City of Cottonwood Shores Texas news

Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

The City of Cottonwood Shores has just one decision on the May 6 ballot—city sales tax.

Each seat up for election on the city council had a single applicant. Mayor Donald Orr was unopposed as were Brigitte Stella Thomas for Place 2 and Stephen Alexander for Place 4.

The choice, then, is “for” or “against” Proposition 1: Shall the city council be reauthorized to impose a local sales and use tax at the rate of one-fourth of one percent to continue providing revenue for maintenance and repair of municipal streets?

“During the past 10 years that this has been in existence, Cottonwood Shores has been able to hard top or re-top most all of our streets,” said Mayor Orr. “We still have several to finish. We would like to continue to rely on this revenue, dedicated specifically to streets, to fund this effort.

By Glynis Crawford Smith

The Highlander

Cottonwood Shores has a new police chief.

On the job since April 10 is Gregory Palmer, a 23-year veteran of law enforcement.

“Cottonwood Shores was blessed with multiple excellent candidates,” said Shiela Moore, city administrator and city secretary. “Mayor Donald Orr, Mayor Pro Tem Stephen Sherry and I interviewed many candidates for the position. We narrowed the results down to our top four candidates and presented them to the council in a special meeting March 28.”

The city council agreed with the opinion of the selection committee and Palmer was invited to become the new chief of the Cottonwood Shores Police Department.

Palmer holds Master Peace Officer’s certification. In addition to positions with the Trinity and Houston police departments, he has served with the Leon County Sheriff’s Office.

When the Cottonwood Shores City Council meets at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, they will have all thier financial ducks in a row to consider issuing $1.5 million in certificates of obligation for a new water plant.

Anticipating action on Dec. 1, the council will meet with Bill Blitch of Blitch Associates, Inc., a financial advisory firm, working primarily in the utility industry, assisting in funding bond sales .

No citizens came to address the council on Thursday, Sept. 29. Members are hoping that is because they understand the council's financial strategy to pay for water plant replacement.

The only items on the agenda were approval of the budget the Fiscal Year 2016-2017 and the tax rate to support it, a rate voters could legally oppose, if they did not understand the council's analysis.

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH
THE HIGHLANDER
Citizens may want to make a special effort to attend the meeting of the Cottonwood Shores City Council meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 4.
The council will be honoring the 2016 Cottonwood Shores Outstanding Citizen, Carlos Naumann.
Naumann was chosen from among four nominees at the July 21 council meeting.
“This 80-year-old- citizen and longtime resident tirelessly monitors the streets from trash to keep Cottonwood Shores clean,” read Naumann's nomination from Debbie Holloway.
“Mr. Naumann was not at the meeting when he was selected,” said City Administrator Sheila C. Moore.  “We hope he will be with us Thursday to be recognized.”
Also submitted as outstanding in the city were Sylvia Breen, John Marr and Rex Holloway.

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH

THE HIGHLANDER

The deadline is Friday, July 15, for nominations for Outstanding Citizen of the Year in the City of Cottonwood Shores.

The city council made the call for nominations at their meeting Thursday, July 7.

“The nominations will be presented at the next council meeting on July 21, but we need them in advance,” said City Administrator Sheila C. Moore. “At the first meeting in August, an award presentation will be made. This is the second year we have had this procedure.”