The City of Houston will pursue grant funding to construct a new water tower and well at the Houston Industrial Park on West Highway 17.
Ron Reed, the city’s economic development head, said the city is working toward filing an application and has contracted with Consulting and Grant Services LLC of Cabool to assist with the paperwork.
At the North Industrial Drive park, a counter top manufacturer is beginning operation and federal grant funding has been obtained that may lead to the expansion of the north plant of the Durham Co.
The matter was discussed Monday during a meeting of the Houston City Council, which also saw approval granted for a Oak Hill Subdivision on property formerly owned by the Nichols family. The Friend family of Licking has purchased the tract for development of additional housing in Houston. A trailer has been removed from the property, and demolition of a home is under way.
City Administrator Larry Sutton said he expects construction on the first two houses to begin soon.
In other matters, members:
-Referred $4,389 in utility debt to a collection agency for the second quarter of the year.
-Will purchase a new bucket truck for the city’s electrical department. The cost is $96,432, and funds were included in this year’s budget. The vehicle will replace an old model, Sutton said.
-Referred to the public grounds committee the question of a name for a new street that will run east and west from a Thomasville Road extension.
-Learned the city is working toward shuffling paperwork required for a new wastewater treatment facility in Houston. Voters earlier approved issues related to building it.
-Will perform much of the work in-house on a project that will result in changing out transformers from a high voltage model to a more efficient, lower voltage model. The city needs to determine how many need to be changed out. Over the years, Houston has transitioned to the more efficient equipment, but much work remains.
Sutton said by doing the work in-house the city will save money rather than hiring an engineering firm to do the examination. The city may hire one to two employees to work on the project, Sutton said.
-Honored Romines Motor Co. Inc. upon its 75th anniversary. Principals Robert and Don Romines of the firm accepted a plaque.