Members of the Houston City Council adopted a new budget for next year and approved two bids for work related to an April 2017 flood in a special meeting Wednesday.
A contract was approved for new fencing around a wastewater treatment plant and trail along Brushy Creek that was affected by flooding. Ozark Fence was the low bidder for the work at a price of $13,482.
The second effort will result in a new metal pavilion on the Brushy Creek leg of the Village Trail. It will replace a wooden structure that was damaged. Akers Welding and Fencing had the low bid at $6,500.
Under the programs, FEMA paid about 75 percent of the cost. The city has already received the money.
In other matters, the council finalized the 2019 budget after earlier discussions on Dec. 17.
City Administrator Tona Bowen said a few additional changes were made. The major alteration was an increase of $60,000 in general revenue from the sale of the Forbes property at Hawthorn, King and Chestnut streets. She said some of the revenue will be budgeted for the Houston Municipal Swimming Pool, which is in disrepair. The city is examining a course of action for the summer venue. A children’s pool did not open during the last season because of its condition. The Houston Park Board has engaged professionals to gain opinions on whether renovations can occur or a new pool is needed.
Bowen said the property sale funds also went to increasing the amount for roads and a mower for the public grounds department.
At the special meeting, Mayor Don Tottingham continued to highlight what he said were escalating costs in the fire and police departments.
There were no votes in a closed session following the open meeting.