Fite's contract extended; Wakefield Farms plat OK'd

Whitehouse city council returned from a lengthy executive session and extended City Manager Ronny Fite's contract by two years Tuesday night. The annual evaluation of the city manager was the focus of the second executive session of the meeting, as members earlier met privately to discuss a conflict of interest claim levied at last month's meeting.

Council chose not to take any action on the conflict of interest issue, but scheduled it for next month's regular meeting on April 24. In a related matter, council approved a rezoning request and preliminary plat for Wakefield Farms, the proposed development on the property of Planning and Zoning Commission member Jan Bellefeuille which drew conflict of interest charges from Whitehouse citizen Lee Wilson at the Feb. 27 council meeting.

Wilson had earlier been involved in a proposed development that failed to gain approval from P&Z and would have required rezoning that did not follow guidelines set forth by the city's master plan. When the Bellefeuille proposal passed P&Z, Wilson came before the council and voiced support for the development but expressed criticism of P&Z policy and possible conflicts of interest.

Council approved the preliminary plat for the 19-acre development and OK'd a change in zoning from general industrial to R2-PD (single family residential - planned development) for Phase 1-2 of the project and R2 (single family residential) for Phases 3-5. Both tracts of land are on Railroad Avenue.

Planning Concepts of Tyler made the presentation and answered questions from council about access, lot size and other elements of the preliminary design.

In other agenda items, council approved the annual audit for fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2006, but is waiting to accept it pending a couple of minor revisions. Overall, the report presented by Kevin Cashion praised the city's financial performance.

Council also approved two bids regarding water and wastewater improvements. Reynolds & Kay's $446,584.56 proposal for Phase 2 of the Willingham Outfall project was accepted. Work on the should begin in a few weeks and take six months to complete.

Russell Drilling Company will also take on a six-month project for the city as its bid of $640,100 to drill water well #7 was approved. Mayor Jake Jacobson stressed the issue of expedience in getting the latest well up and running as the two wells recently completed on Railroad Avenue ran several months behind the planned project completion date.

The city is averaging about $1,000 a day in payments to Tyler for water and is pushing to be as self-sufficient as possible as soon as possible.

In a related issue, finance director Jed Dillingham was directed to get figures for water and wastewater improvements in the north part of the city related to Shahan Ranch Phase 2, the new school facilty and the ETMC lift station.

In other matters, council discussed its upcoming town hall meeting on April 23 (regarding the May 12 bond election), progress in acquring a storm siren system and financing of wastewater improvements.

Council also considered a citizen request to be on next month's agenda.

Pat Phillips wants council to consider providing water/sewer as he lives in an area that was annexed by the city several years ago; Phillips said the city promised free hookups without a time limit.