[{"_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",6500982,"mediaKeyId","5567089-b458eaea5deb738001a49cb13e12fd20","parentId",5567089,"title","Midlothian council renews electric and gas franchises, approves development communications contract and several utility contracts","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",1734000,"endMs",1900000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5567089-b458eaea5deb738001a49cb13e12fd20&start=1734&end=1900","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5567089-b458eaea5deb738001a49cb13e12fd20/thumbnail_1734000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6500982/Midlothian/Ellis-County/Texas/Midlothian-council-renews-electric-and-gas-franchises-approves-development-communications-contract-and-several-utility-contracts","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500982-33117c3dc9c27d07df90228d87f9e09b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771041995&Signature=W5xA0RFXy1cANPqI77BzeTasxSPw4yQFhS4nB6sS0V3lTzaQKpJWNq99bl~9XIftu89cDIf2rpncsH9i1dvq3EmXXOL-mqlYifudVNvlfQ3bgFeQWezOmDij45KrGVmr-eiYM9lQPKHIdHG9pHsJXY4eeejzdqjElTvEDZR5uUiKKGCO89-OrvXlIaZcZPYhLepzCU5R2IeiSypwCR3r0kCxjyDYFGUpTlDL-8zbwwCOLsTeFCi~8TLa6eMFk3I9m9fIkNXQ57MeG6gVh4RYYntUGB5xPr8b3q5mFamZvVgvX01ilC2vWQ0U45j2-ZDrjBU7azmKacRpykuf9zuslg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Midlothian","date","2025-08-12T00:00:00Z","article","The Midlothian City Council on Aug. 12 approved multiple consent and regular-agenda items, including franchise renewals for electric and natural gas utilities, a $76,000 communications contract for the Midlothian Community Development Corporation (MCDC), two utility construction contracts and several board nominations. All votes on the listed items were unanimous, 7-0.

Franchise renewals: The council adopted an ordinance extending a natural gas franchise to Universal Natural Gas LLC and approved an ordinance granting Encore Electric Delivery Company LLC a nonexclusive franchise to use city rights-of-way. Council members asked questions about rates and the franchise-fee formula; Kirk Bradford of Encore explained that the franchise rate components and per-kilowatt-hour charges are set through the state process overseen by the Public Utility Commission (PUC). “That is set by the PUC,” Bradford told the council, distinguishing retail electric provider charges from Encore’s tariffed components.

Bradford outlined franchise-fee components as described to council: a consumption-based factor derived from historical consumption (established in the late 1990s), DD fees (a tariff component he described as producing a 4% factor on certain non-consumption charges), and a per-kilowatt-hour component that is recovered as part of the wires charge on customer bills. He told the council city franchise payments are calculated from consumption inside the city, and that franchise fees are recovered through charges passed to ratepayers.

MCDC strategic communications plan: The council approved a resolution authorizing a $76,000 expenditure by the Midlothian Community Development Corporation (MCDC) to Holmes Millet for development of a strategic communications plan. Melissa, a city presenter, said the plan will integrate MCDC’s brand and values into communication tools and messaging, help volunteers and the board convey the corporation’s role to residents and businesses, and include benchmarks and an annual assessment to measure success. The contract was moved by Councilman Weaver and seconded by Councilman Sheffield; the measure passed 7-0.

Utility project contracts: The council awarded a base bid of $657,009.60 plus a 10% contingency (total not to exceed $723,007.56) to Atkins Bros Equipment for the 2024–25 Midlothian utility package project, and awarded a base bid of $305,008.86 plus a 5% contingency (total not to exceed $321,180.30) to Services LLC for the Highway 287 Firefly Loop 16-inch waterline project. Staff said the waterline work will loop the system to improve flow and water quality and anticipates future roadway widening in that corridor.

Board appointments: The council approved nominations recommended by the board nominations committee: Greg Wilhelm and Tim Toby to the Midlothian Economic Development board; Bobby Worley moved from the Utility Advisory Board to the parks board; and Valencia Daniels to the Utility Advisory Board. Councilman Rogers made the motion, seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Wickliffe; the vote was 7-0.

Executive session and other items: The council convened in executive session on a single real-estate matter under Texas Government Code Section 551.072. The meeting returned to open session with no action taken from executive session and adjourned at 6:50 p.m.

