The Whitney City Council held a public hearing on a $750,000 infrastructure grant, heard a report on a proposed 70-acre subdivision and considered other agenda items during a special meeting held Thursday, January 30.
Charles Edwards of GrantWorks told the council that Whitney was in the top two candidates of the region for the Community Development Block Grant, which is provided by the Texas Department of Agriculture from federal funds.
The grants can only be used to address water, sewer, street or drainage issues, and Whitney qualified with its request for drainage and street improvement projects.
Projects can only be performed in areas where at least 51% of residents are in the low- to moderate-income range. Edwards said that this can include an entire city, if eligible, or a neighborhood. GrantWorks will handle this aspect of the grant, which could include door-to-door visits in a proposed project area to determine eligibility.
The first step in the process was the public hearing, after which the project scope will be developed with assistance from an engineer.
Amy Teal spoke during the public hearing, stating that she would like the city to hold a second public hearing because all of the grant information had not been made available to the public prior to the meeting.
Larry Farmer also spoke, saying that he disagreed with a later agenda item regarding the purchase of cameras for the library. He was instructed that the grant funds would not be used for that purpose, and this was a separate discussion.
In a related agenda item, the council designated authorized signatories and authorized representatives to handle the grant process, which included the mayor, city secretary and operations director.
New Subdivision
Developer Shane Baker also spoke to the council about a proposed new subdivision just outside the city limits, in the city’s extra-territorial jurisdiction.
Baker is planning to develop approximately 70 acres that will include the area behind Tres Hermanos and Allsup’s. The gated community will have an entrance off of Colorado Street and another off of a county road.
Baker said that he has also purchased the former boat repair and auto parts store buildings off of Colorado Street and is cleaning them up. Future plans in the area include a cafe and office space.
He said that the proposed subdivision will include approximately 57 large tracts, with 13 acres being reserved for later development that will be discussed with the council. The subdivision will include what the developer considers mid-grade and above homes.
He explained that the city will have no obligations in the subdivision other than providing 20 water meters, with the residents paying for the meters and water. An asphalt road is expected to initially be maintained through a warranty, with a property owner’s association assuming responsibility thereafter.
The developer is leaving open the possibility that the city could annex the area in the future, but he said that would be up to the city to decide.
Operations Director Billy Pribble said that he has been working with Baker Elite on the proposal for months and has no problem with the development, saying that the subdivision’s plans are well thought out.
Pribble said that Baker is requesting to build the subdivision under the county’s subdivision rules and regulations instead of the city’s. Regulation of subdivisions located just outside the city limits became the responsibility of the city under an agreement the previous mayor signed with the county.
Pribble said that he wanted to get the council’s opinion on the subject before the development agreement is drafted, which would propose a variance to the city’s subdivision rules and substitute the county’s.
Council member Jason Ince said that his goal is to protect citizens along with the developer, and he questioned whether a water study had been done to determine if the city can provide the meters. Pribble said that a recent study showed that the city has the necessary capacity.
Council member Cheryl Taylor-West questioned whether trees would be preserved. Baker and Pribble said that the area will be wooded with oak trees preserved.
Mayor Janice Sanders asked Baker what prevents a buyer from breaking a large six-acre lot down to one-acre lots. Baker said that the properties cannot be subdivided, and the goal is to provide larger tracts, which are popular and in shorter supply.
After discussion, the consensus of the council was that the subdivision is outside the city limits and the only request of the council is the water meters, which can be provided without a problem. Members were in favor of Baker moving forward with a development agreement.
Baker also provided updates on previous work Baker Elite has done in the area, including Stillmeadow Estates off of Highway 22 east of town and the Whitney Business District along North Brazos Street.
He said that Stillmeadow Estates includes 22 lots, and all but one have been sold. Eleven homes are under construction, with two more planned soon. He said that Baker Elite is constructing starter- to mid-level homes in that subdivision, ranging from around $250,000 to $475,000. The success of that subdivision has shown that housing is needed in Whitney, Baker said.
The Whitney Business District has welcomed LP Physical Therapy, and O’Reilly Auto Parts has been recruited for the location in a building that will be new construction. A closing date is expected as soon as the end of March for that deal.
