[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,74,86,98],{"_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":56,"_73":56},"mediaId",6644112,"mediaKeyId","2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5","parentId",2529870,"title","Crockett outlines 60-day wind-up steps after voters dissolve EDC; USDA loan assignment flagged as priority","audioSeconds",577,"startMs",3000000,"endMs",3577000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5&start=3000&end=3577","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5/thumbnail_3000000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6644112/Crockett/Houston-County/Texas/Crockett-outlines-60-day-wind-up-steps-after-voters-dissolve-EDC-USDA-loan-assignment-flagged-as-priority","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644112-16a1928f4c666639f6630e956b08cee8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178415&Signature=ldTk3IZ9CpHWCwKvJQburDXF4ipz3iqyT-2i0k98x8FSzd9Zf8sOMkW2QTHPwIO7doOCQJBQ7fXig2njmeMD8rARzr7C8de43WwjRILEDktb2~MFI6QDKUioHRlD1F5wMfZ0c8a2I1iDUwtlV~pR-FuV6paHPA2Nv4Yk6v3OWRPf9HiXMW-V2wUsXkA5uiOgohaVPl9quqTLbj5kBdCuR9AXn2aPU2MBoyZ6Mu1kioWBJe-vmvf4uGJFf~SyjTUdWnK6D5H3xmobnz2yBP1gn9k7Y6vZhL0U-UYuPnCcXSib2EAuEsbX9tX9u28IyxhJCAGJ4ghgkvJFhBH4OOI8yg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","","date","2025-03-09T18:41:45.827Z","article","City staff outlined a statutory process and short timetable to wind up the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation (EDC) after voters approved dissolving the corporation and reallocating a half-cent sales tax to ad valorem tax relief.

Staff said the EDC wind-up is governed by Chapter 11 of the Business Organizations Code and Chapter 501 (and related sections) of the Local Government Code and that the city and the EDC must adopt a plan of termination and distribution of assets by resolution. That plan must identify and account for all EDC assets, address how outstanding obligations incurred before the election will be met, and include arrangements for assignment of debts and contracts to the city where appropriate.

“The sales tax that is currently allocated to the EIDC must continue to be collected for the EIDC until sufficient funds are collected to satisfy the outstanding obligations of the corporation,” a city presenter said. Staff told council there is a 60-day window to prepare the plan and file a certificate of termination with the Texas Secretary of State, and that the city must also provide notice to all known claimants, including any parties with lawsuits, loans, leases or service contracts.

Staff emphasized one high-priority creditor: the U.S. Department of Agriculture. City staff said they have scheduled meetings with USDA to clarify loan-covenant language and to determine whether USDA will permit assignment of its loan(s) to the city. If USDA declines or if covenant conditions are not met, staff warned USDA could demand immediate repayment and call the loans.

Staff said they are coordinating with the state comptroller to determine exactly when sales-tax collections will transfer from payments intended to satisfy EDC obligations to the new ad valorem tax relief allocation, noting that monthly remittances vary and the plan must base transfers on a fixed amount that is sufficient to meet the EDC’s liabilities.

City staff said employees of the corporation will be notified that their employment ends upon approval of the plan of termination and distribution of assets by the EDC and the city council. Staff added the wind-up will require assigning several obligations from the corporation to the city and arranging for future payments under those obligations.

