The City Council discussed updates on the current ongoing city projects in town during last week’s meeting.
The Texoma Street project construction began last week. Residents may have observed a drone flying over the neighborhood, a tool used by the contractor to obtain footage of the construction area. The water line project will start August 1. Whitesboro City Administrator Julie Arrington said the engineer said the 12-inch water line will possibly be changed into a 16-inch water line.
Moving forward with the Water Tower project, the engineer is making all the necessary changes and modifications to the plans for a 1-million-gallon water tank. The engineer informed Whitesboro City Administrator Julie Arrington and Mayor Dave Blaylock that he anticipates having the RFQ (request for quote) ready in about 30 days. Once they go through the RFQ process, it will take another 30 days. Arrington said they will then have someone for the City Council to choose a contractor in 60-75 days.
During the department head reports, Whitesboro Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) Director Penny Renfroe reported that this week marks the end of the PARD’s summer camp program.
Area kids have been able to participate in up to two week-long day camps at PARD at no cost to parents. Each week had a different theme and included arts and crafts, games, snacks and an end-of-week pool party.
Whitesboro Public Library (WPL) Director Lara Blair spoke about the great numbers the library has reached with their passport program. She went into detail about how the library utilizes the funds that come in from the passport program.
The WPL is a U.S. Passport approved Acceptance Facility and processes passport applications for many patrons each month. The passport services are by appointment only on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 10 a.m.- 4 p.m.
Blair said the funds have helped purchase the equipment used for the passport program, helped purchase book shelves, clean the carpet, buy books for the library and provide the summer reading program, to name a few. Blair said it is money given back to the city in services that are provided at the library.
Alderman Su Welch said this is something Whitesboro should be really proud of.
“This is a particularly good service in town. We’ve had lots of people come from out of town to purchase passports,” Welch said.
Blair said the library processed 47 passport applications in May, 44 applications in June and on July 16 they already had 30 applications for the month.
“We’re ramping up on passports. We’re busy,” Blair said.
To find out more information regarding the library’s passport services, contact the Whitesboro Public Library at 903-564-5432 or find all the requirements at www.whitesboro.org.
Moving forward, the City Building Inspector Dalton Fallaw updated the City Council on two locations in town currently being renovated. Tender Smokehouse, a business to be opened in the old Dickey’s building on Hwy. 377, has been pushed back a bit. The HVAC has been scheduled to be installed and concrete as well.
Next, regarding the property on 213 E. Main Street, Fallaw said the apartment in the rear of the property has been completed, but the indoor renovations have come to a halt due to plans changing and making sure it is handicap compliant when changing the property from a residence to a business. Both projects are ongoing.
In other news, after much discussion, the City Council approved the request for a re-plat allowing for the separation of one lot into two lots. The property is generally located at 608 North Avenue. Fallaw said letters were sent out to neighboring residents, and there was no one opposed to the change. Alderman Mike Pack motioned the approval and Mayor Pro Tem Carla Woolsey seconded. The motion carried.
Then, after City Administrator Julie Arrington and Fallaw informed the council about a city ordinance needing amending, the City Council approved to amend Appendix 1 code of ordinances, specifically building and zoning fees and water rates.
According to the agenda, the Development Services Department is in the process of integrating their new permit software. They want to install the software with permitting fees accurately reflecting the quality and quantity of their services. The current fee schedule asks for project valuations or price of the job.
Fallaw informed the council that in September of 2023, a law was placed in the state of Texas where the City cannot ask what the price of a residence will cost. The changes made to the ordinance would bring the city into state compliance. After much discussion, Woolsey made the motion to approve and Alderman Stacey Miles seconded. The motion carried.
The City Council authorized Arrington to enter into an Interlocal Agreement with Grayson County for the distribution of road oil on various city streets. Arrington said the city routinely signs an Interlocal Agreement with Grayson County to help with the road repairs due to them having the trucks, equipment and materials to complete the repairs.
The Street Department requested the Interlocal Agreement for road materials and equipment usage to repair College Street, Broadway Street (E. Main Street to railroad tracks), Red River Street, East Main Street, Bois D’ Arc Street (E. Main Street to Hwy 377), Charter Street, E. South Street, Boston Street, William Street and Wade Street. Alderman Ronnie Fielder made the motion to approve and Welch seconded. The motion carried.
The City Council approved a new outdoor warning siren to be installed by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Assistant Fire Chief Jeff Patterson said the siren will supplement the existing ones. It will be located North of Hwy. 82 corridor along Hwy. 377, roughly behind the Sonic restaurant. He said this will cover the biggest area where people stop and go.
Patterson said there is another siren to be installed at the end of Broadway Street in next year’s budget to complete the project. Getting these two sirens installed will make a total of six sirens for the city of Whitesboro by the end of the project.
Moving along, the City Council discussed with the City Administrator the budget for the Community Development Plan and Animal Control. Arrington presented the changes made to each of the budgets. Welch requested different proposals from audit companies and attorneys for the city. Mayor Blaylock encouraged the City Council to look at last year’s and this year’s proposals before they come to any future decisions.
During the citizens presentation, a Whitesboro resident presented his concern of trucks breaking down in town. He used this opportunity to request an ordinance that will post signs on right-of-ways. He feels it is a quality of life issue that needs to be addressed. He said the trucks are very loud and they stop in front of people’s homes to be repaired, even on a Sunday morning. He feels that posting signs to designate where trucks are not allowed to park could be beneficial.
Next, resident Jennifer Blythe said her 1,900-square-foot home was flooded about a year ago. The flooding was due to a main water valve that was located behind her residence that was backed up with tree roots. She said with the lack of the main not being cleaned up or maintained by the city, her house was flooded.
Unfortunately, her late husband could not be present to discuss the circumstance. She stood in front of the council representing both her and her husband asking for any kind of help from the city that she would be able to get. Blythe said they moved to Whitesboro in February of 2022. The flooding was throughout her children’s rooms and has caused mold.
Blythe said it would cost her a little under $800 to repair the mold and sheetrock caused by the flooding in her home. She said she is willing to do the work herself but is in search of help for the cost of the repairs.
Blythe recently had a plumber install a backflow on the house (that wasn’t installed before they purchased the home). The installation cost was $1,000.
Mayor Blaylock said with it being the citizens’ presentation only, the council is not able to make any decision on any of the circumstances, but the City Council will meet and take time to discuss everything presented to them.
The mayor said they will be sure to get back to her about the situation.