Hart City Council raises sewer rates

Neoma Williams, For The Herald

Published
5:49 pm CDT, Wednesday, October 17, 2018

The Hart City Council last week approved a $0.25 sewer rate increase.

City Administrator Adrian Rosas recommended a $0.50 increase to the council with the intent to help the city's chances of obtaining a grant to renovate a sewer lift station. He reminded the Council that when it's shown a governing entity is trying to help itself, this adds points in the grant process.

The Council voted to raise the rate by half the recommended amount. The current rate is $15.50 a month.

Council members present were Mary Reyna, Vickie Ethridge, Ezekiel Barron and George Chapa, Jr. Absent were Mayor Eliazar Castillo and Johnny Carrasco. Ethridge as Mayor Pro Ten presided over the meeting.

Rosas told the Council that the City should apply for the Community Block Grant this year even if the chances of getting a grant are slim. The process is coordinated by the Panhandle Regional Planning Commission.

In other business, the Council approved the holiday schedule for 2019. The City takes the same holidays for employees as Castro County.

It is noted that in spite of being told by this reporter, the Council has resumed placing Old and New business on the agenda, as well as reports by City employees, such as the Administrator.

The Open Meetings Handbook of 2018 notes that terms such as "old business" or "new business" are not acceptable because they do not inform the public of subject matter. Also, reports by city employees listed on the agenda are not considered as adequate notice to the public.