City Council - Regular Meeting

microphone. O, there you go. They can't hear me. We got

Okay, it's Thursday, March 5th, 2026. Uh meeting is starting at 6:02 p.m. Uh the time is now 6:02 p.m. I will ask that you please silence your cell phones and council members. Um Troy Smith will give the invocation and then we'll conduct the pledge of allegiance. Please bow your heads. Dear heavenly father, Lord, it's another time we get to be blessed to be in your presence, God. And we just ask that you would uh that you would one just uh just have safety over us in all things that we do. God, we just ask that uh during our discussions tonight, God, whether here in front of everybody or in the back, we just ask God that you would just allow us to um speak speak peace, speak love, speak unity over the city and the things that we're talking about. We just ask God that you would just uh bless each one of us in our speech and that you would uh guide us in the in the right ways that uh that we need to help these citizens. And we ask all these in Jesus name. Amen.

Amen. Amen. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all. the Texas flagg to the Texas one state under God one and indivisible.

Okay. Okay. On mayor's announcement on March the 7th at 10:00 a.m. there will be a lowcost vaccine and registration clinic for pets here at the Keen Community Center. So, let your friends and neighbors know. And um then now uh we have one yellow card for public comments. Mr. Kevin Ramenelli. My name's Kevin Romanelli. I live in Gleonab in Cleburn, but I've been following Keen from when I lived here, when I was in Georgia, and now I'm back. You need to come up with some kind of dress code. Your YouTube camera is here and you've got one back here. And when people's shorts are hanging down this far, what camera's picking it up? It scared my daughter. She come out to the bedroom, saw the TV, and goes, "What is that?" Yeah, it's something needs to be addressed. If y'all can come up with something, I appreciate it. Thank you.

Well, thank you. Thank you for the comments. Okay. Does anyone else have anything they would like to say that didn't put in a yellow card? Okay. All right. Uh, we're going to go to reports. Um the city manager comments.

Uh yes. Good evening uh council citizens here and at home uh watching. Uh just just a few things. Um there's more than this list, but we'd be here a long time if we went over everything that our our uh directors are are doing as you all got to hear. Um I want to just thank uh our leadership team and of course council for taking time to come out to you know the first leadership uh training. Um, I'm hoping this will become an annual tradition that continues to grow, incorporating, uh, you know, our board members and everybody down the road. Um, the city has a long history of earmarking money in the budget for training but never using it. And I think a large part of that is because just the the constant instability and turnover. And so hopefully I again I just really want to thank you. I thought it was very productive. Um and um and and and again you're the ones that that are the face of the community and the community comes to you. So I think it's important that you are able to speak to what we are doing um for the city. So thank you very much. It was a lot of fun. Um you guys will notice there's big pile of dirt here that gets big and then gets torn down and gets big on ball field one. Um large part. Thank you uh Don Martin um for doing that kind of here and there. He he kind of digs the hole and then public works hauls off the dirt. So um this is in preparation. Again, one of the things we want to do besides make our parks nice and everything is actually bring programs to this community. Um at some point I'd love to see uh an actual community program, but for right now we're partnering with Joshua um Athletic Association. Um, so they're actually going to be investing in our fields to get them to not just, you know, play status, but actual professional status for for games and leagues and providing bases and all

those things. So, um, but that that field one um a little scary uh the the stuff that was underneath the the dirt, you know, rebar and those types of things. So, um been digging that down. that will also enable us to put the French drains in that we've been talking about to tie in to that drainage system, you know, that we've already put in place. So, that's actually moving along, I would say, faster than I was planning. So, a big thank you to uh the partner and again, they're opening it to our students. I was hoping to have a report on how many of our uh citizens, the children from our community signed up, but I haven't received that report yet. So, that will be forthcoming. Um and then uh just kind of the audit update uh as we talked about at training. Um we are running into more and more bumps because uh trial balances hadn't been done in four years. There's a lot of things that have not been done that is taking longer. It's making it harder for this audit to go smooth. Um big shout out to the finance department for continuing just to power through this because it is very frustrating. Um, and so, uh, you know, I I don't think we're going to finish both by the end of March. Um, I think it's trickle into April. But, um, I am appreciative of the new set of eyes that are actually looking um, so that when we do get a report on how we can better our tighten down our process and procedures. Um, once this is done, it it will go smoother moving forward. But right now, it is it is a little bit difficult. And then just lastly, I wanted to thank the community um and you for coming out to support Lisa Parish's recognition party. Um I thought it was a I thought it was a success and and a great way to you know just kind of end an era and so um just thank you all for coming to support and and the community that came out to uh just recognize her and tell her thank you. So, um, but I am excited for the future and things that are moving forward and and again, thank you very

much for for working together to just again put put into the heart of, you know, this community that we all love and and just want to be better. So, thank you very much. Thank you. Are there any other uh questions? Go ahead.

You good? I have a comment I'd like to make on the training that we that we did. Um, first of all, I want you I want you to know that this training was was amazing. So, we we I think all of us can say we learned a lot about each other um in that training. I mean, we had a great time. I did. So, I had a great time. We learned a lot about each department, which is which is key because I feel like the more we can connect with the departments in this city, uh the the better we're going to be able to make good decisions for this city going forward. and uh and to know that there is a lot of things in the works for this town for the good um is really exciting. So I and I just wanted to the comment is I just wanted to give a big shout out to our city manager for putting that together getting the directors together to feed us information. I don't think he understands how valuable it is for us to be soaking this information in as well as we as well as we could uh in the short time that we did. And so I just I just really want to just appreciate our city manager for putting all that together. So thank you.

It was my pleasure. Um it it was a lot of fun. There was a lot of food. A lot of food. Anyway, it was very nice. And I'd like to give a shout out to Carrie as well because behind the scenes, she did an awful lot of work in preparation and maybe there's others on your team. I don't know. Okay, Kevin. Yes. Thank you for what you did. That was it all came off very smoothly.

And I have a question on the on the audit. Did we switch auditors? Yeah, the the easy thing was going to be just to continue with the the one that we used for the last five years. And remember there was kind of some push back on it, but but best practices dictates that we switch after five years. And and again, there was um a lot of things that that they were doing. And again, I'm not they did a good job for our city. The problem was is I don't think they dug as deep as I would have liked. And so I'm thankful for the people that we have. Um you know, it's catch 22. I'm thankful, but at the same time, it's digging up more and more things that just again um that that need to be addressed. Um and and again, I'm very thankful to to our finance department for just just continuing to, you know, and and and again, you also remember we also have the IRS audit going on, too. And so every time we think we have that thing buttoned up, they're asking for something else. So, so really we have four audits going on at the same time right now. Um, so again, all very necessary. Um, and and once this is squared away, uh, I I will feel much better. You Here's the thing. I have no concerns. It's just what is the reality? You know, I I'm not I'm not worried about coming out of this audit and going, "Oh my goodness, the sky is falling." It's not. But but we need to know where our financial status is and how much money we really have so that that we know what we can get done. So

question um Jonathan would any of this all the different people that were coming and going at the time that things were started and didn't get finished and things like that that could have attributed to this? This is this is all trickle down effect. Like I said, 30, what is it? 35 directors in 5 years. You know, you have that much change, that means you're you're putting burden upon other people that it's not necessarily their job or what they're good at. And so, um it's it's it's just part of it. Um you know, uh the simple answer is yes. Okay? You know, so because yes, Charles was here for five years, but you know, he also had revolving door and people and

you know, and and about the time you get somebody trained and they move on. So that's for sure. Well, we got to do something to try to keep our good employees. We have a really good staff right now. I am so proud of everybody. Okay, any other questions of Mr. Sites? Okay, public hearing items. There's no public hearing scheduled for this meeting. So, we're going to go into the consent agenda. All items listed below have been previously discussed, require no deliberation or any routine by the city council, and may be enacted with one motion. Um, I have Holly read these items. Do we need to

Okay. Okay. Item A is consider approval of the minutes of the regular Keen City Council meeting held on February 5th, 2026. Consider approval of the memorandum of understanding between the Keen Police Department and the Keen ISD Police Department for the 2025 2026 school year. Consider approval of ordinance number 2026-691 updating the masonry requirements listed in ordinance number 2023665 as approved at the January 15, 2026 meeting. Consider receipt and acceptance of the Keen Police Department's 2025 racial profiling report. Consider approval of a resolution authorizing continued participation in the steering committee of cities served by Atmas. And consider approval of a resolution authorizing continued participation with the steering committee of cities served by Encore.

