Big Spring council issues abatement, approves investment‑policy changes, police hiring pilot and several contracts

The Big Spring City Council met in March 2025 and unanimously approved a set of actions including an order to abate a public nuisance at 4208 Birch Street, amendments to the city’s investment policy, a 24‑month pilot program to offer lateral recruitment incentives for police officers, the purchase of a Kubota utility tractor for the street department, and consent to a sublease at the McMahon Airpark.

Public hearing and abatement order

Council opened a public hearing on a property at 4208 Birch Street that, city staff said, had been opened as a case in January. A staff member reported the property respondent as Bertha Bahill and described the structure as unoccupied, unsecured and “rendered substandard and unsafe,” stating it was conducive to harboring rats, mice and other disease‑carrying animals. The council voted to issue an order of abatement; the motion passed unanimously.

Investment policy amendments

On final reading the council approved amendments to the city’s investment policy that staff described as housekeeping and clarification changes. Ms. Smith, a city finance staff member, said the council has ultimate fiduciary responsibility and recommended removing a paragraph that referenced competitive bidding for security transactions not applicable to the city’s typical investments (bank CDs and U.S. Treasuries). The approved changes also require staff to provide a biannual list of qualified brokers and dealers for council review. The motion to adopt the amended policy passed unanimously.

Police lateral recruitment pilot

Chief Williams asked the council to authorize a 24‑month pilot to recruit experienced officers and compensate them based on prior service and rank, and to offer a bank of leave time on top of existing incentives. Asked how many officers the department is short, Chief Williams replied, “18.” The council adopted the resolution authorizing the pilot program unanimously.

Procurement and leases

The council awarded the bid for a Kubota utility tractor for the street department to Kubota Utility TCT out of Lubbock for $69,371.58, under the $80,000 budgeted amount; the award passed unanimously. The council also approved an amendment to the lease for Building 19 at the McMahon Airpark and consented to a sublease to ZF Services LLC from tenant ABS Wind USA LLC. Staff said the combined ABS/ZF partnership has already hired more than 30 employees at the airpark; the motion passed unanimously.

Nuisance ordinance first reading

Council took the first reading of an ordinance amending Chapter 36 (Nuisances), Article 4 (abandoned and inoperative or junk motor vehicles). Staff said the ordinance aligns with state law, clarifies definitions (including junk travel trailers and camper trailers) and preserves a hearing and appeal process; the first reading passed unanimously. Staff and council members discussed application and enforcement concerns for residents with older vehicles and noted abandoned vehicles on public property remain a police matter.

Vouchers, consent agenda and other items

The council approved the consent agenda (items 9–13) as a block and approved vouchers for 02/28/2025 in the amount recorded in the meeting and vouchers for March 2025 in the amount of $825,452.20; the meeting transcript records the February vouchers as “$256,000 and $8.03” as read into the record by a council member. All of those routine approvals passed unanimously.

Informational item: investment advisor

Ms. Smith introduced Harrison Steinberg as the city’s current investment advisor and said staff will issue a request for qualifications and return to council with a qualified list consistent with the amended policy. Council was not asked to take action on that item; staff labeled it informational.

The meeting adjourned after council input and no further business was raised.