City Attorney Robert Brown gave the Krugerville City Council a primer on the legislative changes made that will affect how the city conducts business at its July 23 meeting.
Brown, who participated in the almost three-hour-long executive session later that night, shared some insights into the state law changes.
'There's a memo that I put in everybody's packet on some of the new laws out there,' Brown said. 'Some of them don't apply to [a city Krugerville's size].'
He touched on the changes to the rules for challenging zoning for high-density housing, which could affect Krugerville.
'The law makes it more difficult for cities to turn down zoning requests when people are trying to add more density to make more affordable housing,' Brown said.
He also said the state is requiring 'an onthe- ground zoning district where they allow … manufactured housing.'
'How do you create a district when we don't own that land?' Mayor Pro Tem Kristen Kromer asked. 'We don't have control of that land.'
Brown responded that the city can set zoning districts that are 'not limited to what the property owner wants.'
'Obviously you try to work with landowners to meet their expectations, but that's not a legal limitation,' he said. 'And if the Legislature says you have to pick a place, you may pick a place that somebody doesn't like. It can still be agriculture, but it would be agriculture plus something else that's allowed.'
Brown also told the city to hold off on laws regarding food trucks as the state has taken over much of the management of those types of businesses.
He said the council agendas will be required to be posted the Thursday before a Wednesday meeting, which kicks in Sept. 1.
The state has also moved the threshold for going out for bid for municipal projects from $50,000 to $100,000.
'You have to be careful,' Brown said. 'You can't break up a project into three parts that normally would go together, you know, $99,000, $97,000, $50,000. You've got to be careful you still follow bidding laws, but it now allows that threshold to increase, it's doubled. That's something cities have been asking for, for a long time.'
The council also received updates from City Accountant Heidi Avera about the corrections that are being made to the city's books.
'We've got things under control,' Avera said. 'There are a few residual things, but I think we've got all the issues solved.'
She also shared that portions of revenue have come in over budget so far, and expenses have come in under budget so far at 75% through the fiscal year.
Chief James Edland of the Krugerville Police Department shared an update about Officer William Tinkle, who sustained serious injuries, during the meeting.
'He's doing better and moved into a rehab facility out in Fort Worth yesterday,' he said. 'They're making him get up and do stuff. He's not real happy with it, but nobody really likes the physical therapist. That's part of it. But he's doing better, so I just wanted to pass that on.'
During City Council member comments, Kromer complimented council member Rodney Cagle and his wife Dawn Cagle for the work they poured into Krugerville Park Fest again in June.
'Y'all blew it out of the water and did a fabulous job,' she said.
Council adjourned to closed session to discuss 'certain employment issues and city governance issues' and the 'annual review of Krugerville Police Chief' from about 6:20 p.m. to 9:59 p.m.
At press time, the council had a special meeting set for 4:15 p.m. Friday with 'private consultation with the city attorney to seek legal advice with respect to certain employment issues and police department governance issues,' according to the agenda, as well as 'to discuss and deliberate personnel matters to evaluate performance duties of a public officer or employee Police Chief James Edland and police department governance issues.'
City Accountant Heidi Avera shares an update about the state of Krugerville’s books at the July 23 City Council meeting. Abigail Allen/The Post-Signal
