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ORN council talks water, sewer
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| Judge Patty McGinnis shakes hands with Paul Rex after he was sworn in as court clerk. Councilmembers Tony Butler, Steve Holcomb and Mayor Fred O’Connor look on at the Oct. 13 city council meeting. |
By LAUREN HODGES
Oak Ridge North officials are considering ways to address the city’s aging water and sewer system.
At a recent workshop open to the public and attended by city officials and council members, Ed Shackleford, city engineer, outlined issues with the system. In some of the antiquated system’s piping there is damage, debris and corrosion. Shackelford said chlorine residue has built up in the pipes, which leak in many spots.
The revamped system needs might be funded with a $4.7 million loan from the Texas Water Development Board the city has applied for. A new water and sewer system is projected to last up to 75 years.
City officials, working in tandem with the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, hope to reduce groundwater consumption attributed to the ailing system by 2015.
The council tabled the matter at an Oct. 27 meeting, and will reconsider the issue at their next regular meeting Nov. 10.
Fee Schedule: City officials are still mulling options to repay the loan. This could mean tapping city reserves and paying a portion up front, or taxing residents to pay for a portion.
The council is also considering a proposed fee schedule ordinance dealing with charges related to use of public services and facilities, rates and deposits.
Emergency Alert System: The city has adopted a CodeRED service for delivering alerts in the case of an emergency.
“It is also time to seriously consider how we can communicate better with our citizens,” stated Lynne George, city secretary, in a written report she delivered to the council.
During Ike, the city of Oak Ridge North suffered minimal damage in comparison to several area cities, but is preparing for the future.
“The cities that have it, they just rave about it,” George said. “It is the best way to get an announcement out to the residents for emergencies and special meetings.”
Among the CodeRED system’s many uses are: missing person bulletins, fires, flood disasters, gas leaks, large-scale accidents, as well as non-emergency notifications for events such as parades, civic events, road construction delays.
George said the click of a mouse or a button can prompt one phone call, which dials a large amount of numbers at once. If both a primary and an alternate number are listed, both will be contacted.
“We would put a subscribe button on our website where they can sign up for this information,” George said.
The CodeRED system will cost the city $5,000 per year, for 12,500 system minutes, the equivalent of 25,000 connected calls.
Ike-related Permit Fees: The city has decided to waive permit fees for businesses and homeowners who need to rebuild, remodel or repair as a result of Hurricane Ike damage. The ordinance would be in effect through Dec. 12.
ORN MUD: City officials have also voted to separate municipal utility district taxes from the Oak Ridge North tax records. The decision came on the advice of J.R. Moore, Jr., Montgomery County tax assessor and collector, as a way to reduce paperwork.
New Website: The city approved a deal with CivicPlus to upgrade the city website. CivicPlus specializes in setting up government websites.
The one-time set up fee is $9,000 for 50 pages.
“If that is not enough we have the ability to add more,” George said. “It is very easy and quick. The colors capture some of the personality of our community and our city.”
Oak Ridge North resident Roddy Rodriguez will take photographs for the website.
Court Clerk:Paul Rex has been appointed court clerk in Oak Ridge North, after serving in an interim role since May, a move designed to make record-keeping more efficient.
In 2007, the municipal court was closed from Oct. 29 through Nov. 6 while city officials coordinated staffing changes and checked and organized records.
At a recent workshop open to the public and attended by city officials and council members, Ed Shackleford, city engineer, outlined issues with the system. In some of the antiquated system’s piping there is damage, debris and corrosion. Shackelford said chlorine residue has built up in the pipes, which leak in many spots.
The revamped system needs might be funded with a $4.7 million loan from the Texas Water Development Board the city has applied for. A new water and sewer system is projected to last up to 75 years.
City officials, working in tandem with the Lone Star Groundwater Conservation District, hope to reduce groundwater consumption attributed to the ailing system by 2015.
The council tabled the matter at an Oct. 27 meeting, and will reconsider the issue at their next regular meeting Nov. 10.
Fee Schedule: City officials are still mulling options to repay the loan. This could mean tapping city reserves and paying a portion up front, or taxing residents to pay for a portion.
The council is also considering a proposed fee schedule ordinance dealing with charges related to use of public services and facilities, rates and deposits.
Emergency Alert System: The city has adopted a CodeRED service for delivering alerts in the case of an emergency.
“It is also time to seriously consider how we can communicate better with our citizens,” stated Lynne George, city secretary, in a written report she delivered to the council.
During Ike, the city of Oak Ridge North suffered minimal damage in comparison to several area cities, but is preparing for the future.
“The cities that have it, they just rave about it,” George said. “It is the best way to get an announcement out to the residents for emergencies and special meetings.”
Among the CodeRED system’s many uses are: missing person bulletins, fires, flood disasters, gas leaks, large-scale accidents, as well as non-emergency notifications for events such as parades, civic events, road construction delays.
George said the click of a mouse or a button can prompt one phone call, which dials a large amount of numbers at once. If both a primary and an alternate number are listed, both will be contacted.
“We would put a subscribe button on our website where they can sign up for this information,” George said.
The CodeRED system will cost the city $5,000 per year, for 12,500 system minutes, the equivalent of 25,000 connected calls.
Ike-related Permit Fees: The city has decided to waive permit fees for businesses and homeowners who need to rebuild, remodel or repair as a result of Hurricane Ike damage. The ordinance would be in effect through Dec. 12.
ORN MUD: City officials have also voted to separate municipal utility district taxes from the Oak Ridge North tax records. The decision came on the advice of J.R. Moore, Jr., Montgomery County tax assessor and collector, as a way to reduce paperwork.
New Website: The city approved a deal with CivicPlus to upgrade the city website. CivicPlus specializes in setting up government websites.
The one-time set up fee is $9,000 for 50 pages.
“If that is not enough we have the ability to add more,” George said. “It is very easy and quick. The colors capture some of the personality of our community and our city.”
Oak Ridge North resident Roddy Rodriguez will take photographs for the website.
Court Clerk:Paul Rex has been appointed court clerk in Oak Ridge North, after serving in an interim role since May, a move designed to make record-keeping more efficient.
In 2007, the municipal court was closed from Oct. 29 through Nov. 6 while city officials coordinated staffing changes and checked and organized records.
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