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Ennis commission approves two industrial incentives, rezoning and multiple infrastructure purchases
Summary
On July 16 the Ennis City Commission approved an amended economic development agreement (Project Decor), a second tax‑rebate deal (Project Bravo), a rezoning to heavy industrial on Oak Grove Road and a package of infrastructure and equipment purchases including a water intake vault, wastewater blower, radar speed signs and underground refuse units.
ENNIS, Texas — The Ennis City Commission on July 16 approved two major economic development incentive packages, a rezoning request and a series of infrastructure purchases the city says are needed to support growth.
The commission voted to approve Project Decor (an industrial campus along Oak Grove/Red Road) after amending a typographical discrepancy in the development incentive agreement: the written dollar threshold in Article 3 was changed from $75,000,000 to $70,000,000 to match the numeric figure in the contract. Economic Development Director Jim Wehmeyer told the commission the project is projected to bring capital investment in the triple‑digit millions and hundreds of new jobs to the area; staff recommended approval and the commission adopted the amended agreement by voice vote.
The commission also approved Project Bravo, a separate manufacturing proposal on approximately 42.7 acres on Oak Grove Road. Wehmeyer described Project Bravo as a roofing‑membrane manufacturer that would invest roughly $77 million and create about 34 new jobs; the commission approved a 70% property‑tax rebate for seven years as described in the agreement.
Separately, the commission approved an ordinance rezoning three lots totaling roughly 42.7 acres on South Oak Grove Road from agricultural to Heavy Industrial & Manufacturing for use by a roofing membrane manufacturer. Staff said legal notice reached the required property‑owner threshold and the Planning & Zoning Commission had recommended approval.
The meeting included multiple infrastructure and equipment approvals: a change order to install a 24‑inch flow meter and precast vault on the Tarrant Regional Water District raw water main at the Innis water treatment plant (not to exceed $284,312); purchase of a 200‑horsepower Sulzer HST turbo compressor for the wastewater digester (not to exceed $261,033); procurement of 10 solar‑powered, pole‑mounted radar speed signs and supporting posts (total not to exceed $64,734.25); and a contract to install two additional underground refuse receptacles downtown (not to exceed $94,755). The commission also approved a $25,500 upgrade to Bluebonnet Park’s Musco lighting control system and a series of board appointments.
Mayor Cameron Rayburn and staff emphasized that several of the capital needs are the result of deferred maintenance or growth‑related capacity limits. In describing the digester blower purchase, Director Green said the plant had been operating on a single blower while a second unit was sourced and that redundancy was needed to prevent outages.
Several items will proceed to Ellis County for matching or administrative steps; staff noted that the economic development incentives require further county action to align incentives and infrastructure work. The commission recessed twice for closed‑session legal advice during the meeting and later authorized the city attorney to take actions as discussed in executive session.
The meeting also included a staff presentation on repainting and upgrading roughly 97 school‑zone crosswalks (staff will collect bids for thermoplastic vs. paint and for transverse vs. longitudinal designs), a public comment urging improved park mowing, and routine appointments and reappointments to city boards. The session ended after the commission took action on items discussed in closed session and adjourned at 10:38 p.m.
