The Whitney City Council voted to remove the $5 ambulance service fee from water bills and implement regular billing procedures for the city’s ambulance service in a regular meeting held Thursday evening, September 19.
At the end of 2015, the city added the $5 charge to water bills to help fund the city’s ambulance service. Unless a city resident opted out of the program, the fee ensured that they would not be charged for anything over what insurance, Medicare or other coverage pays for their ambulance bill.
Operations Director Billy Pribble presented information showing that since its inception, the program has not been updated to align with evolving laws and regulations, particularly those related to Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements.
Pribble said that as currently structured, the program is no longer sustainable and has created financial and administrative challenges for city staff as they try to determine who is a member and who has opted out of the fee.
He recommended that the fee be removed to avoid further complications and ensure compliance with current healthcare regulations.
With the change, patients will now receive a bill for any amount over what their insurance covers for ambulance service.
In other action, the council authorized the award of an administrative and project delivery contract to Grant Works for the 2025-2026 Texas Department of Agriculture’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG).
In July, Grant Works presented information about the CDBG fund for 2025-2026. The city can apply for a $750,000 grant to be used on infrastructure projects, such as road work.
The council also approved a job description for the newly created director of emergency services position. Pribble reported that the city already has several candidates interested in the position.
An ordinance was approved that amends several areas of Whitney’s Code of Ordinances to streamline fees and penalties. Pribble said that over time, the city has adopted fees and penalties that were all over the map. The council’s action consolidates these penalties under the general penalty clause, which Pribble said is straight out of state law and allows a judge to determine fines.
The council also formally approved the city’s amended wrecker ordinance, which had been reviewed and discussed at a previous meeting. The ordinance updates language and requirements for wrecker services operating in the city.
Council members voted to place liens on property at 915 East Chad Street, 917 East Chad Street, 919 East Chad Street and 920 East Dee Street. The city cleaned the properties and the owner will be financially responsible for the costs of cleanup.
Public hearings were also held on the proposed city budget and tax rate, and there were no comments from citizens.
In departmental reports, David Gilmore thanked the council for allowing him to serve as fire chief and said this would be his last time to address the council. Gilmore’s resignation was recently accepted by the council in a special meeting after he announced a move to Colorado. He said that his goal was to give five years of service to the city, but that didn’t pan out. He requested to continue working with the department, although not as a paid chief, until January 1 when he moves. This will allow him to assist with the transition and wrap up projects.
Gilmore reported that in August, the fire department responded to 30 medical calls and 18 fire calls in the city and 39 medical calls and 16 fire calls in the county.
Police Chief Kyle Nevil reported that the department responded to 226 incidents in August and made five arrests. The department conducted 78 traffic stops and worked a fatal motorcycle accident in the city. Nevil said that Officer Brown attended an Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) school and was certified as an instructor. As a result, the department was able to conduct active shooter trainings recently and certify additional officers.
EMS Director Megan Leighman reported that her department responded to 54 calls in August with an average response time of 6 minutes and 33 seconds. Leighman said that the department’s average response time reported for the month was highly skewed due to 12 calls that Whitney EMS responded to outside of the city.
Public Works Director Chris Brennan reported that the department addressed five water leaks and completed three sewer taps and two water taps in August.
Library Director Denise Carter told the council that the Texas State Library and Archives Commission informed her that the library has met all accreditation minimum criteria and is a fully qualified member of the Texas Library System for the state’s 2025 fiscal year. The accreditation comes after Carter worked all year on the issue following the library losing an employee due to budget cuts during the pandemic. She said that about 200 libraries failed to meet state requirements due to the pandemic, and the situation had been the most depressing thing that had happened to her as a librarian of 48 years who had never lost system membership.
Carter encouraged everyone to think of the library when they need assistance, as staff can help residents locate a variety of resources and assistance across many areas.
The library’s newsletter is available online at http://www.whit neylibrary.org and contains information about the many activities and services that are ongoing at the library.
Code Compliance/Animal Control Officer Drew Youngblood reported that all animals that have recently been held by the city have been adopted out. He continues to respond to daily animal-at-large calls, and fundraising continues for an animal holding facility. The city will have a booth at Pioneer Days offering pet registration for a $1 donation to the program. Volunteers were also planning to work the concession stand at Whitney’s football game last Friday, with 20% of the proceeds supporting the fundraising effort.
In open forum, Tami Gardner spoke to the council and encouraged the city to create a special events ordinance allowing anyone with a TABC permit to apply for a permit to sell alcoholic beverages during downtown events, such as Pioneer Days. She said that allowing TABC bartenders to serve drinks would eliminate liability to the city or chamber and prevent people from bringing coolers in with their own drinks, which can contribute to public intoxication and minors consuming alcohol.
The council convened in executive session and voted to open applications for the city’s police chief position starting October 1. Chief Nevil won his Republican primary race for Precinct 1 constable in March and is uncontested in November’s general election.
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