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Commerce manager reports: property-tax and sales-tax collections, HOME grant applications, police-chief finalists and street projects
Summary
City staff reported December property-tax and sales-tax collections, said HOME grant applications remain open through Jan. 31, announced three police-chief finalists and reviewed street and animal-shelter project updates; several construction tasks are weather-delayed.
City Manager Mister Lisenby and finance staff delivered a multi-topic report covering revenue collections, grant applications, personnel and capital projects.
Finance staff Miss Campbell said that as of December 2024 the city had received 39% of its property-tax budget (about $1.96 million) and $66,000 in delinquent taxes; that compares with 35% collections at the same point the prior year. On sales tax, staff reported the city had reached roughly 29% of budgeted sales-tax revenue (about $450,000) for the fiscal year to December 2024, a slight drop from the prior December. Campbell noted retail categories were broadly slightly lower and that combined food-service categories showed small shifts month-to-month. She said overall forecast is in line with budgeted expectations.
On HUD HOME-program grants, staff said applications are available at City Hall or via QR code and are being accepted through Jan. 31; one application had been returned to city staff at the time of the meeting.
On personnel, Lisenby said the city received about 37–38 applications for police chief, narrowed to eight semifinalists then four finalists; one finalist accepted another job and three finalists remain. The council will receive a press release naming the three finalists and interviews are scheduled Feb. 4–5, with a council workshop on Feb. 4.
On capital projects, Lisenby reported Washington Street is mostly complete except for ADA ramps at Washington and Maple, which the contractor removed during construction and has since re-framed; cold temperatures are delaying concrete pours and asphalt work. Park Street curb work is partially framed and similarly weather-delayed. Sterling Heart and Oak Lane are next in the reconstruction schedule; staff is coordinating right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations and does not expect to start construction until summer. The animal shelter's new wing is in use and officials anticipate a ribbon-cutting in the first half of February.
Lisenby also noted the city is monitoring the Texas Legislature and upcoming Hunt County Day in Austin on March 4; some staff may attend and the city may reschedule a council workshop that conflicts with the trip.
Council recessed to executive session at 6:43 p.m. and later reconvened with no reportable action from executive session.
