Shenandoah approved a resolution opposing the proposed Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District rate increase, among other agenda items, during the July 12 regular city council meeting.

To view the entire July 12 agenda, click here.

1. The council discussed the Montgomery County Appraisal District’s 2018 Budget.

The MCAD budget for 2018 was released for taxing entities to review, revealing an approximate 16 percent increase for the city of Shenandoah from the 2017 budget. According to MCAD, this increase is higher for Shenandoah than it is for most other cities in Montgomery County due to the total taxable value within each city and the resulting levy.

The budget also indicated a 3 percent raise for existing MCAD personnel and added the salaries of five new appraiser positions and three additional staff members.

“I think we do need to acknowledge that there needs to be an increase with MCAD because we have had quite a bit of building, so we do need more appraisers. But the overall increase even for existing personnel is just excessive, so I want MCAD to take a hard look at that,” Council Member Mike McLeod said. “They have to abide by state law—and we recognize that—but I think what they’re asking for is well beyond maintaining compliance with state law.”

MCAD will hold a board meeting and public hearing Aug. 24, after which time the taxing entities will be notified of a 30-day period during which they have the option to reject the proposed budget. According to the council, 80 percent of the taxing entities would have to oppose the budget to invoke change.

“We’re being asked to pay 16 percent more to hire more staff so we can be taxed more,” Council Member Ron Raymaker said. “I’m concerned that we’re going to start taxing our people out of their homes. We have a lot of people who are in a fragile financial position that keep getting tax increases—it’s just ridiculous.”

The council directed city staff to place an item on the council’s next agenda to develop a resolution of opposition to the MCAD 2018 budget.

2. The council opposed the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District’s proposed rate increase.

The council unanimously voted to approve a resolution opposing the LSGCD’s proposed rate increase. The proposed rate would increase from 7.5 cents to 11 cents per 1,000 gallons of water used, effective Sept 1. Council members were told by LSGCD board members that the reason for the recommended rate increase was to cover lawsuit costs the LSGCD is facing.

3. Council tabled determining funding sources for water plant No. 4.

The council unanimously voted to postpone determining the funding until after the city’s budget workshop in August.

Construction on the  $1.7 million project began in May and is scheduled for completion by December. During the meeting Mayor Ritch Wheeler said the Shenandoah Municipal Development District recently agreed to fund $350,000 of the project.

4. The council assessed and appointed new members to city committees and the civic club board.

Council Member Charlie Bradt was appointed to the parks and recreation committee, and council members Bradt and Ted Fletcher were appointed to the Civic Club Board.

The council assessed the necessity of each of its committees and, in a 4-1 vote, opted to dissolve the city’s policy committee. The council also voted 4-1 to postpone any meetings of the special events center committee until after the council budget workshops in August.

The council also voted unanimously to work with staff to develop a charge for the parks and recreation committee to follow and in a 4-1 vote, opted to maintain the internet (or fiber-to-home) committee.

The assessment of the charter committee was tabled.

5. The council made changes to the city’s employment policies.

Council unanimously voted to approve revisions to the city’s policy on hiring practices to improve transparency in its methods of recruitment and selection.

Council unanimously voted to table items related to the city’s policies on criminal background checks and communication, while in a 4-1 vote, the council voted to table approving revisions to the city’s chain of command policy and organizational chart.

All tabled items are expected to be brought back to council at a future meeting.