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Huntsville City Council – Huntsville Happens https://wpt.hvhappens.com Where News Happens for Huntsville, TX Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:21:45 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=7.1.3 Applicants Wanted for 4 Council Member-at-Large Positions https://wpt.hvhappens.com/index.php/2024/07/25/applicants-wanted-for-4-council-member-at-large-positions/ Thu, 25 Jul 2024 04:21:45 +0000 https://hvhappens.com/?p=411

Huntsville, Texas – The City of Huntsville is taking applicants for 4 Council member-at-large positions.

The ending deadline to apply with the City Secretary’s Office is August 19, 2024 at 5 PM. Applicants need to apply in at 1220 11th Street, Huntsville, Texas.

It is unknown if the current office holders will seek re-election. Here is a list of the current Council member-at-large:

Council-member-at-Large — Position 1

Bert Lyle

November 5, 2024

Council-member-at-Large — Position 2

Karen Denman

November 5, 2024

Council-member-at-Large — Position 3

Vicki McKenzie

November 5, 2024

Council-member-at-Large — Position 4

Pat Graham

November 5, 2024

List of Candidate Qualifications

 

  • At the time of election to office and during their tenure of office, the Mayor and each member of the Council shall be a citizen and a qualified registered voter of the State of Texas and the City of Huntsville.
  • Be at least 21 years of age on the date of the election.
  • Be a resident of the City for at least 12 months preceding the election.
  • Resided continuously in the state of Texas for 12 months preceding the date of the regular filing deadline for a candidate’s application for a place on the ballot. 
  • If running for a specific Ward, the candidate must be a resident of that Ward.
  • No member of the Council shall be indebted to the City or be delinquent in the payment to the City of any tax or assessment.
  • No member of the Council shall hold any other office or employment under the City government.
  • Be a citizen of the United States.
  • Have not been determined by a final judgment of a court exercising probate jurisdiction to be totally mentally incapacitated or partially mentally incapacitated without the right to vote; and
  • Have not been finally convicted of a felony from which the candidate has not been pardoned or otherwise released from the resulting disabilities.

Candidates are also subject to the requirements of the State’s nepotism law, conflicts of interest law, and the loyalty clause.

For the November 2024 election, the candidates elected to the City Council At-Large Positions 1, 2, 3, and 4 shall serve three-year terms. 

For more information go to:

The City of Huntsville Webpage

]]> Huntsville City Council Starts Process That Could Raise Property Taxes https://wpt.hvhappens.com/index.php/2024/07/17/huntsville-city-council-starts-process-that-could-raise-property-taxes/ Wed, 17 Jul 2024 16:38:07 +0000 https://hvhappens.com/?p=335 By Staff Writer

07-17-2025

Last night the Huntsville City Council passed a measure that could increase the City of Huntsville property taxes as much as 8 percent. The Texas Legislature capped cities from increasing property taxes by more than 3.5 percent. A loop hole is being used allowing cities in a Federal Disaster Zone to increase property taxes as much as 8 percent.

The Council passed a measure allowing the Walker County Appraisal District to calculate the Voter Approval Tax Rate with an 8 percent increase. While this isn’t an increase in taxes yet, this allows the process to start. The Council could vote on a measure to increase taxes as early as September 17th.

The council passed a spending measure to hire an attorney group that partners with other Texas cities to represent the city before the Texas Utility Commission regarding rate increases from Entergy Texas. The group employees attorneys and utility rate experts to represent cities to fight unwarranted rate increases.

During the budget session, the City Manager Aron Kulhavy layed out the existing budget City leaders are working on. The budget currently has a $2 million shortfall, down from the $10 million shortfall from an earlier proposed budget. The City departmental leaders will likely need to make further cutbacks.

The Council held a hearing on the latest planned 86 acre subdivision off of FM 247. The Council heard testimony from Armon Irones, Huntsville’s City Planner, along with managing partners Joshua Rinstein and Stefan Parade from SPJR Properties LLC, the projects developers. Questions were raised by council members about planned water shed and drainage issues.

SPJR will addresses the issues raised later in the city permitting process.

The City Council went into executive session and later emerged voting to approve a new contract with the City Manager Aron Kulhavy.

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