Published: June 21, 2009 12:50 am      

Council to swear in new mayor

Chosen by voters on June 13, Bob Herrington will be sworn in as the new Mayor of Palestine during Monday’s regular city council meeting.

Herrington won the runoff election held June 13 against opponent Dan Bochsler. Herrington and Bochsler drew the most votes during the three-way race for mayor on the May 9 ballot, defeating two-time incumbent Mayor Dr. Carolyn Salter.

The regular meeting will begin at 5:30 p.m. Monday at city hall, 504 N. Queen St. A work session will be held at 4:30 p.m. prior to the regular meeting to discuss solid waste collection services and the proposed 2009-10 city budget and five-year strategic plan.

In other business, the council is expected to:

• CANVASS the runoff election results from June 13;

• ADMINISTER the oath of office to Herrington;

• ELECT a Mayor Pro Tem;

• HEAR public comments, public recognitions and announcements;

• HOLD public hearings on a proposed zone change from RE (residential estate) to C-4 (highway commercial), R-1 (single family detached low density district) and RPO (restricted professional office) on properties fronting S. Royall Street and Brookhaven Drive; a proposed zone change from MF-3 (multi-family high density district) to C-4 (highway commercial), southwest corner of the intersection of Pershing Street and S. Sycamore Street, Lots 1, 4, 2A and 5A of Block B, William Broyles Addition; and a proposed zone change from RE (residential estate) to I-2 (general industrial district) and R-1 (single family detached low density district) on Lot 2 of the Breezy Hills Annex Addition and a .239 acre tract in Vol. 2129, Page 21 of the Anderson County Deed Records;

• HEAR the City Manager’s Report, which is expected to include the status of the 2008 HOME grant application and departmental reports from municipal court, fire and Main Street;

• OPEN bids on a chip seal project (Bid 2009-15);

• CONSIDER the Consent Agenda, which is expected to include ordinances granting zone changes for the properties listed in the public hearings and a resolution accepting the total allocation of grant 2009-H0933-TX-DJ in the amount of $12,505 to be distributed to the City of Palestine and Anderson County for the purchase of equipment for the Palestine Police Department and Anderson County Sheriff’s Office;

• CONSIDER awarding the bid for solid waste collection services (Bid 2009-14);

• CONVENE in closed session to discuss the possible purchase of real estate;

• RECONVENE in open session to take any action necessary regarding the possible purchase of real estate.

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Beth Foley may be contacted via e-mail at bfoley@palestineherald.com