No final resolution was adopted at the Nov. 18 meeting; staff said they will bring draft resolutions and the plan of termination to upcoming EDC and council agendas and that the city’s special counsel is drafting the paperwork to meet statutory timelines.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Crockett City Council Meeting - 12/02/2024","oneSentenceSummary","City staff outlined a 60-day plan to wind up the Crockett Economic and Industrial Development Corporation after voters approved dissolution and reallocation of the EDC sales tax.","taxTitle","Crockett, Houston County, Texas","taxId",69526,"location","headline","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6644118,"Crockett council takes first look at updated personnel manual and decorum policy; members ask for more review time",394,2524000,2918000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5&start=2524&end=2918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5/thumbnail_2524000.jpg","/articles/6644118/Crockett/Houston-County/Texas/Crockett-council-takes-first-look-at-updated-personnel-manual-and-decorum-policy-members-ask-for-more-review-time","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644118-c7a545d1838175f936bb982e252629f6/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178415&Signature=JLUavRuY0PwXNKJAGt4BvQqYWiplkHvHXyMtqhSALJyz39I~V5lUrtTuWK1Ir6YcC3SPHECqwbPvR8NqTh4~0D9DjE7ajzd1Wqzc25--zyoEYnWwe6Y9BtKYcDDTPj~b-Wu4XobpIT3mC1V9KJ6tmIbIi7BOF8dRQC19BgjDnXcyKtGdsJqvKJnBiW6WPJD5CUEu7F-i-vu~XfGWcXZF6ZAtfOYEGJmxKdAYdYHycl6aCZxai8eWtfoB0TZbyC~dYqtRnp3ZBjvMzg4dCrcX2R1IIwGI0LZhhYyX0wLiKYd2fezoIStYgYN5cKiGkn4E39MnLxGil3bEAET7ij9aNA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crockett City Council discussed proposed updates to the personnel policy manual and a separate city council procedure and decorum policy during the Nov. 18 meeting and agreed to defer final action to allow council members more time to review a 17-page draft.

Staff said the personnel manual revisions had been brought back after council previously asked for additional review. The city’s presenter described the decorum and procedural draft as a first review that draws on policies used by other Texas cities and adapts them to Crockett’s five-member council with a nonvoting mayor. The document, staff said, is meant to set expectations not contained in the Open Meetings Act or Robert’s Rules of Order, including agenda categorizations (business items, old business, new business), workshop guidance and recommendations for training.

“The agenda as currently built lumps many items into ‘business items,’” a staff member said, adding the draft breaks agendas into clearer categories and recommends regular reports and workshops for training. Councilmembers asked for additional time to examine the 17-page document, which staff offered to circulate and accept markups on.

Council removed the personnel manual updates from the table and placed them back on the agenda for consideration, but members did not adopt the changes at the Nov. 18 meeting. Instead, council directed staff to allow individual review and follow-up discussions, and to return with a revised version for future action.","Council reviewed proposed updates to the city personnel policy manual and a new council procedure and decorum policy; staff presented a 17-page draft and council agreed to allow more time for line-by-line review and edits before a future vote.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6644122,"Crockett council approves payment to contract director amid paperwork dispute",1151,1201000,2352000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5&start=1201&end=2352","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5/thumbnail_1201000.jpg","/articles/6644122/Crockett/Houston-County/Texas/Crockett-council-approves-payment-to-contract-director-amid-paperwork-dispute","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644122-52c3d1b472c0f7b94084ef40e9ebca95/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178415&Signature=WAP6R2HlQCEtYlEI6X8zEde-CK87G27sKEkWNbQbzhmejfatNjsm8ROYozs9-xVnTE3YMx9Xdax4Fw8-gpQTHmY-14B8qyG47FWsVixcBFruPr0yo3fx6F0YBpmIOTN-ce~UYiUMdQpik8jusWe6eHXToSmg5bxVEiRgeei~EZ4958b5AkrCCNgKfGVoSikBzgKcnva7GVBiUx~MbFbP8E~FD1b0S-oNdAk0Gw6kO6r1oMatrKXHtcX9hOqOrh~eeeaSEDTplYNPIr1X-YldX~m0d6eid0yPCkWfr5hG4RzqUiAhqKOHoFgVs978SyWD71RbDbJF66vk9j2x9MZD3A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crockett City Council approved issuing a check totaling $3,250 to contractor Woodrow Jones to satisfy hours he submitted while performing director duties, but the meeting revealed continuing disagreement over the terms and documentation of his engagement.

Council discussed competing accounts of Jones’s start date, hourly logs and whether he was hired as a city employee or as a contractor. City staff told the council the matter stemmed from multiple verbal understandings and inconsistent written records: an application filed by Jones requested a $65,000 annual salary, but staff later said they had received references to $72,000 in emails and conversations. City staff repeatedly told the council the only written compensation figure on file was $65,000.

City staff said Jones provided a 1099 tax form (referred to during the meeting as a “10 99”) and that payments were being processed as contract payments. Staff also said Jones had provided a written note claiming he would receive one year’s severance pay if terminated; staff said that severance amount had not been approved by council in writing.

