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City departments report progress on downtown, public works, airport and inspections
Summary
At the Jan. 27 meeting, city staff reported on conference center operations, downtown Main Street projects, multiple public‑works infrastructure projects and inspection/permitting activity.
City staff provided updates on Jan. 27 across several departments, reporting progress on downtown programs, capital projects and permitting.
Conference center: Carla reported ongoing HVAC work and a planned upgrade to the facility’s audio‑visual and internet service (a dedicated DSP). She said recent sales increased year over year and listed upcoming events including a Chamber auction, a Feb. 8 father‑daughter dance, a Valentine dinner/dance and the Texas Municipal League District 8 event on April 4.
Main Street: The Main Street representative reviewed historical downtown photos and recent infrastructure work, including completion of a 12‑inch water line that provides improved water access for both north and south square and enables future water‑suppression systems at the courthouse. The board is pursuing historic‑preservation guidelines for the existing Main Street district and continuing placemaking and tourism strategies.
Public Works and airport: Greg summarized status on neighborhood and subdivision projects (Deer Park/Chisholm Apartments, Paloma Trails, Vista Park), a near‑complete state Street water line, and the Poco water line at 95% with a pending final walk‑through. The department reported total annual jet and avgas gallons sold of 96,007, an increase from about 71,000 in 2023; the airport fuel fee increase (from 5¢ to 9¢ per gallon) generated additional revenue. Public Works also reported ongoing work on a splash pad project and completion of the Seth Keener skate park.
Inspections, permitting and code enforcement: Wayne reported the inspections and permitting division issued a multiyear high of 747 permits in 2024 with valuations near $88,000,000 (up substantially from 2023), producing approximately $702,000 in permit fees (including plan review and impact fees). The department has implemented a new online permitting system (GovWell) and continues a focus on substandard structures, outside storage and public‑safety related enforcement; code enforcement opened 267 cases in 2024 and closed 221 (81% closure rate).
Council thanked staff for process improvements and for focusing on downtown preservation and infrastructure coordination. No formal council actions were taken on the reports.
