Council to discuss ETCOG request

The Palestine City Council will consider a request from the East Texas Council of Governments (ETCOG)to submit a proposal requesting to be the location of the FutureGen Project.

The $1 billion emissions-free 275-megawatt power plant and research facility, known as FutureGen, will generate electricity, produce hydrogen and capture carbon dioxide, according to Katie Tobin of the FutureGen Texas Team.

One of the key components of this process is water and the facility will require up to two billion gallons according to the specifications from ETCOG.

Tobin said the amount of water used for the FutureGen plant will be one-half to one-third of the water usage of a traditional power plant.

The council must determine if they want to commit two-billion gallons per year of the water reserves to this project.

A firm commitment on the water issue would be a show of community support required for the project.

The request for the proposal is due to the ETCOG by Dec. 7.

In other business the council will:

l DISCUSS priority issues of City Council Members and city staff for next 18 months.

l DISCUSS the police/citizen review board

l HEAR the mayor’s and city manager’s report.

l CONSIDER the reappointment of Jim Skelton to the Civil Service Board.

l CONSIDER the following consent agenda items: Professional services contract with ARCADIS for the Willow Creek Business Park, baseline F (Vista Ridge) $58,000 and authorize the city manager to do the same; award bids for annual supply of water and waste water chemicals. award a bid to Mattern Tires the low bidder for the 12-month contract for tires and maintenance.

• CONSIDER change order No. 2 to the contract with Duplichain Contractors, LLP for the Lowes Water System Improvement Project and approve an ordinance authorizing the related budget amendment.

• CONSIDER offer of land in the Community Forest for use by an institution of higher learning.

• CONSIDER approval of offer to purchase Rusk School.

• CONSIDER an interlocal agreement with Anderson County and the Palestine Economic Development Corporation for partial funding of the Capgemini building and authorize the city manager to execute the same.