BY KATHY WILLIAMS

HERALD DEMOCRAT

SHERMAN -- The City Council agreed Monday to set F.M. 902 between State Highway 289 and U.S. Highway 75 as the City of Sherman's official southern extraterritorial jurisdictional boundaries.

Councilors also approved a contract changing the way it charges the city of Howe to process its wastewater. Howe had signed its portion of the southern boundary and wastewater agreements at its Oct. 27 meeting.

In the agreement, Sherman gives up land it had once claimed within Howe's extra territorial jurisdiction and Howe had agreed to do the same with land it had claimed within Sherman's.

In the wastewater treatment agreement with the city of Howe, Sherman staff wrote in the council's agenda packet that the fees associated with such treatment has been in dispute since the late 1980s. Because of that, Sherman has charged Howe based on the number of houses or businesses sending wastewater down the sewer, not the volume of wastewater treated. Sherman thus has been treated Howe's wastewater below the cost to treat it. This agreement will ensure Howe pays Sherman the costs of collecting and treating Howe's wastewater. The council voted unanimously for the motion, which Howe also had passed Oct. 27.

In other action the council heard a report from Public Works Director Jeff Miller that the city had managed to parlay low construction costs attributed to the poor economy into nine extra miles (about 50-percent more) of road upgrades. City voters approved a four-year sales tax increase dedicated to road maintenance several years ago. Miller also gave the council an update on all its road construction and repair projects.

Miller showed councilors a section of Center Street that was scheduled to be upgraded from an asphalt street to a concrete one this year. Miller said the asphalt is good quality there and according to the Master Plan, Center Street will someday become a four-lane road divided with a grassy median.

"It's not traveled much," Miller said, adding that it made much better economic sense to repair the remaining asphalt section of Loy Lake Road between U.S. Highway 82 and Pecan Grove Road. That road is failing and gets high traffic. Repairing that section also would allow the city to redesign and repair the intersection at Sam's Club, which is dangerous.

The council agreed with the logic and approved the action unanimously.

Miller also explained that the low construction bids allowed the city to mill and overlay the nine extra miles of roads all over town. He cited Harrison and Mulberry on the east side of town and Sunset on the west side.

Road projects remaining are those extending West Washington and West Lamberth and, of course, Brockett. The Brockett Street project is behind schedule, Miller said, because it began with relocation of utilities, a process the city does not control. The Brockett Street project now is speeding up and Miller said he believes it can be finished by the end of the year if the weather cooperates. About 10 property owners on Washington are still in negotiations with the city with rights of way purchases, Miller said.

Water utility lines in downtown Sherman are now all rebuilt and temporary asphalt laid over them. This project will get its final and permanent surface in the Spring when the weather is good, Miller said.

Sherman Mayor Bill Magers said he had heard good things from merchants about the work and those merchants are much happier that the work is nearing completion. Councilor Willie Steele asked about the process of painting the center lines on the new sections of roadway. Miller said he agreed the painting had taken too long to complete, however, the city's street painting equipment had not worked well at first. So city employees rebuilt old equipment and is now in the process of catching up.

Miller added that two other projects, the street sweeping and the curb and gutter repairs, are going well.

Miller also explained a new organizational plan for city street and public works crews. The crews now have regional zones they are assigned to and responsible for. Miller said this organization is working well, giving workers a sense of pride in "their" sections of town. "There's even a little competition," Miller said. The city now is sweeping streets itself and ensures each street is swept at least four times a year. Whenever a crew has the opportunity, it sweeps the downtown area, which is happening now about once a week.

Sherman Tourism Director April Patterson stepped out of her role and urged the council and mayor to attend the annual Veterans Day ceremony at Fairview Cemetery. She said veterans first will gather downtown for a slow procession to Veterans' Field in Fairview Park.

The Sherman Police Department will lead the parade, which will include vintage military vehicles from all over the area. Those who participate will walk alongside the vehicles they fought beside in wars of other eras.

The public is invited to watch the dignified procession and to attend the service at the end of the procession, in Fairview Park at the traditional Veterans' Day time: The 11th hour of the 11th day in the 11th month. (11 a.m., Nov. 11). U.S. Rep. Ralph Hall will be the guest speaker. All veterans are invited to participate and all residents are invited to come out and honor the veterans.

The council agreed not to hold a meeting on Jan. 4. Members also praised city staff for their work in producing the Fright Fest before Halloween and for doing such excellent work on Center Street Park.