Mike Allen, speaking as a citizen and not the Mineral Wells mayor, spoke today to Rotary Club of Mineral Wells to raise awareness and support of the Nov. 7 city bond election.
Voters living in Mineral Wells will decide the fates of three bond propositions totaling $17.26 million. Listed separately, voters can approve or reject any of the three propositions. They are:
Mike Allen, speaking as a citizen and not the Mineral Wells mayor, spoke today to Rotary Club of Mineral Wells to raise awareness and support of the Nov. 7 city bond election.
Voters living in Mineral Wells will decide the fates of three bond propositions totaling $17.26 million. Listed separately, voters can approve or reject any of the three propositions. They are:
• Proposition A – The issuance of $7,500,000 tax bonds for street and road improvements including replacement of water and sewer lines in connection with such street and road improvements.
• Proposition B – The issuance of $5,805,000 tax bonds for acquiring a building, and constructing and equipping improvements to said building, to be used for a new city hall, including municipal courts, and constructing and equipping renovations to the existing city hall building and city hall annex.
• Proposition C – The issuance of $3,960,000 tax bonds for constructing and installing a water line along U.S. Highway 180 West.
Allen said each of the three capital improvement projects is needed to repair and improve infrastructure, help spur economic development and present a positive image of Mineral Wells as a city progressing and moving forward.
He said there are positive things coming to the city and he believes Mineral Wells is ready to turn the corner and start seeing some economic development and growth. Shortly after the meeting it was announced AMR, a national ambulance and medical response company with 19,000 employees, is opening an ambulance refurbishment plant in Mineral Wells, taking over the former Baker Hughes property in the industrial park off U.S. Highway 180 East.
The company is set to begin hiring immediately 30 people that will go soon to 60 and eventually as many as 300 jobs ranging from general labor to highly skilled positions, some requiring certification. The average salaries of the plant once fully operational is said to be $50,000, and the company will reportedly spend $1.3 million in renovations.
The company's entry into the Mineral Wells business community is one Allen and other city officials and leaders have been working on for nearly two years.
If all three bond propositions pass, the impact on the average $70,000 home in Mineral Wells is about $85 annually, or about $7 per month. The associated utility projects with the streets projects, along with the water line upgrade along U.S. Highway 180 West, would require a projected utility rate increase of $2.53.
Taxes are frozen on homestead properties for homeowners age 65 or older as long as no major upgrades or additions are made.
Additionally, three more public meetings are scheduled so the public can receive information about the bond proposals and ask questions. They are:
• Oct. 12 – Mineral Wells High School, 3800 Ram Blvd.
• Oct. 19 – Lamar Elementary School, 2012 S.E. 12th St.
• Oct. 26 – Houston Elementary School, 300 S.W. 13th St.
Each meeting will include a PowerPoint presentation and officials plan on having brochures available for people to take home and look over.
Early voting begins Oct. 23.