Ending: Council members said staff will return with follow-up details as needed; all listed items were approved unanimously and will move forward under the contracts and ordinance terms voted on Aug. 12.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Midlothian - City Council","oneSentenceSummary","The Midlothian City Council on Aug. 12 approved franchise renewals for an electric and a natural gas provider, a $76,000 contract for a strategic communications plan for the Midlothian Community Development Corporation, two utility construction contracts and several board nominations, all by unanimous vote.","taxTitle","Midlothian, Ellis County, Texas","taxId",54290,"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},6500987,"Midlothian council sets 0.65 maximum ad valorem rate, schedules Sept. 9 public hearing",464,1268000,1732000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5567089-b458eaea5deb738001a49cb13e12fd20&start=1268&end=1732","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5567089-b458eaea5deb738001a49cb13e12fd20/thumbnail_1268000.jpg","/articles/6500987/Midlothian/Ellis-County/Texas/Midlothian-council-sets-065-maximum-ad-valorem-rate-schedules-Sept-9-public-hearing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6500987-ca66e086ea573d9c294aa43c2eae3cf3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771041995&Signature=cJ2wwhwDWybR8sRaBELeP-StKXoJL~so3oMXtBchuMjVrEoeuJGeooh55vo2M1P~XYMBQLkgapHdUi28zhoKR3b3zJ8hLdnEdxFbaCNYIdVCs1l7EQGSsEcWt9mR22OqjcQmBrPOTy9EmdndSTzWyMO4zqumHFjsVvcJY29QugJCrcJP~7wM9CfEqggPLVHwxlEcTUE-tGwlLqfvBb66tBFhIM7bMUGTfEkLPYefv0XslQFn861laBDfOn~~X7oEjB9rumcvuQfusjeMAG0SXpzlJNfkE7dDcMm~n8tDWEczypbxncP8Ij5y-XY0h2hWeJgGsuibo9ei4cCDdR-HWw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Midlothian City Council voted 7-0 on Aug. 12 to establish a maximum ad valorem tax rate of $0.65 per $100 of assessed value and scheduled a public hearing on the proposed rate for Sept. 9, 2025.

City finance staff said the vote begins the statutorily required rate-setting process and does not set a final tax rate. “You are just starting the process by establishing the max that it can be set at,” Chris, a city staff member, told the council, noting the council may adopt a lower rate at a later meeting.

The council’s motion, made by Councilwoman Hammonds and seconded by Councilman Mormon, passed on a recorded roll call: Councilman Mormon, Councilwoman Hammonds, Mayor Pro Tem Wickliffe, Mayor Kaufman, Councilman Rogers, Councilman Weaver and Councilman Sheffield all voted yes.

Why it matters: Setting the maximum begins a series of statutory notices and hearings under Texas law; the council must return on Sept. 9 to consider adoption of the actual rate. Staff said the agenda packet discloses how the proposed rate would divide between maintenance and operations (M&O) and interest and sinking (I&S), and includes the no-new-revenue and voter-approval rates.

Public comment: Lisa Healy, a resident of Midlothian, told the council she reviewed the worksheets exchanged with the county tax assessor and said the city had increased projected debt service on later worksheets to reach the 0.65 figure. “Once the city saw that it was lower than the 0.65 that they had estimated, they went back and through an ORR…increased the amount of debt they say they’re going to pay in order to get the 6.5,” Healy said, raising concern about estimated I&S amounts and asking where excess funds would go if actual debt costs are lower than projected.

Staff response and funds use: Council members asked for clarity on the use of any excess I&S collections. Chris said excess I&S funds would remain in the I&S fund balance and could be used to pay future debt. He described the back-and-forth with the tax office as a normal part of ensuring the tax roll, senior freeze calculations and other inputs are correct ahead of final adoption.

What’s next: The council will hold a public hearing on the proposed tax rate on Sept. 9, 2025, and may adopt a lower rate at that meeting. Staff emphasized that the Aug. 12 vote only sets a legal maximum and does not change resident bills until a final rate is adopted.

Ending: The council took the Aug. 12 action by recorded vote and did not change any other items; further public outreach and published notices will accompany the Sept. 9 hearing.","The Midlothian City Council voted unanimously to set a maximum ad valorem tax rate of $0.65 per $100 of assessed value and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 9, 2025. City staff said the vote begins a statutorily required process and does not set the final rate.","actionData","errors"]

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Midlothian council renews electric and gas franchises, approves development communications contract and several utility contracts

Midlothian council sets 0.65 maximum ad valorem rate, schedules Sept. 9 public hearing