The Whitesboro Lady Cats were recognized at last week’s City Council meeting for recently achieving the title of State Runners-Up at the championship game in Austin.
“We’d like to recognize and extend congratulations to the Whitesboro Lady Cats for making it to State playoffs, ultimately winning second place in Class 3A Division I,” Mayor Jeff Butts announced. He invited members of the team (who were each wearing their second-place medals) to the front of the room.
While some members were out of town, 7 players were in attendance and posed for photos with the council.
Also recognized was Whitesboro Mayor David Blaylock, who served in the role for the past two years and did not seek re-election this term. Mayor Butts welcomed Blaylock to the front of the room where he presented him with a plaque in honor of his leadership and service to the citizens of Whitesboro.
Whitesboro’s Director of Public Safety Jeff Patterson addressed the council to explain the Fire Department’s request for two new ambulances to join the fleet. Currently, the department has four ambulances in its fleet. Three are certified to respond at any given time and one is a backup. The two oldest ambulances each have close to 200,000 miles on them, so the goal is for those two ambulances to go away and to move the next two ambulances to become back-up units.
“These two (new) ambulances would replace our existing back-up ambulances,” Patterson said. “These new ones would be frontline ambulances and the ones we have currently would be back-up ambulances.”
He explained that the department is, on average, putting 3,500 miles a month on each ambulance. It takes two years to build an ambulance, so by the end of the process, the fleet will be at the 150,000-mile range. Patterson would like to be able to place the order now for the replacement units to not only begin that process, but to lock in today’s price of $920,400.
“What we’re asking council for tonight is approval to sign the purchase agreement and get us in line for 24 months down the road,” Patterson said.
The council approved the request.
The council also approved the consent agenda (which included items like approving minutes from the previous meeting and approving the bills payable from the month of May). The council also approved department head reports, which included updates from the streets and electric departments.
The streets department has been busy with several projects. French drains will be going in at the library to help redirect water shed; the north well has been repaired after having been struck by lightning; a third party has replaced 138 water meters and modules in town as part of an upgrade; and annual backflow testing for 2025 has been completed and 12 water leaks were repaired, among other things.
The electric department has been busy replacing electric poles (with a notable project on Jolinda in which a rotted pole had fallen into some trees on a residential property); after a pinhole leak was detected in a transformer causing the unit to overheat and blow a fuse, the city replaced all three transformers to ensure long-term reliability and proper functionality; and of course, May tested the team with storms, long hours and unexpected challenges, but the crew was prepared, adapted quickly and kept pushing forward to keep Whitesboro powered and protected.
A series of public hearings took place on Tuesday. A hearing on a planned development for property located just north of 623 W. Main Street to be rezoned for mixed use development was held, but nobody addressed council and city leaders felt there was still some homework to be done on this project. The agenda item was tabled.
Another hearing was held regarding amending the zoning of an acre of property behind 490/500 Locust Street, with the desire to change it from a residence to a business. The property was annexed on May 13, 2025 and, at that time, was automatically zoned as a residential property. Don Frazier, owner of Frazier Commercial Real Estate, owns a business on that property and would like to construct a similar commercial building on that lot. The current building is 3,200 square feet and the new building (which would be the same color and height as the former) would be just under 5,000 square feet.
The council agreed to amend the ordinance.
Next, the council held a hearing to discuss the re-plat of that same property. The law requires 30 feet of frontage on a public road and currently, that back lot has no frontage. The first lot was platted; the second was not. To accomplish his plans, Frazier would like to take a section of the first lot and use it to become part of the second lot to create that frontage area and comply with state law.
The council approved the re-plat.
In ongoing project updates, despite the rain this season has brought, construction of the water tower is slightly ahead of schedule. The crew is currently working on the third ring (from the bottom). A camera is now operational to allow citizens to watch the progress live and to also increase security at the job site. Visit www.whitesboro.org (click on the Water Tower Live tab at the top of the page).
Texoma Drive is about 98% complete. Crews need to re-pour the apron where traffic turns onto Red River, between the 100 and 200 block. The apron currently has a 0.21 fall, which means it’s too flat. By repouring that apron, crews can improve water flow on that stretch of the road. Sprinklers are working and the entire project should be finished next month.
There will be a special called meeting on Monday, June 23 at 6 p.m. to review an audit report and to go over the bond. At that time the auditor will offer comments and recommendations.
After some careful calculations, the Fourth Street project (which would connect North Union to Hwy. 377) resulted in a $6 million price tag. The development team is now considering alternative options to connect that area for citizens and first responders.
The comprehensive plan is nearing completion. The latest report will be provided to the steering committee in early July and will then be given to council for edits and suggestions. The final report should be ready in August.
Lastly, the council handled a series of housekeeping items on the agenda. The group voted to keep their monthly meetings at 6 p.m. on the second Tuesday of the month and meet once a month. Aldermen Mike Pack and Ronnie Fielder will continue to serve as bill screening/authorized check signers. Alderman Carla Woolsey (who was absent that night due to a church obligation) will remain in her role as Mayor Pro Tem. The city will continue with the same medical and dental insurance plan it has been maintaining, as rates this year are only increasing by one cent. City workers in attendance voiced their appreciation.