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Regular Council Meeting May 3r1, -1012 Page 5 1567 Mr. Anderson introduced Chris Ekrut from J. Stowe & Co., who gave a report to the Council. In summary, Mr. Ekrut reported that the City's current wastewater rates were not sufficient to meet the test year budgeted revenue requirements and the City's Rate Maintenance Policy. He recommended that the City increase its current retail wastewater rates by 6.3 %. Mayor Hashmi asked Council Member Frierson to study the report and summarize it for Council, similar to what he had done last year. 16. Presentation by Dr. Debra Cherry on grant funding for Paris and Lamar County. Dr. Cherry stated they had been awarded a DSHS Transforming Texas grant for Lamar and Hopkins Counties. She said it was a five -year grant and the overreaching goals were to reduce death and disability due to tobacco use by 5 %; reduce the rate of obesity through nutrition and physical activity interventions by 5 %; and reduce death and disability due to heart disease and stroke by 5 %. Dr. Cherry said there was the possibility of this grant funding an update to the City of Paris Parks Master Plan. 17. Presentation by Hayter Engineering on establishment of a drainage improvement district; and provide direction to Staff. Shawn Napier said the City had a list of ongoing drainage issues and one of the major problems was funding. Mr. Napier said the creation of a drainage improvement district and assessing a storm water fee would be helpful in resolving more drainage problems. Reeves Hayter of Hayter Engineering presented City Council several options in creating a district and assessing fees. Mr. Hayter suggested a consultant be hired to study and assess the situation. Council Member Frierson said he was in favor of moving forward, but wanted to know more about what was involved. Council Member Wright said he first wanted a firm commitment on the costs involved. A Motion to instruct staff to explore the possibility of establishing a utility improvement district was made by Council Member Frierson and seconded by Council Member Lancaster. Motion carried, 4 ayes — 2 nays, with Mayor Hashmi and Council Member Wright casting the dissenting votes. 18. Presentation by Steve Gilbert of Paris Economic Development Corporation's report. PEDC Director Steve Gilbert gave a presentation on the Paris Economic Development Corporation beginning with year 1993 through the present. He gave a history of the board duties, past board members, successful projects, unsuccessful projects; the numbers of jobs PEDC was instrumental in creating and/or retaining, revenue, and a project summary of expenses. Mayor Hashmi said the Kimberly Clark and Paris Regional jobs should not have been included in the presentation, because those two companies did not receive funds from PEDC. Council Member Frierson complimented PEDC on being a good tool for economic development. Council Member Wright said it was the desire of everyone to have more and better jobs and that