Troup council hears subdivision update
BY SUZANNE LOUDAMY Staff writer

The Troup City Council met Tuesday to review and approve several items on the agenda.

The meeting began with a public hearing concerning the recently completed Texas Community Development Program project Contract #725879 for water and wastewater improvements. No one spoke during the public hearing and the hearing was closed.

City Administrator Russ Obar explained the impact of House Bill 1010 and other issues relating to it not considered or mandated by the Legislature.

The bill allows the city's property to be taxed by the county that property is in when the entity is split between counties. That has not been the case.

Obar said that there would be a meeting next week to determine which county would be doing the billing for the city. No action was taken.

An update was given on the request for street lights along Magnolia Street. Obar said TXU has been contacted to install three lights.

Additional information came from the contractor on the proposed Joey Subdivision Unit Two and their request for city services. Mayor Whitsell said he and the city attorney, Blake Armstrong, had discussed the issue. Whitsell was considering asking the developer to pay for the upgrade and extension to the system upfront and then as each house was built and sold, the city would reimburse the developer a portion of that amount.

This would protect the city from the possibility of the property not being developed as planned. Armstrong said he had never seen an agreement exactly like that but was certainly willing to research the idea at the direction of the council.

The contractor stated that he does not believe that the developer has the money to do that upfront, but would certainly take the idea back to her.

Obar also recommended that the developer, Jo Shaw, bring a letter officially requesting that voluntary annexation into the city before they go forward with any of the research. This item will appear on next month's agenda for further consideration.

The Youth Curfew ordinance from 2002-03 that was first adopted Sept. 10, 2002 ran out in 2005. The council voted and approved to schedule a public hearing next month to hear from the citizens on reinstating this ordinance.

The council approved a motion to hold a public hearing next month on considering an ordinance that will continue to tax goods-in-transit. Legislation that affects this takes effect Jan. 1, 2008 by default unless the council holds the hearing and takes action.

Council directed the city attorney to draft an ordinance outlawing mobile homes and travel trailers as permanent housing in the city limits. They requested that this be ready at the next meeting.

Obar told the council that the new Emergency Services District #2 committee had voted to hire an ISO ratings (Insurance Services Office) consultant. This consultant will come in and help smaller cities find ways to improve their ISO rating which in turn can lower homeowners' insurance rates.

In other news from the ESD, the latest plan is for the city to only have to pay $9,203 this year for 911 call services. Obar has the contract but it was only received this week so it was not on the agenda for the council to grant permission for the mayor to sign. This will come at the next meeting.

Consideration to increase the water and wastewater rates for all customers of the City of Troup Water and Wastewater Department was tabled due to the incorrect listing of the item on the agenda.