The Houston City Council approved a special-use permit Tuesday to allow a local organization to begin a daycare at a community center.
Members of the Houston Optimist Club asked for the approval for an operation that will be located at First and Mill streets in Houston. A hearing was held before the council’s regular meeting.
In other matters, members:
-Heard from Chris Purvis of Houston who plans to seek the Republican nomination for 147th House representative to replace Rep. Don Wells, R-Cabool, who can’t seek re-election because of term limits.
-Approved plans to sponsor local high school students to attend the Missouri Community Betterment Conference in Jefferson City later this fall.
-Okayed a bid from Harry Cooper Supply Co. for $20,712 for supplies needed for an improvement of water lines in south Houston. The stretch is between property owned by David Doss and Miller’s Grill and will result in better fire protection and water pressure, said City Administrator Larry Sutton.
-Received an update on a project to improve lighting on U.S. 63 through the city. Some of the work may occur later this year and conclude in 2012.
-Reviewed figures showing a saving in electrical costs since the city installed high-efficiency heating and cooling equipment and replaced glass. A review comparing August 2008 to August 2011, one of the hottest on record, shows a savings of about 30 percent.
-Approved joining the Missouri Joint Municipal Electric Utility Commission in Columbia, which is a statewide joint action agency specifically authorized by state law to operate as an electric utility for the benefit of the combined requirements of the members.
Houston is one of 14 communities that formed the Mid-Missouri Municipal Energy Power Energy Pool to buy electricity after its wholesaler, Sho-Me Power Corp., gets out of the municipal business in March 2013. The organization comprised of area municipalities plans to use the Columbia-based entity for energy needs. It serves about 347,000 retail customers. Systems range from 700 to 87,000 members.
-Adjourned into a closed session to discuss personnel.
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