During the Jan. 13 Whitesboro City Council meeting, the Whitesboro Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) recognized three board members for their years of service.
PARD Director Penny Renfroe asked Mayor Jeff Butts to present plaques to advisory board members Jim Schuessler (accepted by his wife Andra) who served from February 1999 to December 2025 and Chris Dobbs who served from May 2007 to December 2025.
Mayor Pro-Tem Carla Woolsey presented to Butts who served from February 2006 to May 2025, when he had to resign upon his mayoral election.
Renfroe acknowledged the hard work and dedication of each of these members and thanked them for all of their contributions to the board and the community.
Next, the Council received an update on the Building Standards Commission. Created by City Inspector Dalton Fallaw, this team of five to seven people will include a certified electrician, plumber, general contractor and others who will help to determine whether dilapidated buildings in town need to be condemned. This is to help mitigate safety risks while also maintaining the overall quality of life for area residents. While the commission is currently focusing on residential properties, it could expand to include businesses in the future.
The Council also voted to update several city ordinances to maintain stricter standards for the businesses that come to town. Taking advantage of new state laws, the Council aims to amend the code of ordinances to update regulations governing sexually oriented businesses, tattoo and body piercing studios (for instance, clarifying licensing requirements) and food establishments to ensure the health and safety of the community.
The Council also approved:
• the increase of roll-off waste rates from $5.39/day to $6.60/day and over three tons from $41.19/ton to $51.19/ton
• to enter into an Extraterritorial Jurisdiction (ETJ) agreement with Grayson County in which Whitesboro owns its destiny as it does today
• to update purchasing policy increasing the City Administrator’s spending limit from $10,000 to $20,000 to expedite purchases of budgeted items
• to provide electric service extension to WISD for the district’s new ECC and Agri-Science buildings (the buildings will be right on the line of where Pentex and City of Whitesboro services meet)
• payment of $429,880.70 to Performance Services, Inc. for manhole, streetlight and water meter projects
