EYES ON ELLIS COUNTY (August 21, 2025)

ALMA

The City of Alma held its ordinance workshop, city council meeting and public hearing Tuesday to consider adopting a proposed tax rate for tax year 2025. The proposed tax rate is $0.250000 per $100 of value.

BARDWELL

Trash rates are being increased in the City of Bardwell on August 2025 billing cycle. It will now be at a rate of $16.86 a month.

CEDAR HILL

Cedar Hill was recently awarded the prestigious American Planning Association (APA) Texas Community of the Year 2025 award. The recognition is part of the State Planning Awards, which celebrate Texas’ most outstanding planning projects, advocates, and communities.

ENNIS

Downtown Ennis will be the location for Unity in the Community of Ennis’ Health Fair on Saturday, August 30 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. There will be free health screenings, consultations, wellness resources, and more.

GARRETT

Be part of the community in Garrett. Late last month a Town Hall meeting was held to share concerns, ask questions, and hear updates on the city’s current grant project to help develop a comprehensive plan for Garrett. Key focus areas included housing, land use, streets & drainage, updated zoning ordinances, and city mapping.

GRAND PRAIRIE

Grand Prairie Police Department is still investigating a fatal traffic collision that occurred last week at Marshall Drive and SW 3rd. The accident happened at approximately 2:30 a.m. when a Nissan passenger car traveling north on SW 3rd left the roadway and collided with a tree. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene. Traffic investigators believe speed may have been a factor in the collision.

GLENN HEIGHTS

The current I-35 and E Bear Creek Road expansion project began on July 21 as the contractor begins the next phase of the traffic control plan. There is a closure of the right turn lane on Southbound Frontage IH35E from Brookside Drive to Bear Creek Road. Work also includes partial bridge demolition, drainage construction, and permanent pavement installation. The duration of this work is expected until the end of 2025.

ITALY

At the City of Italy’s most recent city council meeting, the proposed budget for 2025-2026 was discussed. It was reported the proposed budget has a deficit of $164,457 due to changes within the police department and building maintenance that will increase the deficit to $224,833.

MAYPEARL

The Maypearl City Council voted positively for the initial approval to move city elections from May to November each year. The final vote will be held at the September city council meeting.

MIDLOTHIAN

TxDOT permanently closed the crossover on US Hwy. 287 at Lakeview Drive on Sunday,  Aug.  17 in Midlothian. This project will also include adding an acceleration lane at Davis Road at 287 and widening at the SH360 SB on-ramp to 287. The work is part of TxDOT’s ongoing crossover removal project on 287 that is intended to increase the safety of the highway.

MILFORD

Milford ISD received a C rating on the 2025 Texas Education Association accountability scores for Texas schools.  Milford ISD has a total student enrollment of 258 in one school in the city.

OVILLA

Blackboard Connect is the City of OVILLA’s city-to-resident/BUSINESS notification service.

The service offers information about time-sensitive issues such as severe weather, waterline disruptions, office closings, upcoming events, etc., and is communicated to citizens in a timely manner through the service. Subscribers may be notified by messages distributed by telephone voice, text message, and/or email message.

Call Ovilla Police Chief Joey Bennett for more information (972) 617-7262.

PALMER

The next Palmer City Council meeting will be held on Thursday, Aug. 21 from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. The proposed tax rate of $0.666947 for the new fiscal year 2025-2026 will be discussed and considered.

PECAN HILL

The City of Pecan Hill will have a Budget & Tax Rate Workshop at this week’s City Council meeting along with a public hearing beginning at 7 p.m. at Pecan Hill’s Municipal Building, 1094 S. Lowrance.

RED OAK

Red Oak’s Proposed Fiscal Year 2026 Annual Budget will raise more total property taxes than last year’s budget by $3,035,899 which is a 16.7% increase from last year’s budget, and of that amount $2,682,988 is tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year.

WAXAHACHIE

Waxahachie reports that due to naturally occurring changes in the city’s source water, some areas may experience discoloration or an organic odor due to excess mineral deposits.

The Utilities Department is performing routine water system flushing to minimize the impact. It was noted by the city these are naturally occurring changes in the source water. The mineral content and change in color do not pose a health threat and may only affect a few areas.

If you have news briefs for any of these cities/towns (resident, business or city) please send to rcook13@earthlink.net so we can share the news.