City of Alice council approves $246K Border Zone Fire Department grant application

The Alice City Council convened on April 15, 2025, to address several key agenda items, including a significant grant application for the Border Zone Fire Department and a review of landfill tipping fees.

The meeting began with a proposal for the ratification of a grant application aimed at securing funding for the Border Zone Fire Department. The grant, which is in its third round of funding, allows for requests up to $250,000. The city is seeking $246,470 to purchase essential equipment, including wildland, hazmat, and chemical detection gear. The council members expressed support for the application, with no questions raised during the discussion. A motion was made to adopt the resolution approving the grant application, which passed unanimously. Notably, this grant requires no matching funds from the city, making it a financially advantageous opportunity.

Following the grant discussion, the council turned its attention to the review of tipping fees for the City of Alice Landfill, particularly concerning Jim Wells County. The mayor and council reviewed the current fee structure, which had been simplified in the previous year's budget to apply uniformly to both city residents and those outside the city limits. The rationale behind this change was to ensure that residents of Alice, who contribute to city taxes, are not unfairly burdened by costs associated with landfill expansion and development. The council emphasized the importance of maintaining a fair fee structure that reflects the contributions of city taxpayers.

Overall, the meeting highlighted the council's commitment to securing funding for vital public safety equipment and ensuring equitable financial practices regarding landfill operations. The next steps will involve the city manager signing the necessary documents for the grant application and continued discussions on landfill fees in future meetings.