The City of Wharton City Council will hold a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 20 to continue the 2020-21 Fiscal Budget Workshop and to review and consider a resolution between the city and OakBend Medical Group for further COVID-19 testing.
The first item on the posted agenda is a request for city council members to authorize an agreement between the City of Wharton and OakBend Medical Group for COVID-19 testing and authorizing the Mayor of the City of Wharton to execute all documents related to said agreement.
The City of Wharton has received funding through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) for COVID-19 expenditures and the city wishes to utilize some of the funds for testing Wharton citizens.
City staff has been in negotiation with OakBend Medical Group for developing criteria for a potential contract and wishes to engage the services of the medical group for testing to begin immediately following council approval.
The criteria for testing is as follows: testing will only be for City of Wharton citizens; identification must be provided prior to testing; testing will be for anyone with or without symptoms; the type of test that will be utilized will be the Polymerase Chain Reaction Test (PCR); and results will be provided to patients within the hours specified in the agreement.
Following the council’s decision on the proposed testing agreement, members will consider funding requests from local organizations and 5-year capital needs from city departments.
Funding Requests
- The Crisis Center – requesting funds in the amount of $5,000.
- Wharton Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture – requesting funds in the amount of $58,000.
- S.P.O.T. – requesting funds in the amount of $3,000.
- The Plaza Theatre – requesting funds in the amount of $5,225.
- Friends of Wharton, Texas Animal Control – requesting funds in the amount of $3,000.
- Wharton Downtown Business Association – requesting funds in the amount of $10,000.
Five-Year Vehicle & Equipment Capital Needs
- Code Enforcement Department
- Parks and Facilities Department
- Airport Department
- Fire Department
- Emergency Medical Services Department
- Emergency Management Department
- Police, Animal Control and Communications Departments
- Municipal Court
- City Secretary
- Civic Center
- Community Development
- Central Services
Five-Year Capital Infrastructure Im provident Program
- Transportation Systems
- Streets
- Major Thoroughfares
- Sidewalks
- Drainage System
- Flood Reduction Project – Levee
- Water and Sewer Utility System
General Fund
PEG Fund
Hotel/Motel Fund
Narcotics Seizure Fund
Debt Fund
Capital Improvement Fund
Water and Sewage Fund
Solid Waste Fund
Emergency Medical Services Fund
Civic Center Fund
Airport Fund
This special meeting will be held by teleconference starting at 6 p.m. on Monday, July 20. Those wishing to provide public comments are asked to submit an email before 3 p.m. on Monday, July 20 to pfavors@cityofwharton.com that includes your name, address, telephone number and the agenda item on which you wish to speak.
The County Gin will be broadcasting the meeting via its Facebook page.
