City Council Briefs
Council Tables Approval of 2022 Audit The Olney City Council voted Nov. 10 to table approval of the city’s 2022 audit until auditor CPA David Parkman can appear in person to answer questions.
Mayor Rue Rogers said Mr. Parkman could not attend due to a scheduling conflict but reported “no big concerns” with the city’s finances and recommended moving on to the 2023 audit once 2022 is approved.
Councilmember Thea Sullivan, a CPA, told the council that 2022 was complicated by a change in accounting software that caused many entries to be double booked, requiring outside help and delaying the audit.
Even so, she said the books have been reviewed by two independent firms and the city remains in a strong financial position, with an $8.6 million net position, up about $173,000 from the previous year.
Resident Kathy Muncy and Councilmember Steven Nurre urged waiting for Parkman, and the motion to delay passed unanimously.
City Approves Fire Inspector Contract The Olney City Council voted Nov. 10 to approve a contract with Kurt Harris to serve as the city’s new fire inspector and code consultant, filling a role the city has lacked for months. Mr. Harris, a certified fire code expert who has assisted Olney informally for seven months, will work on an as-needed basis at $50 per hour, with travel time included.
Mayor Rue Rogers said Harris’ experience— including previous work for the City of Jacks-boro— will give Olney reliable access to qualified inspections for new construction and remodels.
“He’s very knowledgeable about fire code and has helped us tremendously,” Mayor Rogers said.
Business owner Barry Hodges voiced concerns about how inspections might affect older downtown buildings, but Mayor Rogers emphasized that the goal is not to burden existing businesses. Mr. Harris will also help the city refine its fire code to ensure it fits Olney’s needs.
The council unanimously authorized drafting the contract, which will come back for final approval.
New Water Treatment Plant Takes Step Forward
The City of Olney plans to launch the next major phase of its longterm effort to build a new water treatment plant next week, issuing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a four-month membrane filtration pilot study. The step marks the first major action since state regulators approved the city to begin testing a new treatment technology at its aging plant.
The RFP invites qualified vendors to submit sealed proposals by 3 p.m. on Dec. 11, 2025, after which submissions will be opened publicly at City Hall. Selected vendors will install and operate temporary, smallscale versions of their membrane filtration systems at the current Olney Water Treatment Plant. Engineering firm Jacob | Martin, which is overseeing the project, will evaluate each system’s performance against Olney’s water quality needs.
“Getting this first approval to begin this part of the process is a good, positive step forward,” Mayor Rue Rogers said. “Now we are going to begin the process to bring vendors in to test their version of the membrane plant.”
Mayor Rogers said Jacob | Martin will coordinate the vendor solicitation and testing phase. “They will come to the water treatment plant and build a mini model,” he said. “Jacob | Martin will take that model and determine which will work best for our water quality.”
The city expects to select a pilot system by May 2026, after which the chosen supplier will begin designing the full-scale membrane plant. Parts of the existing treatment facility will be rehabilitated and integrated into the new system, while the membrane treatment components will be newly constructed.
Pilot testing and design work will continue through 2026 and 2027, with final plans submitted to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality for approval. Mayor Rogers said he remains confident in the project’s budget despite inflation concerns.
“I feel really good about where we are costwise,” he said. “Even if we don’t begin construction until 2027, we still have room in the budget.”