NOTICE OF INTENTION TO ISSUE

TAX AND WATERWORKS AND SEWER SYSTEM

SURPLUS REVENUE CERTIFICATES OF OBLIGATION

          NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council of the City of Strawn, Texas, will convene in the Council Chambers of the Strawn City Hall, 118 East Housley Street, Strawn, Texas at 6:00 p.m. on Monday, August 8, 2022, and, during such meeting, the City Council will consider passage of an ordinance and take such other actions as may be deemed necessary to authorize the issuance of tax and waterworks and sewer system surplus revenue certificates of obligation in an aggregate principal amount not to exceed $773,000 for the purpose of paying contractual obligations of the City to be incurred for (1) the planning, design and construction of certain improvements to the City’s water system, such improvements being identified as Texas Water Development Board Project No. 62926; and (2) the payment of professional services and costs of issuance related thereto.  The certificates of obligation will be payable from the levy of an annual ad valorem tax, within the limitations prescribed by law, upon all taxable property within the City and a pledge of the surplus revenues of the City’s Waterworks and Sewer System.  The certificates of obligation are to be issued, and this notice is given, under and pursuant to the provisions of the Certificate of Obligation Act of 1971, as amended, Local Government Code, Section 271.041, et seq.

As further required by Local Government Code Section 271.049(b)(4), the following additional information is provided:

• The current principal of all outstanding debt obligations of the City is $870,000. This amount consists of $417,000 in principal of General Obligation Bonds and $453,000 in principal of Revenue Bonds.
• The current combined principal and interest required to pay all outstanding debt obligations of the City on time and in full is $1,229,634. This amount consists of $521,930 in principal and interest for the City’s General Obligations Bonds and $707,704 in principal and interest for the City’s Revenue Bonds.
• The maximum principal amount of the certificates to be authorized is $773,000.
• The estimated combined principal and interest required to pay the certificates to be authorized on time and in full is approximately $773,000.
• The estimated interest rate for the certificates to be authorized is 0%.
• The maximum maturity date of the certificates to be authorized is September 1, 2055.

Pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 271.049(c), an election on the question of the issuance of the certificates will be called if before the time tentatively set for the authorization and issuance or if before the authorization of the certificates, the City Secretary receives a petition signed by at least five percent of the qualified voters of the City protesting the issuance of the certificates, the City may not issue the certificates unless the issuance is approved at an election ordered, held and conducted in the manner provided for bond elections under Chapter 1251, Government Code. 

                                                                                    /s/ Omer Mallory                                   

Mayor, City of Strawn, Texas

01344988;1 NOTICE FOR HIRING BOND COUNSEL The City of Strawn (“City”) will be considering the approval of a contingent fee contract for legal services (“Legal Services Contract”) at the regular meeting of the City Council of the City to be held on June 13, 2022 at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers of the Strawn City Hall located at 118 East Housley, Strawn, Texas. The approval of the Legal Services Contract will be considered in connection with the City’s proposed issuance of tax and waterworks and sewer system surplus revenue certificates of obligation (the “Obligations”). The City intends to select the law firm of Bickerstaff Heath Delgado Acosta LLP (“BHDA”) to serve as the City’s bond counsel in connection with the sale and issuance of the Obligations (the “Issuance”) and any other issuances of public securities by the City during the term of the Legal Services Contract. BHDA has demonstrated that it has the competence, qualifications, and experience required to serve as the City’s bond counsel in connection with the Issuance. BHDA has successfully represented Texas local governments as bond counsel in connection with the issuance of public securities such as the Obligations for over 30 years. BHDA has previously served as bond counsel to the City. Attorneys that represent local governments in transactions such as the Issuance typically are recognized for their work in the specialized area of public finance. The City’s successful sale and issuance of public securities, such as the Issuance, will require the preparation of numerous transactional documents, the compilation of those documents into a transcript, and obtaining the approval of the Attorney General of the State of Texas for the sale of the obligations, as well as other procedural steps. The City does not have any attorneys on staff that have the specialized experience required for a successful sale of the Obligations or other public securities that the City may issue. Each sale of public securities by a local government presents a unique set of legal issues and bond counsel traditionally bills for services on a contingent fee basis. Because bond counsel services are based on a fixed contingency rate, the City can know with certainty the precise amount of the fees before the sale of the public securities, and therefore, can more easily budget and plan for the use of the proceeds. For the preceding reasons, entering into a contingent fee contract for bond counsel services with BHDA is in the best interest of the residents of the City.

City of Strawn is holding a city wide cleanup for all Strawn residents and water customers.  You may bring your trash or brush to the transfer station located on Palo Pinto Avenue adjacent to the waste water treatement plant.  Disposal will be free of charge.  No tires or hazardous chemicals.  All paint must be dry.  There will also be an electronic waste recycling disposal area.

