The Whitney City Council heard a request from Whitney Family Medicine for a tax abatement during a regular meeting Thursday, July 16, and directed city staff to continue working with the practice on the proposal.
In a letter to the council, Whitney Family Medicine owner Dr. Randall Henderson said the practice, established in 2014, is seeking relief from a portion of its local tax burden so additional resources can be invested in expanding services, recruiting healthcare professionals and meeting the community’s future healthcare needs.
The clinic, located at 1314 North Brazos, currently employs 21 people and plans to recruit an additional physician and add three to four support staff positions.
Henderson wrote that the practice provides primary care and mental health services, accepts Medicare, Medicaid and most commercial insurance plans, and offers a sliding-fee assistance program to help ensure access to care for patients facing financial hardship. As healthcare costs continue to rise, Henderson said that a tax abatement would allow the clinic to direct more resources toward expanding services while continuing to serve Whitney and the surrounding area.
The letter also states Henderson is exploring the feasibility of developing a rural hospital in Whitney. According to the proposal, a hospital could expand access to emergency and inpatient healthcare services, create an estimated 20 to 30 jobs or more if operated on a 24-hour basis, and bring services that are currently unavailable locally, including emergency care and inpatient psychiatric stabilization and treatment. Henderson indicated he would seek similar tax abatement consideration for that project should it move forward.
The council approved a professional services compensation agreement with Movin’ On In Properties, LLC. The company is proposing building up to 162 homes in an area that is currently undeveloped near Circle Drive in Whitney. The first phase would include 27 homes.
The agreement requires the developer to pay for the costs of traffic, density and other studies necessary as the plans are reviewed.
The council authorized the mayor to enter into a contract with Government Capital Securities for the purchase of three police vehicles in an amount not to exceed $233,971.10. The department said that the Ford police vehicles will replace unreliable units with mechanical problems.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing conduit financing through the Whitney Cultural Education Facilities Finance Corporation for Legacy Community Health Endowment Inc. in a 4-1 vote. The financing allows the city’s corporation to issue bonds on behalf of the nonprofit, with no liability for the city. The arrangement provides a small amount of revenue to the city.
Action was tabled on the hiring of a police officer applicant due to background concerns, and the council is expected to discuss the issue in executive session at a future meeting.
The council also discussed a proposal that had been raised previously to move the city’s elections from May to November. City Administrator Billy Pribble said that he asked the city’s attorney to research the issue when it was first proposed. He said state law required cities wishing to make the change to do so by December 31, 2025, a deadline that has since passed. Pribble also said Whitney’s two-year council terms would have prevented the city from making the change.
The council set terms for the Library Advisory Board members who were appointed in February. Seats up on odd-numbered years will be those occupied by PJ Hicks, Sharon Wolfkill, Connie Terry and Antoinette Ratliff. Seats up in even-numbered years are held by Debra Gregory, Betty Williams and Elissa Jeter.
In departmental reports, Whitney Fire and Rescue reported responding to 214 total fire and EMS calls in June.
On the EMS side, there were 68 total calls, with 64 in the city and four in the county as mutual aid for CareFlite. The average response time in the city was five minutes, and it was 14 minutes in the county.
The fire department responded to 146 calls in June, including five fire calls in the city and 16 in the county, and 63 first responder calls in the city and 62 in the county.
The police department reported 233 total incidents in June, with three arrests, 81 traffic stops and 108 citations or warnings issued. Animal control responded to eight animal calls for service, and there were 15 code enforcement complaints.
Public Works reported five water leak repairs, two sewer taps installed and one water tap installed. The department responded to 10 water calls and eight sewer calls in June.
The library issued 43 new library cards in June and served a total of 1,536 individuals at the library. There were 174 visitors who used computers, 91 served with direct assistance and 38 unique events and programs offered with 384 attendees. Patrons checked out 837 items for the month.
The council’s next regular meeting date is Thursday, August 20. Meetings begin at 6 p.m. at the Lake Whitney Public Library meeting room.
