Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Mayor Randy Teague signs a proclamation stating Nov. 3 will be Jim McKee Appreciation Day in the city. McKee will be honored by Shepherds Heart Ministry as a Lifetime of Ministry Achievement award winner.

Monitor Photo/Carla Gray
Mayor Randy Teague signs a proclamation stating that the week of Nov. 7 will be First Presbyterian Church’s Holly Days. Church members gather behind Teague as he signs the proclamation.

Mabank City Council members approved minutes from a special meeting, held Sept. 26 when they met for the regular monthly meeting Oct. 10. During the Sept. 26 special meeting, the council approved the budget and rate increase. There was an increase in water, but no increase in sewer or sanitation. The 2022-2023 cost for city water was $27. 69. The 2023-2024 water cost will be $28.52, an increase of 82 cents. Out-of-city residential water for the 2022-2023 budget was $34.28, the new 2023-2024 water cost will be $35.31 an increase of $1.03. 
Non-profit organization, Recovery at Timber Trails Sober Living Residence, requested a letter from the council wanting approval to have the non-profit organization in the residential subdivision of Prairie Hill. Founder and Director William Jackson described the subsidiary of Recovery at Timber Trails Sober Living Residence, Oxford Group Cedar Creek, as a men’s sober living residence for those recovering from drug and alcohol addiction, and who are recently paroled. Mayor Randy Teague said, “I appreciate your passion and your zeal. However, I need a compelling reason that the house needs to be in a residential neighborhood in my city?” Jackson stated that the house is not a business but a 501C3 non-profit organization. City Attorney Aaron Wiley clarified that even though it is a non-profit organization it is still a business. According to the Mabank zoning map, the area in question is zoned for single-family residential and not for business. Since the Oxford Group Cedar Creek is considered a business, council members denied the request for the letter.
 First Presbyterian Church’s Holly Days received a proclamation from the City of Mabank. The festival days are going to be increased, beginning on Tuesday, Nov. 7 with the annual stew luncheon. Thursday and Friday, Nov. 9 and 10, will be the craft sale and a bistro. Saturday, Nov. 11 will be a brunch, which is new this year, along with a shopping area for children. The shopping area will be a place where children can purchase Christmas gifts, and nothing will be more than $5. 
 In other business, council members:
• Made a proclamation for Jim McKee who will be honored by Shepherds Heart Ministry with the Lifetime Achievement Award.
• Heard from City Administrator Bryant Morris who said the downtown area will be complete in the next 30 days.
• Heard Morris update the council that two new Police Ford Trucks will be delivered in the next three weeks for equipment to be installed, at that time it will take another three weeks making a delivery time to the city approximately six weeks.