Waxahachie council approves contracts and budget moves, cancels May election; postpones taxi permit
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Summary
At the March 3 meeting the Waxahachie City Council unanimously approved a tank rehabilitation contract, a supplemental appropriation of $1.52 million, sewer testing and an impact-fee update contract, cancelled its May 3 election because two candidates were unopposed, and indefinitely postponed a Silver Bullet Taxi permit request.
Waxahachie City Council on March 3 unanimously approved a series of routine and budget items, including a $170,000 contract to rehabilitate two water storage tanks, a supplemental appropriation of $1,515,957, a sewer smoke-testing contract, and a $205,500 update to the city’s impact-fee program. The council also canceled the May 3 general election because two candidates were unopposed and indefinitely postponed a taxicab permit request from Silver Bullet Taxi to allow ordinance updates and background checks.
Amber, city staff, told the council that all filing deadlines and write-in deadlines had passed and “both candidates were unopposed,” prompting the council to cancel the May 3 election and declare the unopposed candidates elected.
Key votes and items approved or acted on:
- Consent agenda: Council approved the consent agenda as presented but removed item K (taxicab permit request) for separate consideration. The council later moved for an indefinite postponement of item K to allow updates to the taxi ordinance and to require a criminal-history background check on drivers; the postponement carried unanimously.
- Silver Bullet Taxi (item K): Council agreed not to deny the permit outright and instead indefinitely postponed action so staff can update the city ordinance language and require criminal-history checks; the council clarified the postponement would effectively prevent operation until the checks and ordinance changes are in place.
- Zoning/address correction: Council noted a correction to item L’s address (315 South College Street was actually 315 South Rogers Street) for the record.
- Water tank rehabilitation contract: The council approved a professional services agreement with Coastal Windforce Inc. in the amount of $170,000 for rehabilitation of the Highland Avenue elevated storage tank and the Grand Avenue ground storage tank and authorized the city manager to execute documents.
- Supplemental appropriation: Council approved a $1,515,957 supplemental appropriation from the unreserved fund balances of the water fund, SoCal fund and wastewater fund to cover prior-year encumbrances and complete capital projects that were budgeted in fiscal year 2024 but delayed by equipment lead times.
- Sewer smoke testing and manhole assessment: Council approved a contract with Insituform Technologies LLC for smoke testing of approximately 38,000 linear feet of sewer and condition assessment of about 190 manholes in the amount of $107,535.
- Impact-fee program update: The council approved a professional services agreement with Freese and Nichols, Inc. (staff corrected the vendor name in the presentation) for the Waxahachie impact-fee program update in an amount not to exceed $205,500; the study will review streets, water and wastewater capital projects and evaluate roadway impact-fee zone combinations.
All motions recorded at the meeting carried unanimously unless noted otherwise.
