Water contract could be soon, says Troup mayor
BY CHARLOTTE SMITH Editor

Mayor John Whitsell told Troup City Council members that a contract with Lake Striker for a 10-year water option could soon be ready to consider. Speaking for informational purposes only, Whitsell said such an option would cost $37,500 year.

The council met Thursday, Nov. 16, after the regular meeting scheduled for Nov. 14 was canceled. All council members were present except Carole Wilson.

In considering a possible contract with Lake Striker for water rights, council also discussed the possibility of pulling out of the Lake Columbia project, although the city is already committed through the completion of Phase One.

Although Whitsell told council members he thought they should "bite the bullet and do it" as far as Lake Striker was concerned, there were mixed feelings about Lake Columbia.

"Let's not consider just jumping out," said Steve Patterson. "We may not be able to get back in and we may need to."

"Can we financially afford it?" asked Russ Obar, city administrator. "Can we financially not afford it?"

The council took no action on this matter.

In other agenda items, members voted unanimously to award a bid for the 2005 Texas Community Development Program sewer and water improvements to Reynolds and Kay.

The accepted amount was $216,462.37, the lowest of seven bids.

Members also approved a resolution authorizing a 2007 water and sewer improvements block grant application to the Office of Rural Community Affairs .

The 2006 Tax Roll, submitted by the Smith County Tax Assessor-Collector was approved in the amount of $61,351,946.

Council also approved two replatting items. The first concerned an item the council first took action on in September, in which they allowed improvements if a re-plat was submitted within 60 days.

The second involved a request to remove a frame dwelling from 505 S. Short St. and replace it with a doublewide mobile home. The city approved the request under the provision that the frame dwelling is removed within 60-90 days and that the owners provide a final plat in 60-90 days.

The council also heard brief remarks from Mayor Whitsell concerning the need for correspondence with the Texas Department of Transportation to request a face-to-face meeting regarding the railroad crossing at West Duval.

Obar also reported that the city's code enforcement officer was ready to tackle the problem of abandoned structures.

"Hopefully we'll see some difference in neighborhoods that need to be cleaned up," he said.