City Council - Regular Meeting

get to hear myself twice. All right. Uh we're going to call this meeting to order. It is 10:30 and we're going to have an in if you would please stand for the invocation and for the uh pledge of allegiance. Gracious and loving God, we give you thanks for all these organizations that are here today to receive these proclamations. We thank you for the work that they do in our community and we thank you for the work that they do enhancing people's lives here in Bulmont and in Southeast Texas. We give you thanks for their commitment and them showing up to a community that uh very much appreciates it. And also we ask your blessings upon all the business that we do today in these chambers and we ask all this in the precious name of Jesus. Amen. Amen. Mayor West

present. Mayor Pro Tim Turner absent. Council member Dorio here. Council member Hillyard here. Council member Williams here. Council member Sherwood and Council Member Krenshaw absent.

All right. Do we have uh we're going to do our proclamations this morning and we have a few of them and uh I want to we also at the close of this meeting or in the middle of this meeting city council will recess into executive session to deliberate the appointment and uh employment and duties of city manager positions in accordance with section 551.074 074 of the government code personnel matters close meeting Chris Christopher S. Boon and then consider matters related to contemplated or pending litigation in accordance with section 551.071 of the government code Brandy Springer ETHL versus city of Bulmont and CH2M Hill Engineering Engineers Inc. calls number B198469. And uh so after the proclamations, we will recess into executive session and we will reconvene down here at 1:30. So today we have uh eight proclamations. When your name of your group is called, please come forward to receive your proclamation and take your picture uh with uh with the council. someone from your group can also uh speak at the podium. And if you have more than one of you, certainly all of you are welcome. And I invite everybody that is with the organization to come forward for the presentation of the proclamation as well as the uh photograph. And first we have a proclamation recognizing the week of April 6 through the 10th, 2026 as National Public Health Week. Accepting will be Mr. for Kenneth Coleman, city of Bowmont public health director. And you can certainly bring any of the staff as well.

You want us to scoot down here. All right. Well, good morning, Mayor, council, madam attorney. Again, thank you for recognizing uh National Public Health Week. For more than 150 years, public health has helped shape the safety and well-being of communities across our country. And when we think about the progress we've made, longer lives, health of healthier families, safer neighborhoods, we're reminded that these achievements didn't happen by accident. They came from people working together. Community health workers, first responders, clinicians, scientists, and neighbors who care about another's well-being. here in Bowmont. That spirit of community is at heart of our work. Over the past year, the Bowmont Health Department completed more than 2,000 health inspections, ensuring that the places where we eat, gather, and raise our families remain safe. We administered over 4,000 vaccines, helping protect residents from preventable diseases and keeping our community healthier. And through our WIC program, we provide over 47,000 essential benefits to families, offering nutrition, guidance, and support to parents and young children who count on us. These numbers

represent real families, real lives, and real impact across our city. National Public Health Week of 2026 give us an opportunity to pause and recognize the everyday work that keeps our community strong. It reminds us that public health is not just about programs and policies. It's about people, relationships, and the shared belief that everyone deserves the opportunity to live a healthy life. This year's theme, ready, set, action, is a call to keep that momentum going. It asks us to celebrate what we've accomplished together and stay committed to the work ahead, building healthier comm uh neighborhoods, strengthening partnerships, and making sure every resident feels supported and safe. Because one truth guides everything we do. Good health doesn't just happen. We create it together as partners and as a community. And once again, we want to thank council and the mayor for recognizing National Public Health Week. This is just some of my staff. They're the ones that really keeps the community safe. As I tell them all the time, they make me look good because they actually the one that's doing all the work. So again, on behalf of uh public health, we want to thank you once again. Thank you. Next, we have a proclamation recognizing the month of April as fair housing month and accepting will be uh Miss Whitney Walters, City of Bowmont Housing Program Specialist. And anybody else from the department?

Get a picture. Good morning. On the housing division's behalf, we just like to thank the city for recognizing fair housing month. We do this each April and it's very important for our affordable housing initiative. So, thank you.

Thank you.

Now, we have a proclamation recognizing the month of April as National Sexual Assault Awareness Month and accepting will be Miss Ashley Hassan and education specialist with the Rape and Suicide Crisis Center of Southeast Texas. First of all, I'd just like to say thank you to all of you for accepting our proclamation and having us here today. Um, I'd like to give you guys some statistics in this area for how many survivors were served by us uh this past year. Um, over a thousand survivors were served by us at the Rape and Suicide Crisis Center and over 4,000 people were educated on the topic. And I think that shows the work that we're doing and the impact we're making. Um, it also shows the problem we have in our community and it's not just our community, it's everywhere. Um, so it matters. Um, and we have the power

to change this narrative. Um, change happens when awareness turns into action and when a community chooses not to look away. So have those hard conversations with people, listen to survivors, and talk to your children about safety. Um, together we act and united we change. And thank you guys again.

