NEWS BRIEFS Oak Ridge North, drainage district address fee issues
BY JESSICA SHORTEN
of canals, drains, ditches and levees. The districts can charge impact fees to residen- tial and commercial property owners for construc- tion that adds impervious cover that could a ect the ow of water. Under current rules, those fees include residents who construct a new shed or driveway extension. The fee amount varies from case to case, o cials said. John Beisert, director of community develop- ment for Oak Ridge North, said he believes impact fees were not practical for development within the city because stormwater drains across the city before it reaches DD6. “If we are at capacity handling this, [paying] impact fees to DD6 doesn’t accomplish anything because it just throws us over capacity and they’re the ones who get the money for it,” he said. In another issue, residents behind Maplewood Drive are the only residents in Oak Ridge North who pay property taxes to DD6 because the houses there were developed after the city incorporated, according to the city. At an April 20 meeting, the city and DD6 decided to hold a future workshop to address the issues. “We are trying to work on ... coming up with a cohesive plan that works for everybody that everybody understands,” Beisert said.
Oak Ridge North and Montgomery County Drain- age District 6 are examining impact fees charged by the district after rule discrepancies led to some residents paying additional fees and taxes to DD6 for services provided by the city. According to Texas law, a drainage district’s powers include the construction and maintenance SHENANDOAH 242
Heather Smoot City Council Position 4
Ted Fletcher City Council Position 2
Voters turn out for 2 local races
BY VANESSA HOLT & JESSICA SHORTEN
FOLLOW THE FLOW Drainage District 6 charges fees for construction to residents in its boundaries. Drainage District 6
With only 2.37% of registered Montgomery County voters participating in the May 6 election, two local races saw voters make leadership decisions. In Oak Ridge North, challenger Heather Smoot received 143 votes, or 79.89% of votes cast, in the nal tally for City Council Position 4. Incumbent Dawn Candy received 36 votes in the election. In an email, Smoot said she is looking forward to beginning her term on City Council. In Shenandoah, incumbent Ted Fletcher will retain his City Council Position 2 seat. Fletcher received 209, or 55.15% of the total votes cast, and David Teague received 170, or 44.85% of the vote. All results are uno cial until canvassed.
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SOURCES: CITY OF OAK RIDGE NORTH, DRAINAGE DISTRICT 6
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