City Council approves EDC Board selection process change, 5-2

Big Spring’s City Council met in open session for more than three and a half hours Tuesday evening, discussing topics such as an amendment to the city’s property maintenance code defining standards for safe, sanitary, and fit for occupancy of the city’s homes; the final reading of a resolution amending the number of directors and manner of appointing directors to the Big Spring Economic Development Corporation’s board; and a proposed amendment authorizing liens on rental property for unpaid city utility bills.

Following the invocation, Pledge of Allegiance, and opportunity for public comment at which no one chose to address the council, City Manager Todd Darden reported on the Sept. 15 Large Item Pickup held in the city’s District 3. Darden reported that 4.7 tons of items were collected.

The council next unanimously approved the meeting’s consent agenda, holding out and approving separately items approving on final reading the city’s budget and property tax rate for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

The council also chose to hold out of the consent agenda approval the item, previously mentioned, regarding the number of directors and manner of their appointment to the Big Spring EDC.

The item adjusts the number of directors on the board from five to seven — one per Big Spring district plus one nominated by the mayor — and the mayor and city manager, or members designated by them, as ex officio board members. The item would also require all expenditures by the EDC greater than $15,000 to be approved by the city council.

The initial motion on the item, offered by Councilman Maury Smith (District 6) was to table the item indefinitely, which was seconded by Councilman Troy Tompkins (District 5).

“I wanted to table it indefinitely, because it’s going to be five on the EDC, to two making decisions and also qualifications for the EDC,” Smith said. “It’s what I feel is necessary to be done at this time.”

After discussion, Smith withdrew his motion, and Councilman Cody Hughes (District 3) moved to approve the proposal.

EDC board member Jeff Ward addressed the council, requesting that they not approve the motion.

“I come today to say that this resolution, in my opinion, from my experience, makes the Economic Development Corporation a political subdivision of the City Council,” Ward said. “By state statute, Sec. 501.055 of the Texas Constitution, we are not a political corporation. We are not a political subdivision. By council appointment of individuals, or selection of individuals, to me it screams political impropriety. The largest donor to your campaign could be your nominee.”

Mayor Shannon Thomason argued in favor of the measure, saying the EDC receives ¼ of the 2 percent sales tax revenue collected by Big Spring. Of the 8.25 percent sales tax locally, 6.25 percent is kept by the State of Texas, while the remainder — 2 percent — is rebated to the city. Of the city’s portion, one-fourth (or half a percent) goes to fund the EDC.

“The EDC is not a political subdivision by the laws of the U.S. government and the laws of Texas. They are a component sub-unit of the City of Big Spring,” Thomason said. “The reason they are a component sub-unit of the City of Big