Last Tuesday’s Whitesboro City Council meeting began with words of praise to a team of workers who overcame serious hurdles during a week-long ice storm that impacted the city.
“Everyone at the City was on point,” Public Works Director Bradley Williams said. “From the streets, parks and rec and electric to the fire department, garage and animal control, everyone really came together. It says a lot about the culture here, and I’m really proud of these guys and gals.”
After the Texas Department of Transportation dropped Whitesboro to a Level 3 during the recent storm, City of Whitesboro workers regrouped and jumped into action. From fixing water leaks to clearing the roads at Hwy. 82 and 377, Main and Union Streets, city workers did what they could to make sure the community was safe.
Additionally, the new Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) water meters that are being installed around town enabled staff to pull up GPS locations for water meters that were hidden by ice and snow. This allowed workers to repair leaks more efficiently.
“I’m thankful for the equipment we have and appreciate everything everyone did,” Williams said.
Next, the Council held a public hearing regarding a Community Development Block Grant (CBDG) program. The City has applied for a $750,000 grant to be used for D Street toward changing out the water lines and sewer and replace the street.
Currently, the water pipes there use lead jointed pipe and, while the lead doesn’t touch the water, the Texas Commission of Environmental Quality requires cities replace them with steel. The hearing was closed without any objection or concerns from community members.
The Council approved ordering the May 2, 2026 election, at which point citizens can vote for three City Council candidates. The City will enter an agreement with Grayson County Election Administration to handle election management. If the school district also has an election, the two groups share the cost of $10,450. Because the school board incumbents are running unopposed, the City will cover the full cost.
Police Chief Kevin Dockery presented his annual report regarding racial profiling. There have been zero complaints and the report has been completely submitted and accepted by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
The Council also approved appointments and reappointments to several boards in town. The Board of Adjustments will include Jamie Oakley, Mike Burkleo and Jon Sanders. The Planning & Zoning Board will reappoint Russ Wilson. The Library Board will include Janet Mestamacher, Karen Butts and Linda Powers. The Preservation Board will move Doris Hayne from at-large to member and Powers will take on the at-large position.
The Council approved a resolution to designate city-owned property on Cherry Street as a municipal park. While this location currently has a basketball court, the City feels it’s an underutilized “pocket park” that could be a greater benefit to the community. With some equipment the Parks and Recreation Department has identified as a possible addition, delegating the area as a public park offers protection to residents in that area from the possibility of sexually oriented businesses.
Also approved was an ordinance amending garbage and refuse services related to grease-trap waste handling. While updating the health standards the City has in its ordinances, this would also allow the City to match the state law.
Regarding ongoing projects, the City had a positive meeting with TxDOT to discuss drainage problems at the 500 block of East Main Street, North Union creek behind Daylight Donuts and the area of Beauty Lane/Bois D’Arc/Hwy. 377.
Engineers are also studying drainage patterns at Tot Lot Park to see what can be done to reduce water at the practice fields.
As for the city’s new water tower, while construction is going well, pipes have yet to be installed to actually distribute the water throughout town. The plan is to bore under Hwy. 56 and lay a 16-inch pipeline, a project the City feels will be completed at or near the same time the water tower construction is finished.
The City opened the project for bids and has received quotes from 17 bidders, three of which were in the range of $1.4-$1.5 million.
“The bids were really competitive,” Harris said, “so we feel good about the process.”
The water tower is expected to be completed around April of this year. The pipeline will likely be completed in May.