Okay. Council, will there be any discussion on any of these? Council, I need to remove item A for discussion for a correction. A. Well, I move that council approve the consent agenda as presented with the exception of item A. Second. Second. Okay. All those in favor? Okay.

Okay. Council, if you look on page two of um the meeting minutes, the ones that I had put in the packet did not complete the write up on um the financial report and so I wrote the last sentence. Um I needed to add to it the water and sewer fund and I did give you a copy of the updated minutes there. um water and sewer fund revenue increased by 30% compared to last year due largely to the public works department's hard work replacing faulty meters. So that sentence was left out in the packet version and I would like to add that to the approved version.

So the updated is in red on this other one. Updated in red. I make a motion. I make a motion we accept item A of the consent agenda with addition. Second. Okay. All those in favor. Okay.

Okay. General business items for discussion. uh to review, discuss, and take action on a resolution authorizing the submission of an application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the 2026 T Texas CDBG downtown revitalization program and authorizing the designation of a downtown district area. Council, is there any discussion on this item? Um we we do uh have Kristen here with NPI. She's going to be kind of presenting um uh kind of what we're recommending that we designate as downtown so that we can officially hit uh submit this uh grant application for next month. Right.

Okay. Kristen, thank you.

Mayor, council, city staff. My name is Kristen Bosel, public management. Um we were procured as the grant administrator for the downtown revitalization application. So, just to kind of give you guys just a general information, um this is the downtown revitalization program is an annual application and TVA has broken it up into a phase two phases. So, phase one is what we're in right now and that's where we kind of put our name in the hat, put Keen's name in the hat to um get a grant for a downtown revitalization application um grant. So, this is a $1 million grant and it does require a $50,000 match and um it is for enhancements in what is considered the downtown area and we'll kind of discuss that in a second, but just kind of wanted to give you an overall view of this. So, like I said, we're in phase one. If the city scores well, which we're predicting that the city would score well on this application, they would be invited back to a phase two, which is where you would actually develop a project that meets TDA's or Texas Department of Agriculture standards and then you would uh submit that and then you would be funded for a million dollars with a $50,000 match. So, that's just a kind of general information about the program. But what I'm here today about is the resolution that we need to pass during this phase one. And basically what that is stating, and it should be provided in your packet, but what that is stating is that the city is authorizing the submission of this phase one application and that they are committing to $50,000 in local match. Um, and then also the second part of that is the downtown designation. So, the city of Keen right as of right now does not have a downtown district. They don't have a downtown designation. Um, so this we've talked with city staff

and we've also been in contact with the Texas Department of Agriculture just to kind of get an idea of what can we do to designate a downtown area. And the map that is provided in your packet is kind of what we came up with. So, it starts north of City Hall and stretches all the way down to Fourth Street and kind of encompasses that area along uh the way which kind of has your historic area which might have been considered the general commerce but also encompasses the northern part. And the reason for this and after talking with TDA, the reason for this is we have to make sure that any um finalized grant is going to increase economic pedestrian economic activity. And so we kind of want to have more room for potential projects. So encompassing the northern part is going to allow us to actually possibly do park improvements because because of the uh KE's LMI, we can actually do park improvements. We can do road uh street improvements. Obviously not on a textile road, but we can do street improvements, sidewalk improvements, lighting. Um there's a pretty good list of things that we could do, but the reason that we kind of encompass the northern part and the southern part is it gives us a broader range of what we can do once if we are if the city of Keen is invited to a phase 2 application. So that just kind of gives some information on why this was chosen as the downtown district and it also it makes it easier for the future development if we were able to like pull that further south as as the city um develops. So that is kind of what where we are in this application process. So I'm open to any questions that you might have.

Kristen, may I ask you a question please? the the top part of this u map here that you have here. Um some of that's a Cleburn mailing address. Correct. Um so the red line is going to be your city limits. So that that red line on the map is the city limits. It's very possible that there could be a Cleburn mailing address. I know a lot of times it's based on where your closest PO like post office is. Um but I I mean we can confirm that for sure. Well, our excuse me, our city hall here is 76031, which is Keen is 76059, right? And I would like to see our city hall being keen.

That that that doesn't The important thing is if it's in the city limits. A lot of people think cities have control over that zip code and we don't. It's based on 911 and postal routes. And again, um, you know, we I know Phil Jackson really wants to see that happen and and I think everyone in Keen loves happen. The problem is is you're going up against the post, not just the post USPS, but you're also going against USPS unions.

And so, um, anytime you're entering into people's livelihoods. So, so again, it's something that can be attempted, but it's like I told Mr. Jackson, um, you only get one shot and after that you can't try again for 10 years. And so this the the zip codes have nothing to do with city limits per se. Um it's just postal routes on who services which building or location serves that part of the city. So Cleburn doesn't get any of the tax dollars off of any of that. No, it's still in King. It's still in King. It's outside the city limits just as long as they have to give us the money.

Yeah. No. So, and and just just to give you a little background here, um you know, moving here in 97, I know where you know, downtown kind of is. Um but you know, I know there's a lot of projects that the the park wants to do, the BB board. Um I know with the development back here, we're going to have to extend streets. And so, the nice thing about this because what is it? Our what do you PMI? LMI. LMI. Yeah. LMI. because of our LMI, it allows us to to to put a lot of this money into these projects that were already in the works, which ultimately makes it to where we don't have to spend as much money out of our budget. So, that's kind of the reasoning behind designating this as downtown.

That's good. Yes. So, say we submit this in I believe it's in April. What's the timeline for the next phase? So the phase one application is due April 3rd and then if the city is invited back for phase two, we will know that in about miday is when they send out those invitations. Sometimes it's a little later just depending on their funding and um just TDA's internal processes, but around May to June is when we should know whether or not the city is invited back for the phase two. And then that process would start immediately. Um, and then the the grant would start the beginning of next year. Okay. Thank you.

Do we have um I'm looking at the list and it looks like you can do just about anything except for the ineligible items which is building improvements or rehab, new construction or facade improvements. So, it seems like it's pretty wide open. Yes. um if and when we get approved on phase one, the timeline that it takes for us to say, "Oh, now we got to put something together." You know, now we got a quick So, who makes that decision? Is that going to be you guys? Are you bringing that to us? What does that what does that do?

Well, we we've already kind of started having those initial conversations because again, when you have development back here, you have a a narrow road with all these people. We we need to make better access points onto onto 22 uh 2280 as well as you know do some widening back here which so um ultimately you guys are council you get to decide but we are going to be coming with you for recommendations. Another case in point is uh the B board wants to see a skate park, right? And and to really do it right and do what's needed is about a half a million and if we can designate, you know, $250,000 from this grant to that half a million, that that in turn allows us to continue to extend, you know, add more lighting and, you know, all the other things that need to happen. So, um it's just kind of a trickle down uh effect. So,

okay. And that's kind of where we kind of help to um facilitate those conversations, too. So there's also public hearing that's required um during the phase 2 process where we get community input on what they would like to see. Um so it's a that this phase one they they've kind we're very happy that they broke it up because right now we can kind of put the name in the hat, see if they're going to invite the city back and then really from there really get going on developing a solid project. So all that is costing the city of Ken is $50,000. Correct. Which is pretty sweet. Yeah, it's real sweet. Yeah. This is the first round, the second round that they've increased it to a million dollars. So, it's a really great opportunity for that.

