[{"_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",6550330,"mediaKeyId","5398932-1a3f6c761be91a147281db701e8f54ba","parentId",5398932,"title","Votes at a glance: Forney council approves car-wash CUP ordinance, suspends Encore rate increase and approves personnel separation","audioSeconds",9,"startMs",222195,"endMs",231600,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5398932-1a3f6c761be91a147281db701e8f54ba&start=222&end=231","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5398932-1a3f6c761be91a147281db701e8f54ba/thumbnail_222195.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6550330/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Votes-at-a-glance-Forney-council-approves-car-wash-CUP-ordinance-suspends-Encore-rate-increase-and-approves-personnel-separation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550330-3fc064c44e84d46ed6f07c36479503d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952270&Signature=dXKJn5XMyDbqX0unt2QOL2WUNsDEtyIHxuRnVicS0RPBl29zDCsm5MPnn1pM5u~mfCuMZX82iWMau426B0Cbi4VMsQ~PPpuibCfkusxvfzWxsIDcq2MoNnl~70gyONdmQCPyCsJ4qemy2mdtG6jsksbHwxkV89zbjHxiXBStVoWnwkqmawhdi7jmEIsWQOBz3CpSimCmWophmYfANMvyyqPwOpu2yYzh0ZukdZumitcpeaYWRJLYK0m8O3iNqgR-os79CztvYZmKb7IbxR7vkVTN1G5p2GRRln8fJLtlVp418yKHopgd0vhBeJSjknPVKP3bwjOOFFoV7p8qcBecgg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Forney","date","2025-07-15T00:00:00Z","article","The Forney City Council took several formal actions during its July 15 meeting. Key votes included adoption of an ordinance approving a conditional use permit for an automated car wash, approval to pursue a stormwater master plan and rate study (see separate article), suspension of an Encore Electric Delivery Company requested rate increase pending review, approval of a separation agreement reached in executive session, and approval of consent agenda items and amended minutes.

Car wash conditional use permit — ordinance 25-12
Mr. Morgan, a city planner staff member, summarized a zoning request to allow an automated car wash on about 1.893 acres east of North FM 548 and west of Whaley Drive, in the Meadowlidge Farm Gateway planned development district. The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval with a stipulation requiring screening along the property line adjacent to the Primrose School childcare facility. Council member Mr. Traylor moved to approve the item; Council member Ms. Delgado seconded. The ordinance was assigned number 25-12 and the motion passed.

Encore Electric rate suspension
City staff presented a resolution to suspend the July 31, 2025 effective date of Encore Electric Delivery Company's requested rate increase to allow the city and a steering committee of cities to review the filing and negotiate a settlement. Staff described the filing as a 12.3% increase to the base rate and noted a requested 51% increase for street-lighting charges. A council member asked how long the suspension could last; staff answered that the suspension period is “for a period not to exceed 90 days.” Council member Miss Solgado moved to approve the suspension; Ms. Schlenzker seconded. The motion passed.

Executive-session outcome: separation agreement
After an executive session that covered pending litigation, easement negotiations and personnel matters, the council returned to regular session and approved a separation agreement and mutual release with Kerry Morris. Council member Ms. Schlitzker moved for approval and Mr. Weatherford seconded; the motion passed by voice vote.

Consent items and minutes
The council approved consent agenda items 1 through 6 on a motion by Mr. Traylor and a second by Ms. Schlenzker. The council later approved amended minutes for prior meetings with a motion from Mr. Weatherford and a second from Ms. Schlensker; the minutes approval reflected an abstention on the June 3 minutes as discussed in open session.

