PAYNE SPRINGS–Payne Springs City Council, which approved a 25 cents per $100 valuation property tax Sept. 8, voted Oct. 18 to use the tax proceeds to secure a $2.3 million, 15-year bond to repave city streets.
According to a city release, Payne Springs is considered a small taxing unit, which allowed the city to impose a property tax without an election. That means the city is fewer than 30,000 in population, is imposing less than $500,000 in tax and the tax rate is less than 50 cents.
The release further states that Payne Springs will collect $250,000 with the property tax, which is tied to total taxable values of $99.5 million and “securing a bond will allow us to fix them (streets) in bulk.” The release also says city streets “are in significant disrepair and patching is only putting quick fixes at this point.”
Most streets will be repaired and paved with asphalt, while a handful will be repaired “in other affordable ways that will allow us to improve all city roads,” the release continues. City Manager Tawnya Austin said the project includes replacing the road base in areas needed. Council Member Cody Barnett voted against the issue.
During the meeting, one man spoke against the tax and road proposal and presented City Secretary Beth Billings with what he said was a petition calling for a tax rollback election. Another man adamantly supported the city and council and chided those who complained about poor roads, saying such people complained again when council was doing something about it.
Council also approved rezoning property along State Highway (SH) 198 adjacent to County Road 2531 (Clear Creek Road) from residential to commercial. Council Members Cody Barnett and Leif Haag voted against the rezoning. Kelley Meeker told council in June that the land would have a boat, RV, covered, self and open storage facility, with another portion of the land possibly including retail space in the future. Meeker said Oct. 18 that at that time, only the storage facility would be built and that a retail facility would be a “whole separate process.”
Three people spoke against the rezoning. One man said he moved to get out of the city “and the city is following.” A woman complained about glaring lights and said the “blind S-curve” creates a safety hazard and adding more traffic is “just asking for an accident to happen.” Another man said traffic issues on the highway are “very significant” and that “Highway 198 is probably overloaded at this point.” The man also complained that council was considering rezoning the land when he said construction had already started.
Meeker responded that he asked Henderson County about rerouting the county road but was told the county had neither the funds nor the manpower. Meeker also said private property owners are allowed to move dirt on their land at any time and that he has a permit for the fence being constructed currently. He also said he can tailor lighting away from neighbors and that the storage facility entrance is located away from the road curves, in an SH 198 “straightaway.”
In other business, council:
• Approved a business permit for Family Dollar Tree at 10875 SH 198 and annexed its location into the city.
• Approved a resolution for a professional services contract with the law firm Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson regarding the collection of delinquent property taxes, penalties and interest, as well as the addition of an extra penalty, all authorized by state law.
• Approved a resolution for an agreement for tax collection services with Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson.
• Approved premium pay for frontline workers at the same rate as last year, which was funded by federal COVID grant relief funds.