Members of the Houston City Council heard presentations Monday by two organizations in advance of preparations for the community’s 2008 budget.
Gayla Bratton and Eric Wells, board members, and Brenda Senter, executive director of the Houston Area Chamber of Commerce, spoke before the council about its activities and accomplishments. The city annually enters a contract for some of the services that the chamber provides. Senter also displayed new Houston bags that will be used at promotional events to promote the community.
Chad Dzurick, representing the Houston Optimist Club, discussed the organization’s efforts to secure the former Lee building on Spruce Street and convert its use to a community center. The club earlier engaged a Springfield architectural firm to offer guidance on the project. Financing for the effort is sought. Leaders are working with Rural Development and will seek state tax credits during the next application period. The latter allows donors to give a contribution and receive not only a federal deduction, but credit on their state tax returns. Dzurick asked for the city’s support on the project.
In other matters, members:
-Heard from Economic Development Director Ron Reed, who reported on efforts to gain an intermediate residential care facility for Houston. [See related story elsewhere]. Reed also reported progress on Houston’s need for affordable housing. Some projects are on the drawing board, he reported.
-Approved a contract with Evans Funeral Home for use of a lot behind the business.
-Put on hold plans to allow portable toilet and RV waste to be deposited at the wastewater sewer plant. The request came from a party who is no longer interested. The city will revisit the issue after improvements are made to the facility.
-Made a few changes to the ordinance governing the role of city administrator. Larry Sutton assumes the post Nov. 19. The city administrator’s purchasing limit without council approval was raised to $2,500 from $500. Appointed personnel, such as the city clerk and police chief, will report to the city administrator and not mayor.
-Heard that improvements are underway at the Houston Memorial Airport, and the runway is currently shutdown. A West Plains firm is the contractor for the project that is primarily financed by MoDOT.
– Continue to look for options related to cardboard recycling after it will no longer be a part of a South Central Correctional Center program.
-Learned that the Village Trail leg through Emmett Kelly Park has been completed. Acquisition of a strip of property required on the Brushy Creek portion has been acquired from Norma Bridges. Grass has been mowed on property owned by Wave Akins. The tract is included in the trail. Paperwork also continues on additional phases that are funding by MoDOT.
-Have begun meeting to formulate the 2008 budget.
-Entered into a consulting agreement with Bill Bates, outgoing city administrator, for work on special projects and other assistance that may be required.