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The Magnolia City Council wrapped up the summer Aug. 14, with a lengthy agenda of activities and resolutions. The oath of office was administered to City Secretary Lynne George, Municipal Court Judge Jimmy Thornton and Municipal Court Administrator Karla Bussey.

The council agreed to annex several acres adjacent to the Canrig Drilling Technologies offices, along FM 1488 in Magnolia, which pushes the city limits eastward. They agreed to consider a contract for improvements to Commerce and 10^th streets, near the Walgreens store that is being constructed. They also agreed to award a new contract for city janitorial services to Alpha Cleaning Concepts. Approximately eight bids were received and council decided that Alpha provided the most services for the cost.

The council will allow a variance of less than the required five feet on one lot within the Magnolia Ridge subdivision, because the permit has already been issued for a home to be constructed, but they wanted to state that any additional lot deviations would need to be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

Residents of Connie Street, near Nichols Sawmill Road, requested city action regarding a serious drainage problem that they said caused flooding to several homes three times within the last two years. The council agreed to consider a corrective action of larger culverts at that corner to accommodate high rainwater volume.

Mayor Todd Kana proclaimed the first full week of September to be National Payroll Week for Magnolia, as a means to promote economic health and to educate the business community and the public about responsible payroll practices, laws and guidelines. The American Payroll Association, which promotes itself as the nation’s leader in payroll education, has declared September 3-7, 2012 as National Payroll Week to celebrate America’s 156 million wage earners and the payroll professionals who pay them.

Kana also presented a City of Magnolia flag to Magnolia ISD Superintendent Todd Stephens. The flag, which was designed by a Magnolia student, will be displayed at the Celeste Graves Education Center.

The council terminated an agreement with Magnolia ISD regarding joint maintenance for the planned recreation center pool and tennis courts, based on the recommendation of Deborah Rose Miller, president of the Magnolia Community Foundation. She has helped develop a plan that will allow Magnolia ISD to take on full maintenance of the facilities, and indicated that this would be reasonable because the facilities will be utilized by the schools and students.

Police Chief Domingo Ibarra reported a high rate of arrests being made by Magnolia police officers, as well as the benefit to the city from restitution for vandalism to Unity Park, a recently confiscated automobile as a result of the asset forfeiture rule and $113,000 received from fines as a result of the city’s red-light camera at the corner of FM 1488 and Buddy Riley. The camera has helped promote the safety of residents by reminding drivers that they need to come to a complete stop at this busy intersection. 

Ibarra stated he was very proud of the recent success realized by the joint efforts of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association, local businesses and residents, which resulted in the demolition of a dilapidated structure on Roy Street being accomplished free of charge by volunteers. Several Magnolia police officers and city council members attended the demolition.

“The neighbors on that street are so happy with the outcome,” said council member Anne Sundquist. 

City Administrator Paul Mendes reported that the better records being kept by the public works department has resulted in greater water conservation. He also stated the municipal court is in the process of removing outstanding warrants for persons who are no longer in the area, which should allow it to manage the recoverable warrants more effectively.

A public hearing was held just prior to the city council meeting regarding the proposal to make a change in tax revenues from properties on the tax rolls during the last year. This change from $0.4814 per $100 of appraised value to $0.4527 per $100 of appraised value could result in greater or lower taxes for individual properties, depending on their county-appraised value. The tax will apply to properties within the Magnolia city limits only.

This was the first of two public hearings to be held on the subject – the second one will be on Tuesday evening, Aug. 21. The council will vote on the proposal the evening of Wednesday, Aug. 29. No citizens spoke up during this first public hearing. 

Magnolia ISD employees should get a break for the coming year in the form of a three percent raise across the board. According to Chief Financial Officer Erich Morris, the MISD board of trustees is expected to pass a final budget totaling $79.8 million, which is more than $1.3 million higher than the previous year, at its monthly meeting Aug. 20. Along with personnel raises, up to 16 new staff positions (six teachers and ten paraprofessionals) are anticipated, based on specific district needs.

Morris stated the budget should be balanced and would result in a surplus of up to $400,000 at the end of the year, which can help with the budget for the following year. This year’s new funds are a result of slightly higher Montgomery County property appraisals and new student growth, which is projected to be about one percent.

“The property tax rate for schools will remain the same as in 2011-12,” said Morris. “We are adopting a very conservative approach to the budget because we do not know what the next state legislature will do in regard to school funding. We are in the second year of the current two-year state finance system, which means there will be no big uncertainty in funding for the 2012-13 school year. However, there could be changes as a result of the next legislative session.”

Morris indicated that other factors could increase the amount of funding received by MISD, such as greater new student numbers than expected or higher property tax collections. However, he agreed the best approach to the budget was a conservative one, in order to meet the overall needs of the district and ensure no new layoffs.

MISD will also be increasing the lunch price for students that are not receiving reduced-price meals in order to cover rising food costs and to adhere to federal guidelines outlined in the Healthy Hunger-free Kids Act of 2010. The new lunch price will be $2.15 for elementary students and $2.40 for secondary students, an increase of $0.10 in both cases. There will be no increase in breakfast charges.

On a steamy Saturday morning, several people stood watching as an excavator crunched into a dilapidated, abandoned building on a quiet neighborhood street.

Thanks to the Magnolia Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association (MCPAAA), the demolition at 158 Roy Street was finally taking place, as a result of volunteer efforts from businesses and citizens.

The MCPAAA was originally formed by Magnolia Citizens Police Academy graduates, and Williams Elementary teachers, Jill Gabriel and Summer Foltz. They approached Magnolia Police Chief Domingo Ibarra about projects that might build a stronger bond between citizens and the police department. He immediately suggested they try to find a way to demolish the Roy Street structure. It had long been a problem for the city because of code enforcement violations, but Ibarra was reluctant to take the property owner to court due to extenuating family circumstances.

