HoweEnterprise.com
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March 22, 2021
City Council denies zone request for mobile home in city limits The Howe City Council convened last Tuesday to discuss, consider, and take action on several items and one was a zoning request from Howard and Leta Porter at 1200 E. FM 902 to place a mobile home on the property. Earlier that evening, the Planning & Zoning Commission approved the zoning change with a three to one vote. Councilman Robert Cannaday made the motion to deny the zone change as Councilman Brett Bearden second the motion. Eventually, the motion carried unanimously. “My reasoning for is that we’ve spent a lot of time and effort putting together a city plan with specific zoning,” said Cannaday adding that the city should stick to the plan. Councilwoman Georgia Richardson wanted and received clarification that the property was inside the city limits. City Administrator Joe Shephard said the other mobile homes in that area are not in the city limits, therefore the city has no authority over them. The council also approved Ordinance 781 which regulates the fat oil and grease introduced into the City of Howe’s sanitary sewer system. A penalty of up to $500 per each offense was imposed and a separate offense deemed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues. The violations would be handled by the water department and code enforcement of the City of Howe. The city council also approved the renewal of a loan at Independent Bank for the payments on two police vehicles and authorized City Administrator Joe Shephard to sign and execute all related documents. The council also approved a vehicle stipend for Police Chief Carl Hudman in the amount of $3,500 for the remainder of 2021 and
$500 monthly for 2022 and annually going forward. “This is actually a project that I have worked on and let me explain to you the benefits to the city,” said Mayor French. “Instead of driving a city car, he will get a monthly check for the use of his own vehicle. It eliminates interest, maintenance, tires, repairs, and insurance on a vehicle for the city so that we do not have to be liable to cover those things.” Councilman Bearden asked if the police chief’s insurance would be responsible for a line of duty accident to which French stated that the chief’s vehicle would not necessarily be used for line of duty calls. “This would be an administrator’s vehicle which is the primary job of a police chief,” said French. Councilman Cannaday said that based on his knowledge this is a common practice and is a good situation from the city. Richardson made the motion to approve which Cannaday second and the motion carried unopposed. The council also approved to amend the water, sewer, and solid waste budget by reducing the salary expense of each by $8,176. The dollar amount comes from the salary of a position that the department is not going to replace. The total amount saved by that position was then transferred to an approved mowing contract in the same amount to Bobcat Lawn & Tree Farm, LLC. The council also approved the renewal of the EDC building lease for one year instead of the previous two 3-year leases. The council approved the lease 4-1 witch Cannaday the only nay vote due to requesting a 3-year lease. Dept. reports were not given.
