At their regular scheduled meeting on Jan. 8, the Collinsville City Council accepted the resignation of alderman Dan Riddle and appointed Chase Guidera to fill Riddle’s seat. Guidera had previously served on the council from 2021 to 2023. He will fill the remainder of Riddle’s unexpired council term.
Immediately after the council approved the appointment, Guidera was sworn in by City Administrator Dannielle Talley and took his seat for the meeting.
His first major decision was determining whether the city would allow the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) to move forward with the hiring of Civic Connection Group to implement a Geographic Information System (GIS) mapping project for the City of Collinsville.
Civic Connection Group (CCG) is a consulting firm specializing in planning, engineering and GIS technology to help small cities reach their potential for transformation and growth. CCG representatives presented to the council the benefits of GIS mapping.
Essentially, a GIS mapping system creates, manages, analyzes and maps all types of data. It connects data to a map and integrates detailed information (like location and descriptions) to help users understand patterns, geographic context and relationships.
All of the information is stored electronically on the cloud, so there are no cumbersome servers or equipment taking up space. It also ties everything together with clickable links –ordinances, appraisal districts, flood planes, water/sewer maps and more can be accessed with the click of a button.
“A picture is worth a thousand words,” CCG representative Jason Laumer said. “With GIS mapping, you can see everything. It helps citizens, property owners and city officials.”
In addition to streamlining processes and consolidating information, GIS mapping software can improve internal communication and efficiency. Additionally, these interactive maps allow users to click on current information in real time.
The council discussed the proposal and shared pros and cons.
“It’s definitely going to take some footwork on our part to get it up and running,” Guidera said. “But I think it’s the way we need to be thinking for the future.”
“I just want to be sure we have benchmarks in place,” alderman Benny McKee said. “I don’t want to get another study or sign another contract and then it just sits there.”
The council ultimately agreed for the EDC (who had already budgeted for this item) to move forward in securing the software, pending final review from legal on terms of contract.
Also covered in the council meeting were reports from various department heads. Keep Collinsville Beautiful’s (KCB) Tour of Homes was a great success that had better-than-average proceeds. This funding will help provide a scholarship to a graduating high school senior.
The sidewalk project KCB is creating with their TxDOT grant is in the hands of design engineers in Austin. They’re working on ideas to include some street lamps to improve lighting downtown. It will likely be May or June before work will begin.
The Chamber of Commerce announced its new board members, who include Coryann Johnson, Cynthia Shelton, GiGi Cox, Lauren Shortnancy, Marva Worsham, Matt Davenport, Carrie Lewter and Austin Lewter.
Their membership banquet will be held on Feb. 24 and their next meeting is Jan. 24 at 6:30 p.m. in the Annex Building. Everyone is welcome to attend.
The Collinsville Public Library is nearly finished with their recent upgrades. They’re just waiting on the final install of a bathroom vanity.
The library held several successful holiday programs for children, from Snowflake Camp and a Cocoa Celebration to a mailbox for Santa letters.
The 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program has been a success, and the program has reached its first milestone. Sixteen-month-old Charleigh Ross is the first young reader to reach 100 books on her way to the goal of 1,000.
Lastly, the council accepted the resignation of Tina Ozuna from the CEDC Board of Directors and approved the appointment of Sherry Reed as secretary of the CEDC Board of Directors and as a member of the CIDC Board of Directors.
After adjourning to executive session, the council reconvened and announced they would wait on the purchase of a new fire truck until they receive further financial clarity from a June audit.
They also approved the amendment of Ordinance No. 600 with changes to Exhibit B to change to Public Works Director and Public Works Saff.
