Council meets Tuesday: Presentation from FATHOM, utility audit, budget and tax rate hearings on agenda

By LYNETTE SOWELL 
Cove Leader-Press 

The Copperas Cove city council meets Tuesday, August 21, starting at 5 p.m., with a second public hearing on the proposed tax rate for the 2018-2019 fiscal year, followed by a workshop during which the council will hear a presentation from FATHOM rep Lenora Newsom about the new U2You portal for utility customers. 
Later on during the regular 6 p.m. meeting, interim city manager Ryan Haverlah will report to the council the results of an audit of the utility accounts. 
A public hearing is on the schedule for tonight’s regular meeting, that of amendments to the city’s proposed 2018-2019 fiscal year budget. 
A resolution approving a list of Future possible projects to be submitted to the Killeen Temple Metropolitan Planning Organization for inclusion in the region’s 2045 Metropolitan Transportation Plan is up for a vote by the council during the meeting. 
Also, the council will vote on whether or not to authorize the interim city manager to submit a letter to KTMPO to request modifications to phase 1 of the Business 190 median project. The modifications would include keeping three lanes in both directions of Business 190 and the raised median, but change the 10-foot shared use sidewalk to a 6-foot sidewalk and 4-foot dedicated bicycle lane. 
Discussion of utility rates for water, sewer, solid waste, and drainage is on the agenda, along with discussion and direction on proposed fee schedule changes for fiscal year 2018-2019. 
Three plats are on the agenda for this evening’s meeting, two of them up for a vote by the council to include the final plat for plat for Creekside Estates, for a 3.47=acre tract, known as 2352 F.M. 1113, and the other plat to include an amended final plat for CCISD’s transportation facility, of 35.596 acres at 467 Summers Rd. The third plat will be discussed this evening, the final plat for the Crossroad Veterinary Addition, located at 1101 S. F.M. 116. 
A bid for dry cleaning services for police uniforms will be presented to the council for approval, along with a resolution to authorize a grant application to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (JAG) program, with funding to be used for the purchase of ballistic helmets. 
An executive session is on the agenda for this evening, with the council to discuss with the city attorney regarding legal standards for utility rates. Also during the session, the council will discuss the search and selection of a city manager, and also an evaluation of interim city manager Ryan Haverlah. 
The workshop and meeting is open to the public and will take place at the city’s technology center, located at 508 S. 2nd St. There will be a time of citizens forum at the start of the 6 p.m. meeting.