BURTON CITY COUNCIL PREPARING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH BUILDING MORATORIUM

  

The City of Burton appears poised to halt new development. 

On Tuesday, Burton City Councilmembers reviewed information indicating the need to institute a moratorium on new buildings and utility connections within the city’s service area.  The item, which was just for discussion and did not result in any action taken, came about as the city nears its limit on the number of permitted meter taps on water well systems. 

According to Burton Utility Clerk Rachel Belvins, the city was at 240 meter connections out of a max of 250, but it recently found four taps that had not been accounted for and needed meters put in, and there were also three more properties that have a meter tap but no buildings on the land.  That brought the city up to 247 meters.

Mayor Karen Buck said the need for the moratorium is the result of “kicking the can down the road.”

The process of implementing a moratorium will require an ordinance to be written up and approved, along with public hearings. 

As part of the city’s efforts to evaluate its water and wastewater needs, it will also consider hiring an engineer to survey its systems and recommend potential paths ahead. 

One step that will alleviate the city’s concerns is to build a second water well.  Buck said the city was awarded grant funding by the Brazos Valley Council of Governments for the project and will receive a check on April 2^nd, but it will still need another $200,000 before it can progress into design and construction.

In other business, the council:

• Approved the 2024-25 City of Burton general and water/sewer budgets.  The general budget accounts for $193,503 in income and $157,047 in expenses, along with $107,685 in debt service fund revenue and $85,612 in debt service expenditures, resulting in net income of $58,529.  The water/sewer budget is listed to receive $246,074 in income and pay $229,743 in expenses, leading to net income of $16,330. 
• Accepted the list of road repairs scheduled for 2024, to be completed by the county’s Engineering and Development Services Department.  The total, according to the agenda packet, is for $69,120 and includes Live Oak Street, East Cedar Street, Brandie Lane, a level up on West Washington Street, the South Main Street ditches and chip sealing on San Marcos Street.
• Accepted an engagement letter from Medack & Oltmann LLP to perform the annual audit for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2024.
• Approved the city secretary’s certification of unopposed candidates and an ordinance to cancel the May 4^th general election.