The Quitman City Council adopted a lower property tax rate for the upcoming year, adopted a new budget and named an interim executive director for Quitman Development Corporation (QDC) last Thursday. 

The city’s new tax rate was set at $.5473 per $100 valuation which is less than last year’s $.5915 rate. The maintenance and operation portion is $.4117 with the interest and sinking rate at $.1356 bringing it to $.5473. The total of expenditures for the 2021 budget in the general fund are $1,771,325.

The council approved the Quitman Development Corporation budget at $275,500 and approved City Administrator Rodney Kieke as the interim executive director of the organization.

QDC Treasurer Dr. Greg Eberhart said, “Our primary 2021 budget focus was to reduce administration costs that are associated with the day-to-day functioning of the QDC. That will help us maximize the amount of dollars available for actual economic growth and development in the city, such as the new $20,000 provision for the Hogg Park Pavilion project.”

In another agenda item concerning the QDC, the council approved the reappointment board members Randy Dunn, Alice Ingram-Bowers, David Dobbs and Brad Medlin. 

In another matter, the council approved a negotiated settlement between the ATMOS Cities Steering Committee and the ATMOS Energy Corporation.

The council approved a one-year maintenance agreement for 9-1-1 addressing with the East Texas Council of Governments which is a cost of $1,010, the same as last year.

The council discussed the possibility of residential rental registration and residential vehicle parking, but no action was taken.

In the discussion on vehicles Mayor Randy Dunn addressed the problem.

“This is about so many vehicles being parked around residences. I would hope that people would respect the neighborhood. If vehicles just sit there not in working order and are not being used then something could be done with those vehicles,” Dunn noted. “I have seen more and more of that. I know there are parts of town where vehicles have sat for years.”

He also commented on Police Chief Kelly Cole. “I would like say we are going to have something a little more official next meeting, but I would like to say the deadline for a write-in vote is past and it is official he will be sheriff of Wood County. I would like to say congratulations to our new sheriff,” Dunn said. The announcement was met with a round of applause from all those in attendance.

The council’s next meeting is Oct. 15.