And and they actually made the recommendation to extend it down. So, again, if community comes back because our city's going to go through through growth and there's going to be areas that that grow more and change. And my big question was, well, what if in five years this is no longer downtown and now it's somewhere else? You know, this isn't something that is set in concrete for the next, you know, 50 years that we can't move. We can move and adjust. This just allows us to allocate these dollars to the areas that that the I would say the biggest cost projects are right now that helps us so that it's not just taxpayer money or sales tax revenue that's that's doing this. It's also helping you know the government's helping fund this. So

So if phase two is June, May, June, something like that, how soon will they determine, okay, you get the money? it doesn't start. The money doesn't get here until January, but when would we get the yes or no?

So, basically, if you were invited back for a phase two, you're not 100% guaranteed, but it's almost like a guarantee because they're saying you score well in these parameters. Now, if you can come up with a project that fits the TDA's um requirements and it's, you know, can find something to do in in your designated area, you're in a sense going to receive the funding. I see. The only reason that you wouldn't get that funding if you're invited back is if you're not hitting the milestones of doing the public hearing or you're not going and, you know, procuring an engineer and doing all the steps to get there. So, it's really the only reason you'd lose it is if you let the ball fall and that's why we're here to help facilitate everything.

Got I got another quick question. So, if if we get a million dollars, we can do a project that's more than that. We just need to pay the rest of what's there. Correct. essentially. Um when when we go to phase two, are we giving soft numbers or we have to go out for hard numbers for bid and disclose that information in that right in that phase two? What does that look like?

So if we're invited back, that's when we would start procurement um for an engineer. And so the engineer is going to be the one that would do the OPC. And so they're going to not necessarily get hard bids or anything like that, but they're going to give an estimate of cost. Okay. And like you said, we do we can go above, but we kind of want to find a project that fits close to the budget. Um, just because if we end up h having an OPC that's way above that, the city would then have to commit those additional dollars and at that point they would be kind of stuck into a percentage base. So then if something happened and bids came back lower, it would actually end up being to the city's detriment because they would end up losing a little bit of funds. So we really try to work with the engineer to get an OPC that's consistent with the project budget.

So what is the time frame on this? So the time frame for so phase one applications are due April 3rd and then phase two opens May and they're usually due around August somewhere in the fall. they we don't know hard deadlines until they open up the next phase and then after that um awards are made and then the actual grant start date would be February 1st of 27 and then that starts like a two-year period and and that's and that's why in order for us to move forward you have to be okay with designating this as our downtown otherwise

it's dead in the water. Yeah. So is this going to be yearly looked at for more money or is million it for? So this this is an annual application. So this one is the the downtown revitalization program is an annual application. So it is a yearly one. Now your scoring factor greatly depends on previous funding. So once you get one or two, it really reduces your score. So then you kind of have to wait for those cycles to fall off. So it's not something that you can just keep rolling in. But um you know there is an opportunity to get more than one but it's kind of once you get one that reduces your future score.

All right. Thank you. Is there any other discussion? Okay. Have we had one of these in the past? This to my knowledge this will be the first downtown revitalization um project and one of the reasons is that the it used to you had to have a designated downtown before you could do this. and TDA has kind of changed it the script a little bit for us to allow cities such as Keen who don't necessarily have a downtown district to designate it for the purposes of this grant. And so that's kind of opened up the door a little bit.

Believe it or not, this was something that we talked about I think soon after I started my position here and we we were looking at all kinds of different areas and but there's all these different requirements. You can't just say, "Okay, I want that to be downtown. there has to be a certain percentage that is commercial and all the different things, right? And so they were the ones that came back and recommended, hey, this is like a perfect place right here. So they their they they their recommendation is based on how it it helps us have a better chance of getting the grant. So how how large is this area? Is it a mile or

It's pretty large. I mean, it's a long stretch. Yeah. And so and that's why before I even came back to you guys, I took it to TDA and said, "Hey, at first we were kind of looking at just doing maybe just the top portion, the northern portion." Um, and that that's when TDA came back and said, "Well, you really need to make sure that it's going to drive pedestrian economic activity." And so being able to put both in there and and they also were cognizant and they said that they are aware of the fact that there are kind of interstate communities that don't have a tra traditional downtown and that's not a factor that's going to negatively impact the city at all. So that's why we kind of spread it out so that just because it broadens your opportunity for finding something that's going to fit the grant.

Okay. Thank you. Just a question. Do the people who are watching see the map that we're looking at? Okay. And I'd like to make a motion. Yes, sir. I move council approve resolution number 2026-496 authorizing the submission of an application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the 2026 TCDBG downtown revitalization program and authorizing the designation of a downtown district area. I'll second it. Okay. All those in favor.

Thank you very much. Thank you guys so much. Appreciate it. Appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.

Okay. We're going to review, discuss, and consider action on a resolution and agreement for allowing the use of city- owned property for use by a local nonprofit as a community garden space. Uh, council, is there any discussion on this?

Do we get access to what's grown there? I can't grow diddly squat, but I sure do like vegetables. Do we get suggest what's grown?

Um ju just for those out there um the city inherited a piece of property um that just has been vacant, hasn't been used. We've just been mowing and um uh so Jovita um approached the city. This is Jovita here. Um let her come up and introduce herself. um she has a heart for um for this and so it's really a Carrie uh and Don um you know per department there's there's been several meetings and and again it's one of those things that I think would be great for our community if if it if it can in fact work and um so this the city is basically letting them use the property um and so anyway I'll let I'll let her just introduce herself and

Okay, Hi, I'm Jovita Canyon and I live at 712 Alaska Street uh King, Texas. And I guess I'm kind of getting after what you say anyway. I'm trying to get uh because I love to cook and I love to uh grow food and uh that's two of my greatest passions. And y'all have to forgive me for a minute because I'm used to being in front of a YouTube camera by myself. And so now I got I mean I don't have this so I've got people looking back at me, you know. But anyway, I'm okay. You're doing fine.

You're doing fine. But anyway, um so um I did come with with and I met Jonathan coming down my street one day and I kind of told him and well I don't think you really got to see what I was doing because even what I have now took me over a year to do. I just started I already had pots and stuff. I'm doing a um uh I'm doing a container garden because I know where I'm living right now was not going to be my forever home. And so when I get ready to move, I put stuff in pots. And so that's basically what I have right now. And um we also have a garden out in uh Lillian, which is still Johnson County uh Berles. So we have a 15 bed raised garden on um on a friend of ours acres of land. So I started out in Kennedale and giving away food to people there and um by I guess an act of God I wound up here because I was kind of raised 7th Day Adventist and so to be you know so it's just all kind of coming together a little bit you know so it's like I'm here. So um I'm doing what I like to do and like they say bloom where you are. So, I started off with POTS and y'all should see me even today because you haven't even been to my house because I've been um Johnson County Probation Office is uh letting me have some people when they have work workers and I asked for them and so they've come out and helped me clean up a lot of stuff and and do a lot of things. So, you all are so welcome to come out and see what what we're doing. So that um my goal is to do the garden. Um so that I'm that I'm asking for. Yes.

Is this the five acres? No, this is where is this lot? Yeah, it's a it's a lot on um Texas Street. Yeah. And it happens to be around the corner from where I live. So that you know it was Santa Fe. That would be good. Well, it sounds like it's going to be an awesome thing. I love fresh fruits and vegetables, too. I love to cook, too. Have to get together and cook sometimes. But, um, yeah. So, are these all going to be above ground type planters?

Yes. So, well, the only thing that probably will be altered because we're going to be putting boxes there and we probably have to put mulch down and and so the mulch is going to disintegrate back into the ground basically. And um yeah, and the even the the boards we're hoping to do um we're we're hoping to do different kind of raised bed because our goal is to show people how to to survive. And like it looks from the looks of things, we need to all get back into gardening again. And and even if it's just on your patio or um you know, we show people different things. Right now I have micro greens growing in my little bitty house and so and you know it's just and it's fun. It's and gardening also too. It takes your mind off a lot of things and it's relaxing and exercise and so it's for it's for everybody the kids and you know especially them too because they need to they need to learn what we've been doing all along so they can get in there and get their hands dirty. And most of the kids that I've met, they're like as soon as I tell them about growing something, they're excited too. You know, when are we gonna do this? So, so I'm just um hoping that we can do what we need to do. And

so, it's a nonprofit. Yes. Are you're not going to be selling anything to where people can buy your

only thing that we probably do. Um because I've done the I've done the cookbook, which the money is going to go to the garden. Uh we got to do fundraising and uh yeah because we definitely need to do fundraising and anybody knows we're um we need to get started and so we have a few things to just start but we need to um it's getting this is already March and this year is flying by already so it'll be hot hot after a while so we want to start and I'm starting um starters and things right now as we speak. I've been working and trying to get some things together.

