The Waxahachie City Council on Jan. 6 approved three separate items authorizing staff to execute contracts and a supplemental appropriation for infrastructure and services.

The actions passed unanimously.

The most substantive approvals were a $60,000 supplemental appropriation from the cemetery fund and reserve fund balance to complete a cemetery security camera project; a professional services agreement with Walter P. Moore Engineering for creek‑bank stabilization and design work not to exceed $480,000; and a five‑year renewal of the city’s residential solid‑waste contract with Waste Connections Lone Star Inc. that includes a capped rate adjustment.

Why it matters: the camera funds address an ongoing request from the cemetery board and aim to improve security at city‑owned cemeteries; the engineering contract funds design work to repair erosion undermining a trail and pedestrian bridges adjacent to Gadsden Danner Park; and the solid‑waste renewal sets pricing and terms for collection beginning April 1, 2026.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda: The council approved the entire consent agenda by a single unanimous motion. (Motion moved by Councilmember (speaker 5); second not specifically attributed in the transcript.)

- Cemetery security cameras: Council approved a supplemental appropriation of $60,000 from the cemetery fund and reserve fund balance and authorized the city manager to execute necessary documents. The staff presentation said the item was before council on Nov. 4 and that staff solicited 12 vendors and received five responses, producing a $15,000 savings that reduced the requested supplemental appropriation from $75,000 to $60,000. (Motion moved by Councilmember (speaker 5); second recorded as “Second.” Outcome: approved unanimously.)

- Creek‑bank stabilization (Gadsden Danner Park): Council approved a professional services agreement with Walter P. Moore Engineering for engineering and design of creek‑bank stabilization along Waukeshagee Creek, not to exceed $480,000. Staff said erosion has undermined a portion of the park trail and that the contract will address multiple stabilization locations and evaluate repairs for two pedestrian bridges; staff also said design and construction funding has been allocated in the budget. (Motion moved by Councilmember (speaker 6); second recorded as “Second.” Outcome: approved unanimously.)

- Solid‑waste contract renewal: Council approved a five‑year renewal of the solid‑waste collection contract with Waste Connections Lone Star Inc., effective April 1, 2026. The motion included a rate adjustment of 8.606% plus the November 2025 Consumer Price Index for garbage and trash collection, with the total adjustment capped at 13.606%. (Motion moved by Councilmember (speaker 10); second recorded as “Second.” Outcome: approved unanimously.)

Meeting context and next steps

Council and staff described the cemetery camera project as the result of prior direction from the cemetery board and the Nov. 4 council discussion; staff said some camera equipment has already been received and that electrical work will follow pole and camera installation. For the creek‑bank work, staff said design work would begin after contract execution and that construction will follow; the contract is time‑and‑materials with a not‑to‑exceed cap. The solid‑waste renewal sets the contract term and pricing formula; staff noted the adjustment provisions discussed previously in an Oct. 29, 2024 work session.

All motions were approved by voice vote with the mayor calling for hands; the transcript records the responses as “Motion carries unanimously.”