City Council -

Put the Brakes on Spending

Posted September 30, 2022 by Editor

By Alex WarmathWhy will Shenandoah spend 3.6 times more dollars per resident in the current budget year than The Woodlands Township? Are the Woodlands residents lacking quality services and if so, how is it that The Woodlands is regularly recognized as the #1 place to live in Texas?Here are the…

Board Appointment Process: Principled or PrinciPALS?

Posted September 30, 2022 by Editor

Although city council must approve all appointments to the city’s two boards (P&Z, MDD), the determination as to which applicant will be nominated for approval is made by the mayor for P&Z openings and by the MDD president for vacancies on that board.The process is subject to little-known Ordinance O-13-028,…

P&Z, MDD Positions Filled

Posted September 30, 2022 by Editor

On August 10, city council approved Mayor Escoto’s appointment of Colin Caffey to fill the open position left by Jim Pollard on Planning & Zoning. Besides Caffey, only one other person applied, Rodney Wingerter. On their applications, both candidates stated they had not yet attended a single P&Z meeting. On September…

No Late Hours for Gloria’s

Posted September 29, 2022 by Editor

At its September 28 meeting, city council followed the recommendation of Planning & Zoning and declined to approve a request for late hour (12-2 am) alcohol sales by Gloria’s Latin Cuisine. The restaurant will be located at the corner of I-45 and Wellman Road which is in close proximity to…

City Proposal Unlikely to Gain Support of Most State Legislators

Posted September 28, 2022 by Editor

On August 24, city council voted to send a resolution to the state legislature supporting legislative efforts to give local taxing entities the ability to raise the homestead exemption rate from its current ceiling of 20% up to 100%. In September 2021, a similar resolution was introduced in the legislature,…

Halloween Safe Streets

Posted September 18, 2022 by Editor

For over 30 years Shenandoah families enjoyed a tradition known as Halloween Safe Streets where certain streets were blocked and the city provided candy to designated homes for distribution. With Covid concerns in 2020, the event was changed to a parade where city officials and staff handed out candy. Citing…

Property Tax, Budget Update

Posted August 27, 2022 by Editor

On August 24, the Shenandoah city council formally adopted (by 5-0 vote) the 2022 property tax of $0.1477 per $100 valuation which is the no-new-revenue rate for the city. This will mean an approximate 18% decrease from last year’s rate. The Woodlands Township directors unanimously voted to actually go below…

Judge Orders City to Produce Documents

Posted August 15, 2022 by Editor

District Court Judge Kristin Bays has ordered the city of Shenandoah to produce a wide range of documents originally requested by attorney Frank Powell in March 2022. The city argued the documents did not have to be produced because they were related to pending litigation.During a bench trial held August…

What is the Public Information Act?

Posted August 15, 2022 by Editor

Citizens have the right to request and obtain government information under the Texas Public Information Act, adopted in 1973. Section 552 of the Texas Government Code says the Act is primarily based on “the principle that government is the servant and not the master of the people.” During January-June of 2022, Shenandoah…

City Property Tax Update

Posted August 13, 2022 by Editor

After four consecutive years of a 0.1799 property tax rate (per $100 valuation), Shenandoah city council voted on August 10 to reverse course and use Montgomery County’s reported No New Revenue rate of .1477 for 2022-23. The formal vote is slated for the August 24, 2022 council meeting. Although this…