In a called meeting Tuesday night, the Italy City Council approved an upcoming project to be submitted by Grant Works for public improvements in the city.

“We have come up with possible water routing,” stated Don Chambers. Jesse Whitten of the Brannon Corporation and Chris Metz, Interim Public Works Administrator, presented possible projects the grant funding could be used for.

“Priority one would be a new storage tank and water lines, priority two would be installation of fire hydrants on Hwy 667 and priority three would be installing new water lines on Williams and Hardeman Streets,” Metz explained.

The $350,000 grant would require $35,000 from the city’s 2009/2010 budget. If enough money is available, all three projects would be done. At present there are no fire hydrants on Hwy 667.

The council also approved the 2008/2009 budget submitted by the Economic Development Corporation (EDC) in the amount of $80,000. Mark Stiles, president of the EDC, presented information on two upcoming seminars for economic development presented by the Texas EDC. He extended an invitation to and encouraged the council members to attend any conference they could. The EDC has set aside funds in the budget to pay for training.

Stiles told the council they had reinstituted the charter. He also requested the council amend the current EDC Articles of Incorporation to increase the number of board members from seven to nine. The council approved the recommendation and the appointment of Conrad Kinze as the secretary/treasurer.

“There are a number of people that would like to be involved in the EDC and I think we need to expand our number to possibly include another woman and minority,” Stiles added.

In council comments, Mark Souder Sr. emphasized the importance of council members attending the upcoming EDC workshops.

“The EDC is getting information for us to do what we need to do. We are going to try to tackle the important issues to the city,” Souder explained. “We feel like it would be an asset to have the knowledge they are offering of how the 4B tax can be spent.”

Mayor Jackson told the council that Ronda Cockerham has been hired as the accounting person in City Hall. He stated the city had received 8 or 9 applications and resumes for City Secretary. The city employee picnic will be held this Saturday at 3 p.m. at Upchurch Field. Mayor Jackson thanked the businesses that furnished all the food and drinks for the picnic so that no city funds would be spent.

Jackson said that the council needed to appoint a replacement on the council for the position vacated by Jimmy Hyles. Those that had shown interest were Vic Delephimne, John Droll, Tom Little, Janet Campbell, Mark Souder Jr. and Conrad Kinze.

Reader comments

“How did Ronda get hired before the close date on the ad in the Waxa Daily Light?” — Kevin Lovejoy (September 19, 2008, 8:43 p.m.)

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