Latest news with #WichitaFallsCityCouncil
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Texoma lake levels jumps from rainfall
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Texoma lake levels jumped nine percent last week due to the beneficial rainfall. Lake Arrowhead rose 8.6%, to 96.6%, and Lake Kickapoo rose 10.4%, to 99.3%. The combined total for Lakes Arrowhead and Kickapoo is 97.3%. Residents remain under Stage One Drought restrictions at this time. However, the Wichita Falls City Council may consider a resolution to lift those restrictions at its Tuesday, May 20 meeting. The agenda for that meeting has not been set. Last week, the Water Resources Commission voted to recommend lifting the restrictions. Per City Ordinance, council action is the only way to lift drought restrictions after an automatic trigger. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Wichita Falls honors Ray Gonzalez with highway overpass name
WICHITA FALLS (KFDX/KJTL) — Wichita Falls City Council gave the green light for the southbound U.S. Highway 82 overpass to honor the late Ray Gonzalez. The designation will begin near Gonzalez's foreign car shop by Bridwell Street and McGregor Avenue. WATCH: WFISD Foundation awards $500 grants to teachers for classroom needs The Mexican American Veterans Association began the work to honor Gonzalez back in February. MAVA president Jose Villastrigo and Gonzalez' daughter Renae Gonzalez Murphy said it's an honor to see the city remember its veterans. 'It's a tribute to a life well-lived. A legacy of service and a symbol of the values that hold dear faith, perseverance, and community. Dad is proud to call Wichita Falls home. He loved the city, and served it with everything he had as a soldier, as a small business owner, and as a public servant.' Gonzalez-Murphy said. The resolution will now move to TxDOT officials to move forward with putting up the sign. 'He never sought recognition for his service or his sacrifice, but we know this moment would fill his heart with gratitude and pride,' Gonzalez-Murphy said. 'Thank you for persevering, for preserving his memory in a place that represents both his life's work and his lasting impact on the community.' according to Gonzalez Murphy; Gonzalez is the first Purple Heart recipient to be recognized in this way. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
Yahoo
01-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Wichita Falls City Council to take up lake lot lease increases at Tuesday meeting
The Wichita Falls City Council will again discuss lots at lakes Arrowhead and Kickapoo during a meeting 8:30 a.m. Tuesday in the Seminar Room of the MPEC at 1000 Fifth St. The city owns the property around the lakes and leases out lots where people have recreational or permanent homes. In general, lots at both lakes currently lease for $1,000 each year, according to a narrative from the city staff. In a meeting on Feb. 13, councilors discussed raising leases at Lake Arrowhead by 30 percent while leases at Lake Kickapoo would go up 10 percent. The council has also discussed allowing leaseholders to buy their properties. When discussion of raising the rent first came up at a meeting in March 2024, several leaseholders complained that the increases were unreasonable. City property manager Pat Hoffman said the city gets about $440,000 annually from leases at Lake Arrowhead and $195,000 from Lake Kickapoo. Tuesday's agenda calls for an update and discussion of the lots, and the topic will also be discussed in closed session. No action is scheduled. In other business, councilors will: Consider paying Overland Corporation of Ardmore, Oklahoma, $2.5 million for the 2025 Asphalt Rehabilitation Project. Consider designating the southbound U.S. Highway 82 Overpass in honor of Ray Gonzalez Jr. Gonzalez was a Vietnam War Purple Heart recipient who served on both the City Council and the Wichita County Commissioners Court. The meeting is open to the public and can be viewed on the city's Facebook page. More: City Council to tackle controversial lake lot fee hikes again More: 50 years after fall of Saigon, woman forges connections to her past, to Wichita Falls This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Wichita Falls City Council to take up lake lot lease increases Tuesday
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Lakes dip but rain may be on the way to Wichita Falls
Warm, windy weather contributed to a slight decline in area lake levels over the past week, but a chance of rain this coming weekend may help them recover. The combined levels for lakes Arrowhead and Kickapoo fell 0.1% to a total of 67.8% of capacity. Wichita Falls water customers remain in Stage 1 Drought Watch restrictions, according to a press release from the city Monday. The National Weather Service predicts rain could return on Friday afternoon and stay in the forecast through Sunday. The greatest odds of precipitation will be Saturday night. Any rain that falls would likely come from thunderstorms. NWS has placed Wichita Falls and part of North Texas at Slight Risk of severe storms Friday afternoon and night. With 5.52 inches of rain so far in 2025, Wichita Falls slid slightly behind normal precipitation for this date, which is 5.61 inches. Daytime temperatures are expected to seesaw between the mid-70s to lower-90s in the coming week with gusty winds continuing. More: Wichita Falls murder mystery deepens with fourth arrest More: Wichita Falls City Council to consider annexing land for data centers This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Lakes dip but rain may be on the way
Yahoo
01-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Council signs off on new city manager, fire chief
The Wichita Falls City Council on Tuesday hired a new city manager and approved the appointment of a new fire chief. Councilors voted to hire Jeffrey Jenkins as city manager at a base salary of $278,000. He will start on June 9, nearly a year after former city manager Darron Leiker was asked to resign in July 2024. Jenkins has been deputy city manager of Taylor, Texas, population 17,337, since 2017. Taylor is northeast of Austin in Williamson County. According to his LinkedIn profile, Jenkins formerly was assistant city manager in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, population 119,000 and part of the Tulsa metroplex. Before that, he worked as city manager in the Texas towns of Lucas, Henrietta and Cactus. The profile also lists him as an assistant city manager in Austin. From 2015 to 2017, he was an independent contractor for clients in social media marketing campaigns. He will be paid a base salary of $278,000, according to the meeting agenda. The GovSalaries website lists Jenkins as making $185,964 in 2023 in the Taylor job. Jenkins earned a bachelor's and master's degree from Midwestern State University. He was not present at the council meeting. Cody Melton will be the new fire chief. He began with the Wichita Falls Fire Department in 2007. He holds bachelor's and master's degrees in public administration, has been fire marshal and deputy chief and is a certified peace officer. 'This is a responsibility I do not take lightly, and I am grateful for the trust placed in me to lead this outstanding organization," Melton said. He spoke highly of the department he will lead. "Their commitment, professionalism and service to this community are what make this department one of the best in Texas," he said. Melton replaces Donald Hughes, who retired Feb. 28. In other business, councilors: Changed a $1 million forgivable loan to Midwestern State University into a grant. The money goes toward construction of a $4 million Student Success and Military Education Center. Sold 1.31 acres of land at the Wichita Falls Business Park to Syntrio Solutions, LLC, for a fiber optic hub at the location. The company will pay $35,000 for the property. Gave $500,000 to the Wichita Falls Chamber of Commerce for real estate acquisition. Purchased various vehicles and related equipment. More: Historic Berry Brown House goes up in flames More: 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War commemoration This article originally appeared on Wichita Falls Times Record News: Council signs off on new city manager, fire chief
