City Council - Regular Meeting

Council for June 10, 2026. I see that everyone except Councilman Pollard is here. He is on excused absence tonight. We're gonna stand up and say the Pledge of Allegiance followed by an invocation.

Volunteer for an invocation That's right

Father God, we come to you in the name of Jesus Christ. Thank you so much, Lord, for this day. Thank you, Father, for the hearts that are gathered here with an eye on our neighbors and a way to keep ourselves together and focused and doing the best we can for our community. Bless the work that's done here, Father, and let your presence lead us all. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen. Amen.

Thank you. We're going to move to item number five, citizens forum. Citizens are invited to speak for three minutes on matters related to city government that relate to agenda or non-agenda items. Speakers are asked to approach the podium and give their name and address before sharing their comments. In accordance with the Texas Open Meetings Act, responses to citizens' comments by members of the city council or any board or commission subject to the act are limited to statements of specific factual information or recitations of existing policy. Any deliberation or decision shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject on a future agenda. We have one speaker, Ron Rainmaker.

Hello, everybody. I'm here to oppose the proposed sidewalk on the Shenandoah side of Grogan's Mill. This opposition is aligned with Council's most recent position opposing an expansion of Grogan's Mill and the Woodlands up to Research Forest. There's already a sidewalk on the Woodlands side. This project duplicates existing infrastructure while imposing real impacts on Shenandoah residents in a residential area through clearing, grubbing, and loss of natural vegetation. But let's address the elephant in the room. It's not simply a pedestrian improvement, it's preparing the corridor for future expansion. By clearing and formalizing the edge of the roadway, remove the very barriers that would otherwise slow and complicate a future widening project. So the key question is simple, is this the first step in widening Grogan's Mill through Shenandoah? Because this council's already taken a clear position approving a resolution opposing the widening of Grogan's Mill within the Woodlands. So I'm asking, will this council oppose Grogan's Mill widening within Shenandoah? Will you commit to adopting a similar resolution as you did for the Woodlands? And will you coordinate with the Woodlands to jointly oppose any widening along this corridor? Approving this project without answering those questions creates the appearance that incremental steps are being taken toward a larger project the public has not been informed about. That's the core concern, not just the cost and the duplication, but the transparency and the intent. At a time when the city already has significant capital project commitments, we should not advance projects that duplicate existing infrastructure or serve as the first phase of a larger roadway expansion. For these reasons, I urge council to terminate this project as currently proposed, clarify on the record whether widening is being considered, and adopt a formal resolution opposing and widening Grokens Mill in Shenandoah consistent with your prior position. If the council stands by its prior position, then it should act with the same clarity and conviction because Shenandoah residents deserve nothing less. Also in 2017, council removed both the widening of Grogan's Mill and the bridge over I-45 connecting Vision Park with Shenandoah Park Drive from our mobility plan. Or is that back in play too? Thanks.

Thank you, Rob.

All right, thank you. We're gonna move on to the consent agenda. Discussion of possible legend to adopt the minutes of First of all, can I get a motion to approve the consent? We have a motion to approve the consent agenda By councilman Robinson and seconded by the councilman summerall All in favor say aye aye opposed Motion carries. Individual consideration item number six, discussion of possible action to adopt the following resolution. A resolution of the City Council of the City of Shenandoah, Texas, establishing the position of Assistant City Administrator, authorizing the City Administrator to take all necessary actions to implement the position. City Administrator.

Good evening, Mayor and Council. This resolution is to establish an assistant city administrator position. This position would work under the direction of the city administrator. This will help city staff with support efficient operations and strengthening executive leadership capacity. In addition to that, this will help with interdepartmental coordination, create efficiencies within our City for policy initiatives planning oversight and strengthening our administrative leadership During my two months here my evaluation of the city has been this as a small city It operates like a big city and for us to have a strategic outlook And for this city to grow into this capacity. I feel it's necessary to have this position Now and also for the future so happy to answer any questions you may have I

I'd like to comment. I think this is excellent. I really like the way you've laid this out from an organizational structure. I think it's needed.

I concur.

As do I.

Any other comments? Any questions? All right. I'll entertain a motion.

Well, I move that we approve the resolution as presented to council.

We have a motion to approve the resolution as prepared. Can I get a second? I second. By Councilman Robinson, seconded by Councilman Summerlin. Any discussion? Other than the discussion already stated.