Council considered competing tallies of hours. One councilmember said the hours submitted totaled 138 hours; staff described prior checks and partial payments, and council members said a previously-issued check had not yet been delivered to Jones. After discussion, a councilmember moved to approve the payment based on the hours the director had turned in; another councilmember seconded the motion. The motion carried on a voice vote.

Council members directed staff to accept the timesheet-based payment “in good faith” while leaving any disputed additional claims to a future appeal. Staff noted Jones already has an existing appeal in the workforce commission process and that any separate appeal related to pay would be handled through standard procedures.","Crockett council approved issuance of a $3,250 check to contractor Woodrow Jones to settle hours he submitted; council discussed unclear written terms about salary, whether Jones was a contract worker or city employee, and the existence of a claimed severance agreement.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":56,"_73":56},6644127,"Crockett approves $181,322 purchase and installation of 200 kW generator for vocational facility",563,786000,1349000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5&start=786&end=1349","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2529870-3157c9f589decc3211ba81594fc84cd5/thumbnail_786000.jpg","/articles/6644127/Crockett/Houston-County/Texas/Crockett-approves-181322-purchase-and-installation-of-200-kW-generator-for-vocational-facility","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6644127-93ba84dce082704c4638d0358acb1577/orig.mp4?Expires=1771178416&Signature=VIKyS9Z32y8pknyfE6TgVMGAjnjVUBH0fqXyG0OInHRvCS0TH17QVAOXBliW1~p5KuaENwrHZIr2HhGCplaABs3EtPlJXX1ZWypfcXPTjQK7VLqSnvUnSyE56T5Txro-8lr9pwJvhGsR-BVB7OvZEbBoNi01SC6aXPJz5IS2fPZkusL46ADCkQwdH6rApZH7mmsSdER7gbym5BcZiQg2L4h-XPxMDyboV~FSqelUCXOd5~FNLobpZRuzHaYcEdIi-E-YNsb0f-ublR34teqlN1AWmaOollf8j~tf4gjbDpXU9P2dQ1Tue6dPMl2WYHZ-mZW6BRKrsLB08x3fZzY8KA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Crockett officials approved the purchase and installation of a more than 200-kilowatt Cummins backup generator for the city’s vocational technology facility after economic development and city council votes during a joint meeting Nov. 18.

City staff told the boards the project drew only one sealed bid, from a regional generator contractor, and that the total equipment-and-installation price is $181,322. City staff said the bid package called for a 200+ kW Cummins generator and associated transfer switches and electrical work for the whole building.

The staff presentation said the request was advertised twice in the newspaper as required and that the city reached out directly to five area firms; only one firm submitted a sealed bid. The presenter said the price is consistent with previous generator purchases the city has made under similar circumstances.

Staff also raised lead-time concerns. “Several of [the firms] that we spoke to said there’s a lead time of a year or so, 6 months to a year,” a staff member said, noting that the facility’s contractor wants to start work next month and that some program contracts require 24/7 backup power. City staff said they have located two or three candidate units and that vendors are prepared to proceed once the city authorizes the purchase.

Council members asked about the existing generator at the site. Staff said the currently installed unit is a 25 kW machine and is not large enough to serve the building; removal and sale of that unit would be handled through a separate sealed-bid process. The city confirmed the current installation includes the generator, a single transfer switch and conduit run to the main electrical panel; removal and resale of the existing unit were not part of the awarded bid.

The economic development body moved and seconded the contract award; the motion was approved on an affirmative voice vote. Council later took the same motion and approved the purchase during its portion of the meeting.

The city did not provide a formal vote tally in the meeting minutes. Staff said the contractor named in the bid has previously worked on similar projects in the region and that engineering specifications were prepared before bids were solicited.

City staff said they will post the existing generator for sale by sealed bid and will finalize timelines based on vendor delivery schedules.","City economic development board and Crockett City Council approved a single-bid contract to buy and install a more than 200-kilowatt Cummins generator at the Crockett vocational/tech facility; staff warned of a 6–12 month lead time and said the existing 25 kW unit is too small and will be sold separately.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Crockett outlines 60-day wind-up steps after voters dissolve EDC; USDA loan assignment flagged as priority

Crockett council takes first look at updated personnel manual and decorum policy; members ask for more review time

Crockett council approves payment to contract director amid paperwork dispute

Crockett approves $181,322 purchase and installation of 200 kW generator for vocational facility