Waxahachie council approves audit, zoning permits, water and park projects

The Waxahachie City Council unanimously accepted the city's annual comprehensive financial report and single audit for the year ended Sept. 30, 2024, and approved a slate of zoning, water, infrastructure and parks contracts during a regularly scheduled meeting.

The council opened the meeting with a presentation from Pattillo Brown & Hill, whose audit partner Paula Lau told the council the firm had issued an "unmodified opinion" on the city's financial statements, commonly called a clean opinion. Finance Director Chad Tusteson introduced the new assistant director, Anna Dunn, and staff described healthy fund balances in the general fund and positive unrestricted net position in enterprise funds, including water and wastewater.

Beyond the audit, council actions included specific use permits for an electronic message center at 2271 N. U.S. 77 and an oversized accessory structure on Howard Road, approval of a short-term rental permit at 302 Farley Street, a set of engineering and construction contracts for water and dam work, a raw-water purchase contract, a replacement of membrane modules at the Sokol water plant, a playground replacement contract, and authorization to pursue eminent domain to acquire a 518-square-foot sewer easement on property at 1413 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

City staff said the South Prong Dam spillway shows longitudinal and horizontal cracking; a consultant recommended removing the top 12 inches of roller compacted concrete and replacing it with 12 inches of reinforced concrete. The council approved a professional services agreement with Friese & Nichols Inc. for design work not to exceed $300,000.

On water system planning, the council approved professional services agreements to prepare master plans for the Howard and Sokol (Robert W. Sokol) water treatment plants, including an agreement with Plumber Associates for $668,886 (funding from the water bond and water impact fees). The council also approved replacing a failing membrane cell at the Sokol plant, awarding a $537,495 purchase contract to Film Tech Corporation DBA DuPont Water Solutions to replace cell No. 2 so the plant can meet summer demand.

The council authorized the city to contract directly with the Tarrant Regional Water District for raw water supply and to cancel the city's contract with the Trinity River Authority; staff said the new contract largely preserves the terms in the 1991 arrangement but makes Tarrant Regional Water District the direct supplier.

On parks and recreation, the council approved a $445,864.81 contract with Craftsman Commercial Playgrounds and Water Parks to reconstruct the M & M playground and maze on the existing footprint, adding inclusive equipment such as an ADA-accessible rocker and spinner. The council also approved a professional services agreement with Kimley-Horn for design and engineering of Lions Park in an amount not to exceed $850,000; council materials and staff said $250,000 will come from WCDC and $250,000 from the general fund restricted reserves. Council members debated the scope and cost of Lions Park design, with several members urging prioritization of basic practice fields and parking versus a larger build-out.

Finally, the council approved a resolution authorizing the use of eminent domain to acquire a sewer easement needed to complete the Perry Street water and sewer replacement and roadway project; staff said the property's ownership is unclear, taxes have not been paid for more than 10 years and the lot is occupied by squatters, so the city will deposit funds with the court registry and proceed if purchase negotiations fail.

Votes at a glance

- Annual comprehensive financial report and single audit (FY2024): approved unanimously. - ZDC132025 ' specific use permit for electronic message center at 2271 N. U.S. 77: approved unanimously. - ZDC2023-02 (accessory structure exceeding 700 sq ft at 2820 Howard Road): approved unanimously. - ZDC1612024 (short-term rental at 302 Farley St.): approved unanimously. - Professional services agreement ' South Prong Dam spillway (Friese & Nichols Inc.): approved unanimously; amount not to exceed $300,000. - Professional services agreement ' Howard and Sokol water treatment plant master plans (Plumber Associates): approved unanimously; $668,886. - Purchase contract ' replacement membrane cell (Film Tech Corp. / DuPont Water Solutions): approved unanimously; $537,495. - Raw water purchase contract ' Tarrant Regional Water District and cancellation of Trinity River Authority contract: approved unanimously. - Resolution to initiate eminent domain for sewer easement at 1413 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.: approved unanimously. - M & M Playground replacement contract (Craftsman Commercial Playgrounds & Water Parks): approved unanimously; $445,864.81. - Lions Park design and engineering professional services agreement (Kimley-Horn): approved (majority; recorded as approved).

(Where the transcript did not record a named mover or seconder, motions are summarized as approved by council; the record shows each motion "carried unanimously" or "motion carries" as noted.)

Why it matters: The audit approval signals fiscal health and clears the way for budget work; the water and dam contracts address near-term reliability and regulatory compliance for the city's drinking water; park and playground approvals start or continue multi-million-dollar capital projects that will affect recreation access and parking; the eminent-domain authorization unblocks a sewer replacement project.

What's next: Staff will complete design work and bid documents where required, return with construction contracts or funding resolutions, and proceed with the eminent-domain acquisition if negotiations fail.

Ending: Council adjourned after customary closing remarks and council members thanked staff for storm response and event coordination.