howeenterprise.com
Monday, February 23, 2015
City of Howe seeking Community Development Block Grant
City Administrator Joe Shephard addresses the city council about the Community Development Block Grant process. Howe City Administrator Joe Shephard introduced a plan to the city council for the city to apply for the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) that would provide over $180,000 of improvements to streets in the city. The city will have to match a portion of money in order to be able to receive the grant. The city's portion would be nearly $30,000.
Shephard says that the biggest factor for the grant is the average income and conditions of the roads.
"We have talked about this in the past." Shephard told the council." We have budgeted $50,000 for street repair, so it would come out of that."
Dennis Bozeman made a motion for the city to seek the grant. Bill French seconded the motion and it cleared unopposed.
Councilman Bill French asked if would be an extensive repair such as Hughes Street and was told by Shephard that it would not be as extensive as that project, but they would dig down about 24 inches. He told the council that on Long If the grant were to be awarded to Street the city would actually have the city, the improved focus area to go down 25 feet (not inches) to would be Bean Street, Travis Street, solve that problem. Jones Street, Neal Street, parts of Young Street and parts of College "We've got $50,000" said Mayor Street. In total, the project would Jeff Stanley. "This $187,000 will call for 121,000 square feet of road help us a whole lot. If we don't try improvements. to get it; we won't have it."
City renews joint election agreement with Howe ISD The city council voted to renew the are two years. election process to have the city's elections combined with the Howe Elections will be held on May 9, ISD's public elections. 2015. The final date to file for candidacy is Feb. 27 at 116 E. Up for re-election are council Haning St. Howe, Texas. Office members Debbie Lowery and Bill hours are 7:30 am - 4:30 pm French. Mayor Jeff Stanley's seat is Monday-Thursday and 7:30 am also up for re-election. All terms - 3:30 pm on Fridays.
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City Hall operations could be moving out of downtown At the monthly city council meeting on Tuesday, City Administrator Joe Shephard asked the council to review a plan to move the city hall operation west to 700 W. Haning St and expand the location that currently serves as the home of Howe Police Department, Community Center and holds the city council meetings. The current Community Center would be expanded east 20 feet which is now covered as a carport for police vehicles. The additional space added on and the offices that are existing in the Community Center would give more room for
the operations of city hall. The discussion was whether to sell the current downtown city hall building or to prepare for a lease. Councilman Bill French was opposed to selling the building due to possible office space needed in the future. "We cannot replace it in four or five years for what we would sell it for today." said French. The council gave Shephard approval to move forward to get figures to expand the Community Center for the relocation of the city hall day-to-day operations.
