By Mollie LaSalle
[email protected]
WOODVILLE – Mayor Amy Bythewood read a proclamation regarding September 11. In her remarks she said, “ September 11, 2024 marks the 23rd anniversary of the ruthless terrorist attacks in our country, and we remember those who lost their lives at the Pentagon, the World Trade Center, and a field in Pennsylvania. The entire nation shares in this tragedy, we are united in our remarkable spirit of service and compassion that inspired and helped heal the nation”.
Additionally, Bythewood said “the U.S. Congress approved a joint resolution September 18, 2001, where they designated September 11 each year to be known as Patriot’s Day, and by public law in April 2009, Congress requested September 11 be recognized as a national day of service and remembrance. This day has been set aside to remember the thousands of lives lost and our nation forever changed by those acts. We celebrate and appreciate all our heroes, police, fire, EMS, military personnel, and their families. We will never forget the brave friends and loved ones who perished that day”.
She added, “I encourage everyone to observe Patriot Day as a national day of service and remembrance, and to attend all 9/11 events to unite, reflect, and remember, and never forget on this 23rd anniversary of September 11. I declare September 11, 2024 a day of remembrance in the city of Woodville”.
Next on the agenda was a discussion on the proposed tax rate for 2024. City Administrator Mandy Risinger spoke to council, “the budget committee has met, and we discussed our options on the tax rate. We have been very close to exceeding the $500K cap for a small tax entity for the last couple of years. There has been a lot of conversation about some downtown projects and acquiring new facilities. We have historically had a tax rate of 38 cents per $100 evaluation since around 1987. The last four to five years we have dipped significantly closer to 30 cents as a result of us paying off our bond indebtedness and other projects. What has moved us up in the last couple of years is appraisal value. We have a budget of around five to six million annually, and we only generate $500K or less in tax revenue. As far as ad valorem tax revenue, we are on the low end.”
After a lot of back and forth with facts and figures, council agreed to set the proposed tax rate at 35 cents per $100 evaluation. City council will have a special called meeting to pass the 2024 tax rate September 30, 2024, with public hearings to begin at 5:30, and the meeting to begin at 6 p.m.
Bythewood read another proclamation designating the Tyler County Booster as the official newspaper of the city of Woodville for fiscal year 2024-25.
Other agenda items included an approval to authorize procurement of an administrator for TX GLO Deobligated Allocation Competition, and approval of an appointment of a rating committee to evaluate administration proposals for the TX GLO Deobligation. Two items related to these proposals were tabled until the next council meeting due to erroneous dates on the proposals.
Council moved on to approve 2023-24 Utility write-offs and approval for the sale of surplus goods and assets. Council also approved moving next month’s meeting to October 15, due to the Columbus Day Holiday. Upcoming events were discussed, and the Chamber of Commerce’s Fly-in and Food Truck Festival was mentioned once again.
Cathy Bennett, the Tyler County Chamber of Commerce President, said the tarmac at the airport has been resurfaced, and with a lot of help from volunteers, she is anticipating a successful event. The festival will take place Sept. 21, at the airport, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Risinger mentioned the homecoming parade that is scheduled for Monday, Sept. 16, from 5-7 p.m. around the courthouse square.
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