Council considers Moss Lake rules

The Gainesville City Council voted 6-0 to approve on second reading an ordinance change to rules governing Moss Lake properties.

The Council now has the option of approving the ordinance on third reading at the next Council meeting or at a future date.

Jimmy Mosman and Jim Huneycutt, Moss Lake property owners, addressed the Council.

Huneycutt said he is concerned about theft at the lakeside community, and said enclosed docks are a good way to control burglaries.

“I know some of you are concerned for the views, but some of us are up on the hill and it doesn’t matter as much,” he said.

The new ordinance prohibits enclosed docks. See a story in the July 16 Register for more information on the changes.

Mosman said a single word can make a large difference to the Moss Lake Volunteer Fire Department’s bass tournament fund raiser.

He said a clause relating to a $35 annual boat fee does not give enough power to the city to waive fees for the tournament. Where it says, “The city may waive the requirement for a boat permit during the Annual Moss Lake Volunteer Fire Department Fishing Tournament ...” Mosman said the word “may” should be replaced with “shall” or “will.”

In other business, the Council approved actions of the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation.

The Council voted 6-0 to approve the GEDC’s $1.4 million budget for the next fiscal year.

In a simple reading, the Council announced the GEDC’s plans to sell the former watershop property on the corner of California Street and Interstate Highway 35 for $25,000.

Some discussion was had on a plan to amend the GEDC’s bylaws before changes were approved 5-1. Vince Rippy, the councilman who cast the dissenting vote, said he had concerns about residency requirements for GEDC Board of Directors members.

Rippy said the bylaws require all seven members to reside in Cooke County, per state law, but that three may reside outside of the Gainesville city limits if they are executives in a Gainesville business or own a business in the city.

“We have residency requirements on the Council because we serve to provide for the general welfare of the city,” Rippy said.

He added that the new bylaws could invite “corporate executives whose motivations may not be in the interest of the general welfare of the city.”

Rippy said residents of other cities, such as Lindsay, Callisburg, Valley View and unincorporated communities such as Lake Kiowa, would have some say over spending Gainesville’s tax revenue.

“I’ve got a little bit of a problem with that,” Rippy said.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Goldsworthy said the Council reserves the right to change the board membership at-will and if there is a problem the Council may address it.

Mayor Glenn Loch said he does not foresee members of other communities being appointed by the current Council to the GEDC Board of Directors.

“It would be on us” if someone with selfish or corporate motivations were appointed, Goldsworthy added.

“It’s not the Cooke County Economic Development Corporation, it’s the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation,” Rippy later replied.

The new bylaws also changed the term limits for GEDC board members to have four, two-year terms each, with the exception of the president. The president, according to the rules, may go into a seventh year if appointed.

In other business, the Council voted 6-0 to:

• Approve insurance and benefit plans for city employees.

• Set a proposed tax rate for 2008-09 (see sidebar story) and set two budget and tax rate hearings.

• Designate the city manager to deal with the Texas Department of Agriculture (“TDA”), for the purpose of participating in the TDA “GO TEXAN Rural Community Bootstrap Bucks Program” for a grant to help pay for advertising Depot Day in September.

No action was taken following an executive session regarding property and consultation with the city attorney.

Reporter Andy Hogue may be contacted at andyhoguegdr@ntin.net