The Houston City Council lowered the rent Monday for new hangars constructed at the Houston Memorial Airport in a bid to increase usage.
The city constructed a new hangar on the northeast corner of the airport. The structure holds 10 airplanes, and three occupy it. The yearly lease fee will be $1,650 or $150 monthly.
In other matters, members:
—Heard a committee report on increasing firefighter numbers on the Houston Fire Department. The city also will explore whether city workers who want to assist during day calls — when the shortage is more acute — could be allowed to do so. The city attorney will explore the issue, which would include the addition of those duties to job descriptions.
—Approved a $1,000 donation to “Downtown After Hours,” a program that airs on a Springfield television station. The council indicated that it would likely be the last contribution. It also discussed better promotion of the Houston Visitor’s Center, including brochures and signage.
—Learned a pre-construction conference is likely for next week as a new sidewalk on Oak Hill Drive is set to begin. It will stretch from Forrest Drive to Walnut Street and will become another segment of a walking venue, the Village Trail.
—Heard progress has been made on erecting poles for new lighting along North U.S. 63.
—Learned that a Sho-Me Technologies LLC fiber optics overhead line had been accidentally severed Friday by a city crew working on the western edge of an industrial site situated near the Exceptional Child Cooperative off Spruce Street. The city’s electrical department worked Monday to install taller clearance so the issue won’t happen again.
PDF: Minutes from July 21 meeting