Maybe you could get some of the students down there to participate and help with it. Give Well, that's what I'm working on. I already sent the email u to the people that you gave me already and um so yeah, I need to um get it together. So, ma'am, how many people do you have uh actively involved in this? Um um right now it's the three of us. Well, maybe four. And then I have some other people that I'm talking to because I'm also part of um a group in uh Fort Worth called the Growers Association. Okay.

And so they've been out to tell me some stuff. And then I've met Junior at the um at the con conservation office before. So he's been out to where u to um where I am. and um who's all involved. Right now we're we're meeting people to uh and then uh so I'm waiting on FFA and the elementary school and so I will be putting stuff. That's why I'm waiting to I can't do anything until I know for sure, you know, that this is what we're going to do so that I can put it out there. Well, I think it'll grow a lot once people get to see it and look at it and um they want to help out. I think we good success there.

So, this is Nature's Open Door Outreach Services. Yes. Correct. Yes. Okay. Does anyone have any other questions or discussion on? I I do. Okay. You good? Go ahead. You You go ahead. I just have a So, is the city going to provide the water or are we gonna I was going to ask that. Yeah. So, so we're providing the land and the water and then they provide everything else. So, I I saw on the map that there is a structure there. Is it still there or is it a vacant lot now? Okay. It's only a little dumpy little Yeah, there there's not there that probably needs to come. The house is no longer there. No.

Like I see your plan that somebody drew up. Is there any of these little out buildings that are there? Any is there anything on that property? right now. No. Okay. So, it's a dirt line. No, it's a clear slate. Yeah, that's good. Brand new canvas.

Um, I did have one more question. I was looking at the contract, and the contract clearly states that, uh, the person that is going to be leasing it, which would be you, uh, or the entity, needs to have a million dollars in liability. Yeah, we're working on that one right now as we speak because I talked to someone and and um I have another person that um well, another entity that I've gone through before, but I haven't been able to get a hold of them yet. Everything's animated and takes time. So, it'll be um I'm working on it. Okay. I'm just I'm just making sure that we have all those in before we say yes to the dress here. You know what I mean?

Yes. So um I think that was all the questions I had. So now are the people who are working there are they supplying the materials and the equipment and stuff?

Well no we need to we need to do the fundraising. we need to do some hard fundraising and um some of the things we have already and then we're come coming with knowledge. So um we're waiting to see what FFA is coming up with and um and I don't know what the school if the school is going to do anything because I haven't talked to anybody yet. Yeah. So, um, basically that's why I want to do some fundraising so we can, um,

because we're already deciding on trying to figure out, of course, we got to go through our J chat GPT and so we're gonna um, soon as I find out, then yeah, we're working on it. Okay. On the back end, let you've got produce, you guys have, you know, produced all these things in the ground. What where what's the next step? Who who do do you guys put out uh uh some sort of information saying, "Hey, come get it." Is it at a specific place? Where where does the food go to that it gets distributed to other people?

It'll be decided on um well, everyone, you know, the whole group and also I'm supposed to be working with uh the coalition. I don't know if you know Barbara Yoda or not because they doing they're doing all the food banks and stuff. So I that's why we're looking for more land because we just have a little bit and if you're trying to grow two stocks of corn, you know, like how can you feed people with? So that's why we were trying to get the next garden so we can have some things growing. So we're hoping to have more um more seeds in the ground. That's why I'm doing some stuff now, but as soon as we get some more help and um uh get it growing, uh it just will be decided. Uh I guess we'll have a meeting on because we'll have like monthly reports, I'm sure,

to you know, to see what's going on. And board, right? Aren't you going to have a board? Yeah. Yeah. So well, that's what I'm saying. And I'm waiting on to see I'm waiting on FFA because I I want them I don't want it to be just our decision. So whoever else wants to join in as well to figure out and and I'll talk to the food banks and then um well there were a lot of the citizens here in Keen that wanted a gu a community garden um you know for here for quite some time. So, it's going to be a community garden to where this community can um benefit from it, right? Yes. Oh, yes. Okay.

Yeah. And it's all it's still even what we'll have at the other place because it's still Johnson County and Keen is a food desert and so is Lillian. So that's why it's better to u hopefully better to get grant money and things and donations because it is a food desert versus if it was some place like Cleveland that's got a Walmart and whatever you know. Yeah, that's a good deal. Does anyone have any other questions?

I wanted to I'm going to throw this out there for you and and I I love the concept. I love everything you're trying to do and I'm gonna be I'm just being super honest with you. I'd like to see a plan a formulated plan in place of how this is going to go. So, it's almost like I feel like you you kind of came here too early. I I would have liked to have seen the board already knowing what where and how they're going to distribute these things. So that way we as a council when we give something like this away, you know, for a specific amount of time, we know that it's going to be started right now, used right now, and helping people in the fall, summer, however the vegetables and, you know, fruits go, right? But so that's I'm just saying I feel like I feel like I don't want to say yes to this yet only because I don't feel like I'm getting all the information if that's

what kind of I mean because of where the food will be going because our our one of our main goals is to start this garden from scratch is to show other people because a lot of people uh I'm listening to a lot of people that I'm talking to they want to start gardens they don't know where to start. And that's the main main reason of starting this one so we can give away the food afterwards because um there will be other people that will be on board and they want to have hands on to see how to grow food themselves and also we'll be doing some other things like canning like after okay after you get the food what do you do with it and stuff. So we will have some classes as well and we do have a plan for that.

So you'll have some classes on canning and producing. Yes. And and storing and what to do after. We'll be showing people how to uh to get out there, put their seeds down. And like I said, the kids, they really love it because Okay, we got a pot and you know, how do you what do you do with this after you get it? you know, and in most cases, cuz I know even in my own family, my grandson brought home a bean plant from school and my daughter was texting me, "How do you do this?" You know, so it's like I'm coaching along the way to get to where we're going. And um and I'm sure we'll have something growing out there. Yeah. Don, did you have something that you wanted interject just for a moment? Hi. Hi. How are you?

I'm doing fine. Good. Good. Good.

Yes. when she first came to us, we explained a lot of that to her that um you know, and like uh we mentioned at the beginning, we just have this lot that public works goes and mows once a week. It does nothing for us. It's in the middle of this mobile home park and that's all we do. And she came to us with this idea. I said, "Well, I got a spot. We can try it." And we explained all these things to her that, you know, you're going to have to have your rules, your regulations, and we can supply the land. Jonathan said we can supply the water, which is just to grow the food. Um, and she she does know all those things you're saying. It's just this is the beginning. This is like she just mentioned, you know, the growing season has started already, so we're kind of behind the A-ball already.

So, before she goes and wastes more time and she needs to know, can she do this? If she can, this is kind of like a an experiment, so to speak, to get it started and get it going. It's just a small little lot. It's not like there's going to be, you know, a whole grocery store full of stuff. And it's a learning experience. That's why we reached out Carrie reached out to the Future Farmers of America to try to help too and get them involved. So hopefully that that clarifies it. Thank you. Helps ease your I understand your concerns. Yeah. I just don't want the city to But there is a plan. She spent a lot of time and effort putting together the plan. We've sent it to our attorney. Our attorney looked at it and it's actually very detailed.

