A capacity crowd filled council chambers at Katy’s city hall on February 9, as local residents showed up to support the preservation of Katy’s iconic rice dryers. Eleven people spoke during public comments, with ten – including the grandson of J. V. Cardiff, developer of the original structure – urging saving of the historic structure.

Developer Hadi (Andrew) Nurcahya, who purchased the property in 2020, is in the process of turning the three-building complex into an entertainment district but has clashed with officials over the city’s insistence that the property conform to the city’s building codes, which follow widely-accepted international building codes. Nurcahya previously spoke at the January 26 council meeting, stating that if he could not get help from the city in modifying the building codes to reflect the historic building, he would have no choice but to demolish the dryer.

Council members discussed the creation of a “historic preservation commission advisory group” to be composed of structural engineers and other experts. The new commission could review historic properties such as The Dryer, as well as other historic homes and properties in Katy, and make recommendations to council. Councilmembers Janet Corte and Gina Hicks, who requested that the matter be placed on the meeting agenda, said that safety and compliance with the American Disabilities Act were top priorities in evaluation of any properties to be reviewed by the advisory group. The ordinance creating the commission was unanimously approved, and Corte asked that the commission report back to council on April 27. Priority consideration would be given to the Rice Dryers, Mayor Pro Tem Chris Harris said in a subsequent post on Facebook on February 9.

Attendees also heard the results of the January 31 special election, in which Katy High School teacher Paula Taylor was elected to fill Dan Smith’s unexpired term representing Ward A. Smith resigned to run for Waller County Precinct 4 Commissioner. Following a reading of the election returns and the passage of an ordinance canvassing the vote, Taylor was sworn in by City of Katy Municipal Court Judge Jeffrey Brashear.

Following messages of thanks from each council member, Smith received a special gift from Mayor Dusty Thiele.

In other action, council voted unanimously to modify the job description for City Assistant Administrator Joey Killion. Killion will now assume responsibility for duties previously performed by former Executive Director of Public Works & Community Development Elaine Lutringer, who retired in January. Lutringer was named to that position in 2006 after managing the city’s permit-and-building department, according to a 2006 article in the Houston Chronicle. The amendment to the city's personnel plan also included the addition of an environmental education coordinator, who will help direct the city’s new 3B Learning Center which is now in development.

The next meeting of Katy’s city council will be held on February 23 at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 901 Avenue C in Katy.