Gunter council adopts MDD bylaws, approves chamber fireworks funding and hears public-works update

Gunter — The Gunter City Council on April 3 adopted revised bylaws for the Municipal Development District (MDD), authorized a funding agreement with the Gunter Area Chamber of Commerce for the July 4 fireworks show (amended to a not-to-exceed $13,500), confirmed a new MDD appointee and heard a public-works briefing about upcoming street, drainage and storage projects.

The council unanimously approved the MDD bylaw changes after brief discussion about eligibility and vacancy language. The council also voted to appoint Jessica (introduced herself as Jessica Dunn) to Place 1 on the Gunter MDD and tabled a separate agenda item about removing an MDD member until the April 17 meeting.

The action on the chamber funding amended the proposed funding agreement to include a not-to-exceed amount of $13,500 for the fireworks display; council members voted unanimously to approve the agreement as amended. City staff said $11,500 remained in the community enhancement line in the current budget and that the fireworks contractor provided a new price; the city and the chamber plan follow-up fundraising and sponsorships if additional funds are needed.

In public-works remarks, Adam Adams, Gunter director of public services, told the council the city held two preconstruction meetings last week for work on Fox Bend (panel replacement and bridge work) and for a driveway transition project in The Woods; crews expect to start work within about 30 days. Adams said crews will replace sign poles across town (about 30 poles and stop signs initially) and will coordinate driveway impacts with affected homeowners and the HOA.

Adams outlined a storage and demolition approach for an old building behind the water tower. Rather than paying an outside demolition contractor (staff cited an earlier demolition estimate in the $28,000–$30,000 range), the fire department plans to use the building for training drills and then remove the resulting debris, reducing contracted demolition costs. Council staff proposed purchasing three cargo storage containers, placing them north of the fire station on a gravel pad, and using the containers for both streets and fire-department equipment storage. Adams estimated the storage-unit and site-preparation costs at roughly $15,000 with about $4,000 for ground work and road base.

The council also received an update on a drainage RFQ process. City staff said a panel reviewed five applicants, narrowed the list to three firms and scheduled interviews for April 15 as the next step in selection.

On parks and boards, the council discussed two governance items. Members debated removing an ordinance requirement that all board interviews be held on the same day; councilmembers agreed to draft an ordinance change and take no action tonight. The council also discussed allowing residents in the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction (ETJ) to serve on the park board; councilmembers directed staff to return an ordinance amendment that would allow up to three ETJ residents to serve on the seven-member advisory board.

At Webb City Park the council approved installation of a small shade pavilion adjacent to the playground. The structure, built with Gunter High School agricultural program participation and funded in part by a local youth group, was approved unanimously for installation.

Finally, the council considered two petitions under Senate Bill 2038 to release properties from the city’s ETJ. The council denied both petitions by unanimous votes.

The meeting ended with remaining items scheduled for the council’s next regular meeting on April 17, including the tabling of the MDD removal item and ordinance edits for interview procedures and park-board membership.