Crockett council approves fireworks funding, emergency wastewater repair and EDC invoice payments; disapproves May 6 minutes

Crockett City Council on Thursday approved a string of routine and emergency measures, including covering a potential shortfall for a community fireworks show, authorizing immediate repairs to a wastewater-plant clarifier, and approving payment of invoices tied to the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation (EDC). The council also moved to disapprove the May 6 regular-session minutes and approved the May 13 special session minutes with corrections to the canvass vote.

Fireworks: Staff told the council that the Chamber of Commerce’s Freedom Over Crockett fireworks contract costs $30,000. Commitments and donations totaled $24,651, leaving an estimated gap of roughly $9,300; staff requested authority to cover any shortfall from contingency funds and to put down a required $15,000 deposit to secure the pyrotechnics. After public comment urging that street repairs be prioritized, the council approved covering a potential shortfall so the event can proceed.

Wastewater repair: Staff described a failure of a clarifier rake and drive at the North wastewater plant, a unit built in the 1970s. TCEQ has been notified; staff said the Texas Water Development Board has a $12,000,000 funding package for broader plant rebuilding but that repairs could not wait. Council approved using utility reserves for an emergency sole-source repair and directed staff to pursue reimbursement options from TWDB proceeds if possible.

EDC invoices: Council discussed invoices submitted by the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation for items including utilities, a project coordinator’s first-month salary, and maintenance. Questions focused on which entity is financially responsible, who authorized purchases (Christie Demograph was named as staff who places orders when directed), and the need to provide invoices in advance for review. Council voted to pay the invoices and reimburse the city where appropriate.

Minutes and procedural items: A motion by Councilmember Natriona Hicks to disapprove the May 6 regular-session minutes and to approve the May 13 special session (with corrected canvass counts) was seconded and carried after the city attorney offered to provide a legal opinion. Staff will obtain the opinion and return the findings to the council.

Next steps: Staff will secure the deposit for the fireworks contract as needed, issue a PO for the clarifier repair and seek TWDB reimbursement where feasible, and provide requested invoice documentation and legal opinions for governance items.