Houston City Council holds meeting

Members of the Houston City Council met Monday in open session for about 45 minutes.

The council:

•Heard that progress is occurring at the Houston Memorial Airport, where a new fueling system is being installed. Some additional wiring was ordered to complete the project. 

•Heard that an electrical outage occurred at Evans Sports on Friday, June 29, and a transformer was changed. Intercounty Electric Cooperative loaned a replacement, which the city will reimburse. 

•Heard from Councilman Jeremy St. John, who said he’d received feedback from police and citizens about the discharge of fireworks in the city limits, as well as their storage. The city will check its ordinance on the books. The matter is expected to be discussed by the council’s fire and police committee. 

•Will review proposed investment and cash management policies developed by City Administrator Tona Bowen. The project is in advance of an expected bid for banking services that is targeted for September. 

•Revisited an earlier discussion on the city’s financial support of the rescue and search unit operated by Houston Rural Fire Association. Mayor Don Tottingham had questioned a $1,500 increase at the board’s last meeting. Bowen was charged with reporting back to the council on the expenditure, which had been approved by the council’s finance committee and later the full board in December. Bowen’s research — which was read at the meeting – dated to July 2012 when the county opted not to support the squad further. The rural department is funded solely on memberships and grants. Tottingham said the rural department has provided much-needed support to the city when needed. St. John said he didn’t believe an annual payment of $5,000 was excessive, noting the support the department gives the city. Tottingham called for additional discussion when the city develops its next budget. 

The rural fire chief, Don Gaston, said he appreciates the council’s fiscal responsibilities and noted that his department had most recently assisted the city in fighting two extensive residential fires on Hawthorn, where it had spent 12 hours pumping water. 

The board adjoined into a closed session. Bowen said there were no votes.