Two of the most common special projects over the years that have been provided are Ordinance Review and Update and the development and implementation of Personnel Policies and Procedures. Over time the policies of cities and counties evolve as resolutions and ordinances are adopted. Historical recordkeeping can sometimes be lacking and resolutions are often stuffed in a box with the entity’s Code of Ordinances. Codification is the term of updating these documents to ensure comprehensiveness and continuity. Codification can be a very time consuming but ultimately beneficial process. LGS staff is available to assist with this process. The implementation of Personnel Policies and Procedures is also advantageous in communities that have not done this to date.

LGS staff conducts a survey of municipal rates and fees as needed so that cities and counties can compare their rates and fees to those of their counterparts. A 2012/2013 Rates and Fees Survey was completed and distributed to all participating cities.

Approximately every three-five years LGS staff conducts a salary survey of the region for all types of municipal employees so that communities can utilize the information in establishing salaries for employees. A 2012/2013 Salary Survey was completed and distributed to all participating cities. This site will be updated with that information as it becomes available. LGS staff is available to discuss the difference in the data types and how the salary survey information can be beneficial to your community.

In 2009 PRPC staff began assisting communities in conducting intensive Strategic Planning sessions. Strategic Planning provides communities with the opportunity to assess their strengths and weaknesses while identifying both short term goals and objectives. The Strategic Planning process enables the community to identify funding options for prioritized strategies to meet the goals and objectives identified. Strategic Planning by nature is highly tailored to each client and can be a very good way to help resolve differences and questions between council members and/or staff. LGS staff is very excited about the benefits that Strategic Planning poses to Panhandle Communities.

LGS staff has recently gained expertise and experience in assisting communities with the navigation of Texas Water Development Board’s revolving loan fund. LGS staff is available to assist your local engineer in preparing TWDB applications and documentation. This type of work will be highly specific to local needs and experience. However, these large types of projects are highly important to the residents of the Texas Panhandle.

LGS staff is available for consultation relating to the creation of an Emergency Services District (ESD). Texas Health and Safety Code 775 authorizes the creation of Emergency Service Districts that have taxing authority of up to $0.10 per $100 property valuation for the use in Fire and EMS departments. LGS staff is not proponents or opponents of the concept. However, this is a tool available to Panhandle communities, so LGS staff has experience and expertise in navigating the procedural aspect of having an ESD considered on a ballot by the general public.

LGS staff assists cities in making contact with the USDA and identifying early stage requirements to USDA funding programs. LGS staff is available to help a city get started in the pursuit of USDA loan assistance.

HUD’s Opportunity Portal matches Section 3 workers and businesses to employment opportunities and training as well as contracting opportunities. Section 3 is a provision of the Housing and Urban Development Act of 1968. The section seeks to ensure that HUD financial assistance which generates employment and other economic opportunities be directed to low (80% of area median income) and very low income (50% of area median income) people, particularly recipients of housing assistance and businesses that business concerns which provide economic opportunities to low and very low income people.