Canton Mayor Lou Ann Everett presented three scholarships to Canton ISD students during the May 17 Canton City Council meeting. The Sanitation Solutions scholarships were presented to seniors Catherine Hook and Raeleigh Strickland (not present); a City of Canton First Monday scholarship was presented to Emory Rhoten; the Rayford Hutcherson scholarship was presented to graduate Avery Nicks.

First Monday visitors and Canton locals might see a new way to get around First Monday as the council heard a presentation by Director of Transportation Vince Huerta of GoBus transit.

According to Huerta, GoBus provides public transportation services, which provide access and allows citizens to maintain their independence while being safe, reliable and friendly. Currently, GoBus covers 14 counties in the East Texas region and covers 10,000 square miles.

“This service would be of no cost to users during First Monday. Our buses are ADA accessible, and the bus would pick up visitors from nearby hotels or places to stay and drop them off at First Monday and pick them up and carry them back. There is an app for use that people can schedule a pickup as well. There is no charge during First Monday days. We can even pick up people from one part of First Monday and drop them off at another part. This would be a City of Canton premium shuttle service,” said Huerta.

Figures presented by Huerta reflect the City of Canton would provide $15,000, GoBus would provide $5,000 and the Texas Department of Transportation would chip in $20,000.

Councilmembers expressed that they would like for the Canton EDC to look at the proposal as well. No motion was made.

A comprehensive plan was also presented to the council by Brennan Kane and Carnell Brame of the company Halff.

Halff is a planning, engineering, and architecture consulting firm and has completed 150 master planning efforts including parks, trails, downtown and comprehensive plans with public and private sector experience. The plan would utilize a variety of engagement methods that are tailored to the needs and vision of a community.

Key features of the services the company offers would be comprehensive and downtown plans, corridor plans and streetscapes, transportation and active plans, resiliency planning, codes an design guidelines and land planning and development.

“This project can also create framework for zoning, establishing a citywide vision to integrate into other plans and city functions; defines longrange reasoning for city and investments and more,” stated Kane. Brame stated that there were phases of the project including project initation, needs assessment, community vision and adoption and that it would take about a year to fully integrate the plan for the city.

The council:

— The council approved the consent agenda consisting of: approval of the financial report for March 2022, meeting minutes for the April 19 city council meeting; the appointment of Jerry Martin, Vicky Chambless and alternate Betsey McCarthy to the Planning & Zoning Board; the appointment of Linda Boston and Jackie Beard (alternate) to the Board of Adjustments; the adoption of a resolution No. 2022-7 adopting the city’s investment policy; the adoption of a resolution No 2022-8 approving an interlocal agreement between ETCOG and Canton to join Cogworks Purchasing Cooperative and the adoption of a resolution No. 2022-9 authorizing a depository agreement with City National Bank .

—issued certificates of election and administered statements and oaths of office to elected councilmembers Blake Fowler and Jim Fuller. Councilman Chase Melton was also reelected but was not in attendance;

—appointed Randon Sumner as Mayor Pro Tem, who has held the place the last two years;

—heard an audit presentation for the 2021 FY Audit by Louis Breedlove, audit manager. The council accepted and approved the audit report. (Audit figures can be seen by contacting the city or on the city’s website);

—held a public hearing for Ordinance No. 2022-9 regarding zoning ordinance dealing with minimum dwelling sizes and changes that would be reflected in the ordinances;

—held a public hearing for a subdivision ordinance No. 2022-10 regarding minimum of 30’ width (previously 26’) and sidewalk requirements for subdivisions being built with a minimum width of 4’ (one or both sides) and changes to ordinance No. 2022-10 regarding the spacing of street lights;

—Accepted a bid contract from KC Property Management for Phase 6, South Outfall sanitary sewer reroute for S$142,203.40 (the low bidder).