And that's awesome. I just like and I I love the the f the picture that is here. I mean, it outlines everything that you're planning on doing. I think it's great. Um, I was just trying to make sure that I'm like, I'm asking some questions and you're not giving me wholehearted answers yet. And I'm just like, and then you're saying, yeah, the season's right now. And I'm like, but if we going to give you this, you kind of need to know exactly what you're doing. So yeah, it's it's kind of like a lease. You know, we're going to let them, you know, it's a lease agreement even though we're not charging them anything to let them use it for the community to so she can help educate the community

for the people that want to learn. And that's what it's about. And it's, you know, it's not going to be like the plan that she gave you this year. It's it's too late in the season, I believe. Yeah. To get all that stuff. It's not going to happen overnight. Really? Yeah. They still need part of it. You got to just like when you put a seed into the ground, you know, you're going to go, I got corn growing. I do. I got corn growing at my house right now. And I'm I'm more excited than anybody could ever be in this room because I got some growing in bottles and I got some growing and it's like, you know, and I tell other people, "Oh, I got grow, you know, I got corn growing at home right now." And everybody's going, "Oh, wow. Okay."

Yeah. you know, she still needs donations for tools and she has some of those. Uh she's going to need some of the sheds to to be out there to have the wood to build the boxes, the fertilizer, all that. So, this is the beginning stage, but before she goes through all that, she needs to know, are you willing to do that? Yeah. So, we just need to approve her tonight whether she can use the lot or not. Right. And come back next year. So, this is this is going to be a a little bit of a

a learning experience. So, we're okay. I'm I'm okay with that. I just was like, if this is all happening right this seconduction thingy because even what we've been doing over the years, we've uh just gone to people and um people want to buy, especially like greens. I don't know, we've sold a lot of greens and tomatoes and stuff, you know, that people come in to donate. We don't sell it really, but we it's donation. Yeah, the right language, but it's a donation so that we can grow some more.

I move council approve resolution number 2026-488 allowing the city to lease city property to Nature's Open Door Outreach Services, Inc. and approve the agreement for allowing the use of the related city-owned property for use as community garden space. Second. Who second it? Okay, I have a question. Can I ask for more discussion? Okay. Um, is there any more discussion? Yes. Hey, Don, did you are we is there water already tapped, ready to rock and roll? Is there anything we have to do to make it more accessible for them?

The only thing that would might be required is a backflow device. If they're going to have like a drip irrigation, we'd have to, you know, get a plumber and get that But other than that, it's it's there. You know, there used to be a house there. So, there's water, there's sewer, there's Okay. We've had all these discussions. No, I know. I'm just They didn't get brought up yet. So, but things that we talked about at the very beginning. Well, I need to get your name your number, ma'am, because I'm going to give my mother-in-law your number so that way she can help out. She's bored to death at my house. So, see already. Okay. I have a motion and a second. All those in favor. Okay.

Thank you, ma'am. Thank you. Thank you. Do some jalapeno peppers. Yeah. Taking requests.

Okay. Are y'all having Okay. We're going to review and discuss and consider action to approve Rob Foster, council member Ward One, to be the presiding member of council meeting should Mayor Pro Tim Gillan be absent and approve a resolution adding him as the second council member, excuse me, signature on to all city of Keem Bank accounts and Pinnacle Bank Council. Is there any discussion on this item? So council, this is um just general housekeeping going according to the adopted rules of order procedure that should the mayor and mayor prom be absent, the most senior presiding member would need to be voted in um to preside over meetings. So if we can just get either Mr. Foster or if he doesn't wish to do it, someone else selected going forward until we elect a mayor. We won't have to go through that process because it's already been done. But also, we need to add a second council member to our bank accounts because right now we only have Mayor Pro Tim Gillan. So, we need a second backup council member to be able to sign checks for payments of city business.

Okay. Do you want to do it, Rob? How do you feel about it, Rob? I'll give a shot. Okay. Okay. I'll make a motion to approve Rod Foster, council member Ward One, to be the provide presiding member of the council meeting should the mayor prom, Mrs. Gillan, be absent, and approve a rel resolution adding him as a second council member signatory to all city of Keen bank accounts at Pinnacle Bank. I'll second. Mr. Sean, that was you. Yes. Okay. I'm sorry I don't have much of a voice. I know how that goes. Thank you. Thank you.

Do we need a vote? Oh, all those who approve. You're good. Thank you. Oh, you abstain. Okay, Rob abstained. Why not? Well, you should. You should.

Yeah. Okay. Review and discuss and consider action to adopt a revised boards and commission membership appointment policy striking the section prohibiting council from being appointed to a board or a commission. Council, is there any discussion on this item?

I may introduce this item real quick. Um, so this is just being brought back to you as requested. Um, y'all had given direction to the attorney to bring a revision back. Um, now I think it was Mr. Smith had made a a motion to amend it the policy to allow council to be appointed to one board or commission and that did not pass. So the direction was given to just bring back a revision based on the discussion and according to our attorney she understood that to mean to strike that section. So that is the only difference between the policy y'all have and then this revision. You can either adopt this one or you can give further direction for a different revision, whichever you choose.

But this allows council people to be on one board. No, there's no, it just allows y'all to serve on boards. I'm sorry. It just allows y'all to be appointed two boards. There's no uh restriction. No restriction. Okay. Okay. Is there any discussion on this? Yes, ma'am. Okay. Mr. Chapman,

you know, I I think I've said this a couple of times. I just don't feel like that's a a good idea. Um, we have full boards right now. Um, I don't know why we have to address this again. Um, I just think it's a bad look and and I always will feel that way. Um, I know we all have good intentions and I know that the people we have up here are good people. Um, but I just think that's a look we don't need to have.

Thank you. I agree with Bob to a point. Uh, I just think that we need to worry about what we're doing and leave it open to other citizens because I know before back and I know Jonathan hates this, but back in the day, back when there used to be several councilmen and they made up all the boards also. And I know that was kind of frowned upon, but nobody would step up because they said, "Why should I step up and offer?" Because it's already taken. Council's going to take care of that.

So that's You mean that there were actually boards where all of them were council members? There was at least two to three council members on every board. So no quorums that going there? No. Okay. And that's why I was I was kind of like Bob, I'm kind of against it one way or the other. I don't think that anybody here would do anything unruling or against ethics, but to in my in my point of view, it's just better if we stay council and let other people fill the board members. Chuck,

so just so you know, it is actually recommended by the state of Texas that council members sit on type A and type B. So, it's it's recommended from our state that it's it's recommended. Also, I I I understand your point, Bob. I would like to see it as a reserve if we cannot and we've had this trouble in the past. Right now, we're in standing in good standing, but we've had trouble in the past where we can't get these boards filled. And if council can at least be an alternate to step in and get these boards filled, at least we have somebody who's willing to serve. we us up here, six of us and seven hopefully we'll get another person running for mayor. We volunteer. We we want to be we want to serve. So, we're willing and I get the point. And if there's other people that want to serve as as a council member, I'll I'll back off the board and turn into an alternate or off completely. So, I get it. Thank you.

Okay. You know, I uh I think that a reserve would be in in order. I think I do. I mean, if we're needed, we're needed. If we're not needed, we're not needed. So,

sorry about that, but I would I would I would approve it as as a reserve.

How do you feel, Mr. Foster? I'm glad you've asked as I was telling with the button over here. So I think I don't go to a board b. They don't meet when I'm available. And it's difficult to look at the minutes of a meeting and determine the nuances of what was discussed. But if one of my colleagues is at that board, they can say, "Hey, this was yes, it's a skate park at at the at the park, but half of it's going to be paid by the million-dollar grant or we're hoping to or you know, that kind of stuff makes me feel a lot better about what A and B are doing if I know the logic and the what kind of went into the decision."

Aren't those board meetings on TV? I didn't say that they weren't on TV. I said I don't have I just haven't had time to look at I mean I'll be honest guys I just haven't had time to look at A and B. So it'd be be nice if you were on the board or Chuck or somebody could say hey Rob this is the logic behind what they're why they're doing what they're doing. Well I can say that um for the year that I've been on council I've been at almost every one of the board meetings. So I'm I'd be a good person to talk to in that way. Are you not going to be on the board to do that? No, I don't want to be on board. Kidding.

That would be that would be against what I'm talking about. Okay. So, but I would look for a revision for a reserve. I think that is reasonable. I think we need to write a revision or have somebody write a revision, the attorney, whoever that the board, the council members are reserved in case the boards are not completely full and they can step in if needed. The terms the terms alternate, but alternate. Yes, alternate reserve. Alternate. Yes.

