Among several project updates provided at last week’s Whitesboro City Council meeting was the news that construction on the city’s new water tower is progressing as planned.
City Administrator Phil Harris said that painting will begin this week, with one side of the tower displaying the City of Whitesboro logo and the other displaying the Whitesboro ISD “W” logo. Lifting of the upper portion of the tower is expected to take place in about a month, a process citizens can watch in real time via the live webcast on the home page of the city’s website (or at www.earthcam.net/projects/whitesboro-texas).
The comprehensive plan a steering committee of citizens and city officials has been working on since the fall of last year will go before the Planning and Zoning Board at the end of September for their review and feedback. It will then go to the council for their review.
The city is also working on a water meter and manhole project throughout town. According to Harris, Whitesboro’s current water meters do not allow workers to automate reading, improve accuracy and provide early identification of potential leaks.
The city will replace the old meters with new, solid-state meters that will not only give accurate readings every time, but they will help to identify leaks quickly and provide data into a modern ADI system that will enable citizens to track their water use online. This switch-over will take about five to six months.
Meanwhile, the majority of Whitesboro’s 38 manholes throughout town are over 50 years old. When it rains, stormwater seeps into the sewer system via the brick walls in the manhole and old manhole covers. Harris said this overloads the sewer plant, damages streets and wastes money. The plan is to line and seal these manholes, a project expected to take up to four-and-a-half months to complete.
The council also approved a series of agenda items, including:
• A negotiated settlement between the Atmos Steering Committee to keep the rate at 0.00197
• Appointing the mayor as a voting member of the Policy Board and a voting member to the Technical Advisory Committee of the Grayson County Metropolitan Planning Organization
• Payment of $1,164,605 and $1,214,266.25 to Landmark Structures for the water tower project
• Whitesboro Industrial Type A and Type B 2025-2026 budgets
• Appointment of Aaron Park to the Industrial Type A Board
• A 20% increase to sewer rates to help fund water meter replacement
• A $15/cubic yard fee for brush pick-up service over four cubic yards
• Interlocal cooperation agreement with Collinsville, Southmayd and Sadler for fire and ambulance services
• Nomination of Charlie Weems and Brad Morgan to Grayson County Appraisal District Board of Directors
• Authorizing Director of Public Safety to execute a letter of intent to purchase an upfitted police vehicle in fiscal year 2025-2026
Citizen and Veterans Association of Whitesboro President Keisha Head addressed the council to express her thanks to the city staff and administration who helped (and continues to help) bring the Military Festival and Car Show to fruition. She hopes the organization can schedule the rain date for November. Details to come.