City to weigh other offers

Outside bids considered on tax-collection contract held by new mayor’s firm

Denton Mayor Mark Burroughs’ law firm must make its case to city leaders if it wants to continue collecting residents’ overdue taxes.

The city plans to seek proposals early next month from firms that collect delinquent property taxes, rather than extend its contract with Burroughs’ firm for another year, Finance Director Bryan Langley said.

The City Council is expected to consider the offers and choose a firm in September.

“To make sure that we’re selecting the best firm, we decided to use a formal proposal process,” Langley said. “It may be that after this period of time that we stay with the same firm and have another three-year contract, or we may go with another firm.

“We’ll just have to see the proposals we receive.”

The decision means the city won’t invoke a clause in Sawko & Burroughs’ contract that allows for two one-year extensions. The three-year agreement expires Monday, and the city and law firm have agreed to extend it month-to-month until the council approves a long-term contract.

Burroughs, who unseated first-term Mayor Perry McNeill on June 14, said Wednesday that the city’s decision to seek offers didn’t surprise him. His firm’s contract became a major issue during the mayor’s race after critics called it a conflict of interest.

Rep. Burgess to speak at annual Energy Expo

U.S. Rep. Michael Burgess is hosting the third annual Energy Expo and Forum at Guyer High School from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday to help people learn new ways to save money on energy bills this summer.

Burgess, R-Lewisville, said the primary purpose of the event is to bring information to the community.

“As individuals, we can’t affect the supply side, but we can be smart about as far as the consumer demand,” he said.

Steve Gleaves, spokesman for the Texas Home Energy Raters Organiza­tion, said the event should help clear up myths and misconceptions about energy savers in the marketplace.

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