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Council waives one month of late utility fees, approves EDC invoices and directs staff to finalize Workforce Solutions lease terms
Summary
Council approved a one-month waiver of utility late fees after billing software delays, authorized payment of EDC invoices, and directed staff to finish negotiating a lease with Texas Workforce Commission for space in the tech center with debate over a proposed five-year term and monthly rent.
At its Feb. 6 meeting, the Crockett City Council approved several financial and contractual items: a one-month waiver of late utility fees tied to a billing software migration; approval to pay invoices presented by the city's Economic Development Corporation; and direction for staff to finish negotiating a proposed lease with the Texas Workforce Commission for space at the tech center.
Staff told the council that a software transition delayed bill mailings and that customers did not receive postcards on the usual schedule, prompting a request to waive late fees for the March 2023 billing period. Council Member 6 moved to waive the late fees; the motion was seconded and approved.
On invoices, staff presented bills from the Rocket Economic and Industrial Development Corporation for council approval. Speaker 2 moved and Speaker 9 seconded payment of the Crockett EDC bills; the council approved the payments.
The most extended discussion centered on a proposed lease with Workforce Solutions for roughly 1,950 square feet at the tech center. Staff said Workforce Solutions would pay about $2,400 per month for the space and that the building's average monthly operating cost was roughly $7,100 (including about $2,500 for electric and $1,900 for janitorial). Some council members objected to a five-year lease because the city still carries a USDA loan on the building and current rental income has not fully covered operating costs. Speaker 2 moved to finish negotiations and return a contract for council approval; Speaker 10 seconded. The motion passed after a tie and the presiding officer broke the tie in favor of moving forward.
Why it matters: The waiver addresses an immediate customer-billing problem and the EDC invoice payments continue routine operations. The Workforce Solutions lease could create ongoing revenues but council members signaled caution about a multi-year commitment and asked for contract protections.
What’s next: Staff will finish lease negotiations with Workforce Solutions and return a finalized contract for council approval and will process the approved invoice payments and the late-fee waiver for March bills.
