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Lufkin council approves zoning change, utility late fees, solid-waste deposit, budget amendment and sewer contract
Summary
Lufkin City Council approved a package of zoning, utility-billing, solid-waste and infrastructure actions, including rezoning five Edward Street parcels for commercial use, first readings to permit a 10% late fee on delinquent water and sewer bills (effective March 1), a roll-off container deposit requirement, a wastewater equipment budget amendment and a $469,947 contract award for a sewer line replacement.
Lufkin City Council approved a series of ordinances, budget and procurement actions affecting zoning, utility billing, solid-waste services and sanitary infrastructure.
The council voted to adopt on second reading an ordinance rezoning five parcels on Edward Street (3507, 3509, 3511, 3513 and 3515) from residential small to commercial and to change the future land-use map designation to corridor commercial; staff said the 0.34-acre site is adjacent to an existing trucking business and would allow Greenway Carriers to expand. Planning and Zoning had recommended approval.
On first reading the council approved ordinances to permit a delinquent/late fee on sewer and water accounts. City staff said the Texas Administrative Code allows assessment of either $5 or a 10% late fee; staff proposed a 10% penalty to discourage late payments and reduce staff time spent on delinquent accounts. Staff reported about 1,300 delinquent water and sewer bills in the most recent month. Council moved the ordinance implementation date from February 1 to March 1 to allow additional customer notice.
Council also approved on first reading an amendment to the solid-waste rate ordinance to require deposits for roll-off containers. Solid waste and recycling director Ken Havers told the council the department currently charges a single set fee for delivery regardless of container size and typically bills at job completion; that practice has produced delinquencies, especially with out-of-town contractors. Staff provided examples in ordinance material showing total up-front setdown-plus-deposit amounts ranging from $436.69 for a 20-yard container to $754.29 for a 40-yard container. Havers said the department has 54 delinquent roll-off accounts and about $123,000 in past-due charges (November billing) and that roughly 80–85% of those delinquents are out-of-town contractors.
The council approved a budget amendment on first reading to fund a temporary rental and repairs at the wastewater treatment plant: staff requested $85,600 to rent a belt press while the existing centrifuge is removed for repair; staff said a new centrifuge unit would cost more than $600,000 and the shorter-term rental will allow operations to continue during an estimated 8–10 month repair/bid timeline.
Finally, the council awarded a construction contract for the Cedar Creek sanitary sewer line replacement project. Staff reported bids for approximately 1,950 feet of 24-inch sewer pipe behind St. Cyprian School and recommended award to Ira Barron Inc. Corp., the apparent low bidder. The base bid was $371,097; an additive alternate to include additional items totaled $98,850, giving a recommended award amount of $469,947.
All listed measures were approved by voice vote; where the meeting record did not name movers and seconders, the council proceeded by motion and voice vote with the presiding mayor calling the result “that motion carries.”
