Navasota council approves bond sale, right-of-way closure, CDBG grant, adds fourth school resource officer and several equipment purchases

The Navasota City Council on March 24 voted to close a 60-foot portion of Dallas Street, authorize the sale of up to $1.785 million in certificates of obligation for city capital projects, accept a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) with a 10% local match, adopt required civil-rights policies for CDBG, and approve an interlocal agreement to add a fourth full‑time school resource officer for Navasota Independent School District.

The votes came during a regular meeting at Council Chambers where Mayor Bert Miller presided and all councilmembers were recorded as present. The session also included staff reports, a proclamation recognizing April as Child Abuse Awareness and Prevention Month, and routine consent items including financial statements and equipment replacements for city utilities.

Why it matters: The bond authorization will provide funding for multiple capital projects — including pool renovation, fire station design and library roof replacement — while the CDBG award targets street and utility work in a low‑to‑moderate‑income area. The SRO agreement changes staffing at city schools and carries immediate personnel and budget implications.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance 1069‑25 — Close 60-foot portion of Dallas Street right‑of‑way (first reading/approval). Motion to approve carried unanimously. (See action record.)

- Ordinance 1070‑25 — Authorize issuance and sale of Combination Tax and Limited Surplus Revenue Certificates of Obligation, Series 2025 (not to exceed $1,785,000). Motion to adopt carried unanimously; sale earlier that day produced a winning bid with a reported true interest cost of about 4.1786%. Closing expected April 24, 2025.

- Agreement CDV23‑305 (CDBG) — Accept Texas Department of Agriculture CDBG award of $500,000 for Minnie Street water, sewer and street reconstruction; 10% local match (maximum $50,000). Motion to approve carried unanimously.

- Resolution 793‑25 — Adopt civil‑rights and related policies required for CDBG administration (citizen participation, excessive force, fair housing, Section 504, code of conduct, Section 3, limited English proficiency). Motion to approve carried unanimously.

- Interlocal agreement with Navasota ISD — Add a fourth full‑time school resource officer assigned to Bruley Elementary (city to cover initial outfitting and salary share). Motion to approve carried unanimously.

- Equipment purchases and consent agenda — Upfitting a Ford F‑250 crew cab for the fire department for $54,308; purchase of a replacement return activated sludge (RAS) pump for the wastewater treatment plant; January and February 2025 financials were accepted. Motion to approve consent agenda carried unanimously.

What council discussed

Right of way closure: Luke Eddy Ostado, the city’s development services director, summarized a staff‑recommended ordinance to close the 60‑foot portion of Dallas Street that dead‑ends into the Sunset Park manufactured‑home community. Ostado said the applicant, Brígido Castaneda, had obtained necessary consents from utility providers and an adjacent property owner and that the closure would split the right‑of‑way so title would vest to abutting owners to the center line under Texas law. Ostado said Entergy retains any power‑line easements that exist. Castaneda was present in the audience during the hearing.

Bonds and sale results: James Gilley, the city’s financial adviser from US Capital Advisors, reported the city held a competitive sale that morning and received eight bids. "The best bid went to Raymond James and Associates … with a true interest cost of 4.178616%," Gilley said, and he described a final maturity in 2045 with callable provisions beginning in 20XX as shown in the bond documents. The ordinance authorizes issuance to fund the municipal pool renovation, design and engineering for a new fire station, and replacement of the library roof. Gilley also noted a recent Standard & Poor’s upgrade cited in the sale materials.

CDBG and related policies: Staff said the awarded CDBG CDV23‑305 is for Minnie Street improvements (water, sewer, street reconstruction) between McAlpine and Foster, with engineering fees expected in the current fiscal year and construction budgeted in FY 2026. Staff and council clarified that the grant application used typical CDBG area‑survey methods to show benefit to 20–24 persons (the packet lists both figures), and that the city’s maximum match commitment would be up to $50,000. Council also approved a blanket set of civil‑rights policies to streamline future CDBG work; staff noted policy documents are provided in English and Spanish.

School resource officer: Navasota Police Chief Mike Myers and a representative from Navasota ISD (Dr. Musick) described the interlocal agreement to make the previously rotated/part‑time fourth SRO into a full‑time position assigned to Bruley Elementary. Myers said the district provides vehicles and that the city covers officer outfitting costs; he estimated the city’s remaining mid‑year cost for adding the SRO would be about $70,000 (salary and setup) and said a budget amendment will follow at a later meeting.

Equipment and consent items: The council approved upfitting a recently purchased Ford F‑250 crew cab for the fire department at $54,308 (budgeted at $50,000) and accepted the replacement of a RAS pump at the wastewater treatment plant after staff reported the existing pump had failed and repair costs exceeded replacement.

Meeting context and next steps: Councilmembers asked for workshops on two capital programs discussed in staff reports: the East Side water and Altamira subdivision infrastructure and the new fire station design (staff said RFQs for architects will be issued). Several items approved at the meeting require follow‑up administrative steps: final bond closing (April 24), execution of the CDBG agreement and associated reporting, a budget amendment for the SRO position, and routine procurement work for the approved purchases.

Ending: Actions approved at the meeting give staff authority to proceed with contracts, grant execution and equipment procurement; the council asked staff to bring informational workshops to allow more detailed deliberations on the East Side water work and the fire station design.