Airport Board Gathers Funding Information

At a regular scheduled meeting of the Building and Standards Commission held on Tuesday night, Wills Point property owner Charlie Ellis appealed a decision by the board to have one of his properties condemned.

Ellis had made improvements to the trailer house, bringing it into code. The board agreed and reversed its decision.

Regarding the decision, Mayor Scott McGriff released a statement saying, "There was a procedural error in condemning the house and reversing the decision was the proper thing to do.

"The Building and Standards Commission is a voluntary group of citizens that have the best interest of the citizens, and the beautification of Wills Point at heart. Their efforts have been tremendous, despite a lack of support and guidance from the city council.

"As an extension of the council, it is my responsibility to ensure the commission operates within the guidelines of the law. Unfortunately, it has been neglected and received no training or funding.

"As the mayor, I will ensure the Commission receives proper legal counsel when making decisions. I will also make certain they receive the proper training necessary to fulfill their duties, as well as sufficient funding. Training will be offered through the Texas Municipal League and other specialized sources.

"I am also excited that our City Manager has proposed the position of Code Enforcement Officer in next year’s budget. This will be a vital position in the betterment of this Commission."