Excuse me. Mr. Kn, did you have something you wanted to say? you're having a very good discussion and I I risk interrupting that, but two items. One, there's a new feeling in town. There's a new excitement in town, a new excitement about this city council. And I would hate for you to discourage anybody who wants to serve at the level where they should start to work their way up. Type A, type B, planning, and and zoning. And if you're in those seats, then they're not. you're eliminated the possibility of that person serving. And the other I want to remind you is that you are on those boards because you have the final say whether you're sitting there or not, you're still a de facto member of every board A, B, planning and zoning because you have the final vote. So that puts you on that board. So I would hope that you would choose not to sit on those boards and give the residents a chance to serve.

Mr. Not. How do you feel about the reserve listing? I think it's a good idea. Okay. Thank you. Huh. Or I'll give you an example. I don't I'm not on the chamber board. I'm I'm on the board, but I don't vote. So, there you go. Okay. Paul, I have a question for you. Yes. And I think every time you've brought this up, I've asked you these people, the list of people that you had that that would be willing to serve, they never come and and fill out the paperwork or anything. We can't make them do that. I would love for them to come and do that. Right. And I thought about that and I I determined that I would say because they're not in the audience doesn't mean they're not interested. They have other things to do.

Well,

but many times council people have said, "Well, where are they?" You know, why aren't they sitting? Well, because they have faith in you. That's why they put you there. So, they have faith in what you're doing. And I think in my opinion, you have to recruit these people. You have to go after them, sit down one-on-one, take them to lunch and say, you need to be you need to be in in involved. Why don't you start at this level? There's an opening on type A. Why don't you apply for it? Open on type B, apply for it. Get started at at at that level. We have so many people who come in here and say, well, why is the university building that bridge when we have potholes to be fixed? And they do not understand how it works. They don't understand the basics that the university can do what they want with their property and where does that money come from that fixes the pothole. Yeah. They need to be educated on just those little nuances and then they're ready to serve.

So you think we need to way beyond my 30 seconds. You think that we need to set up some kind of a recruitment thing going? Give you a good example. Rolando Clundus is a good example. He's a smart guy and there's things that he could do for us. There's things I'm going to have him do for the chamber. Uh he's he's articulate. He's in intelligent. And he's is he on A or B? He's on a type A. Okay, good. That's where he belongs. But he's got he's got a future sitting right here. Well, yeah. He's he he

he's a really good man. He's very intelligent. Has he shown an interest? Well, let's let him serve on B. I mean, he's he's building a a a nice resume. Now, you're okay with with one person being on more than one board. Now, just a minute. What do you mean? Okay, he's on type A and type B. Can you be on A and B? No. No. I want somebody else there. I want one person, one vote, one board. I just wanted to clarify. Simple as that. I want to make it as accessible as possible for residents to serve. Yeah. The more the better. Well, he is excellent on type A board because his background is in industrial and stuff.

Yeah. So, thank you, Paul. Okay. Thank you, Paul.

Can I offer like I would hate to bring this back to the lawyer again and spend more money to try to do this. I feel like we're all fairly responsible up here and and and I and I like the reserve idea. I just don't want to have to spend the money and the time to do this. So, if we can be responsible with this, I'd let it pass the way it is. And if we need to be a reserve on a board, then then one of us bites the bullet and and helps out wherever necessary. I just don't want to have to bring this back again to a lawyer and go through all that. Holly can just rewrite it and write the reserve or alternate. Doesn't a lawyer have to write this up?

Can you do that, Holly? Sure. Um, I mean, but I will say the the attorney will review the wording. Yeah. But I can do the hard work of writing and just say, "Hey, read this." And see what their option is. Either way, the attorney needs to lay eyes on it. Can you tell them they have four minutes to look at it after you've finished it? Two and a half. Okay. So, is there any other discussion on this? Do we want to approve this or wait and approve it when Holly does her magic? Table it for now. Okay.

Table it until Holly gets it together. Is that what we're talking about? Okay. I didn't know if we were table until 2027 or Thank you. We need the motion on it. No, no, no. You gave direction to revise and we will bring it back. Okay. Thank you very much. And then revise with the res revise with the reservation or the uh is that a consensus? Do we are we all okay with that? Yeah, everybody's okay with that? Absolutely. See, look at us. Isn't that wonderful? Look at us. That training is paying off.

Pretty soon we'll be riding Harley's together, won't we? Come on. I rode mine today. Come on.

Okay. Uh, we're going to review, discuss, and approve the first reading of a resolution approving the following EDC type B project approved by the Keen Community Development Corporation. The purchase and installation of a skate park, the purchase and installation of specific sidewalks in the city, the naming of the pocket park to lose Aruso Park, and the purchase and installation of improvements to the park, the purchase and installation of additional secondary outdoor warning sirens, and the purchase and installation of additional lighting at Alisa Carver Park. And Holly, could you read the resolution, please?

Okay. City of Keane, Texas resolution number 2026-495, a resolution of City of Keen City Council, approving and authorizing the following type B projects. The King Community Development Corporation will provide funds for two additional outdoor secondary warning sirens, additional lighting to Eliza Carver Park, improvements to the LS Arzo Park, the creation of a skate park, and the addition of sidewalk to the city. Whereas the board of directors of the KCDC, a type B economic de development corporation, has initially approved the following projects subject to final approval after conducting a public hearing as required by law. To provide funds for the purchase and installation of a skate park and related amenities in the amount not to exceed 300,000. To provide funds for the purchase and installation of additional sidewalks in the city in the amount not to exceed 200,000. to provide funds for the improvement of the green space to be known as LS Arzo Park to be used as a community space in the amount not to exceed 50,000 to provide funds for the purchase and installation of secondary outdoor warning sirens in the amount not to exceed 100,000 and to provide funds for the install purchase and installation of additional lighting to the Eliza Carver Park Complex and parking in an amount not to exceed 194 4,000 here and after called the projects and whereas the board of directors of the KCDC found and determined that the projects are permissible projects pursuant to the development corporation act chapter 505 and whereas city of council of the city of Keen also finds and determines that the projects are permissible projects pursuant to the development corporation act chapter 505. Now therefore, it be it resolved by the city council of the city of Keen. Section one, that the findings

and premises contained in the preamble above are hereby deemed to be true and correct. Section two, the public hearings on the undertaking of the projects were held by the KCDC during a meeting of the board of directors and that notice of the public hearings was published as required by law. section three that this resolution will come back to the city council for final approval on a second reading after the board of directors has approved the projects after conducting the public hearing on the projects. Section four that the city council finds and determines that the projects are permissible projects pursuant to the development corporation act chapter 505 and the city council hereby approves and authorizes the projects as described in this resolution. The end.

God bless it. Okay. Is there any discussion on this resolution?

Yes, ma'am. I'd like to say a couple of things. Um, you know, I had the pleasure of sitting next to Councilman Smith at one of these meetings when they were talking about it um in the board meeting and um he brought up several really good good things about it. One of which I felt was the main thing is um most cities that uh we've investigated, they start skateboard parks at about 20,000 residents. Just not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze, I guess. Does that make sense? Um I know it's a big thing. People want it. Um I'm just not I'm just not sold on it. It's a lot of money for what you may see, you know, lawsuits from it. people get hurt. Um I I just I just don't know. In fact, I'm against it.

Any other discussion?

I've got a couple questions for both of our uh police and fire department if they if they've got a second. You guys have a second to come to the podium. I'll start with Chief Warner. So, Chief Warner, I was looking obviously I believe the site plan for this skate park is supposed to be across the bridge and basically where the old uh volleyball volleyball courts were at. Um, as far as an access, um, you know, I know that's going to take an extra little extra time for you guys to get over there to take care of an individual who might be injured, maybe severely, maybe not, but um, as far as time time goes, um, what do you see as potential risk for putting that over in that area? And I I'm I haven't spoken to you before and I'm asking you right off the cuff. We've never spoken about this. I'm just asking you your wholehearted opinion based on where that would be presented.

