Little bits of big news
City delays mayor pro tem election
HUTTO — A tie between votes for council members Amberley Kolar and Peter Gordon resulted in City Council delaying the election for mayor pro tem until a full seven members are present. Council Member Randal Clark was absent, leaving six voting members at the June 6 meeting. Council Member Peter Gordon will continue as mayor pro tem, a position he has held for two years and wants to keep.
“My reason for nominating Council Member Kolar is I think it’s a good thing to mix things up some,” said Mayor Mike Snyder. “The mayor pro tem [Gordon] has done a good job for two years. Council member Kolar is the next highest tenured council member. I think its good to have a diversity of experience up here and this is one that I thought would be beneficial.”
While Snyder nominated Kolar, Kolar herself nominated Gordon. In the three-tothree tie vote, Kolar, Gordon and council member Brian Thompson voted for Gordon, with Snyder and council members Dan Thornton and Evan Porterfield voting for Kolar.
“My reasoning for nominating Council member Gordon is consistency,” Kolar said, noting that Snyder and Gordon had worked well together in making sure meetings were covered, and that Gordon provided a different perspective from the mayor.
The city charter says that a mayor pro tem must be elected on the first meeting after any newly elected candidates are seated, which would have been the June 6 meeting. However, after calling the vote twice and ending up in a tie both times, the city attorney advised that it would be acceptable to postpone the vote to the next meeting when a full council was seated.
The next City Council meeting is June 20.
Rebranding the “Daddy Daughter” dance Hutto Parks and Recreations has renamed their annual Daddy Daughter dance to Girls Night Out. The Parks Department posted that they had changed the name to make the event more inclusive and flexible.
“This new name allows girls to bring any important person in their lives, whether it’s a mom, aunt, grandmother or any other significant adult,” the department posted on social media. “It also accommodates different family situations, ensuring that no one feels left out.”
The all-ages event is Friday, June 15, at 6:30 p.m. at Hutto Elementary School, 100 Mager Lane. Admission is $5 per person. Online registration is recommended, huttotx. gov/pard.
Glow sticks will be featured, so participants are asked to wear white for maximum impact.
July 4 celebration at Brushy Creek Amphitheater
The city will hold its official Independence Day celebration from 5 to 9:30 p.m., July 4 at Brushy Creek Amphitheater in Adam Orgain Park, 1001 County Road 137.
The free event will feature live music, vendors, food trucks, kid activities and a firework show.
To ease parking congestion and traffic, people can park at Hutto High School and access a free city shuttle that runs from 4:30 to 9:30 p.m. between the park and the school.
A clear bag policy will be in effect at the park.
Credit card fees raise eyebrows
Hutto is charged a $2 transaction fee for every utility customer who pays their bill online or by phone. On top of that, customers who use a credit or debit card pay a 4.35% credit card processing fee on their bill, and council members think that’s just too high.
Finance Director Alberta Barrett told City Council last week that the city has been absorbing the $2 fee, which is charged by the software company that processes payments made online or by phone, and that the city is losing money over it. The director presented three options for council to consider: Option A, charge the $2 as a separate fee on top of the 4.35%.
Option B, raise the processing fee to 5.80% to incorporate the $2 charge Option C, maintain the current plan of charging the 4.35% credit card processing fee while the city pays the $2 transaction fees.
Council members pointed out that on an average $200 summer water bill, the fees totaled almost $11, and that the fees seemed high based on their knowledge of what other businesses paid.
Council asked Barrett to look into less expensive options for the city and residents and present her findings at the July 11 meeting.
“We’ve got to get rid of that $2,” said Council Member Evan Porterfield. “I feel like we’re getting hosed on the percentage plus the transaction fee. I understand it’s a business and they’re trying to make money but something’s got to give.”
July meeting schedule
The city’s July meeting schedule has been revised due to the Independence Day holiday. The City Council meetings will be held July 11 and July 18. The Planning and Zoning Commission meeting will be July 2. The Parks Advisory Board meeting will be July 10. All meetings are held at City Hall, 500 West Live Oak St.
