The Tom Bean City Council tackled a wide range of business Monday night, approving financing for three new police vehicles, moving forward with an expansion of the Lucile Teague Community Library, designating the News-Record as the city’s official newspaper and discussing solutions to an ongoing problem with aggressive loose dogs.
The council also heard department reports highlighting progress on the city’s sewer replacement project, concerns about aging water infrastructure and updates on the city’s financial audits.
Police fleet to be replaced
Council members approved a 72-month loan agreement with First National Bank of Tom Bean to purchase three fully equipped 2026 Chevrolet Tahoes for the police department.
Police Chief Zach Smith said the department’s current fleet has become increasingly expensive to maintain, with one Tahoe currently in the shop for an estimated $11,500 powertrain repair.
Mayor Ricky Thomas said the monthly payment for all three vehicles will be about $3,928, replacing three existing Tahoes that will be declared surplus and sold following delivery of the new vehicles.
Smith said the new SUVs will come fully outfitted with emergency equipment and computers, allowing officers to place them into service immediately.
Library expansion approved
The council approved an updated construction estimate from K&S Steel Construction for the long-planned expansion of the Lucile Teague Community Library.
The addition will nearly double the size of the library by extending the building approximately 15 feet. Construction is expected to begin once permitting is complete.
Library Director Roberta Bumpus said she hopes the expansion can be completed with minimal interruption to library operations, with only a brief closure anticipated when crews remove the existing exterior wall.
The expansion has been a goal of the library for several years.
Earlier in the meeting, Bumpus also reported a successful summer reading program that served 88 children over four weeks, highlighted by a water day hosted by the Tom Bean Volunteer Fire Department and educational programs from area partners.
Aggressive dogs remain a concern
One of the evening’s lengthiest discussions centered on aggressive dogs running loose on South Thomas Street after resident David Schaab requested the city consider animal control options.
Schaab told the council he was recently chased by a large dog while jogging and said he believes the city’s animal ordinance needs stronger enforcement measures.
City officials said they have repeatedly cited the owner of the dogs, issuing more than $1,000 in citations, but acknowledged the city has limited options because it does not operate its own animal shelter or animal control department.
Mayor Thomas said city staff has explored contracting with outside providers but has not yet found a workable solution. The council voted to table the matter while staff continues researching options, including possible ordinance revisions and outside animal control services.
Sewer project continues
Public Works Director Jarrett Tate reported that the city’s USDA-funded sewer replacement project is progressing well.
Contractor Hayes Construction has installed five of the project’s planned 12 to 13 manholes and completed roughly 1,000 feet of the approximately 2,600 feet of sewer line scheduled for replacement.
Tate said crews will return to install cleanouts at several service connections that were initially overlooked.
Aging water tanks becoming priority
Tate also shared inspection results showing the city’s elevated water storage tanks are beginning to show significant interior corrosion.
The most pressing concern is the city’s elevated standpipe, which provides water pressure throughout town.
He said repainting the interior of the standpipe is estimated to cost approximately $120,000, while replacing the structure would likely cost substantially more.
Tate told the council he expects the city will need to begin planning for those improvements, potentially including a water rate increase in the future to help fund the work.
Despite receiving more than 16 inches of rain during June, Tate said the city’s utilities continued operating, although heavy rainfall caused the wastewater plant to exceed its permitted flow capacity during several storm events.
Audits making progress
City Secretary Sarah Dusenberry reported the city’s finances remain stable while work continues to bring multiple years of financial audits up to date.
She said the city has hired Chailcey Richbourg as its new court and permit clerk following the resignation of the previous employee. Dusenberry also thanked neighboring cities, including Sherman and Denison, for assisting with court training during the transition.
Thomas said the city’s 2022 audit has been completed, the 2023 audit is nearing completion and staff hopes to submit materials for the 2024 audit in the coming weeks.
News-Record named official newspaper
The council voted to designate the News-Record as the City of Tom Bean’s official newspaper of record.
The locally owned weekly newspaper recently expanded its coverage area by acquiring the Whitewright Sun and merging it into the News-Record.
The move will provide continued coverage of Tom Bean while offering the city a lower-cost option for publishing required public notices.
In other business, the council approved an increase in the city’s information technology services contract with RogTech LLC from $250 to $500 per month, effective Oct. 1.
Thomas said RogTech has provided services to the city for ten years at $250 per month. He felt an increase was long overdue.