Uh I don't believe it's going to create any lengthy u issue as far as getting access that bridge that you were just now talking about. We've actually uh measured it and then uh taken a look at the load bearing weight that it could uh handle. I know for a fact that our ambulance can drive across that and so we've actually had that gate and the lock designs that we can if there is a lock we can still get in. So that would be the only hindrance that I can see uh that that one particular gate is open normally. Yeah.

When when the parks in operation so that's not a big issue. Additionally, uh we've been out there a few times when people have been injured in that area and access is not that big of an issue. If we have to, we still walk to gain access.

Okay, that was the only question I had for Chief Warner. So, thank you, Chief Warner. Mr. Steel, thanks for being here. And I know you're kind of stepping in for our chief, which I I know he's doing his thing over in another area right now. So, uh, but my question for you is, um, I was doing some research about the skate park, and one of the things that I found was the most common reason for putting in a skate park is to avoid skaters being in other areas

that they shouldn't be in. Um, and a city usually typically gets forced into putting in a skate park because of that, because the nuisances keep climbing. Do you do you with all the records that keep coming into our city as far as phone calls and whatnot, do we get any phone calls about skate skaters being disruptive and being disorderly in in places that that they're not supposed to be?

Well, I would be remiss to say no because you do, you know, but is it a common thing? No. It's not something that is all the time in the forefront where we're having to respond to deal with. Now, it there is times depending on, you know, uh school being in session, being out, the different, you know, holidays. I mean, there's obviously times where you have more groups of adolescence together than you normally would. And those times peak some of those responses, but not just with skateboarding, but with all kinds of other things as well. So, um, you know, I guess I'd have to qualify my answer to say it just depends on the situational time, but it's not common. It's not an everyday thing that we're dealing with. So, it's a more or less it's just basically the it's not the norm. It's just exception.

Carrie has a question. Yes. Good evening. Um, to uh Mr. Steel's point. I know at the bank they do run off skaters quite a bit because that's a giant parking lot. There's curbs that they like to I learned a new word. They like to rail on those curbs. Um but the bank does run them off quite a bit. Uh and especially in the drive-through area because it is dangerous there. Yeah. And they're busting the cement. So um I know personally I have run them off from the bank instead of calling. Yeah. we don't get notified.

Yeah. And I should quantify my answer because I know it's it's no longer just skateboards, but it's bicycles, it's scooters, motorized or not, you know. So, I know there's several different apparatuses you can use in a skate park now. Um, so I should add that to my to my list. Um, my other concern was um that we uh if we do this skate park, I worry about, you know, the fun stuff that comes with it. You know, the the hanging, you know, kids hanging out and they're selling things they shouldn't and and doing things they shouldn't. So, I worry about the safe the safety aspect of um what goes on across that across that bridge and to the left, you know, and the responses that you guys are going to continue to receive in that regard. So, um is that I mean, if I'm just looking at it objectively, if you have a designated area where you're you know these people are out there enjoying that recreational thing, not having to worry about somebody running them off, not having to about hiding or whatever. They're just out there having fun. Now, it doesn't matter if you're playing pickle ball, if you're out there playing basketball. I mean, you got people grouped together doing something they want to do. So, from a police standpoint, I don't see the difference.

Okay. All right. Thank you, sir. Yes, sir.

Is there any more discussion on this? I had a question for Jonathan. We were talking about those benches last meeting. Is that part of this? The benches for the Sonic, all the benches for everything down 2280. No, this this is totally different.

Yeah, we're only doing the one bench right now, which the pad is there. the bench has been delivered and as of today the memorial plaque was actually delivered as well. So, um I know that that's a discussion item, but again trying to do things the right way, um I'm not sure we ever actually went through the public hearing process and all that thing. So, so the hard thing that we're trying to do right now is um you know when I go back and review the last several years, there's a lot of things that have been talked about, but we've never followed the specific procedures for that to be done. So, that's this is kind of we're we're doing the right thing now. So, I believe that will come up again. Okay. Um but this and this goes back to even the audit like man and if we talk about all the things is that money overlapping is it you know so um so the the simple answer is no. Um there is a bench that we would like to model going forward with future benches. Um but the important thing right now is to take care of one of our residents that had to suffer a very um a very sad uh incident. So um no. Yeah, thank you. I wanted to bring up one more thing. I'm sorry. I know you're going for your mic there. Um, one thing that uh I' I've lived in Idaho. I've lived in Las Vegas. And one one common denominator for the skate park was to have a way to get to the skate park. And and I brought this up in the uh in at the at the public hearing with type B as well was and I see that it's on the list. So, I appreciate the fact that they're trying to get sidewalks to these designated areas to connect the loop, so to speak. Uh, but we haven't connected that loop yet. And so, I feel like in order for skaters to get to a skate park, they want to

skateboard to the skate park. Nobody wants to ride, you know, or carry a skateboard or a scooter across uh or or try to ride on on some of the city streets we've got to get to the skate park. So, I I kind of feel as if the priority would need to be the sidewalks more than the actual skate park, if I can say that eloquently.

And and I would say it's happening simultaneously. So, obviously, Bard is earmarked dollars for sidewalks. Um and and I like you would like to see our parks connected and and the good news is there's a large chunk of sidewalks that's already in place. Part of the reason for the downtown revitalization grant is um and then of course conversations that you know that I'm kind of having with the university is you know maybe we can partner and so it's it's really bringing all those funds together um so that we can try to get it done quicker instead of 50 feet at a time kind of thing. So, um, by incorporating those dollars in different different allocations, we we can try to make that connect because again, you know, we really only have two parks. I'd really like to see those two parks connected with sidewalks. So, in reading the minutes of the board meeting, it was mentioned here that there were a few students, several high school school students who were speaking in favor of the park, but I remember a couple years ago we were talking about putting in a splash pad out there at the park, which I don't remember how much that was. I'm thinking it. Does anybody remember? Don, do you remember?

Yeah. uh seemed like it probably was about the same price, if you will, as the skate park. It would serve, I feel like, a lot more of the citizens of Keen than the skate park would. And the sidewalk would still be a great addition to that facility. I'd agree. One of the I I know during the public hearing it was shared that uh skate park was at the bottom of the list of things that keen citizens wanted. So, um, to override our keen citizens would be, um, adverse of us for sure. Chuck,

I hope I remember all these things I've been thinking about. Um, the water park over skate park. Uh, water park you can only use so many months out of the year. Skate park you can use year round. Um, Troy, what was you just saying? What was I just talking about? the fact that it was Okay, so that that survey was done on Facebook, not on Instagram, and the kids aren't on Facebook anymore. They're just not. Uh and then as far as uh liabilities from the city, we've already our attorneys already told us we're cleared from liability as long as we have the signage up. They can't sue the city because they break their leg on on a city park. I'm sorry. You said a sign

signage. Signage. You put a sign up. This that'll take care of it. That'll take care of it. Yeah. this a city a sign up said a city is not liable for any injuries on this skate park. So u I think it's a viable thing. I think it's a good thing. Uh the other one was uh people want to skate to it. I know a pastor friend of mine that lives in Clebron takes his family to I believe it's Benbrook because they have a skate park there. He gets in his car and drives. So not everybody wants to skate there. There are adults that do it just like pickle ball Troy. know there's adults that skate still. Well, because they grew up doing it when they were younger. Well, and I'm thinking about the kids, right? Kids just want to skate right to the skate park and

Well, and I see them walking with their skateboard to the park and they're on the sidewalks. They're all over the city. So, that's a good thing. I believe you don't feel like waiting till we get bigger to do something like that. No. Well, what's the reason? Why would you want to wait for something we can do right now? Make make us unique. We can get a jump on it and get ahead of it. And we do have a university here that they may enjoy doing things like that. While while I was in Colorado last year, I was in Creed, Colorado. Creed, Colorado, I believe, is smaller than Keen. They have a skatepark. I've got pictures. I'll show you later. Pretty nice.

