Plainview council accepts clean audit, approves airport grant reapplication, water sale and easements; rejects sewer bid

Plainview City Council met March 20 and accepted the city's annual comprehensive financial report, authorized a reapplication for a federal Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant for a new airport terminal, approved several local agreements including a bulk water sale and an underground utility easement, and rejected a single bid for a sewer pipe bursting project. The council also heard the Plainview Fire Department's 2024 annual report. All formal motions recorded at the meeting passed by unanimous voice vote.

The auditor's report opened the meeting. Christie Fay, audit manager for Moss LLP, told the council the firm issued an unmodified ("clean") opinion on the city's financial statements and found no material weaknesses, no significant deficiencies and no compliance findings. Fay said the city's total assets increased from about $151 million to about $160 million, driven largely by a $17 million rise in capital assets tied to a landfill expansion, metering projects and park improvements. Fay reported the city spent roughly $4,200,000 in ARPA grant funds in the year and had about $300,000 of ARPA funds remaining at fiscal year-end. She summarized: "Our opinion this year is an unmodified opinion ... it's just a clean opinion. We had no findings, no problems, no areas of concern." The council voted to accept the financial report on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Weiss, seconded by Council Member Rascon.

Why it matters: The unmodified opinion signals the independent auditor found the city's financial statements reliable for the fiscal year under audit. The audit also documents the scale of recent capital investment and the near-term drawdown of ARPA funds, which informs budgeting and capital planning.

Votes at a glance (motions and recorded outcomes) - Accept comprehensive annual financial report: Moved by Mayor Pro Tem…