Thank you. Now we have a proclamation recognizing April 22nd as 20 in 2026 as the National Administrative Professionals Day. Uh accepting will be Miss Jacqueline Gunnar, City of Bowmont Human Resources Manager. And anybody else from HR that is here, please come forward. a little bit more this way. Right. Good morning, mayor, council, executive, city staff. It is our honor and pleasure to accept this award on behalf of our city administrators. Currently, the city employs over 90 of the most talented administrative professionals in all of Southeast Texas. These employees support city operations across the city from the public service aspect to public health to just all the operations in between. The city will recognize all of our administrative staff on Wednesday, April 22nd, where they will be presented with this proclamation as well as the appreciation

of a city during their annual lunchon. Thank you. Thank you. And now we have a proclamation recognizing the week of April 13th through the 18th as the 78th Nature's River Festival week in Bumont, Texas. And accepting will be Mr. Zach Styles, the uh president of the Nature's River Festival, my son-in-law, the uh Wheeler chair, Molly Moore, and every Miles y'all all come up. Yes. a little bit this way. Get this way a little bit. Miles, maybe if you There we go. There we go. Sorry. Actually, step this way a little bit because can't see councilman durio. Step this way. Right there.

See, Mr. Just a little bit. Yeah. Yeah. I can't see it. Still can't see you. Zach, move that way just a little bit.

There we go. I want one of those now. Much better. Got it.

All right. Cool.

Thank you very much. Uh we are very excited for the 78th Naturous River Festival. We greatly appreciate the city's partnership uh throughout the festival season. Um it's always a wonderful time for our community celebrating our youth. We actually have 74 princesses this year and 28 duchesses from our surrounding schools and all over the United States. The duchesses come from all over. Uh we're very excited this year. We've increased our scholarship uh dollar amount. We actually have two additional scholarships that we're able to give out. Um, Emily has done a fantastic job as social chair and Molly Moore is excellent as the executive director. And we also had Cara Hawkins and Miles Haynes up here as well. And uh, again, just thank you so much. We look forward to seeing everyone out at the festival. We've got the parade coming up and street party, which is obviously welcoming to the public. So, thank you again for your support. And now we have a proclamation recognizing the week of April 19th through the 25th as uh 2026 as National Crime Victim's Rights Week. And accepting will be Miss Misty Craraver, Jefferson County Victims Assistance Center Program Director and everyone else.

Some maybe a couple of y'all over on this side. in the front. Yeah, good. Oh, cell phone. Thank y'all. Thank you very much. Yes, I'm Missy Craraver. I'm with the Jefferson County Victims Assistance Center, one of the agencies that um helps with the Coalition for Victims of Crime. We've got representatives here from the Gar House, from the Crisis Center, from Family Services Southeast Texas. Am I missing anybody else? And also this room full of people here. Um it it's when I see faces that I recognize um it makes me realize the capacity with which victimization touches people. Um we are looking at National Crime Victim's Rights Week um April 19th through the 25th. Our theme this year is listen, act, advocate, um protect victims, serve communities. And in that effort um that is what we are trying to do is to make sure that victims of violent crime in our community are getting connected with the resources that are available. We obviously have a very coordinated effort of services here um in Jefferson County and we want to make sure that that is recognized. We want to make sure people are familiar with that. Uh we are doing our annual candlelight vigil. It is going to be April 23rd, Thursday, April 23rd at 6 PM. Of course, we invite anybody in this room, anybody in the community to come and participate. We appreciate you recognizing this week and always for your assistance and help is always greatly appreciated. Thank you'all very much.

All right. At this point, we have a proclamation recognizing the month of May as Older Americans Month. And accepting will be Miss Jansancy Kimble, president and CEO of Nutrition and Services for Seniors. And I don't see uh Miss Kimell. Is anybody here to represent? Not, we'll get it to them. All right. And now we're going to move on to our last proclamation, but certainly not least, uh recognizing the month of April as child abuse awareness and forensics month. Uh Mrs. Brenda Garrison, executive uh executive founder uh and executive uh over the child abuse and forensic services. She'll be accepting along with anybody from your committee and the volunteers. Please

Yes, ma'am.

Mayor and members of the city council, thank you for bringing awareness to an issue that affects far too many of our children in our community. For nearly three decades, Child Abuse and Forensic Services has provided forensic medical examinations for adult and children of sexual assault. In 1996, CAFS was created by three determined nurses who recognized the importance of privacy and confidentiality of sexual assault victims and opened the first private facility in the state of Texas and remains one of only a few. This would not have been possible without the help and support of our community. Many many people don't realize, but approximately 75% of the patients that we see are children under the age of 12. That makes community awareness and support even more important. Child abuse and forensic services has examined over 5,000 victims of sexual assault since our inception. Our work would not be possible without partnerships with law enforcement, hospitals, advocates, all who work together to support victims. Thank you for helping to shine a light on the issue and for recognizing the importance of protecting the most vulnerable members of our community. Thank you.

Thank you. And before we move into public comment, I'm going to get Mr. Kenneth Coleman to come back up. We're going to get another picture. Uh

okay. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We're gonna do Wait, we're going to do another one for Okay, ready.

Now, nature, if y'all can come back up as well. out a little bit more. Just a little bit more. There we go. If you will take one step, Emily, this way. You stay there. Sorry. And then a little bit this way. You too. I sure will. Just trying to get you this way. Right there. And one more step this way. Okay. No, you're a little bit too far. Right there. Wait a little bit more. Okay. Now we have equist I think. Oh, yeah. I like the hand on the hip. Okay. Here we go. One, two, three. Good. Please

Did you Were you able to hear any of that? I did. Okay. And uh Councilman Crrenshaw, come on up. Well, we got we got this last bit of business if if anybody signed up to speak. No, sir. No one. Okay. I'll save you a few steps then. All right. At this point, uh the next proclamations and recognition presentation will be Tuesday, May 5th, 2026 at 10:30. We will now recess into executive session and we will reconvene down here at 1:30 to continue the meeting. Thank you.