The Paris City Council on Sept. 23 voted unanimously on multiple measures affecting economic development, zoning, airport infrastructure and utility rates.

Key council actions (all recorded as passing 5–0):

• Lions Head tax-abatement amendment (Resolution): The council approved a resolution amending the tax abatement agreement between the city and Lions Head Specialty Tire and Wheel LLC to extend a completion date through the end of December, with an effective date of Jan. 1, 2025. City staff noted the county commissioners court approved the same amendment earlier in the day.

• Planning & Zoning Commission size (Ordinance adoption): The council adopted an ordinance formally reducing the Planning and Zoning Commission from nine members to seven and adjusted the quorum from five to four to match the reduced membership, a housekeeping measure to conform the code of ordinances to current practice.

• LT Wings access-road agreement (Contract authorization): The council approved an agreement with LT Wings LLC authorizing construction of an access road at the airport to serve proposed hangars and authorized the interim city manager to execute documents. LT Wings is expected to fund the road construction; the city will install required fire hydrants and water lines.

• Atmos Energy negotiated settlement (Ordinance adoption): The council approved an ordinance adopting a negotiated settlement between the Atmos Cities Steering Committee and Atmos Energy Corp., Mid-Texas Division, under the company’s 2024 rate-review mechanism filing. City staff explained Atmos initially requested a $196 million increase across its service territory; the steering committee’s review reduced a portion to approximately $182 million and further negotiation reduced the request to about $164 million. The ordinance accepts the settlement and sets an effective date of Oct. 1, 2024.

• Meeting schedule changes: The council approved calendar adjustments for November and December, canceling certain meetings that fall on holidays and consolidating others (including canceling the Dec. 23 meeting and combining November meetings as recommended by staff).

• TERS board consulting engagement: The council approved up to $20,000 from the TERS board fund to retain Forked Pine Consulting to review the project and financing plan for the zone, a decision the city said is required by the zone’s bylaws and state guidance and included an education component for the public and board members.

Other business: The council approved its consent agenda earlier in the meeting by unanimous vote.

Ending: Each measure passed by unanimous roll call (motion-carry announcements read as “motion carries 5–0”), and staff will follow up with contract documents and implementation steps as appropriate.