The City of Houston is set to receive about $86,000 from the Federal Emergency Management Agency following a crippling ice storm in February that left parts of the community without electricity as power lines dropped.
The city’s speedy claim was finalized last Wednesday. The total allowable costs estimated by FEMA totaled $101,545. The city’s reimbursement is 85 percent of the cost of the cleanup and damage.
City Administrator Larry Sutton commended city employees for their help with FEMA. He said the FEMA representative – an eight-year employee of the agency – said it was the most timeliest and efficient claim he has handled.
In other matters, members:
-Heard that work continues on relocating utilities in advance of an extension of Thomasville Road. Electric work is complete, and sewer and water line relocations will occur next. The project will connect with the Holder Drive and a second street north of Orschlen Farm and Home will be created.
-Approved a contract with Texas County Area Information Network – TRAIN – for use of its north tower for an antennae needed for the introduction of wireless Internet into the area. The service is slated to start soon.
-Learned that a routine audit of the City of Houston is expected to be presented to the council on May 5.
-Received an update on talks with Sho-Me Power Corp. of Marshfield concerning a recent rate increase. Houston and four other towns have hired legal counsel to aid in its efforts to obtain fair and equal rates similar to other Sho-Me customers, such as cooperatives and gain some type of regulation through the state.
Legislation discussed in Jefferson City also would put municipality representation of the cooperative’s board.
Houston’s power rates increased about 24 percent on April 1.
-Approved city attorney Brad Eidson to review property ownership around the city’s wastewater treatment plant as plans proceed for an expansion of the facility to comply with federal and state law.
-Learned that a lightning strike caused damage at a west sewer lift station. The city’s insurance carrier has been notified, and a contractor will make repairs or replace it.
-Heard that the city’s north well is out of service after couplings toward the well’s bottom malfunctioned. The council heard that the well is expected to be operational by week’s end or the first of next week.