[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6377663,"mediaKeyId","2138856-96d8e9f27fc822b5ed7cb3d47cdae3c8","parentId",2138856,"title","Council approves routine ordinances, zoning change and municipal court appointments; Badger Meter supply agreement cleared","audioSeconds",7939,"startMs",491000,"endMs",8430000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138856-96d8e9f27fc822b5ed7cb3d47cdae3c8&start=491&end=8430","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138856-96d8e9f27fc822b5ed7cb3d47cdae3c8/thumbnail_491000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6377663/Huntsville/Walker-County/Texas/Council-approves-routine-ordinances-zoning-change-and-municipal-court-appointments-Badger-Meter-supply-agreement-cleared","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377663-43479fc6c644bf9c82ca8593d3626a81/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444227&Signature=eKw0Rjt4Lhy7EXM~FIduCsGd8bgFZ~5TLA2rh2oCfMuF9fZTFr83Q0M0HtHogCHr~txCfXW0Fbtt8JhLRWXjMlpj2iHAEJ9EZh7jajxwgnnxPr5dSxD-tvA5bni-j3Y1nu8haz7c3Nq4PO200mr-sLu6Y26jiVLpxtE3vy1obzqcAy36L8VugbbTJwCLUiZ1uS-B8egG2sV2YTB0SxbIOGzevZRNo3BiQ~ORxmFic6l0bS9R6lLoaROMxfMe2P9ionACMH7n-5iqWLXAeWEwZqQUpLknqPETo85IRxgioD-tmLRHmUCI-EnMQjAMs~AGME1O4xgE2pZCMZ1vomeJJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Huntsville TX ","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","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.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Regular Session - 01/07/2025","oneSentenceSummary","Huntsville City Council approved consent agenda items including a supply agreement with Badger Meter, adopted an ordinance joining Energy Texas Inc. proceedings at the PUCT, approved a zoning map amendment at 1605 15th Street and accepted a municipal court resignation and appointment.","taxTitle","Huntsville, Walker County, Texas","taxId",54374,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6377668,"Residents urge stricter drainage controls as Huntsville council reviews 'The Ridge' development update",2921,949000,3870000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2138856-96d8e9f27fc822b5ed7cb3d47cdae3c8&start=949&end=3870","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2138856-96d8e9f27fc822b5ed7cb3d47cdae3c8/thumbnail_949000.jpg","/articles/6377668/Huntsville/Walker-County/Texas/Residents-urge-stricter-drainage-controls-as-Huntsville-council-reviews-The-Ridge-development-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6377668-9cabac112b9e56146e9e8e31034805ab/orig.mp4?Expires=1770444227&Signature=EFU2NJIXieHOPE~jTI78cTwrkKC9UUNkNmMCTjZ8t60A8w2Css~AbtenEV8ADGA4B1pFGA7nh0y~vKCzdUvlUm3EFt5EGF9AHnVQHekxh7aBTMuSzTxUQICGZd60uDTXIzObYJ7pykVDKf51Pq6S~R9TSTYeZob0G~mBDdBpGvgScMbMzGPzW8I858nx61q-LJmfQbXMDx~O7RFtrR4dGQmOyF-brYm1eQtYp~A8DSlPtXCsuVRY9QuXJQO58lrjjVpTRIP6lbBFV-Lr2sEWvyA26HOBgY-t0MRmpZsmJcI7WQ87wE8QZXSmVuvoKtY3wl3F50LJVsVmmcMxGjNEWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Huntsville officials received a status update on The Ridge subdivision and extended public comment from Spring Lake Estates residents who said recent clearing and grading have increased flood risk and damaged homes.

The Ridge is a proposed in‑city municipal utility district (MUD) and residential subdivision that was authorized by ordinance and annexed to the city in 2022. Lane, identified in the meeting as Development Services staff, told the council that the developer has received TCEQ Storm Water Pollution Prevention (SWPPP) permits and a clearing and grubbing permit, and that a tree preservation plan has been approved for portions of the site. Lane said civil drawings and a drainage study are under review and that the final plat cannot be recorded until the civil plans and plat match exactly.

Why it matters: Spring Lake Estates, Club Lake and adjacent neighborhoods drain into McDonald Creek and Spring Lake downstream of the Ridge site. Residents said flooding during earlier high‑rain events this year caused property damage they had not experienced in decades and that additional runoff from the Ridge could cause more flooding, sewage contamination and public‑safety impacts.

Several residents described recent, unprecedented flooding and asked the council to halt further work until effective silt and runoff controls are installed and inspected. Laurie Rose, a Spring Lake Estates resident, told the council, “Please review all grading, excavating, and clear cutting of trees, and do not allow further work until there are appropriate and effective silt and runoff mitigation measures in place.” Natalie Manus, another resident whose home flooded in May–June 2024, said her damages exceeded $65,000 and urged the council to require engineers’ plans that fully address downstream capacity.

Other speakers reported visible siltation in McDonald Creek and expressed concern about the number and placement of detention ponds shown in preliminary developer exhibits. One speaker said the exhibit on the meeting screen showed “only 4 detention ponds for 350 acres,” a claim he asked the council to verify with submitted civil documents. Multiple residents said they had filed TCEQ complaints and asked the city to pursue remediation or insurance recoveries where appropriate.

Council members and staff described the engineering review process used by the city. Lane said drainage analyses compare pre‑development runoff and post‑development runoff and that detention pond sizing and outfall calculations are set by the city’s engineering criteria and the adopted design standards. Councilman Strong and others noted that the city’s runoff design standards have been tightened in recent years (for example, moving from shorter storm routing periods to longer design storms) and that new developments are therefore held to more stringent criteria than older subdivisions.

Council members asked for clarification about floodplain boundaries and where runoff from the Ridge would be routed. Lane said the Ridge site is located on a ridge (hence the name) and that the primary FEMA floodplain fingers lie along Winter Way and the lake edge; Lane said the Ridge itself is above the floodplain. He also reiterated that the civil drainage study must demonstrate the project will not create adverse impacts to neighboring properties and that the plat and civil plans must align before approval and plat recording.

Residents pressed for ongoing monitoring and enforcement after construction, asking who would inspect and maintain silt controls and detention systems. Lane said construction inspection and enforcement are handled by the city’s engineering/inspections division and invited residents to report problems so staff can investigate.

No formal action was taken on the Ridge item during the meeting. Council members said they would continue to review submitted civil plans and the drainage study, and staff indicated they would follow up on specific resident claims and complaints.

Residents asked the council to ensure developers comply with state law; at one point a speaker cited “Texas Water Code 11.08 6” as the statutory basis for prohibiting diversion of surface waters that damages another’s property (citation noted as provided by the speaker). City staff did not announce any immediate changes to approvals or permits during the meeting.","City staff updated the council on the status of The Ridge subdivision; numerous Spring Lake Estates residents urged the city to require and enforce stronger erosion, detention and drainage controls after recent flooding.","actionData","errors"]

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

Residents urge stricter drainage controls as Huntsville council reviews 'The Ridge' development update