A former Rockdale Hospital District director, and at least 200 others, want the City of Rockdale to let voters decide May 2 if they want a half-cent sales tax to continue going to the Municipal Development District or revert back to the hospital district, which used to collect it.
But City Manager Chris Whittaker said no one on the council has ever asked for such an election to be placed on a council agenda and no action could be taken until that happens.
Dick Burns presented a 206-signature petition to the city on Monday and appeared before the council that evening during its regular monthly session.
During that meeting the council did place a special election on the May 2 ballot. Rockdale residents will decide whether the city should convey Fair Park—which it has owned for just over 100 years—to the Rock-dale Fair Association.
What the city did not do was act on new water rate hikes. Mayor John King and City Manager Chris Whittaker said studies needed to set rates have not been completed, but the rates should be an action item for February.
RHD/MDD—The hospital district has imposed a 6.5-cent property tax on Rock-dale residents to fund the new CHI St. Joseph’s/Health-Point clinic now operating on the former Richards Memorial Hospital campus.
Directors have said in another year that tax will go to 16.9 cents if another revenue source is not found.
“We are not requesting the MDD disband,” Burns said. “We are asking to let the citizens decide where these funds should be placed.”
Whittaker told The Reporter the petition is “non binding,” not like a petition to recall a council member which would automatically triggered an election.
“No one on the council has asked this be placed on an agenda and no one else trict has contacted the city expressing an interest to get this on an agenda,” he said.
Whittaker said it is possible the matter could still be placed on a February agenda. “Someone on the council would have to do that,” he said. “But time is running for a May 2 ballot.”
FAIR PARK—In December the council and Fair Park representatives discussed their relationship and interaction and reached the conclusion that having the RFA own the park, and shoulder more of the facility’s utilities and maintenance was desired.
That will require voter approval. Fair Park was donated to the city in 1919.
DRAINAGE—The council discussing drainage problems in several areas of town, expressed sympathy with citizens, said it wanted to fix problems but, at present, didn’t have money budgeted to do so.
Property owner Maggie Shackleford showed photos of a drainage situation at Riley and Peach where she said a city drainage “improvement” took away a drainage culvert and brought in mounds of sand which have overtaken a lawn and brought water drainage under a home.
Earlier in the meeting the council discussed drainage problems on Allday, Post Oak, San Jacinto and Wilcox where in come cases water has come inside houses.
The council placed the locations, on a projects list, pending funding.
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