Talk Union County Blog

Highlights from Plainview City Council’s November Meeting

PLAINVIEW CITY HALL — Plainview City Council met in November to examine Plainview’s overall direction and discuss several measures to secure the city’s operating costs.

BUILDING PERMITS & ZONING

City Council passed a motion to increase the cost of building permits issued by the city. The new regulation, establishes a fee of $50.00 for residential building permits. The permit fee for storage sheds will remain at its current rate of $10.00. The higher fee for residential permits will help offset the city’s costs for inspections and the issuance of permits.

Three new building permits were reported by the city zoning official. Two of the permits, a residence and a garage, were located at separate addresses on Thomas Road. A third permit was taken for a residence located on Monday Road.

Information was presented regarding the November 9th, 2006, planning meeting in which a request made by the Collins family to have their property rezoned as commercial did not receive approval. The vote at the November 9th, meeting resulted in a tie which caused the motion to fail. The Collins family is expected to file the request again at the next meeting.

City Planning Advisor, Joe Barnett, is set to investigate issues regarding the Lisa Summers Trailer Park located on Corryton Rd.

COURT COSTS

The rising costs of operating City Court required City Council to address its current court fees. Court cost were adjusted to help keep pace with increasing operating expenses. Starting in January of 2007, court fees will be $145.00. This is an increase of $13.50 over the previous fee of $131.50.

CODE OF ETHICS

Following in the footsteps of cutting edge cities across the county, Plainview City Council had its second reading of the city’s new “Code of Ethics.” The code of ethics sets out to clearly establish guidelines for city officials to follow and is primarily designed to fill in gaps, not covered by state laws, regarding the behavior and function of city officials. In addition, the code of ethics should serve to help eliminate potential conflicts of interest while also making officials not adhering to the code more accountable to the people they represent.

OTHER ITEMS

–The City of Plainview is following through on an earlier pledge to donate one thousand dollars to be put towards the cost of constructing tennis courts at Union County High School.

–The city has placed an older K-9 vehicle in surplus. The vehicle will be available under sealed bid to governmental bodies only.

– City Council held discussion regarding employee medical insurance. No action was taken, but further discussion will be heard on Tuesday, December 12th, 2006, pending information from Cariten Senior Health.

Residents of Plainview and city employees are highly encouraged to attend this meeting and offer their opinions. If you cannot attend but wish to have your voice heard, please contact your city representatives and/or Mayor Minor. City officials will be happy to discuss this or any other issue you have in regards to local policy. Plainview City Council wants each citizen to take an active and informed role in the life and future of Plainview and that can only happen when you take the time to become involved.