BURTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVES UPDATED FIRE, LIFE SAFETY CODE
donation from WoodmenLife for landscaping
improvements at Burton City Hall. Pictured along with
councilmembers is Payton Hauerland (center) of
WoodmenLife.
The Burton City Council on Tuesday adopted updated fire and life safety code.
Councilmembers approved the 2021 edition of the National Fire Protection Association Fire Code and 101 Life Safety Code. City Secretary Amanda Klehm said the 2021 edition was recommended by Aoka Engineering for the purpose of providing needed protection but still being more relaxed than newer versions of the code.
A companion item to designate the Authority Having Jurisdiction to administer and enforce the code had to be tabled, since the City of Burton does not have an individual who is certified to do so. Klehm said the city seeks to create an interlocal agreement with Washington County to allow the incoming fire services director to perform that responsibility.
In other business, the council authorized a CCTV camera inspection of the city’s wastewater infrastructure located on the Burton ISD campus, as well as the city’s wastewater line along North Railroad Street, for an amount not to exceed $6,500. The inspection was one of the items recommended by Texas A&M engineering students as a way to improve the wastewater infrastructure.
Mayor Karen Buck said the inspection will allow the city to look through the lines, get them cleaned, and find manholes that have been covered up or paved over.
In the reports section of the meeting, Utility Clerk Rachel Belvin announced that the new water well will officially go online next Friday, July 24th. Buck said with the new well, the existing well can intentionally shut off for the first time in 14 or 15 years so that it can receive maintenance. She encouraged the council to keep in mind the expenses associated with maintenance in future budgets, saying it will help keep both wells in service longer.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council:
- Accepted a $500 donation from WoodmenLife for landscaping improvements at Burton City Hall.
- Amended the city’s water and sewer ordinance to formally remove cash as an accepted method of payment for city water and sewer utility services. The change to a no-cash policy was announced last month.
- Approved amendments to the 2026-27 Fiscal Year budget to reflect actual revenues and expenditures.