After considering a proposal for a multi-year contract Tuesday night, the Midlothian City Council chose instead to approve a one-year contract with Ellis County Emergency Services District No. 2 to provide fire and EMS response effective Oct. 1.

The district includes areas outside the city limits within the Midlothian ISD attendance zone, but for years the ESD has contracted with the city to provide coverage.

These agreements in the past have always been on an annual basis, but Midlothian Fire Chief Dale McCaskill this year proposed a three-year agreement, with a pair of one-year agreements at the end of the first three years if both parties agreed. There was also a one-year opt-out clause in the contract.

In return, the ESD would pay the city a base fee of $1.125 million per year, with an additional estimated $175,000 from EMS service billing. The fee would increase in each of the following two years.

How much the fee would increase, though, is what concerned members of the council based on the rate of growth in areas outside the city. Councilmember Mike Rodgers suggested using a “punch in, punch out” system to track fire and ambulance usage in the ESD.

Rodgers also raised another concern, namely future state legislation, which might fast-track development of municipal utility districts in the state. Already, there are several of these MUDs in the works within the ESD coverage area.

“We know this is coming,” Rodgers said. “I can’t imagine doing this more than a year at a time.”

Rodgers made a motion to authorize a one-year contract with the ESD, and it passed 5-2.

One thing that will change, McCaskill said, is the city of Ovilla’s establishment of an EMS unit that is expected to come online in April 2025. McCaskill said some areas currently covered by Midlothian will transfer to Ovilla at that point, which will reduce the number of EMS calls that Midlothian receives.

All members of the council were present.

Other items

• The approved consent agenda included previous meeting minutes, an agreement with Atkins Bros. Equipment Co., Inc. for utility projects; a resolution amending authorized representatives for TexPool, and a special event permit for the Creekside Manor Haunted House for 11 days through Nov. 2.
• Pulled from the consent agenda and approved separately were an agreement with Equalis Group LLC purchasing cooperative, a special event permit for the Midlothian High School homecoming parade, and a special event permit for the Trunk or Treat event on Sunday, Oct. 27.
• A request from the Walmart Supercenter to allow for seasonal temporary storage from Oct. 1 to Dec. 31 was denied by a 6-1 vote. The agreement would have been for a three-year period and would have allowed for a maximum of 20 storage containers.
• A presentation was given on the Midlothian 2045 comprehensive plan, including revisions to the thoroughfare plan and future land use plan and a comprehensive planning program. Councilmembers brought forward suggestions on the plan and will bring it back for approval at a future meeting.
• A specific-use permit for a secondary dwelling at 3651 Shiloh Road was approved with waivers for a separate septic tank and electrical meter.
• An SUP for a second monument sign at the Oncor facility at 5757 Forbes Road was approved.
• An amendment was approved to a planned development at the northeast corner of South Walnut Grove Road and FM 1387 to designate four parking spaces as shared parking. The development includes a proposed Tom Thumb grocery store.
• The council authorized an agreement with Kitching & Co. for the Hillcrest gravity sewer relief main project in a total contract amount of $953,629.
• Jamie Wickliffe of the Historic Advisory Board gave a presentation on a proposal to utilize the Fire Administration building as a museum and welcome center.
• Councilmembers approved candidate nominations for the Ellis Appraisal District board of directors for 2025.
• Following an executive session, the council approved the purchase of three small tracts of land as part of the Mockingbird Lane expansion project, and approved a salary above midpoint for a parks crew leader.