Officials consider action over unpaid mowing fees

The Texarkana, Texas, City Council approved a resolution to write off about $1.6 million in noncollectable fees related to "weed lot" mowing and building demolition during its regular meeting Monday. The move does not forgive any debts owed the city.
The resolution authorizes City Manager John Whitson to clear up a problem caused by the city's previous accounting software, as recommended by auditors. Described as "just an accounting transaction" by city Chief Financial Officer Kristin Peeples, the move is expected to simplify the books and make them more accurate.
The city sends bills to property owners when it must mow a lot or demolish a building, eventually placing liens on property if those bills go unpaid. Until this year, the city's software could record balances owed by property owners only as revenue, which required additional accounting procedures to avoid overstating assets.
New software solves the problem, but outstanding fees have built up in the city's accounting system over the years and must be dealt with by the procedure approved Monday.
Ward 3 Council Member Tina Veal-Gooch raised the larger question of what the city should do to address the unpaid fees and liens, and she proposed using public pressure to help solve the problem.
"When I sit here and look at the demolition properties and the 28 owners, groups who are choosing to not demo their respective properties and who we've got $280,000 of liens against I want to say, 'Public, you need to know who your offenders are.' Are we going to release the names of these persons and the offenses? The city taxpayer cannot continue to take over this responsibility," she said.
The council and Whitson discussed the possibility of publishing the names of offending property owners on the city's website, in the Gazette or both. Whitson proposed using the website and announcing via social media that the list of names is available there, which would save the cost of newspaper advertising.
The council also approved a resolution authorizing support for a Cultural District Application to the Texas Commission for the Arts. Before the vote, Executive Director Brian Goesl of the Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Council spoke in support of the application.
"This is a real opportunity for our arts and historic district to get recognition from the state and ultimately also get funding from the state," he said.
Whitson gave the council a first briefing on a petition requiring the council to order a November election that will decide whether Texas-side firefighters can choose an organization to represent them regarding employment issues.
In addition, the council heard a first briefing on an ordinance and resolution that together would allow the sale of city-acquired land to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of developing low- and middle-income housing. Also, Planning and Community Development presented a first briefing on a Small Business Assistance Grant to develop an "innovation center" on Broad Street.
In other business, the council fast-tracked and voted to approve a resolution authorizing an upgrade from a four-way stop to a traffic signal at Galleria Oaks Drive and Cowhorn Creek Road; an ordinance allowing Bowie County Farm Bureau to expand its building at 4413 Galleria Oaks Drive; and a resolution that authorizes a construction contract with J.R. Pope Co. Inc.