Okay. And Don,

yes. just kind of on the uh the reason we kind of shied away from the water park was not only the seasonal thing. It was more of the water thing. It would take a bit of water. My my original plan was to use keep it small, use a small small amount of water and let it go into the creek and just be gone. But then you they wanted to go bigger. Well, once you start going bigger, you're talking a lot more water, a lot more treatment. You have to do it just like your your water in your house. You have to treat it chemically, have to be recycled, a lot of maintenance. Whereas a skate park is probably minimal maintenance and upkeep. Where with the water park, it would be daily, weekly, monthly, you know, with the water and the contamination and filters and cleaning and and things like that. So,

I don't know much about skateboard parks, but do they need maintenance? Do does it do the walls chip due to you know pores you know on how it's built? You know the the one I originally looked at and the one I proposed to be board in the beginning was you know start out with a flat concrete pad and then use ramps. They're made out of steel and wood. Those would need some maintenance over time. Well, one of the board members wants to look into going with concrete, you know, like swimming pools and the half pikes and the whatever you call it, you know. So that would need less maintenance, but it it would need some over time, but not like a water park would. And

it's like Carrie was saying too, like they they rail on the curbs. Well, that's concrete. They're not made to rail, so therefore they do chip. Whereas with these things, you know, they line them with actual steel curb, right? And put steel strips on, right? Okay. That's

So it's they're And again, I was up at um Canon Beach this this well, a year ago, I guess, and I did did the same thing. It was a small It's a small little community. Went over. They had a really nice nice park. And I'll I'll share with you kind of a fun story. Uh when I was at the city manager training last week, um uh Weatherford had a skate park and it was it it was an old not nice, you know, it wasn't nice. Didn't have all the latest greatest like this one would have of course. And it was that place that people went to get their drugs and all those things. and it was a couple that came forward and actually started a community and they actually raised $800,000 and grants and all those things and now it's a thriving thing. So, I think it it comes down to um is is it lit? Is it is it purposeful to serve the people that actually want to do it? Because I'll tell you right now, I was never a skater, but back when I was a dumb young teenager, I didn't need a skate park to find drugs, you know. um it's it's it's what you look for um in the community and so I I think the more things we provide to our community that they're passionate about and they care about that sends a strong message for our community.

I would agree too, you know, and it's it's like basketball, you know, we got two basketball courts. Do we have 300 basketball players in town? They really enjoy that basketball. I mean, they do. Yes. and they get used. But you know, you know the art, you know, the the thing Mr. Smith was saying was he doesn't think the town's big enough for skate park. Well, we had eight, nine, 10 kids here just that one day. You know, that we're all for it. Don, would you say it's less maintenance in a baseball field? Oh, yeah. Yes. Yes. Thank you for your work on that field, by the way.

Yeah, I'm getting there. So, size-wise, do we have a do we have an approximate size that they're thinking about? It depends. It depends on the money. Like I said, the one I did, you know, starting out was going to be I think it was going to be about 60,000 for the concrete and slightly less than a hundred for two or three obstacles to put up and then, you know, you could add to that as time went by. It all depends. You know, we still have to go out for bids. We still got to look at all that. But the first step in this is

we did the public hearings now. We're doing the resolutions and we have to do the two readings, you know. So it's still going to have to come back and go this is what they want. This is how much going to cost. Do you guys still want to do this? Bard will have to approve it and so will council. So it's not like if you say yes, it's a done deal today. It's just you're earmarking the money for it. How much money do we have earmarked for it so far? 300,000. Is that what I'm not to exceed for the skate park? Yes. And 200 for sidewalks, 50 for the pocket park, the loarazza park. Okay. And this is all type B money.

Correct. And they have 700 plus thousand or at right at about $700,000 in their in their account. Yeah. Well, they've done a lot of really good things for our city. So nice. And let me ask you something. Did all the board members vote unanimously for that skateboard park? Um, it's in the minutes. I was going to look that up. You had a question, Mr. Foster. Paperwork right in our report. Yeah. What is going to be done for the loazzo park?

Uh, that's kind of what Carrie's been working on. We're looking at different things. They kind of gave us direction. You know, here's 50 grand. Let's do something. She's looking at Go ahead. I'll let her I want to steal her thunder. She's been working hard. Does it include a labyrinth? It does not include Paul's labyrinth at this time. Um, it will have um I believe we have two lights so we can light it up a little bit, a swing set, ground cover um and the sidewalks, picnic table. Say that again. Didn't we do a picnic table, wasn't it in that? Yes, sorry. And a picnic table with concrete pad underneath it. And I think that also includes um fencing around it. Correct. Correct. and fencing around it. Dog park.

No dog park. It'll be open in the front. So, it'll be three side fencing at this time. That can always be changed at a later time, too. It's just this is the to get it started. So, it's more than just grass. And while we were out there looking, the lady that lives next door, her grandchildren visit her quite frequently and they have picnics in the park and she is extremely excited to see people out there and hopefully get something to do. So,

um I'm going to ask about uh the sirens. Did they they did they actually pick spots where they wanted the second siren to go? Look at this. Here comes the chief. still working on it. Um we've actually selected two different sites and so um one of those had been in the planning from inception what five six years ago. Okay. So we with this if the resolution passes I believe we have another meeting where we're going to discuss it and then after that we could uh look at moving forward. Okay. So that would in total give us three outdoor warning sirens. Currently, we only have one.

Currently, we only have one. That's on South College. Okay. And the other two sites are right next to the water tower on Old Mansfield Road on the north side. And on the south side, it'd be at Wallen Park, actually, not too very far from the uh community garden that we talked about earlier. Okay. Then the plans are that we could potentially expand going east and west in the future.

Okay. I think I was there on that count on that type B meeting where you all discussed that. But for transparency, it's nice that the citizens at home can hear it and understand where it's going to be at. So that's awesome. Okay. Is there any more discussion on this? Uh, are we wanting to um vote with the skate park in here or do we want to put the skate park as it is? Leave it as it is. Yes. Okay. Do we have a motion?

I move council approve the first reading of resolution number 2026-495, approving of the Keen EDC type B board project expenditures and naming of LSE Arouso Park. I second. Okay. Okay. All those in favor. You abstain. Oh, no. I'm saying no. I'm sorry. I'm saying no. You're saying no. Okay.

Okay. It's been passed. Okay. uh review, discuss, and consider approval of reappointments of Donnie Bon, Daniel Gaings, Gary Hinrich, and Nelly Youngberg to the EDC type B board for a two-year term ending March 2028. Is there any discussion on this item? No. Okay. Do we have a motion? I move council approve the reappoints of Donnie Bon, Daniel Gatherings, Gary Hinrich, and Nelly Youngberg for another two-year term on the EDC type B board. Second. Okay. All those in favor?

Hey, Holly, I saw that they didn't do applications. Did or they're not in our packet, but did they fill out new applications? I haven't for reappointments. I haven't been requiring it unless there's any kind of change. Oh, every time I've had to reapply, I've had to. So, that's weird.

Creates more paper. Okay. Uh, review, discuss, and consider approval of reappoints of Stephanie Flannry, Gilbert Perez, and Carter Schwartz to the planning and zoning commission for a two-year term ending March 15, 2028. Council, is there any discussion on this item? I'll I'll move that uh that we reappoint Stephanie Flannry, Gilbert Perez, and Carter Schwarz to the Planning and Zoning Commission for two years ending March 15, 2028.

Second. Okay. All those in favor? Okay. Okay. There is no executive session scheduled for the evening, so we will skip the agenda. Item 10. Uh, are there any requests for future agenda items? I have a question. I don't know if we can answer it or if we can try to go future. There's five type A and seven type B. Is that the correct number? And no vacancies. Okay.

Okay. Go ahead. I'd like to uh follow up on Kevin's suggestion that we do write a dress code into our uh rules of procedure. Yeah, I remember uh Mr. Heinrich was pretty adamant about no hats and things like that and so I' I've seen other people wear them so I'd like to see that be addressed as well. So now is that a dress code for us or everyone in this room? It should be anybody in council. Yeah. Anybody in the chambers? in the chambers. We're talking chamber chamber dress codes during meeting and or special meetings, whatever the case may be. I like it.

Did we um did we have executive session and it got pulled off? No. Okay. Okay. Are there any other agenda items for the future? I'll make a motion to adjurnn. Second. Meeting is adjourned at 7:38