HARKER HEIGHTS — The Harker Heights City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to set the preliminary property tax rate at 52.50 cents per $100 valuation for Fiscal Year 2024 —
A new member of the Bell County Tax Appraisal District board of directors was unanimously approved by the Killeen city council during Tuesdayâs meeting.
Dick Young, a former Killeen city councilman and a former member of the board for the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1, was nominated by the Killeen City Council on Feb. 2 during a workshop meeting of the council.
Young will be replacing Royce Matkin, who died in early January from complications related to COVID-19.
Also during that workshop meeting, Otis Evans, the only other applicant for the seat, was nominated but did not receive the majority of the votes that Young received from the council, according to Killeen Mayor Jose Segarra.
Killeenâs leaders need to take a closer look at how theyâre governing.
In the space of just a few hours last week, a city council memberâs key vote was negated by a technical problem on a Zoom conference, a council member who has consistently opposed a proposed housing development was named president of the board overseeing the project; and the council member who nominated the board president put his own name in nomination for the board vice presidentâs position.
When taken together, the developments reflect a lack of oversight, planning and governing standards.
In the first instance, the council was considering bringing back for discussion a proposed city camera surveillance system. Members were split on the merits of the nearly $1 million system, with three members voting to end discussion and two voting to bring the subject back at a future meeting.
The Killeen City Council will be discussing and making decisions on vacancies on a few board positions in the city and county.
The first is the city of Killeen vacancy on the Bell County Tax Appraisal District board of directors where Dick Young, the former Killeen city councilman and the former member of the Bell County Water Control and Improvement District No. 1 board, will be up for the position formerly held by Royce Matkin, who died from complications related to COVID-19 in early January.
The council will also be discussing naming Chris Thomas to the Animal Advisory Committee in place of the former member, Leo Gukeisen.