The Whitney City Council approved changes to the city’s ordinance regarding outdoor displays in the downtown area and discussed other business in a meeting held Thursday, March 26.
The council voted to amend the ordinance related to outdoor displays after recent discussions and public hearings.
Two downtown businesses, C&S Antiques and Keith Ace Hardware, requested at recent meetings that changes be made because the current ordinance was impacting their ability to display goods on the sidewalks in front of their businesses.
The council has been working to loosen language in the ordinance to avoid being overly restrictive to businesses. The majority of community feedback received during the public comment period was also in favor of allowing outdoor displays.
Several changes were incorporated, including removing language that prohibits placing items for sale in front of windows. The council also removed specific measurements regarding sidewalk displays, as long as the business complies with Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) regulations.
Council member Amy Teal abstained from the vote and expressed concerns about downtown policies being enforced in an equitable manner.
The council also voted to submit a grant application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Downtown Revitalization Program.
If the city receives the grant, the funds could be used to improve sidewalks, accessibility and deteriorating infrastructure in the downtown area. It could also be earmarked for a community center, which the city has considered establishing in the former Cato Drug building downtown.
Teal questioned where the council would get the $50,000 matching funds for the grant, saying that the city has more pressing needs, like roads and the new wastewater treatment plant.
City Administrator Billy Pribble and the city’s grant administrator, GrantWorks, pointed out that the program is a two-year process, so the city could fund the match over two budget years.
Council member Jason Ince said that the city has a lot of needs, and citizens have expressed a desire to address the downtown area. He and others on the council were in favor of agreeing to the match, which could result in the city receiving $1 million to perform work downtown.
The council approved the grant application, with Teal voting no.
The council approved paperwork related to the 2025 Texas Community Development Block Grant the city received, which provides $750,000 for drainage improvements in the area of Chad, Beth and Dee streets. Signatories were approved for the grant, and the city’s civil rights policies were reaffirmed, which is a requirement to receive the funding.
In other action, the council approved a recommendation of the city’s parks board to appoint Charles Boyer to fill a vacancy on the board. The mayor also read a proclamation declaring April Fair Housing Month in the city.
The council also approved a legal services agreement with Messer and Fort, PLLC, the firm that employs the city’s attorney and provides legal counsel. Teal abstained.
Departmental Reports
In departmental reports, the fire department reported 198 total fire and EMS calls in February. There were 128 calls for the fire department, with 109 first responder requests and 19 fire calls.
On the EMS side, the ambulance responded to 70 calls with an average response time of 4.8 minutes in the city and 11 minutes when responding in the county as mutual aid for CareFlite.
The police department reported 208 total incidents in February, with eight arrests, 66 traffic stops and 88 citations or warnings issued. There were seven animal control calls for service and one code enforcement call for service.
Public works reported seven water leak repairs and one new meter install completed in February. Two public works employees have passed training courses and are awaiting final Texas Commission on Environmental Quality testing for D water licenses. There were three after-hours water calls and eight after-hours sewer calls for service in February.
The library’s February report showed 1,570 total visitors served for the month, including 156 utilizing the library’s computers, 78 served with direct assistance and 621 attending events and programs. Three new library cards were issued in February, and 655 of the library’s materials were checked out during the month.
City Administrator Billy Pribble provided an update on the opinion the city is seeking from the Office of the Attorney General regarding the city’s ability to accept donations.
Pribble read a letter from the OAG stating that it will take additional time to research the matter and provide an opinion.
The Lakelander 