Spring.

“I think this does a fantastic job as a marketing tool for Big Spring,” Haley Hererra

said.

A Big Sandy Draw Landfill video was also meant to be shown to the Council however, according to Interim City Manager Shane Bowles, the video is not currently ready and would be presented at the next meeting. Bowles then moved into the City Manager's Report, where discussion over the next Large Item Pickup was held. The next Large Item Pickup will target District 4 on Wednesday, Oct. 21. Citizens are encouraged to call ahead of time in order to ensure that their items are picked up.

Bowles also provided a sewer line replacement update stating the two block sewer line project near Columbia and I-20 was complete. Also mentioned were further sewer line projects to begin near Douglas Street, Goliad, and locations near the airpark.

An AWOS (automated weather observing system) update was also given by Bowles discussing the failure of the AWOS system due to groundwater in the area causing connection failure.

The AWOS system has been down for several months, but is now repaired and operational, according to Bowles. It was also noted that future projects were being made in order to ensure the line connection does not fail again due to groundwater issues.

Also in the City Manager's Report, Bowles provided a Census update stating that the last day to respond to the 2020 Census is Saturday, Oct. 31. As of right now, Howard County's response rate is 52.3%, according to Bowles. Census information has a significant impact on the community and can determine how extensive federal funding can be utilized in the Big Spring community over the next decade. To respond to the Census, citizens can visit 2020census.gov or call 844-330-2020.

Bowles also mentioned the recent scam phone calls Big Spring citizens were receiving asking for residents' social security numbers. According to Bowles, Census workers do call residents, however, the calls are simply to ensure that you have completed your Census, not to ask for any personal information.

Before the conclusion of the Interim City Manager's Report, Mayor Thomason received a notification stating the deadline to complete the Census would be ending two weeks earlier.

The Council then moved into the Consent Items portion of the meeting where approval over the following items were held:

• Approval of City Council Minutes of the Regular Meeting of Sept. 22, 2020

• Final Reading of a resolution authorizing the City Manager and City Attorney to jointly negotiate with and retain outside legal counsel for the purposes of representing the City in an eminent domain proceeding relating to 1505 E. 2nd Street; declaring that this action is necessary as the property will be used for a valid public purpose; and providing an effective date