The Whitney City Council accepted the resignation of Police Chief Joshua Scholes during a regular meeting held Thursday, September 18.
Scholes began serving as police chief at the beginning of the year when former chief Kyle Nevil left the department to begin serving as Hill County Precinct 1 constable.
After a closed session, the council voted to accept Scholes’ resignation effective September 26 and install Sergeant Samuel Hathaway as interim chief. The city will begin accepting applications for a police chief. Council member Amy Teal abstained from the vote.
The council also formally approved the proposed city tax rate.
The approved tax rate of $0.5764 per $100 valuation is the no-new-revenue rate, which is the rate that will bring in about the same amount of revenue as last year, based on the same properties being taxed.
Taxes will be about $857 on a homestead at the median value of $148,716 in the city. That is a decrease from the current tax bill, which is $967.
Teal reiterated that she opposes property taxes on principle and voted against the tax rate, with all other members voting in favor.
The council continued its discussion about the historic building at 117 West Washington in downtown Whitney, which was most recently Mustard Seed Marketplace but historically operated as Cato Drug.
The city now owns the property, and the council has been discussing the costly repairs needed and whether to invest in the property for public benefit or to sell it.
Operations Director Billy Pribble said that a purpose for the building needed to be established before any renovation projects can move forward, and he emphasized that it would be a significant expense.
Several council members said that feedback they received from the community supported turning the building into a community center, and the importance of honoring the Cato family at the site was also stressed.
Teal said that the taxpayers she spoke to did not want to pay for the building when the city needs roads and a sewer plant.
Council member Vicki Wilson pointed out that a community center falls under parks and recreation, the only category for which the city can legally accept donations. She said that while the city does not have the funds to use the site as a city office, donations could be accepted to create a community center.
The council ultimately voted to designate the building as a community center, with further discussion to follow. Teal abstained from the vote, and all others voted in favor.
The council authorized the mayor to sign a letter of support to allow the library to apply for a Family Place Libraries grant through the Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
If received, the grant would give local families access to early childhood development professionals and programs free of charge at the library. It would also provide early childhood development training to library staff and provide all play-based learning materials for use by local families at the library.
The council voted in favor of the application, with Teal abstaining.
The council voted to approve the purchase of new extrication equipment for the fire department, with most of the cost being reimbursed through a Texas Forest Service grant.
The department reported that the current extrication equipment is out of date and almost useless with some newer cars made with stronger materials. Under the agreement, the city will pay the $37,527 cost up front, with the grant reimbursing $25,000 of that amount. The remaining $12,527 cost will be split between the city and the fire department.
An amended agreement between the city and Whitney Fire Rescue was also approved clarifying that the city retains ownership of the new extrication equipment.
Teal abstained on both items, and all other council members voted in favor.
The council approved an agreement with SEAC Network Solutions to begin providing the city’s information technology services effective October 1. The 12-month contract was included in the city budget for the coming fiscal year and will not exceed $32,500. Teal abstained, and all others voted yes.
Budget amendments were approved to shore up the 2024-25 city budget to account for expenses that were not anticipated when the budget was initially passed. Changes included the $162,985 spent on Wildcat Drive, $7,852 for air conditioner replacement at City Hall and $4,700 for roof repair at the library. The changes were approved, with Teal abstaining.
A request from select baseball team Texas Takeover to use City Park fields for practices through November 3 was approved. The issue was tabled at the council’s last meeting until it was clarified that there would not be a conflict with WWFL, which has field priority.
The council approved closing a portion of South Brazos Street and painting the intersection of West Washington and South Brazos in honor of the 50th anniversary of Pioneer Days, to be held Saturday, October 4. The chamber will have the street cleaned and power washed early Sunday morning.
A variance request for property at 301 North Neches was approved to allow the homeowner to place an accessory building closer to the property line than allowed in the city’s zoning ordinance. The applicant asked to place the building two feet away from the rear property line instead of the allowed eight feet due to the unique nature of the property.
Teal initially made a motion to approve the variance and to refund the applicant’s $150 application fee. The motion died with no second, and Jason Ince followed with a motion to allow the variance, which was unanimously approved.
In open forum, a Whitney High School student spoke to the council about the need for a crosswalk at Wildcat Drive and Farm Road 933, saying that the intersection is on a busy road that is scary for students to cross. Pribble mentioned that the school has approached the Texas Department of Transportation about the issue, as the state would have to make the decision.
Jason Sneed told the council that over 300 youth recently attended a community-wide joint worship event at Whitney Fellowship. He said that the event came about after he and another peer in the ministry were discussing community division and what could be done. He encouraged the adults in the community to follow the example set by children and come together.
The council’s next regularly scheduled meeting will be held Thursday, October 16.
