Two zoning requests, two grant applications, designation of election judges and early voting dates for the May 2022 city council election, review of the tax abatement policy, seven 380 agreements and bids for materials and contracts for the first phase of the College Street road rebuilding and sidewalk projects are all on Tuesday night’s regular Sulphur Springs City Council agenda.
The City Council will first meet at 6:30 p.m. Feb. 1, 2022, in executive session to consult with an attorney on real property, acquisition of real property for drainage purposes and to consider Project Superman economic development project.
The council will then convene in regular open session at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Sulphur Springs Municipal Building (City Hall) to tackle the rest of the 3-page agenda.
Zoning Issues
The City Council is slated to consider on second and, if approved final, reading Ordinance No. 2795, which grants John Heilman’s request for a 0.97-acre property he owns at 1381 West Industrial Drive to be rezoned from heavy commercial to light industrial. Heilman has been approached by more than one business representative interested in purchasing and developing the property. Heilman plans to have the property replatted in order to make it one parcel. Rezoning to light industrial would match the zoning designation of other adjacent property, making it easier to sell as one parcel. The ordinance was proposed and approved on first reading at the Jan. 4, 2022, City Council meeting.
Sulphur Springs City Council too is being asked to approve on final reading Ordinance No. 2796 which would establish a reinvestment zone for D6, Inc. The business received tax incentives in 2020 to open a branch of the business on Industrial Drive. In October 2021, Gov. Gregg Abbott announced that D6, Inc. had been awarded two grants to help relocate the entire operation from its Portland, Oregon headquarters to Sulphur Springs, Texas, as well as an additional expansion. In order to do so, the business is asking for tax incentives from local taxing entities. Hopkins County Commissioners Court earlier this month approved a 10-year tax incentive for the business. In order to be eligible to apply to the hospital district for a tax abatement, a reinvestment zone is needed. The City Council on Jan. 4 approved Ordinance No. 2796 establishing a reinvestment zone for D6, Inc. The City Council is slated to consider approving the ordinance on second and, if approved, final reading Tuesday night.
Tax Abatement Policy, 380 Agreements
The agenda also calls for discussion and adoption of a Tax Abatement Policy for the City of Sulphur Springs. Taxing entities that offer these types of tax incentives for economic development are required every couple of years to review and adopt a Tax Abatement Policy. Hopkins County Commissioners Court and Hopkins County Hospital District each approved the tax abatement policies recommended earlier this month by Sulphur Springs-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation Executive Director Roger Feagley.
As part of the consent agenda, Sulphur Springs City Council will be asked to consider approving seven requests for 380 agreements. The infill housing agreements allow builders to request repayment of certain city fees, such as utility tap and permitting fees, in exchange for development of single family homes on vacant and underutilized lots within the city upon successful completion of the project within 3 years of the agreement. Delinquent city taxes and liens on the property and demolition costs associated with clearing a lot to redevelop may also be requested. The seven properties the council is being asked to consider granting 380 agreements for include: 801 Putman Street, 409 Sheffield Street, 115/119 Nicholson Street, 408 Houston Street, 412 Houston Street, 204 West Beckham and 950 Church Street.
Grant Applications
The City of Sulphur Springs earlier this month completed, following a public hearing, a Community Development Block Grant CARES Act grant application to Texas Department of Housing and Community Affairs for the Community Resiliency Program. If approved, Sulphur Springs would receive $3 million in additional funding for construction of the new Senior Citizens Center on Oak Avenue. The application was submitted by the Jan. 19 deadline. Award notifications are expected to be made around March 10, 2022, with grant contracts to start five days later.
On Feb. 1, 2022, the City Council will be asked to approve two resolutions giving city staff approval to submit grant applications to help fund costs of new portable radios for police officers. Resolution No. 1288 would authorize a grant application to be submitted to the Office of the Governor- Homeland Security Division for the purchase of 10 portable radios to be used by the police patrol division. Resolution No. 1289 would authorize an application to be submitted to the Office of the Governor-Criminal Justice Division to purchase eight portable radios to be used by the patrol division.
Also on the Agenda
Bids for excavation, stabilization, concrete pavement and sidewalks for Phase 1 of College Street rebuilding project are to be presented along with city staff’s recommendations on who should be awarded contracts for those services are on the Feb. 1 council agenda.
The City Council also is asked to approved three additional resolutions Tuesday night:
- Resolution No. 1290 adopting the Hopkins County Mitigation Action Plan Five Year Update.
- Resolution No. 1293 calling for a general election for City Council Places 4, and 5, naming election judges, and setting dates for early voting; and
- Resolution No. 1294 authorizing continued participation with the Atmos cities steering committee; and authorizing the payment of five cents per capita to the Atmos cities steering committee to fund regulatory and related activities related to Atmos energy corporation.
A racial profiling report to be submitted to Texas Commission on Law Enforcement, and proclamations designating February as Black History Month and for Adam Henry-USD are also on the Feb. 1 City Council agenda.
And, if any action is needed on the items discussed during the 6:30 p.m. executive session the City Council would vote on them during the regular open forum.
Should anyone wish to address the City Council, they should fill out a card prior to the meeting to let them know they plan to speak during public forum.
