The City Council gave approval Tuesday for the proposed tax rate next year in Bridge City. The proposed ad valorem tax rate will represent about a two and a half cent increase from this year’s tax rate.
The proposed tax rate will be $0.547 per 100 dollars value. The budget and the tax rate for next year in Bridge City will be reviewed in public hearings later this month and in September. The City Council approved the dates of August 21 and September 4 for hearings on the proposed tax rate. A public hearing on the 2018-2019 budget will also be held on August 21. The council will adopt the tax rate at its meeting on September 18.
Bridge City will be getting a new city secretary in November to replace Sherry Tisdale who is retiring. Jeanie McDowell was selected by a committee to replace Tisdale whose last day will be October 31. McDowell is currently serving as the director of personnel and purchasing. McDowell has served Bridge City for close to 27 years. During her service to the city she has filled in as the city secretary on an interim base. “I’m not a complete stranger to this job,” McDowell replied.
The City Council approved amending the Nepotism provision in the city’s Personnel Policy. It was tabled previously to allow the members of the council to review both versions before approving any changes.
Final approval was given to zoning changes for six properties on Granger. The properties will all be changed from single family residential to multi-family residential. The owner has indicated he wants to build duplexes on the properties. City Manager Jerry Jones said previously such projects greatly improved the appearance of the neighborhood.
Action Engineering was awarded the contract for engineering services on a two-part Texas Water Development Board Grant. Bridge City is replacing man hole covers and fire plugs in much of the city. Each project, man hole covers and fire plugs, will be covered by separate $500,000 grants.
The water filter on the Romero Well has been installed and is operational. It has been online for about a week according to Jones. All three water wells in Bridge City now have the filters in them to help eliminate the sentiment that previously caused the brown water problem in the city.
-Dan Perrine, KOGT-
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