Formal actions recorded in the meeting reflected motions that passed; the transcript does not include a detailed roll-call tally for each vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Forney - City Council - Jul 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Forney City Council on July 15 adopted an ordinance allowing a conditional-use automated car wash, approved a study to evaluate a stormwater utility (separate article), suspended an Encore Electric rate increase for review and approved a separation agreement with Kerry Morris.","taxTitle","Forney, Kaufman County, Texas","taxId",69540,"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},6550333,"Forney council authorizes $95,500 study for citywide stormwater master plan and rate analysis",657,901000,1558000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5398932-1a3f6c761be91a147281db701e8f54ba&start=901&end=1558","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5398932-1a3f6c761be91a147281db701e8f54ba/thumbnail_901000.jpg","/articles/6550333/Forney/Kaufman-County/Texas/Forney-council-authorizes-95500-study-for-citywide-stormwater-master-plan-and-rate-analysis","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6550333-c75190cd889c27fce404105ae41117c3/orig.mp4?Expires=1770952270&Signature=LULcjpIGBahg4RBSz5w4ED3oCs8qCtE8if4wa9EggBgQeutlQbRmBE5MzW-Iib2Is-W6mZO0ZjxR943XHjjjtL-0Er14hurBr63qLy4Oqp9IaAnWjCfDckyEn0Dsg1dJN0tV-GHVfpOK-jqK5-2e0d2XnwKpTzqpk~gFs8aRvTiZIK1ZgVr9UfQUbOxPCO6InS7dx9rGoO~gXrLLP0EcvxojqDFrytGEeDsmAtbc4fdztLJEOdJOSeOmWAIe8mCTIGMLv0t6WYxPorCvHkirRzWIElD9hJWpWkBpzCK-50sx7aQo1vYuLRRIbM7A1IxT8m3N9Q7O892Is0diOJd2wQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Forney City Council on July 15 approved a resolution authorizing staff to seek professional services to produce a citywide stormwater master plan and a separate rate study, with a consultant contract capped at $95,500.

City staff said the master plan and rate study are intended to support creation of a stormwater utility that would fund drainage capital projects and ongoing maintenance. “I’m here tonight to discuss with you the need for a stormwater master plan and rate study and looking for your approval to move forward with such a study,” said Mr. Groves, a city staff member who presented the item.

The master plan is described by staff as a high-level guide to identify drainage projects and build a drainage capital improvement plan; it would not replace detailed engineering designs required at construction. The rate study would recommend customer classes and fee levels needed to sustain operations and capital debt for identified projects.

Staff provided a consultant fee breakdown and timeline. “The master plan is $48,000, part b, the rate study is $37,500, and then $10,000 for implementation for a total of $95,500,” Mr. Groves said. The agenda item requested up to $100,000 to provide contingency funds; staff said the work would be paid from the engineering department’s current operating fund.

Council members pressed staff on timing and scope. Staff said the consultant estimates returning to council with study results in about 10 months and that implementation timing would depend on council decisions about fee structure and further public hearings. A staff speaker noted relevant statute sections for establishing a new utility and public notice requirements, citing Local Government Code 552.041 through 552.054 as the procedural framework quoted in the presentation.

Staff described how a stormwater utility’s rate structure typically differentiates residential and nonresidential customers — for example, residential fees on a per-unit basis and nonresidential fees on a per-acre basis — and how other North Texas cities’ rates vary. The presentation included example ranges from other studies (monthly rates reported between $1 and $21.22 with an average of $5.62), which staff said were illustrative, not the city’s proposed rates.

Council members and staff also described two capital drainage projects already identified that could be funded by a future utility: one near Shands/Mulberry Park estimated around $1,000,000 and another near the new school/O.C. area estimated about $2,000,000 — roughly $3,000,000 total in identified capital needs. Staff emphasized that revenues from a stormwater utility may only be used for drainage-related purposes and could support the issuance of revenue bonds for capital projects.

Council member Ms. Scholzker made the motion to approve the resolution and Mr. Chambers seconded. The motion passed.

Next steps specified by staff: solicit proposals and contract with a consultant, complete the master plan and rate study, then return to council with findings and recommended fee options; staff said the study would include multiple rate scenarios so council can see trade-offs in funding levels and phasing of projects.

Clarifying details recorded at the meeting included the consultant cost breakdown, the planned 10-month study delivery estimate, the funding source (engineering department operating fund), and the identification of two near-term capital projects totaling approximately $3,000,000.","The Forney City Council approved a resolution authorizing staff to hire a consultant to prepare a stormwater master plan and rate study at a cost of $95,500, with results due back to council in about 10 months. The study would inform a potential stormwater utility and funding for roughly $3 million in currently identified projects.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Forney council approves car-wash CUP ordinance, suspends Encore rate increase and approves personnel separation

Forney council authorizes $95,500 study for citywide stormwater master plan and rate analysis