Bel Air commissioners approve two maintenance procurements, receive parking ordinance and set Dec. 15 hearing

The Bel Air Board of Town Commissioners on Monday approved two procurement actions and received an ordinance that would change downtown parking lease and voucher rules.

The board unanimously approved a contract to secure chemical root-control services from Dukes Root Control for work on the town’s sewer mains, with expenditures not to exceed $45,000. Mr. Cline, describing the program, said, “Tree root intrusions into sewer lines can lead to significant issues, including sewer backups and damage to lines.” He told commissioners the town will piggyback on an existing Houston-Galveston Area Council contract and that unit prices are $2.02 per linear foot for 8-inch lines and $2.43 per linear foot for 10- and 12-inch lines. The FY26 sewer fund includes $45,000 for the program, and staff identified Homestead Village as the neighborhood scheduled for treatment this cycle.

Also approved was a $30,185.35 purchase of a modular Snap-on tool cabinet for the Department of Public Works, procured through the Sourcewell cooperative contract (contract no. 121223-SNP). Mr. Klein told the board the current cabinet has been in municipal use for decades and is “showing significant signs of deterioration,” and that the new modular system will improve tool organization, safety and shop efficiency.

Separately, the board received Ordinance 850-25, which would amend Bel Air Town Code chapter 450 (vehicles and traffic), article 5, to clarify parking-lease and meter rules in the North End of downtown and to limit lease parking on the south side of Lee Street so customer parking is available on the north side. Staff said low-use eight-hour parking vouchers will be eliminated because public demand no longer justifies printing them. Mr. Krantz said the code allows a public hearing after the required notice period; the board scheduled that hearing for Dec. 15.

Votes at the meeting were taken by roll call: the approvals of the sewer contract and the Snap-on purchase were unanimous. On the ordinance, the board voted to receive the measure and set the public hearing date; no substantive change to the ordinance was adopted at this meeting.

The board also made routine approvals of the meeting agenda and minutes for Nov. 10 and Nov. 17, heard public announcements about holiday events and free meter parking through Dec. 26, and moved into a closed session to discuss board appointments and pending litigation.