White House council approves clean FY2024 audit, IT services pact and new neighborhood services post; tables Dews Drive item

The White House City Council on Feb. 25 approved a clean audit for the fiscal year ended Sept. 30, 2024, approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Tyler for computer support services, contracted for strategic planning and elevated-storage-tank engineering, authorized an interim building‑inspections contract, and voted to add a separate neighborhood services officer position to the budget. The council also voted to table consideration of a drainage issue on Dews Drive until next month.

The audit matters drew the meeting's longest presentation. An auditor from Gollum, Morgan & Petty told the council the firm issued an unmodified — or “clean” — opinion on the city’s financial statements for the year ending Sept. 30, 2024. The auditor said the firm found no disagreements with management and no reportable compliance findings related to federal American Rescue Plan Act spending. “In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly in all material respects,” the auditor said during the presentation.

Why it matters: the audit confirms the city’s basic financial controls and documents federal compliance work tied to ARPA spending. Council members and staff noted the city completed a large, planned land purchase (about $895,000) during the year and that the audit included a required single-audit review because federal expenditures exceeded the single-audit threshold for fiscal 2024.

On IT services, the council approved an interlocal agreement with the City of Tyler to provide computer-support services to White House. Benny Yasvamalahia, chief information officer for the City of Tyler, told the council that because IT costs and software licensing have been volatile, Tyler proposes tying annual contract adjustments to the consumer price index rather than a flat fixed-percentage increase. “Because of the volatility of the economy… the CPI is coming down, but the IT cost is literally rising,” Yasvamalahia said, arguing CPI indexing would be fair to both cities.

Council members approved the IT agreement after discussion; no member registered opposition.

Other contracts and approvals

- Strategic planning: The council authorized the city manager to execute an agreement with Express Pros Training to conduct an updated strategic planning process. Staff said the engagement was budgeted but that the city would use fund balance to cover any shortfall.

- Water-tank engineering: The council authorized Kimley‑Horn to develop a rehabilitation plan for the elevated storage tank near State Highway 110 and Horton Street. City staff said the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) has set a compliance/deadline window for tank rehabilitation and that the Horton Street tower requires work sooner than the other tank; TCEQ expects the city to complete required rehabilitation by the end of calendar year 2026.

- Building inspection interim contract: After the city’s building inspector, Jody Watson, resigned, the council authorized the city manager to execute an independent-contractor agreement so Watson can provide building inspection, plat and plan review services on an interim, as‑needed basis.

- Staffing: The council approved separating code‑enforcement duties from building‑inspection duties and adding a new neighborhood services officer position to the FY2024–25 budget. Staff said the new position would be a civilian role based in the police department and tasked with proactive neighborhood services and code enforcement; the city estimated the total cost of the position (salary, benefits and related expenses) at about $80,000 per year.

Public comment and context

During public forum, resident Suzanne Sylvester spoke about perceived gaps in city services, including a lack of full‑time code enforcement, recurring stray and injured‑animal problems and questions about water billing. Sylvester asked the council to review whether some residents were being charged a monthly minimum for water that exceeded their actual use and requested a review of those charges going back several years.

A community presentation also preceded the council’s business session. Corey Edson, executive director of Keep White House Beautiful, thanked the council for a $5,000 donation and described the nonprofit’s 2025 plans. “As of January 31, total is $19,762.96,” Edson said when asked about the organization’s cash on hand; he added that $13,008.35 of that balance is designated for capital projects.

Votes at a glance

- Consent agenda (amendment of council rules regarding public forum; approval of Jan. 28 minutes): approved (unanimous among council members present). - Approval of fiscal year end 2024 audit (Gollum, Morgan & Petty): approved (unanimous). - Tabling drainage discussion on Dews Drive to next month: approved (unanimous). - Interlocal agreement for computer support services with City of Tyler: approved (unanimous). - Agreement with Express Pros Training for strategic planning services: approved (unanimous). - Authorization of Kimley‑Horn for elevated storage tank rehabilitation plan (Horton Street tank): approved (unanimous). - Independent contractor agreement for building inspections (Jody Watson): approved (unanimous). - Creation of separate neighborhood services officer position and addition to FY2024–25 budget (estimated cost about $80,000): approved (unanimous).

What council directed next

Council members asked staff to return next month with the resident’s Dews Drive materials and to proceed with vendor coordination on the tank rehabilitation and strategic‑planning scheduling. Staff said it would continue recruitment for permanent hires in development and code functions while the interim contractor provides inspections.

Meeting note: the meeting was called to order and the roll was taken; six councilmembers and relevant staff were present for the votes reported above.