KERENS–Kerens City Council voted Feb. 7 to order a May 6 election to fill two council seats and the mayoral position.
Those council seats are held currently by Bryant Jennings and Darren Lane, both of whom have signed up for re-election, according to City Administrator Katherine Combs. Jeffrey Saunders has put his name in the hat for another term as Kerens mayor, Combs added.
The last day to sign up for the election was Feb. 17and if no other candidates sought office, the election would be cancelled, the city administrator told council.
Council also approved renewing for 20 years Kerens’ franchise contract with Oncor Electric Delivery Co. The contract allows Oncor to use rights-of-way owned by the City of Kerens to install equipment and provide service, Combs said. As compensation, Oncor will pay Kerens 4% of the company’s annual gross receipts collected within Kerens, Combs added.
Further, council approved continuing Kerens’ participation with the Steering Committee of Cities Served by Oncor, which represents municipalities and consumers in regulatory proceedings, according to the steering committee’s website. The steering committee charges 10 cents per resident for the service, according to Combs.
In addition, council approved the appointment of Martha Fields, Tanya Hobbs and Clara Jo McMillan as Kerens Housing Authority commissioners. Combs said council must approve such appointments because the housing authority is controlled by the city.
In other business, council:
• Tabled putting items up for auction.
• Approved an application for a specific-use permit to allow a mobile home at 108 S. Ferguson Ave., following a public hearing.
• Approved an application for a specific-use permit to allow a mobile home at 708 Northwest Fifth St., after a public hearing.