Conroe City Council[/caption]The Conroe City Council met on Wednesday afternoon for a workshop meeting. The council will take the items discussed during Wednesday's meeting into consideration when it reconvenes at City Hall on Thursday, Jan. 26 at 9:30 a.m.
1. City moves forward with fire department improvements
City Council discussed a possible $66,619 contract with Terracon Consultants, Inc. to provide construction material engineering services for the new fire station No. 7. The station is under construction at the intersection of League Line and Longmire roads. Council will also consider a change order for the Christensen Building Group, approving $464,650 to build a driving pad at the new fire training facility.
2. City ordinance to be amended
The city will consider amending a city ordinance to reflect an increase in Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District rates. The district raised its rates from .06 cents to .o75 cents per 1000 gallons as of Jan. 1. The city has ongoing litigation challenging the LSGCD and its implementation of groundwater regulations in Montgomery County.
3. City to repair roadways damaged by 2016 floods
The city will discuss bids for improvements on Teas Nursery Road, Pawnee Drive and Woodland Hills, which were damaged during flooding events in 2016. The city made temporary roads, but the new project will make permanent repairs. The projects are eligible for up to an 80 percent reimbursement from FEMA's disaster relief funds, totaling about $300,000 of the project cost.
4. Conroe IDC leadership changes under consideration
The city will consider new appointees for the Conroe Industrial Development Corporation Board of Directors. Directors serve staggered 2-year terms. The council will fill the chairman position and the remaining positions that expired in 2016, according to the city.
5. Council recaptures property taxes
The council will consider authorizing the recapture of property taxes from Jyoti Americas, LLC, which the city declared in default of its 2011 tax abatement agreement. The amount recaptured by the county is unknown. Montgomery County Commissioners Court approved a similar resolution on Tuesday.
6. Council to consider lobbying during Texas Legislative session
City Council will consider approving a $50,000 budget to send councilman Duane Ham to Austin on a part-time basis to lobby state legislators in regards to groundwater regulations in Montgomery County. The city has two ongoing lawsuits with local water authorities—the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District and the San Jacinto River Authority.
