Bonham, Texas -- Chad Daniels is the most recent outstanding employee of the City of Bonham to be recognized for dedication to his job and service to city residents. At the regular meeting of Bonham City Council held Monday, December 9, 2019, Mr. Daniels was named November 2019 Employee of the Month for the City of Bonham.
A Collection Supervisor for Bonham Water Department, Daniels has been employed by the city since February 2016. Comments by his supervisors and co-workers include, "Chad always has a positive attitude," "His personality shines and he is willing to help any time he is asked," and, "Chad actually cares about the job he does and strives to complete it in a correct and timely manner."
"Chad sets a great example for others to follow," was yet another compliment regarding the way Daniels goes about his work.
Each Employee of the Month receives four hours of paid time off and a $50 gift certificate. At the end of the year, the Employee of the Year will receive eight hours of paid time off and a $250 gift certificate.
The City of Bonham Employee of the Year will be feted December 20 at the City Luncheon.
The awards are part of an initiative to provide more incentives for city employees.
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The regular meeting of Bonham City Council opened with an invocation by Rev. Mark Posey, Code Enforcement and Building Inspector for the City of Bonham, as well as Pastor of Congregational Methodist Church in Bonham.
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Councilmembers approved minutes of the November 11 regular meeting.
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Dave Struchtemeyer, CPA, Director of Finance for the City of Bonham, presented the September 2019 financial report to Bonham City Council, which completed the previous fiscal year, as well as a brief analysis of the first two months of FY 2020.
"For FY 2019, the City revenues were $94,000 greater than what was budgeted for the year," Mr. Struchtemeyer noted. "The positive variance in revenue is coming from sales taxes, city restitution and trash services.
"City expenses were over by $18,000, which was from a handful of various different functions that was more than offset by higher revenues.
"The City ended the year with a residual of over $75,000 in the general fund and nearly $100,000 in the water sewer fund."
Struchtemeyer provided councilmembers with the financial results for the first two months of FY 2020, but advised that it is too early in the year to form any trend analysis regarding possible budget variances.
The finance director went on to caution that expenses are always greater than revenues for the first three months of the fiscal year because the city typically collects 90% of its ad valorem revenue from January to March.
The city is transitioning the STW financial software for government entities and Struchtemeyer predicted that all data will be loaded into the new system before the next financial report is published.
"All expenditures incurred for the year so far have been budgeted," Struchtemeyer said in closing.
Bonham City Council approved the financial reports.
The next agenda item before councilmembers was possible action on a Special Use Permit at Albert Broadfoot & Lee St to change from single family residential to commercial.
"Fannin County Children's Center is looking to obtain this property," Mark Kinnaird, Director of Community Development for the City of Bonham informed councilmembers. "Their intention is to build a new children's center."
Mr. Kinnaird added that the change in zoning could help facilitate the donation of the land.
"This would be a huge asset to us," remarked Sandy Barber, Executive Director of Fannin County Children's Center. "We've been serving the kids of Fannin County for 26 years now."
"Pretty exciting, isn't it?" Councilmember Wayne Moore said, referring to the proposed new site.
"Very exciting!" exclaimed Ms. Barber.
Bonham City Council approved the Special Use Permit at Albert Broadfoot & Lee St to change from single family residential to commercial.
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Councilmembers approved a resolution to enter into a financing agreement with Government Capital for the purpose of procuring equipment.
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Bonham City Council held a public hearing and subsequently approved a 3.5% increase in monthly rates charged for hangar rentals at the City of Bonham Jones Field Municipal Airport.
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Councilmembers held a public hearing and then approved an ordinance establishing and implementing a program to charge mitigation rates for the deployment of emergency and non-emergency services by the Fire Department.
Bonham Fire Chief Scott Ridling said he hopes his department can recoup costs from insurance companies for services rendered, adding that there would be no charge for mutual aid with Fannin County.
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The final agenda item called for Bonham City Council to consider and take action on a resolution to cast votes for candidates to the 2020-2021 Board of Directors of the Fannin Central Appraisal District.
The City of Bonham has 330 votes to cast.
Concern was voiced regarding an apparent lack of representation of citizens, while a large number of government employees are involved in the process. Councilmembers declined to make a motion.