City utility fee hike
Examiner photo by Connie Clements: Mayor Bert Miller issues a proclamation to the Navasota Police Department recognizing Tuesday, Oct. 5 as National Night Out. NNO events are planned to promote crime and drug prevention awareness and strengthen police-community partnerships to keep neighborhoods safe.
The Navasota City Council held a Regular Meeting Monday, Sept. 27, and approved the first reading of Ordinance No. 978-21 implementing a 5.63% increase to monthly water, gas, and sewer rates as well as fees related to Planning and Development and Building and Construction.
City Manager Brad Stafford said, “Each year we review your utility rates and we also look at the Consumer Price Index and the Municipal Cost Index and this year the average of those two was 5.63%, therefore, we increased utilities by that. Mr. Diosdado also made sure we covered our sign permits as well as any extra reviews that may come up from some of this development that’s coming along, that the person getting a second or third review is paying the proper amount.”
City manager input to be sought from public
Reconvening after meeting in Executive Session as permitted by Section 551.074, Texas Government Code, to discuss matters related to a new City Manager, Mayor Bert Miller announced that a questionnaire related to the selection of a new city manager will be sent to both city staff and the general public.
Miller continued, “There will be a review of all the applications at a special meeting on Nov. 1. That will be done by city council. And the rest of the timeline, we’ll go through a review of the questionnaires and interviews through the week of Nov. 27, with hopefully, a selection of the new city manager by the end of November.”
Miller and Stafford confirmed that the City is working on an agreement with Stafford’s future employer, Bleyl Engineering, for him to provide interim city manager services from his October 29 retirement until a new city manager is selected.
Sidewalk project moves west
Council approved awarding the bid for the 2021 Downtown Revitalization Program to Green Dream International in the amount of $383,210.98.
Stafford said, “From Tenth to Eighth Street, we’ll redo the sidewalks with brick pavers, planter boxes and antique lighting to match the rest of downtown. On one side it goes all the way to the railroad track and on the other side it goes up to Baylor Lumber.”
2021-2022 budget, tax rate approved
After a public hearing with no citizen comments and a show of hands vote, council approved a budget of $35,940,106. According to Finance Director Lance Hall, the budget includes a 3% cost of living adjustment for employees as well as funds for a new firetruck and heavy equipment.
After a public hearing with no citizen comments and a show of hands vote, council approved the second reading of Ordinance No. 976-21 establishing a tax rate of $0.5693 per $100 valuation.
While the tax rate remains unchanged from the current year, based on increased property values and new properties on the tax roll, it will increase revenues by 8.75%. According to the Tax Code, this represents a tax rate increase. Hall said taxable values increased from $476,175,357 to $508,297,370, and at this tax rate, is expected to generate $2,893,736.93.
Other council action:
•Approved Resolution No. 701-21 establishing Sept. 28, 2021, as National Voter Registration Day.
•Approved the second reading of Ordinance 977-21 for a specific use permit for 1102 W. Washington Avenue.
•Approved the renewal of the interlocal agreement with Grimes County for fire protection services in unincorporated areas of the County in the amount of $93,241.
•Approved the first reading of Ordinance 975-21 denying the distribution cost factor rate increase of Entergy Texas, Inc.
•Approved Finance Director Lance Hall as the Account Administrator and Point of Contact for Reporting, and Budget Analyst Kay Peavy as the Authorized Representative for Reporting, in compliance with the American Rescue Plan Act State and Local Fiscal Recovery Funds.
•Approved December 24 and December 27 as City closure dates for the 2021 Christmas holiday.
Reports from City staff or City officials:
•Received a report from Code Enforcement Officer, Erik Covarrubias, about the Pretty City Committee.
•Mayor Bert Miller read a proclamation recognizing Oct. 5 as National Night Out.
•Received an update on the Sept. 23 Planning and Zoning meeting from council liaison Pattie Pederson.
View city council meetings in their entirety at www.navasotatx.gov/city-council/pages/meeting-videos.