Council hears citizen concerns

Whitehouse City Council members faced an audience of several citizens during Tuesday night's regular monthly council meeting.

Marcus Hawkins was there to address the continued flooding problem on Dews Drive while Tracy Speake, backed by at least 10 of her neighbors, addressed the council on an erosion issue in the greenbelt area of Waterton.

The council may not take action on the citizens' comments during the meeting due to the fact that the items are not on the agenda. However, the council requested that reports on both matters be included on the council's next agenda at their September meeting.

During the business agenda items, the council approved the Smith County 911 budget. This budget has no affect on the city's budget, but is presented to the cities in Smith County for their approval.

Vernon Webb of TxDot was on hand to update the council on the progress of the FM 346 widening. Temporary widening has started west of Hwy. 110. This is to allow for moving traffic to the opposite side of the road to allow work to begin on the north side.

Webb told council that the crews have been instructed to do their best not to have lane closures during 7-8:30 a.m. and 3-5:30 p.m. due to the heavy school traffic. With weather delays and more time needed for utility movement than expected, Webb says his best guess for a completion date is spring of 2009.

Approval was given for the hiring of Christopher Butler of Butler Planning for the purpose of rewriting the zoning ordinance and Town Center guidelines. Butler says he can do this project in a four to six month time period. Butler was the consultant who created city's the Vision 2020 master plan.

An ordinance establishing temporary regulations pertaining to a new Town Center Zoning District was denied. The council prefers to wait for the completion of the guidelines by Butler.

Council adopted the budget for 2007- 2008 along with the new lower property tax rate of 59.999 cents per $100 valuation. The new budget, even with the lower tax rate, will still provide funds for additional street repairs, addition of a full-time fire marshal position and a raise for city employees.

The council voiced their eagerness to City Manager Ronny Fite to move forward with the plans and designs for getting water from Lake Striker to Whitehouse. While the reports were good on the current and future water wells, the council does not want to hesitate in putting this project on the fast-track.

Discussion of an impact fee was tabled until more information can be gathered and possible members of a committee can be compiled.

Fite reported to the council that the new community outdoor warning siren system should be up and running by the end of September.

Fite also informed the council that the City of Tyler has requested a meeting with him on ETJ issues. Fite asked the mayor and any other council members who could make themselves available to please do so and attend the meeting with Tyler officials.

The council met briefly in executive session regarding a rightof way acquisition, but took no action on the item upon returning to the regular session.