Council approves routine minutes, denies Atmos rate hike, OKs rezoning; several items postponed

Balch Springs City Council on Jan. 13 approved routine minutes, voted to join opposition to a proposed Atmos Energy rate increase, and approved a rezoning that would allow a single-family house at 15006 Quail Drive. The council also postponed consideration of an appointment to the Civil Service Commission and asked staff to continue working on a temporary inclement-weather plan for unsheltered residents.

The consent agenda — approval of minutes for regular and special meetings in November and December 2024 — passed on a voice roll call with all members present voting in favor. The council later approved rezoning application RZ009-2024 to change a 0.35-acre parcel at 15006 Quail Drive from industrial to single-family residential to permit construction of a roughly 2,500-square-foot home; staff recommended approval and the motion passed unanimously.

On a separate item the council approved a resolution to deny the increase in rates proposed by Atmos Energy Corporation (Mid-Tex Division) filed on or about Dec. 16, 2024, and authorized the city to intervene in the rate case and hire special counsel to represent the city and seek reimbursement of rate-case expenses. That resolution passed by roll call with council members recorded voting in favor.

Council voted to postpone action on the appointment of Wanda Adams to the Civil Service Commission to the Jan. 27 meeting so the appointee can appear. The motion to postpone passed 4–3. Council also directed staff to continue work on a temporary inclement-weather policy for unsheltered individuals and to return with a plan on Jan. 27; that motion passed unanimously.

Other business included a discussion and subsequent motion in open session about remote attendance rules and the council's policies; the council voted to leave the current policies unchanged.