The Glen Heights City Council voted unanimously on Jan. 7 to approve Resolution R‑02‑25 supporting a facilities renovation proposal by the Ellis Appraisal District.

City Manager Clifford Blackwell explained the request during the meeting and said the district’s office plans a minor renovation that would reconfigure hearing rooms so the district’s three‑member appeal review panels can run more hearings in parallel. “They feel like this is a benefit to the residents of Ellis County, to the taxing units such as Glen Heights,” Blackwell said, and he added the district intends to use reserve funds to pay for the renovation.

Blackwell said state law requires taxing units to approve a resolution to allow the appraisal district to proceed. The council approved the resolution by roll call. Councilmember Sharron Mosley, Councilmember Garrett, Councilmember Travis J. Bruton, Councilmember Hale, Councilmember Laymon M. Lightfoot, Councilmember Cornell Benford and Mayor Sonya A. Brown all voted in favor.

Cost and funding: Blackwell told the council he did not have a specific renovation cost figure to present; he said the appraisal district expects to pay for the work from its reserves. The resolution was required to permit the district to move forward with the project and to obtain the necessary votes from taxing entities; Blackwell said the district needs three‑quarters of taxing units to approve the measure for the work to proceed.

Outcome: The motion to approve Resolution R‑02‑25 carried 7‑0.

What’s next: The appraisal district will proceed with its renovation plans per its internal process if it secures the required approvals from taxing units; Glen Heights will not provide direct funding for the project per staff remarks at the meeting.