City gives update on winter storm

Nearly 70 houses had broken pipes or leaks after a mid-February storm nearly shut down the city for a few days.

City Manager Mike Smith said a number of city areas froze up including a booster station and a pump station which kept the city without water for a time. For the most part, there were major power outages in Jacksboro itself. Smith said north of town rolling blackouts were common.

Alderman Greg Robinson asked if the city learned anything from the experience of the adverse weather.

Smith said putting a generator at each one of the lift stations would help. A large military helicopter

A large military helicopter circling the airport Feb. 22 helped Jacksboro residents brought eight pallets of water. City personnel helped load and took the water to the fire department for distribution to those who need it.

Smith also gave a sales tax update over the last few months. Over the last five months, when compared to last year, an increase was seen in 2021 just one time over last year.

In two cases, the decrease was around 20-25 percent, Smith said.

• the council authorized city staff to negotiate a contract with Infrotech – Hibbs and Todd for preparation of preliminary design plans and specs and to conduct preliminary and final inspections for the block grant. The engineering firm has done reports and wastewater plant work for the city in the past, Smith said.

The Community Development Block Grant will be used for stormwater drainage off of Belknap.