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Council members Rod Gross and Sarah Myrick along with Mayor Bill French gave Georgia Richardson a standing ovation for her longtime service to the City of Howe. Staff photo.

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City Administrator Joe Shephard and the returning members to the city council which are Rod Gross and Sarah Myrick. Hannah Horsley was sworn in as a new member on the Planning & Zoning Commission.

As the new council sat in existence, the first order of business was to adopt Ordinance No. 788 which set in place a flood damage prevention plan for the city. It is designed to minimize flood loss and provides penalties up to $500 for each violation. It repeals Ordinance No. 693, and it was passed unanimously. contract with Waste Connections for city refuse. The previous contract expired.

“In this contract, their rates are going up six and ten percent depending on what the surface is. We can’t adjust that until it’s time for budget. At that point, we’ll do the same thing,” said Stanley.

At the end of the one-year contract, Stanley suggested that it should go out for bid. Councilmember Shephard asked when the bid process should begin which Stanley responded with six months prior to the end of the contract.

The council also passed Order No. 789 unanimously which revised the city’s tap fee structure and amended Ordinance No. 770 and Chapter 10, Section 3. Stanley said the council should have taken action on this last month, but the meeting was cancelled. Waste Management gave the city 15 days’ notice of the increased rate change.

“This makes it more clear and brings up the tap fees to what other cities are charging,” said City Administrator Jeff Stanley.

Myrick asked which cities were compared for tap fees which Public Works Director Mickey Phillips said Leonard and Whitesboro was looked at along with four or five others.

The council then approved a motion to enter into an interlocal agreement with the Howe Independent School District to build tennis courts at a park location to be determined. The school district will pay for the courts and deed them to the city under this agreement. More details will be released on this subject in the coming months.

The council then approved a one-year The rate increase essentially takes Howe to what Waste Connections would charge a new city that entered into a contract.

The City of Howe agreed to a rate increase from ONCOR Energy. Stanley said there are negotiators wanting to prolong the rate increase from 15 days to 90 days for renegotiating purposes.

“These are millions of dollars in rate increases that will affect every one of us in the pocketbook,” said Stanley. “I would recommend passing this.” Departmental reports were always given verbally to the council until a few months ago when Mayor French decided for them to be submitted in written form to the council. Shephard spoke in favor of returning to verbal reports from the department heads and asked numerous questions to each member of the leadership staff.

Shephard asked Howe Police Chief Carl Hudman whether the department was at full staff and Hudman replied that they were short by two officers currently. There are no applicants available for hire currently.

He asked Phillips of Public Works about the status of the purchase of the generator. Phillips said the generator should be shipped out this week and here next week.

He also asked about the water blending from the surface water that is scheduled for the fall or end of the summer. Phillips said the plan is to have the entire water system blended from ground water and surface water, but temporarily will have an isolation method which will have the east side of US 75 taking the surface water and the west side remaining on ground water.

Myrick asked Phillips about the timing of the conclusion of the smoke testing for wastewater infiltration identification which Phillips said they were still in the early stages and hoped to break it down into a two-phase project.

Shephard also commended the chamber on the efforts for the Howe Hall of Honor and asked about the Founders Day Festival. Economic Development Director Monte Walker said the festival was not as heavily attended in years past which he said was a result of a combination above average temperatures and the current economic climate of fuel prices.

Walker said the chamber grossed over $6,500 for the event which resulted in a $2,300 profit.

Shephard said he hoped that the events can continue to be hosted in the future for the city.

In a Board of Adjustment meeting, the board agreed to a variance at 310 S. Hughes Street which granted a setback to be adjusted from 30 feet to 20 feet to accommodate a home build.