The Garland City Council and Mayor Scott LeMay met Monday, Dec. 14, for the work session and Tuesday, Dec. 15, for the regular meeting.
Ricky McNeal sworn in
The necessary information from the State of Texas was received and Ricky McNeal has now been sworn in as the District 1 council member. He was recently selected by the mayor and remaining council members to fill the seat vacated by David Gibbons.
DART representative updates mayor and council
A DART representative provided an update and said that the ridership has decreased by 28 ½% because of COVID-19. Recommended precautions are being followed. Face masks are required and the buses and trains are being cleaned regularly. Hand sanitizer is available on trains and 70% of vehicles are equipped with special lighting that kills germs. A droplet shield has been installed around driver areas.
Council was told that the bus network will be redesigned in 2022. Additionally, a voluntary retirement program was offered because of the effect of COVID on the financial status of DART. Employees 55 and over who had been with DART for 10 years or more were given the retirement opportunity and 370 have accepted.
Mayor, council receive updates on effects of COVID on city departments
COVID measures continue at city facilities. Events scheduled at the Atrium for November and December had been canceled earlier. Theaters, libraries, recreation centers, etc. are operating at 25% capacity.
First responders
The effect of COVID on first responders was shared with the mayor and council. Police Chief Jeff Bryan said that the police officers are following all of the recommendations such as wearing of masks, social distancing and testing and they are seeing positive results because of the precautions. The department has had 44 positive cases and of those, 39 have recovered. Five are currently off work.
Bryan added that supply levels are good and the department is in good shape, but officers are tired.
Fire Chief Mark Lee said that there have been 38 positive cases in the GFD. Two are currently positive, one is recovering and four tests are pending. Five are currently at home with sick family members and 12 are out due to high-risk exposure. He added that the department is down 23 people.
Mental stress is difficult. Fire department personnel are accustomed to spending time together as a family, especially having meals at the fire station table. Isolation has been difficult for them. Lee added that the pandemic is taking a toll, but that the personnel is doing a good job of supporting one another.
GFD service levels have been affected as well. Response times are increased because of waiting for beds in ERs, as well as the time it takes for decontamination of ambulances. Overtime is also high right now, but the chief is not worried about that. His main concern is the effect on personnel.
Lee also said that call volumes are at record highs and that personnel is “knocking it out of the park and taking good care of the public.”
Council discusses future of Day Labor Center property
Council discussed the future of the former site of the Day Labor Center at Saturn Road and South Garland Avenue. There have been challenges with people continuing to show up there for work and for workers. They discussed the possibility of a nonprofit agency using the property, possible use by the police department or selling the site.
Council Member Deborah Morris said that it is an “ugly and strange property.” She added that one idea would be to demolish the building and install a nice green spot.
Mayor Pro Tem, Deputy Mayor Pro Tem named
Jerry Nickerson was named Mayor Pro Tem and Deborah Morris will serve as Deputy Mayor Pro Tem.