The highest public protection classification in city history and the purchase of five transformers due to winter weather were among matters discussed Monday, Jan. 6 by the Houston City Council.
FIRE DEPARTMENT ANNUAL REPORT
Robbie Smith, fire chief, presented the council with the department’s 2024 annual report. According to the report, the department responded to 289 emergency calls, 213 of a medical nature. Additionally, Smith logged 1,729.5 hours at the station.
Achievements included opening a new fire training facility on Opportunity Circle, adding new hydrants, consistent testing and report entries and watering golf course greens.
Still, the most impressive achievement was the department receiving a class 3 Insurance Services Office (ISO) Public Protection Classification rating. For reference, most area communities have a rating between 6 and 8, on a 1 to 10 scale with 1 being the best. The classification should help with commercial insurance rates, with residential relief coming at a class 2 rating.
“When we went from a class 5 to a class 4, we were told we would never be a class 3,” said Ward III Alderman Don Romines. “This is a great achievement.”
OTHER MATTERS
- Members approved a $9,250 purchase of five transformers from Arkansas Electric Cooperative to replace backups that were used due to the recent winter storm. The longest power outage in town was believed to be four hours.
- The council approved the mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding with SeniorAge Area Agency on Aging for delivery of food to senior citizens. The agreement will be reevaluated yearly.
- The city will create an ordinance to state its building permit fees. Permits for new commercial and residential structures cost $0.05 per square foot and additions (garages, porches, etc.) are a $10 flat fee.
- The personnel handbook will be updated so the clerk has to reside within a 20 mile radius of the city limits rather than the previous requirement of residing within the 65483 ZIP code.
- The budgeted purchase of a drone for the police department was approved. Potential uses include assistance in finding missing persons, suspects, surveillance, accident diagramming and storm damage assessment. Officers Levi Endress and Cathryn Davis will go to Salina, Kansas to be trained.
- The council adopted resolution 2025-101R (Texas County Hazard Mitigation Plan), and authorized the mayor to sign the documentation. The resolution makes the city eligible to receive state and federal funding after disasters.
- Members agreed that city employees will work Thursday, Jan. 9, forgoing a day of mourning for the late former President Jimmy Carter.
- Police Chief Brad Evans stated that the department has received applications for its 11th officer position.
- City Administrator Lloyd Wells made the council aware that GWorks, a software system used for several purposes at the city, has significantly raised rates on multiple area municipalities. He stated that he would consider other platforms before the 2026 budget is being prepared.
- A new pump for the golf course, used to water the greens, is currently being tested before it is shipped to the city.
The meeting adjourned into closed session concerning personnel matters at 7:19 p.m. The next regular meeting is at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 21 at city hall due to Monday, Jan. 20 being Martin Luther King Jr. Day.