Gainesville — Gainesville City Council members discussed a new city membership program with a representative of CareFlite during Tuesday’s regular meeting.

The meeting included input from CareFlite President and Chief Executive Officer James Swartz, who proposed a CareFlite membership program for all city water utility customers. The membership cost would be $1 per month. and the program includes a voluntary “opt out” for those who do not need or want the coverage.  

The membership program wasn’t approved, and council members will consider action on the item during a future meeting. Swartz said the membership would protect all family members living in a covered household against out-of-pocket costs for medically necessary air and ground transports provided by CareFlite.  

All costs not covered by a resident or employee’s health insurance would be absorbed by the membership program.  People without other health insurance coverage would have costs covered at 50 percent for their membership discount. Swartz explained that Medicaid residents of households are not eligible by state regulation, and that standard pricing for this CareFlite coverage is $49 per year per household per year.

Swartz added that the membership program would be billed through the city utility system and all customers would be billed the $1 per month unless they opted out.  Notice would be given to all water customers in their water bills two billing cycles prior to implementation of the program.

Other meeting highlights:

• Council held the first of two public hearings on the proposed city tax rate of $0.647000 for fiscal year 2012-13.  City Manager Barry Sullivan explained the proposed tax rate is the same tax rate as the current year. During the hearing, nobody came forward to speak either for or against the proposed tax rate.  A second public hearing on the tax rate is set for 6:30 p.m. Sept. 4. Mayor Jim Goldsworthy said council will vote to set the tax rate at their regularly scheduled meeting at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 18.

• Council approved action of the Gainesville Economic Development Corporation, which adopted their budget for fiscal year 2012-13 at their meeting on June 23. The budget forecasts revenues in the amount of $1,389,656 and total budgeted expenses and commitments in the amount of $1,389,406.

• Council approved the Gainesville Main Street program to sell alcohol during Depot Days on Oct. 12, 13 and 14 in the 100 and 200 blocks of Commerce Street.

• Council approved sale of alcohol during Zoobilee on October 6, 2012, in the Frank Buck Zoo.

• Council approved the Cooke County Appraisal District (CCAD) budget for fiscal year 2012-13 for assessment and collection of ad valorem taxes.  The budget was approved by the CCAD Board of Directors on Aug. 9, 2012, and totals $1,246,049, which is a combined total of $980,830 for appraisals and $265,219 for collections.  Each tax unit under contract with the CCAD pays an allocated a portion of each budget.  The allocated portion for the City of Gainesville is a combined total of $116,125.51 for appraisals and collections.

• Council approved a request from the Cooke County Historical Commission (CCHC) to place an official Texas Historical Marker in Fairview Cemetery at the gravesite of G. H. Ragsdale. CCHC has approved application to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) for the marker, and requested the city’s approval for placement in Fairview Cemetery. With approval from the property owner, CCHC will forward the application and payment to the Texas Historical Commission for the official marker.  Ron Melugin, chairman of CCHC, presented the request to the city council.  Melugin said Ragsdale was a self-taught ornithologist and naturalist, and served as Cooke County Surveyor from 1868-1870 and 1872-1876.  The THC marker is to be placed at the head of his grave located on the front row in Division 1 of Fairview Cemetery.