“The ladies (Gabriel and Foltz) felt this project was out of their league, but I knew this group would find a way to do it -- and they did,” said Ibarra. “Now we know what they are capable of.”

The MCPAAA rallied a group of volunteers and engaged the services of local businesses. The demolition, was first scheduled for early July, but was delayed because of heavy rains that affected the area. On Aug. 4, the project got off to an early morning start. DLG Timber and North Houston Trucking provided the heavy equipment, WCA provided debris removal and Texas Star Propane disconnected the gas lines and removed the propane tank on the property -- all free of charge.

Many residents on Roy Street came out to support the effort, happy to have the dangerous structure eliminated.

The MCPAAA will be tackling other similar projects in the near future.

“We have other unsafe structures to raze and want to begin some projects for our senior citizens,” said Gabriel. “The Magnolia Citizens Police Academy taught us how we can get involved in the community and help make a difference.”

Magnolia residents who are at least 18 years of age can participate in MCPAA projects, and will soon be able to view information about upcoming events online on the Magnolia Police Department website at www.cityofmagnolia.com. A new Citizens Police Academy will begin starting Sept. 6. Classes run from 6 to 9 p.m. for a nine week period and are free of charge. Class size is limited, so officials say that those interested should call the police department office at 281-356-2500 soon to apply.

 Photos by Cheryl Garcia

Magnolia City Council convened a special session Aug. 2 to consider a proposed change to the property tax. Montgomery County Assessor and Collector J. R. Moore, Jr., outlined the steps that would be necessary for the council to lower the city’s tax rate to $0.4786 per $100, from $0.4814 per $100 of value.

The council passed a motion to propose the new rate and to undertake those steps.

As explained by Moore, the council must conduct two public hearings on the tax rate, while his office must advertise the new rate in newspapers.  The public notices must also be published on the city’s website. All of this must be accomplished before the end of August.

The proposal will increase total tax revenue from properties on the tax roll in the preceding tax year by more than five percent. That occurs because the proposal will allow for more of the collected revenue to be distributed to the city’s maintenance and operation budget, rather than the debt service fund. The city is estimated to have more than $50,000 additional to work with for operation and maintenance costs.

Individual tax rates will be lower, as long as the assessed valuation of the property isn’t higher. If the council adopts the proposed tax rate, the tax on an average Magnolia home would be $449.07 on a home valued at an average of $97,667. Last year, the amount of taxes imposed on an average home was $470.17 on a home valued at an average of $93,830.

The additional tax revenue will be used for city maintenance and operations. The rate of $0.4786 is the maximum amount that can be adopted by the city for next year’s budget.

“After the public hearings (the city) can adopt a rate that is less but cannot adopt a rate that is more,” stated Moore.

Only properties inside the Magnolia city limits will be subject to the tax.

The council scheduled the two public hearings for the evenings of Tuesday, Aug. 14 and Tuesday, Aug. 21. The public hearings will have a separate agenda.

“People will come here to talk about the tax rate. They cannot discuss the budget at these two meetings,” Moore clarified. 

The meeting to vote on and adopt the tax rate is set for Wednesday, Aug. 29.

All meetings begin at 7 p.m. at the Magnolia City Hall at 18111 Buddy Riley Boulevard in Magnolia. Residents of the city of Magnolia are encouraged to attend the meetings.

Two farmers markets are now open for residents of the Magnolia-Waller areas, giving them a chance to buy fresh produce, eggs and meats. The most recent market to open is the Waller County Farmers Market, located at the Waller ISD Auxiliary Stadium, just south of SH 290, on Field Store Road. The other is the Magnolia Farmers Market, which has been in existence for three years and is located at the intersection of FM 1488 and FM 1774 in Magnolia.

The new Waller County market, which is open each Saturday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., opened on July 14 and had many visitors, despite the floods in the area that week. On July 21 the market had 15 vendors offering locally-produced food products and home-made crafts. It is sponsored by the Texas AgriLife Extension and the Texas Cooperative Extension.

“This market was founded to boost the agricultural community in Waller County by encouraging crop diversification and offering a year-round sales opportunity for their products,” Debbie Cross, Vice President of the Waller County Farmers Market Board of Directors and vendor, said.

Any grower in the area can participate on any given Saturday, by paying the booth fee of $40. There are restrictions on prepared food products, but not on raw produce. Interested vendors should call Debbie Cross for more information at 832-863-5533. All of the workers are volunteers and currently the proceeds from booth fees are used for advertising. The market is looking to partner with local charities that will receive donations and can help promote the market.

The Magnolia market, also called Sweet Magnolia Pickins, is held every second and fourth Sunday of the month from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. It is supported by 4B Community Development of the City of Magnolia and offers local residents fresh and organic food options to purchase. This market requires vendors to be members and currently charges a $25 annual membership fee and a $15 booth fee on each market day the vendor attends. In addition, there is a permit fee required for vendors that sell temperature-specific products such as meat or eggs, or that offer samples. Some of the vendors at the Magnolia market are also represented at the Waller market, but each market also has unique food products. Those interested in seeing the vendor list or becoming a vendor should visitwww.sweetmagnoliapickins.net.

At this time, the Magnolia Farmers Market is held at the same location as Magnolia’s Peddler’s Green Crafts Market, but on separate days. It is a goal to combine both markets on the same days in the near future, according to Market Manager Boo Henderson.

Big sellers at the markets this month were ripe watermelons, local honey and free-range and grass-fed meats, according to organizers. Today people look for natural food products that are purported to be higher in nutrients and free of unhealthy additives or pesticides. In addition, many residents prefer to help the farms in their own area by buying locally.