CITY CORNER by Mayor Brent Hinckley

     We are already at mid-January and most of the people I talk with are still trying to get started with the new year.  The weather is definitely “winter in Texas” with cold temperatures near freezing part of the week and a spring-like 70’s a few days later.  One of the issues we are dealing with in the City office is answering questions about electric billings from people that do not understand why their bill is so high, and we are trying to let them know the facts.  The City electric rates have shifted only a little over the past several years based on the one component which represents generation costs, and those have been inching down over the years.  With our rates staying the same or going down just a little for at least the past five years, the increases in electric bills are the result of increased consumption of power, and the past billing cycle is the result of that.  The bill you received in January was for usage from Nov 10 until Dec 10, and during that time period we experienced some very cold days with at least twelve days where the low was at or below freezing and several more that were nearly as cold.  I realize the bills are high, mine are too, but the cost of electricity has not changed and we should all look at the ways we use and could conserve power to lower the bills we have to pay. 

     The other subject I would like to be sure our residents are aware of is the upcoming City elections this spring.  Election Day is not until May 4, and we will have two City Commissioner positions open for election, the representative for District 2 and District 4.  Next Monday, January 21, we will have our regular City Commission meeting, and one of the agenda items will be to call for that election and review the General Election Calendar that the State sets out.  If you are interested in this opportunity to serve our community, the filing period for this election starts now on January 16 and runs for one month.  If you wish to be on the ballot you will need to file during this time.  If you have any questions about what a Commissioner does or how you might be able to serve our town you can talk with one of the current elected officials or the City Secretary, Pattie Grote, who has all of the specific information about this election.  Our town is only as strong and progressive as our elected officers, and we are always open to discuss this important job with anyone who can make a positive contribution to the continuing betterment of our great hometown.