ALMA
The Alma City Council held its rescheduled annual Budget Workshop at City Hall Sept. 9 to finalize infrastructure and operational financial planning for the upcoming fiscal year. The council meeting this week on Sept. 15 allowed residents to speak about the budget before the final vote.
BARDWELL
Bardwell held a public town meeting on Sept. 8 to review a proposed property tax rate of $0.177713 per $100 of valuation. If approved by the city council, this represents an 8.50% increase over the effective tax rate to support the municipality's upcoming fiscal year budget
CEDAR HILL
The Cedar Hill Neighborhood Summit will be held on Saturday, Sept. 26, 2026, at the Traphene Hickman Public Library connecting local homeowners with city leaders to discuss development and public safety.
ENNIS
On Sept. 2, the Greater Ennis Chamber of Commerce celebrated the groundbreaking of a new Ford facility alongside representatives from Ford Motor Company, the Mayor of Ennis, the dealership team, and members of the community. The development expands upon the existing footprint of Ennis Ford located off the Interstate 45 corridor (900 I-45) and city officials noted this multi-million-dollar facility overhaul is being designed to meet modern automotive demands – including upgraded service bays, dedicated commercial vehicle spaces, and expanded electric vehicle (EV) charging and diagnostic layout stations – bringing localized jobs and long-term business retention to Ellis County.
FERRIS
Ferris ISD students will have an early release day Friday, Sept. 18 ahead of the official Homecoming football game. The Varsity Yellowjackets take the field at 7 p.m. The community homecoming parade & pep rally was earlier this week on Monday, Sept. 14 with a parade cutting across Ferris and culminating in a giant community pep rally to support the Yellowjackets.
GARRETT
The Garrett Police Department ask everyone to keep the city in their thoughts as last week Troy Smiley, part of the city’s father-and-son IT team lost his father, John. Also, City Secretary Judy lost her husband, and her daughter, Court Clerk Michelle, lost her father. They ask for the community’s patience and understanding as members of city staff work through the difficult losses while continuing to serve the city.
GLENN HEIGHTS
The Glenn Heights Municipal Court reminded residents that the city’s active Warrant Amnesty window is in effect right now through Sept. 30. Individuals with outstanding Fine-Only offenses or Class C traffic citations can resolve their warrants without the risk of arrest while having their standard warrant fees fully waived.
ITALY
Italy has scheduled back-to-back municipal public hearings that took place on Monday, Sept. 14 at which time the city council gathered feedback on a major proposed property annexation at 320 Dale Evans alongside corresponding local zoning adjustments designed to accommodate incoming regional development.
MAYPEARL
Maypearl City Council were scheduled to vote earlier this week to adopt a tax rate that will raise more total revenue for maintenance and operations than last year. Because property values across Ellis County have shifted, the council must explicitly vote on this rate to lock in city funding for local infrastructure, road repairs, and police resources
MIDLOTHIAN
On Sept. 11, the Sansone Group officially completed and delivered a 269,700-square-foot industrial facility on a 26.5-acre site. The build-to-suit project was handed over to Houston-based manufacturer Palmer Logistics and is specifically designed for the storage and distribution of hazardous chemical materials.
MILFORD
Milford will hold a Town Hall meeting on Wednesday, Sept. 16 at 5 p.m. allowing residents an open floor to discuss community budget priorities face-to-face with municipal leaders.
OAK LEAF
Last week first responders from the neighboring Ovilla Fire Department were dispatched to a reported auto-versus-pedestrian accident in Oak Leaf. The incident occurred directly in front of Oak Leaf City Hall on Locust Drive. It is unknown if there were any injuries.
OVILLA
Following public property hearings, the Ovilla City Council officially passed the municipal budget for the upcoming fiscal year. The council successfully voted to lower the base ad valorem tax rate to $0.612219 per $100 of valuation (down from last year’s $0.616213). However, due to steep jumps in overall county property appraisals and new additions to the municipal tax rolls, the approved framework will still generate about $61,500 more in total property tax revenue than the previous year. The funds are explicitly earmarked to lock down vital street repairs on Cockrell Hill Road and Suburban Drive alongside ongoing FM 664 utility line relocations.
PALMER
Palmer will host an interactive Comprehensive Plan Town Hall Meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 22 at 6 p.m. The open session is designed to let local property owners review and map out future municipal zoning laws, infrastructure blueprints, and population growth targets.
PECAN HILL
Pecan Hill public hearing and regular monthly city council meeting was held on Tuesday, Sept. 15 with the council set to deliberate and take definitive action on finalizing the upcoming fiscal year budget. The council was set to vote to adopt a property tax rate of $0.26 per $100 of valuation for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.
RED OAK
Last Tuesday, Sept. 8, crews closed the center lanes on Harmony Way to construct the new entrance for Fire Station 3. The left lane in each direction will be closed, with one lane remaining open for eastbound and westbound traffic for at least another week and drivers should expect delays and use caution in the area.
VENUS
The arrest of former Venus High School teacher Jamie R. Corder took place this past week, on Sept. 10. Corder was booked into the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office on felony charge of an Improper Relationship Between Educator and Student. He was employed by Venus ISD between 2023 and 2025. While specific dates of the alleged offenses haven't been finalized in public court records, former students began detailing inappropriate boundaries and concerning experiences on social media immediately after his booking.
WAXAHACHIE
Meals on Wheels North Central Texas (headquartered in Waxahachie) announced last week that their senior adult care programs have completely maxed out their current volunteer and financial resources. The organization has been forced to place incoming local seniors on a waitlist, appealing to the community for immediate donations and kitchen volunteers.
In addition to 19 cities/towns in Ellis County (five of which straddle two counties that include Ellis), there are also 18 unincorporated towns; Alsdorf, Auburn, Avalon, Boz, Bristol, Britton, Crisp, Five Points, Forreston, Ike, India, Ozro, Rankin, Reagor Springs, Rockett, Sardis, Telico and Trumbull.