Council hears Town Square Initiative Plan

Submitted by Canton1 on

Emily Koller and Riley Triggs of the Texas Historical Commission presented the Town Square Initiative plan to the Canton City Council Sept. 18

The initiative consists of goals for downtown including preserving and rehabilitating downtown historic buildings, create new public gathering places, recruiting new businesses and helping businesses expand, developing additional community events and programming in the downtown area and establishing a downtown brand that is different from Trade Days. The plan outlines street and public spaces improvements, restoring the VZC Courthouse among other numerous projects. The council will review the Initiative at the next council meeting Oct. 16 for proposed approval.

During the citizen’s forum,  Sherri Doss spoke to the council referring to a problem with water bills. Doss told the council that water customers are receiving their bills after the date posted on the bill and forced to pay a late fee to the city.

“I feel that the citizens are stuck in the middle. I have spoken to city officials and they told me that they mail them well before the due date. They said it is a post office problem. Either way, we are stuck paying a late fee. I just wanted the council to be aware of the problems that we are having,” said Doss. No action was taken by the council.

 The council also:

—Approved the continuation of the Hillcrest Cemetery Committee;

—Approved a door-to-door solicitor’s permit. The permit was requested by Nick Pritchett on behalf of SMI/TXU. The council has approved six-month permits previously for the last several years;

—Approved a First Monday contract with Jerry York. York had an existing contract with the city that will expire in 2023. York wanted to sign a new contract for five years with four renewal that would include his children on the lease;

—Approved a resolution approving a Piney Woods 911 district;

—Approved road closures on Oct. 12-13 for the Canton Main Street Autumn Festival;

—Approved the contract for a generator project at the wastewater treatment plant to RTR construction for $38,500;

—Authorized the appointment of Jade Spencer as a junior board member to the Canton Main Street Board;

—Approved an ordinance for approving year-end budget amendments for FY 2017-’18;

—Accepted a voluntary annexation of approximately 2.75 acres in the J. Douthit Survey, ABST. 618, VZC, owned by Gary Reynolds;

—Authorized a resolution to approve a negotiated settlement between the ATMOS cities steering committee and the ATMOS Energency Corp. regarding the company’s 2018 rate review mechanism filling.