NETMWD grilled on budget

V. Hugh Lewis II/Jefferson Jimplecute

The City’s Northeast Texas Municipal Water District representative George Otstott provided his quarterly report on the District to Council on Tuesday night and was grilled over the District’s budget by Ward 2 Alderman Paul Keith.

Keith emailed Otstott a list of questions and feedback on the District’s proposed budget on Tuesday and wanted Otstott to answer them during the meeting. Otstott acknowledged receiving the questions, answered what he could, and offered to have the Districts General Manager Osiris Brantley attend the next Council meeting to answer them.

Ward 2 Alderman Ray Hengst echoed Keith’s request for a copy of the District’s budget and expenditures.

A copy of the proposed budget was in the Council’s packet an was an item on the agenda for discussion. That item was skipped until Brantley could attend.

Otstott also indicated that NETMWD was working to assist the Crestwood community with their water system as it recently failed TCEQ testing requirements. The District is diverting water through the Mims to help the subdivision until they can get their system back up and running.

JEDCO and Tourism also both provided quarterly updates to Council on their activities.

Tourism indicated the CPKC Christmas Train is returning to Jefferson this year thanks to a partnership between Tourism and the Marion County Chamber of Commerce. According to Tourism Board president Colleen Taylor, the exact dates have not been provided for the train to be in Jefferson. But it will be sometime between November 21 and December 20 according to CPKC Website.

Lastly, Francene Rainey provided an update on three events occurring at Diamond Don’s over the next few months: the Antique Tractor Show will be returning on September 13; the Diamond Don AHRMA Regional Motocross & Cross Country on September 19-21; and the Piney Woods Dual Sport Adventure Ride November 13-16.