Veterans Memorial Park
The council discussed a request from Operation Greater Love regarding maintenance of Whitney Veterans Memorial Park on Colorado Street. The organization requested that the city take over responsibility of water, electricity and mowing because the expense is impeding its ability to carry out its main objective of assisting veterans and their families.
The city owns the property where the park is located and allowed Operation Greater Love to build the park on its land. Pribble said that the city has been working to expand and improve parks anyway, and assuming responsibility for the veterans park would fit with that overall goal.
Council member Ince said that he feels that it should not even be a question whether the city will maintain it, adding that Operation Greater Love constructed a nice park and their goal is to support veterans. He said that the expense will be minimal.
Council members agreed and voted to take over maintenance of the park.
Operation Greater Love will continue to sell bricks for the park to support its outreach efforts.
Fire Department
Agreement
An amended fire services and protection agreement between the fire department and city was approved. Pribble said that the city attorney approached the city about needing to update the document, which was last approved in 2008. The agreement lays out the responsibilities of the parties, including that the city will provide and retain ownership of equipment for the department, and that the fire department can never charge a citizen of the city for any service rendered.
New Officers Hired
The council approved hiring two new police officers after candidates were interviewed by a city committee. Mayor Sanders and Pribble commented that they were impressed with both candidates’ answers and professionalism during the interview process. Pribble pointed out that both officers identified recent positive changes in the city and said that the city’s efforts to support the police department have paid off in its recruiting efforts.
Chief Joshua Scholes said that the department has one remaining open position that is expected to be filled soon.
HCSO Agreement
The city approved an interlocal agreement with Hill County Sheriff’s Office that would allow a sheriff’s deputy to work for the police department if the department is short staffed. The agreement will now go before the Hill County Commissioners Court for consideration.
Library Cameras
A proposal to purchase Verkada cameras for the Lake Whitney Public Library in the amount of $48,670 was approved by the council. That fee includes installation costs, and the annual renewal fee would be $4,398 after the initial cost.
Information Technology Director Ben Keith told the council that the cameras are the best on the market and the same system that is used at City Hall. The cost is more for the library because of its size; approximately 17 cameras are needed instead of the two cameras needed at City Hall.
Keith said that the cameras will allow the inside and the outside of the library to be monitored at all times, including remotely at the police department. Alerts can also be set to increase security.
The council heard from Interim Library Director Christie Rogers, who said that transient individuals have been sleeping outside the library and are often on site when she arrives in the mornings. She said that a lot of children also visit the library, and it is difficult for staff to see all areas of the library.
Pribble said that there have also been issues with vandalism in the parking lot during council meetings.
Council member Ince questioned whether there was a cheaper option and said that he finds it sad that extra security measures are necessary in the community.
Keith said that there are cheaper options, but they do not have the same capabilities.
It was also mentioned that the system will provide a reliable system for recording council meetings.
The council ultimately approved the purchase and an associated budget amendment.
City Election
The council ordered a joint general election to be held with Whitney Independent School District on the Saturday, May 3, election date. The city has the mayor’s seat and two council positions available this year, and filing is ongoing at City Hall until February 14.
Executive Session
The council convened in executive session to discuss the hiring of a library director. After open session resumed, council members voted to extend a contingent offer to a candidate, who has not yet been publicly identified.
Open Forum
During open forum, resident Amy Teal spoke to the council. She asked members to either vote against or table the security camera agenda item, saying that she supported the library and improving safety but the expense was too great and would be better spent on property tax relief. She asked the city to put more information on its website before a meeting so residents can prepare to speak to the council about proposals. Teal also said that her public information requests are being forwarded to the city’s attorneys, which is an unnecessary expense. She also encouraged the council to hold two regular meetings a month if necessary, saying that the special council meeting agenda contained items that she felt should be on a regular council meeting agenda.
Tami Gardner spoke during open forum and invited anyone interested to help with a cleanup day at Whitney City Park that is scheduled for Saturday, February 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Reach1 Foundation, Community Outreach Housing and other nonprofits are sponsoring the cleanup, which will begin the process of improving the park. Gardner said that plans are being made to completely renovate the park, clean up the tennis courts for multiple uses and add playground equipment. She said that she plans to be back before the council with more detailed drawings, and she looks forward to involvement from the city as the plans proceed.
The Lakelander 