An Election is being called by the City of Fairfield in response to a Citizen’s Petition received last week.

During a Special Called meeting on Monday, August, 19, 2019, Fairfield Council Members unanimously approved an Ordinance calling for an Election to “Authorize The Issuance of Certificates of Obligation.”

According to City Administrator Nate Smith, the Election will be set for Tuesday, November 5, 2019.

The petition sought to required voter approval prior to the issuing of Certificates of Obligation by the City of Fairfield “for the Purchase of Property, Remodeling, Restoration, or Improvements to property located at 961 E. Commerce, Fairfield, Texas.”

The property at this location is locally known as Telephone Hill, and most recently housed a satellite campus for Navarro Community College.

It had been offered to the City of Fairfield for purchase almost a year ago.

A committee was tasked with researching to best options for City Hall facilities:

–Building New,

–Renovating Old, or

–Purchasing/Renovation Navarro Complex.

Following the committee’s recommendations, Fairfield Council voted in July to enter into negotiations with Navarro College for the purchase of the property.

Cost was estimated at $500,000 to purchase, with a renovation budget of $958,000, for a total of $1.458 million dollars for the City Hall project.

During the July 23rd meeting, Council approved a resolution authorizing publication of Notice Of Intension to Issue Certificates of Obligation in an amount “not to exceed $2.65 million dollars.

Council’s intention was to utilize these monies to fund several projects that had been identified as priorities for the coming fiscal year. They included:

–Completing the repair of Oak Street,

–Refurbishing the Water Tower on Love Street,

–Purchasing, Designing, and Building a New City Hall, and

–Other streets projects and sidewalks together with related drainage improvements.

Normally, Certificates of Obligation may be issued without voter approval.

In this case, an Election has been triggered by the petition as it included at least 95 certified signatures, representing 5% of registered voters inside Fairfield city limits.

Click here to see which of your neighbors signed the petition.