Wichita Falls council approves public‑health grant, economic incentives and appointments; tours city‑hall renovation

The Wichita Falls City Council on Tuesday approved a package of grants, economic incentives and appointments and later toured progress on the city‑hall renovation.

At a regular meeting Jan. 7, the council accepted a five‑year contract worth $10,303,169 from the Texas Health and Human Services Commission to continue the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in Wichita Falls. Amy, a public‑health staff member who presented the item, told the council, “It's a great day for public health. It's $10,000,000, thankfully, for the next 5 years.” She said the contract brings about $2,500,000 annually into the local economy through redeemed WIC vouchers and that the program served more than 40,000 participants last year.

The council also approved two economic development actions proposed by the Wichita Falls Economic Development Corporation (EDC 4A). Ron Kitchens, representing the EDC 4A, asked the council to amend the 4A budget to allow up to $1,000,000 to purchase mineral rights at the Wichita Falls Business Park. Kitchens said the municipality’s earlier acquisition of surface property “failed to acquire the mineral rights,” and the additional funding would let the EDC finalize…