1 CITY OF STRAWN, TEXAS BOND COUNSEL REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS AND STATEMENTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

To provide assistance with respect to possible loan and/or loan forgiveness funding through the Texas Water Development Board (the “TWDB”) and to provide objective legal opinion with respect to the validity of any evidences of indebtedness (the “Obligations”) issued by the City of Strawn, Texas (the “City”) for capital financing. A. INTENT OF PROPOSAL The City is soliciting proposals and statements of qualifications from interested qualified professionals to provide the following services: assist in obtaining loan and/or loan forgiveness funding and to provide legal opinion with respect to validity of any Obligations issued by the City for capital financing or refinancing; preparation of resolution or ordinance authorizing and securing the Obligations (the “Ordinance”) and/or authorizing any loan forgiveness agreements as necessary. The City reserves the right to accept or reject any or all proposals for any reason it finds to be in the best interests of the City. The City seeks to afford the opportunity for qualified small business enterprise (“SBE”), minority business enterprise (“MBE”) and women-owned business enterprise (“WBE”) firms to propose to provide the services described herein. B. SCOPE OF SERVICES: The services to be provided by the Bond Counsel shall include the following duties, as necessary: • Assist in preparing legal documents in connection with the Obligations and/or loan forgiveness funding. • Render an objective legal opinion with respect to validity of any Obligations issued by the City. • Examine applicable law. • Prepare the Ordinance and other documents necessary to authorize any Obligations and/or loan forgiveness agreements with the TWDB. • Consult with the parties to the transaction prior to the issuance of Obligations or entry into loan forgiveness agreements. • Secure TWDB and Texas Attorney General approval of any Obligations and the registration of the Obligations by the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas. • Review certified proceedings. • Undertake such additional duties as deemed necessary to render the opinion with respect to each issue of Obligations. C. STATEMENT OF QUALIFICATIONS The proposer shall provide a description of the history and background of the firm, identification of the services currently being provided to municipalities in Texas and other information relevant to the provision of Bond Counsel Services. 2 1. General information about the firm. A. Name, address, and telephone number of the firm. B. History of the firm. C. List names and titles of officers of the firm who will be directly responsible for Bond Counsel services. D. Information pertaining to the firm’s compliance with licensing and other requirements. 2. References. List of two (2) references to those listed in #1 above. 3. Identify personnel to be assigned responsibility for administering the account (provide resume and location for the individual representatives that the firm will assign to the account). 4. List the experience of the individuals assigned to the account with the TWDB’s loan programs and placement of debt instruments with the TWDB. Please list the work performed, including the dollar amount of the debt issue or other financing. Please include the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of contact persons. 5. Additional services - describe any other service or experience of the firm, which you deem beneficial in acting as Bond Counsel to the City. 6. Attach a copy of bond counsel services contract proposed by your firm without fee information. D. RECEIPT OF PROPOSALS If your firm is interested in being considered as Bond Counsel for the City, proposals must be received no later than 4:00 PM (Central Time) on April 29, 2022, at City Hall, 118 East Housley Street, Strawn, Texas 76475. One (1) copy of the proposal must be sealed and clearly marked on the face of the shipping material “BOND COUNSEL RFP”. E. SELECTION CRITERIA The following criteria will be used as a basis for the selection of the Bond Counsel: • EXPERIENCE OF PERSONNEL 35 POINTS To assess the background and experience of the personnel in working with Texas political subdivisions. • TEAM MEMBERS 25 POINTS To identify the personnel the firm proposes to commit on a day-to-day basis and evaluate the specific qualifications of these individuals. • REFERENCES 15 POINTS To demonstrate client satisfaction and the candidate’s familiarity with municipal issues. 3 • FINANCIAL CONDITION 15 POINTS To demonstrate the firm’s financial condition. • TEXAS WATER DEVELOPMENT BOARD FINANCING PROGRAMS 10 POINTS To provide a preference to firms with experience using the TWDB’s financing programs. TOTAL 100 POINTS F. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION 1. This contract is contingent upon release of funds from the TWDB. 2. Any contract or contracts awarded under this Request for Proposals and Statements of Qualifications are expected to be funded in part by a loan and/or loan forgiveness funds received from the TWDB. Neither the State of Texas nor any of its departments, agencies, or employees are or will be a party to this Request for Proposals and Statements of Qualifications or any resulting contract. 3. This contract is subject to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) “fair share policy”, which includes EPA approved “fair share goals” for MBE and WBE firms in the Construction, Supplies, Equipment, and Services procurement categories. EPA’s policy requires that applicants and prime contractors make a good faith effort to award a fair share of contracts, subcontracts, and procurements to small, minority and women-owned business enterprise (“SMWBE”) firms. Although EPA’s policy does not mandate that the fair share goals be achieved, it does require applicants and prime contractors to demonstrate us of the six affirmative steps. The current fair share goals for the State of Texas are as follows: MBE WBE Construction 12.94% 8.72% Supplies 9.68% 9.34% Equipment 7.12% 5.39% Services 10.84% 5.72% 4. Equal Opportunity in Employment - All qualified Applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, handicap of national origin. Bidders on this work will be required to comply with the President’s Executive Order No. 11246, as amended by Executive Order 11.375, and as supplemented in Department of Labor regulations 41 CFR; Part 60. 5. SMWBE firms are encouraged to submit proposals.