With a zero interest loan from the state off the table, the City of Paris will now turn to the open bond market to finance a $60 million-plus rehabilitation of its wastewater treatment plant, and residents will see substantial increases to sewer bills over the next six years.
Paris City Council on Monday gave the go-ahead for staff to proceed with plans, which include the first of several sewer rate increases in April, the sale of $46 million in certificates of obligation by May, design completion in June 2022 and the start of the first part of a two-phase construction project in August 2022.
EDITOR S NOTE: This story was revised Wednesday to include a comment from City Manager Grayson Path.
Once thought to be a hoax, Paris city leaders and law enforcement are preparing for an announced âWhite Unity Conference,â set for Oct. 9 in Paris and organized by the Church of the Ku Klux Klan. The event was announced on the chapterâs website, and screenshots of the eventâs flyer have been shared across social media. A representative of the klan, who would only identify himself as Brother Frank, confirmed the planned event to The Paris News. Although advertised as taking place âin Paris,â Frank said the conference will be hosted by a property owner with land outside city limits.
Candidates filed for all three available spots on Paris City Council in the May 1 municipal election, according to City Clerk Janice Ellis.
Mihir âMarkâ Pankaj, a local hotelier who serves as a Paris Economic Development Corp. director and Paris ISD trustee, became the first candidate to enter the race early Tuesday, followed by incumbents Mayor Pro Tem Paula Portugal from District 7 and Linda Knox from District 5. Pankaj filed for the District 4 spot currently held by Mayor Steve Clifford, who is term limited.
âIâm running because I want to give back to the city that has helped shape my life and has given back so much to me,â Pankaj said. âI also want to continue the progress in growing our community and to help put Paris on the map. We must look out for the needs of our citizens, and that always comes first.
Paris council ballot info packets available for those who wish to run theparisnews.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from theparisnews.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.