Council approves routine ordinances, zoning change and municipal court appointments; Badger Meter supply agreement cleared

The City of Huntsville City Council on Dec. 7 approved several routine and personnel items, including a supply agreement for water meter software, a zoning map amendment, and municipal court personnel actions.

Key actions at a glance:
- The council approved the consent agenda (items a–f excluding item e for separate discussion) and then separately authorized the city manager to execute a supply agreement with Badger Meter for water meter software and associated supplies. Council members discussed allowing a local meter manufacturer a trial location for testing; staff said the city must maintain system compatibility with automatic meter reading software.
- The council waived second reading and adopted Ordinance 2025‑1 authorizing participation with other energy service area cities concerning Energy Texas Inc. and authorizing hiring of lawyers and rate experts and participation at the Public Utility Commission of Texas. Council discussion characterized the ordinances as an annual participation agreement used in prior years.
- The council approved Ordinance 2024‑34, a zoning district map amendment changing 1605 15th Street (Walker County Property ID 27851) from medium‑density residential to mixed‑use. The council clarified that the change allows uses (for example, office) not permitted under the prior residential zoning; a council member said the property had previously been used for office and other uses.
- The council accepted Judge Gaines’ letter of resignation effective Jan. 1, 2025, instructed staff to post a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a municipal court prosecutor and to post for an alternate municipal court judge, and appointed Devin Dawson as municipal court judge for a term expiring October 2025, subject to an executed contract.

All actions noted above were taken by motion and approved by unanimous voice vote in the meeting; no recorded roll‑call tallies naming individual votes were included in the transcript.

Officials and staff noted these items were consistent with prior practice or required by staffing needs. On the Badger Meter supply agreement, staff explained that the city’s automatic meter‑reading system must maintain compatible software and that Badger Meter’s supply pricing requires annual renewal. Council members acknowledged a local meter manufacturer’s interest in testing meters in a new development and asked staff to continue discussions about trial installations.

Formal motions, movers and outcomes (as recorded in the meeting transcript):
- Approve consent agenda (a–f excluding e) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Authorize city manager to approve supply agreement with Badger Meter for water meter software and associated supplies — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Waive second reading and approve Ordinance 2025‑1 (participation regarding Energy Texas Inc. at PUCT; authorize hiring lawyers/rate experts) — motion moved by Councilman Strong; seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Approve Ordinance 2024‑34 (zoning map amendment for 1605 15th Street) — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Authorize staff to solicit RFQ for municipal court prosecutor — motion moved and seconded after executive session; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Authorize staff to post for an alternate municipal court judge position — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Accept Judge Gaines’ resignation effective Jan. 1, 2025 — motion moved by Councilman Fossum and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).
- Appoint Devin Dawson as municipal court judge for term through Oct. 2025, subject to an executed contract — motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved (voice vote; unanimous).

No financial amounts beyond routine budget and supply references were disclosed in the meeting record; where ordinance or resolution numbers were mentioned in the agenda, full text or specific line‑item amounts were not read into the transcript and are not specified here.