· Related development
Council awards $59,505 to Howell Sand to clear 715 N. Dallas
Consent item 6.13 awarded Howell Sand $59,505 from general fund revenues to demolish all structures and remove debris at 715 N. Dallas, where the Condemnation Appeals Commission had ordered demolition; the memo describes 20 abandoned and dangerous mobile homes. At the meeting a public commenter asked why the City was paying a contractor after budgeting for equipment. City Marshal Jacob Diaz said the in-house program handles demolitions with Solid Waste, but this site, with 20 or more mobile homes and dumped debris, was too large for that crew at the time, so it was bid out for speed. The consent agenda, less item 6.7, passed on a voice vote.[1][2][3]
Jacob DiazHowell Sand Company, Inc.
What the sources say
- ✓ Verified
Consent item 6.13 awarded Howell Sand $59,505 from general fund revenues to demolish all structures and remove all debris and solid waste at 715 N. Dallas. The transmittal memo says the Condemnation Appeals Commission had ordered the demolition, proposals were accepted through an open bid, the funding is the City Marshal's "Demolition Condemnations" account, and the work would remove "20 abandoned and dangerous mobile homes" (packet p. 70). The memo does not give the commission's order date or the other bids. [1][2]
- Amount
- $59,505
- Mobile homes
- 20
- ✓ Verified
Jacob Diaz, City Marshal: City Marshal Jacob Diaz told the council his office handles the administrative side of the new internal demolition program and Solid Waste does the demolition. He said 715 N. Dallas holds 20 or more vacant, abandoned mobile homes, some fire-damaged, that deputies and police patrol, that a fire there had damaged an adjacent business, and that the number of structures and dumped debris kept Solid Waste from taking it on at this time, so it was awarded to a contractor for speed. [3]
- ✓ Verified
A council member noted the item came to council only because of its size, and asked whether a $49,000 job would not have needed council action; Diaz answered, "Correct." Another council member called the use of both contractors and the in-house crew a "two-pronged approach." [3]
- ✓ Verified
A public commenter: During public comment a speaker said the City was paying about $59,000 to Howell Sand to demolish a condemned property after the council had put about $700,000 in the budget for equipment, and asked why a third party was being paid. [3]
- ✓ Verified
The council approved the consent agenda except item 6.7, including item 6.13, on a voice vote with no opposition heard; the recording gives no tally. Minutes were not yet posted as of October 14, 2026. [3]
- ✓ Verified
The City's check register (July 2022-May 2026) shows 60 payments totaling $484,137 to Howell Sand Company, Inc. The register does not tie payments to projects, so it does not show how much, if any, was for demolitions. [4]
- Register total
- $484,137
- Payments
- 60