A new mayor and two new council members were installed Monday to the city’s governing body following elections earlier this month.
Joe Honeycutt, Ward I; Michael Weakly, Ward II; and Willy Walker, mayor, received oaths of offices from City Clerk Heather Sponsler as new members. Kim Bittle, Ward III council member, was re-elected without opposition on April 2.
Walker assumes the city’s top post held by Don Tottingham, who did not seek re-election. One of Walker’s top objectives will be to hire a city administrator. Walker said after the meeting that a new leader is hoped to be in place by next month. The council continues to receive applications.
In other matters, members heard:
•Texas County Assessor Debbie James express a desire to work together to make sure land annexed into the city gets included on the county’s books. She recently learned some land early incorporated into the city had not been included on the tax rolls.
•Approved a $10,000 labor study whose results will be used for job recruitment needs and target areas where additional workers are needed. The document is expected to be completed by June or July, said Rob Harrington, economic development director.
•Heard Harrington highlight a proposed feasibility study for a municipally owned high-speed internet system. He said he found the study’s cost — $5,500 — to be fair. The price recently was dropped by $2,000 by SMC of Springfield after adjusting travel and lodging costs. The system could provide speeds up and down of up to one gig or more. The cost for 50 meg is estimated at $50 monthly. One gig would be a little over a $100 monthly.
The feasibility study is the first step in a process to determine if the city wants to operate a broadband system, much like its electrical program. It will study poles, determine where fiber needs to be routed on city poles and costs. A geographic information system (GIS) of its poles in the city would also be created.
Harrington said it is critical in jobs recruitment efforts. A city delegation is expected to travel to Marshall to study its municipally owned system.
—Heard Councilman Kevin Stilley report on a recent meeting with the fire department to learn more about an ISO review of the department, the city’s water system and other critical items, such as 911 dispatching. The company called the ISO (Insurance Services Office) creates ratings for fire departments and their surrounding communities. In the ISO rating scale, a lower number is better: 1 is the best possible rating, while a 10 means the fire department did not meet the ISO’s minimum requirements. The results will be released in about seven months.
Stilley said it was learned the rating service considers Houston a “three truck house for structure fires.” Two of the city’s newest three trucks are operational. Voters earlier in the month passed a one-cent sales tax for fire, police and parks and recreation. It is estimated it will generate about $720,000 annually. Half goes to parks and recreation, 32.5 percent (estimated at $234,000 would go the fire department) and 17.5 percent to the police department.
It was suggested the city consider sell one of its fire trucks to Raymondville at a cost of $25,000 with $2,500 down since it helps Houston with mutual aid calls. Those funds could be used to pay down debt on a recently acquired used Houston truck located in Iowa. The balance would be paid when Raymondville sells a rescue truck.
A new truck for Houston would take a year to construct. Payment under a lease agreement would occur after the first year of usage. No decisions were made.
•Referred a request from George Sholtz to operate a trash service for construction debris to the city attorney. Houston is under contract to another firm for refuse service.
•Reviewed Houston’s most recent water report.
•Adjourned into a closed session.