LOYAL. LOCAL. COMPLETE.
The Chrisman City Council addressed community concerns, approved a water deposit increase for new renters and heard a detailed police report during its Jan. 5 meeting.
Commissioners Wolfe, Hoult and Haddix were present. Mayor Dan Moore and Commissioner Owens were absent.
During the recognition of guests, a resident asked council members to address a rumor circulating in the community that the Chrisman Public Library may be closing. Council members stated clearly that no such plans exist.
“There’s nothing coming out of here that says it’s not going to stay open,” Hoult said, adding that the city has made no decisions or taken any action toward closing the library.
The council also discussed the city’s water deposit requirement for renters. Officials noted that the city’s minimum water bill is now $83 following recent rate and fee increases, while the existing water deposit remained at $80.
Council members expressed concern that the deposit no longer adequately protects the city against unpaid water bills when tenants move or accounts are closed. After discussion, the council approved an increase in the water deposit from $80 to $100.
Officials clarified that the deposit applies only to new renters. The motion passed unanimously among those present.
Police Chief Tom Dolan provided his monthly report, describing December as a month that included both routine calls and extended investigative work.
Dolan reported that a light bar previously removed from a squad car sold by the city was tested, reinstalled and is now functioning properly on the current vehicle. The department’s new dash camera system has been fully installed and is already in regular use. Dolan said the department is still waiting on the final component for the body camera system, an upload appliance and mounting bracket for an antenna that will be installed on a city building to establish cloud connectivity.
Dolan explained that discussions are underway with the city’s internet provider to determine whether dedicated IP addresses or a separate internet connection may be required to ensure secure data transmission for police equipment. Final installation will proceed once the remaining hardware arrives and placement is determined.