GUN BARREL CITY- During the Gun Barrel City Council meeting held April 16 the city adopted an ordinance (Ordinance No. O-2024-011) of Chapter 95 pertaining to junk vehicles. City Manager Angela Smith stated that the current ordinance is a challenge to enforce and is time-consuming for the city. Smith continued saying that junk vehicles is an issue that has tied the city’s hands and the new ordinance is more friendly with clear qualifications for residents and the city. The new ordinance will go into effect Saturday, June 1. 
Updates to the city employee personnel policy were also discussed and approved during the meeting. Smith explained to the council that the policies were last updated in 2018 and had been high on the list of things to be reviewed upon her hire. The updates to the policy have been modeled after “a policy that has withstood litigation” according to Smith. The policy updates and changes were made to the categories of work, city holidays, bereavement policy, vacation time and out of class pay.
City council also heard that trash pick up with Republic Services will be increasing 5.49% which is the equivalent of $1.08 per month. Smith explained to the council that this increase is in line with the allowable Consumer Price Index and will raise Gun Barrel City residents trash bills from $21.03 per month to $22.11 per month. These rates will go into effect Wednesday, May 1. 
Also approved was a recommended agreement by the Economic Development Cooperation (EDC) Board of Directors for Retail Market Analysis and Recruitment Services with The Retail Coach. The cost of the one-year contract is $30,000 with its sole purpose being the solicitation of new businesses. The Retail Coach would attend economic development conferences to market Gun Barrel City to franchises and new businesses interested in expanding to the area. Smith stated that this would be a good partnership for the city and that Gun Barrel City has previously worked with The Retail Coach, citing their part in bringing Chili’s to the area. 
In other business, council:
• Approved consent agenda as presented. 
• Approved the removal of Teresa Martin from the Parks and Recreation Board fo missing three consecutive meetings per section 8.01 of the City Charter. 
• Approved a request to plat part of Tract 67 according to AB 59 of the J P Brown survey being 0.923 acres, belonging to Hillsdale Development Group, LLC.
• Approved a request to plat part of Tract 67c according to AB 59 of the J P Brown survey being 2.036 acres, belonging to Hillsdale Development Group, LLC. 
• Approved the adoption of an Ordinance No. O-2024-012 granting a special use permit to construct a warehouse to be located at 1145 Harbor Point Road, Gun Barrel City a general business district (B-2) zoned area.