Oh, yeah, sure. I want to strongly reject the factual assertion that there's a secret agenda behind any sidewalks. You're allowed to state the fact.

The fact is... To stick to this item on the agenda. We can discuss that another time. All right. If none... All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Item number seven, discussion of possible action to approve changes to the policy.

Thank you, Mayor. I will take this item as well. So our current policy is when we have a Vacancies within the city. We have a policy to post a position for two for two weeks and that allows us for appropriate recruitment and evaluation of candidates now and certain Situations as what we're proposing tonight is to do a reorganization of our city and that's an organization of operations so when you have succession planning in place and you have individuals that are capable of fulfilling those roles, I feel it's necessary for the city administrator to make a recommendation based on a policy that can bypass that two-week posting of a position. And so what this policy would do would allow the city administrator to make recommendations to council because you have the final authority to approve any appointments from a senior management position. and have that succession planning in place for that. Now, if the city did not have individuals and we did not have that succession planning, we would still do the full recruitment required per the policy. And so that is what this policy is I bring for you today for approval. Happy to answer any questions.

So Sam, what you're basically saying is you just want the opportunity to do that, but yet the policy still remains the same.

Correct. In the event we have a reorganization, we have folks that are, we have candidates that are capable and able to fulfill those roles i can make those appointments or recommendations to you as the council the ordinance still states that you have the final approval that does not change but it speeds up the process on making appointments now if we didn't have that in those candidates in place we would go out for a full two-week recruitment that's what i want to make sure of yesterday that and the fact that you would come to council with that recommendation absolutely all right

Thanks for that clarification.

Yeah. I think this is one of the standards of best practices in today's world of public administration, frankly, and I wholeheartedly support that.

All right. I'll entertain a motion.

Move and accept.

May you make a motion? A motion to approve the changes to the policy by Councilman Summerall. I'll second. Seconded by Councilman Summerlin. Any discussion? If not, all in favor say aye.

Aye.

Opposed? Motion carries. Number eight, discussion of possible action to approve purchase from the equipment replacement fund.

Mayor and council, as you'll see in your agenda pack, this is a request to approve a John Deere tractor from the equipment replacement fund for the wastewater treatment plant. The current 2005 Kubota tractor has become inoperable. The tractor that is over there is mainly used to move the biosolids box around at that treatment plant. It is also used for emergency services, such as during the hurricane, it can help move trees, some other items. So it has a multi-use purpose, but primarily its main job is to move that biosolids box around. We did obtain quotes, and the best pricing we got was on buy board for John Deere, and it also includes a loader and a pallet fork. The only thing I do want to note is that the contribution to the equipment placement fund for this tractor is less than what the cost is. Um, it's just a little bit over $11,000 for the funded differential. Um, so the additional funding will come from the water sewer fund, but we are going to list the inoperable Kubota onto gov deals, um, and see what any residual value we can get from that. And then it will go back towards that equipment placement fund to offset the differential as much as we can. Um, there's any questions Joseph's here to answer that about this purchase.

Well, shouldn't it, if there's enough funds in the equipment replacement fund, shouldn't that, whatever you get out of the actual cash value of the Kubota go to fund 600 rather than?

Well, we could put it back in there and then, because at the end of the year I'll true up that transfer amount. So whatever we get from that sale will go into the current placement fund and then I'll take the difference from there and Transfer it over from the water sewer fund. We probably will not get the whole 11,000 for that No, I don't yeah It doesn't run but we're hoping that we can get some part some someone might be looking for some parts or just the scrap or you know On that older tractor try to get as much money as we can. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah We did try to trade it in they say no

They said they'd give us a little bit, but it wasn't enough. We'll go with no deals.

All right.

Can I get a motion? Can I give another clarification on this? On the, when you made, the difference of this, was this an anticipated amount?

So, the equipment placement fund wasn't created until 2013. Okay. And that's when they started to print contributions for some of these larger items. As we've seen the past couple years, inflation and other factors have drove some of these costs up. The departments are all reviewing their current contribution schedules, and I will be working with them for the final budget, going forward to see how we need to true up here and there to add more contribution. This one, just the age of the tractor, it's a 2005. So it was already behind almost eight years when they started contributing. So this one's a little bit weird, but we will All the other stuff, we're looking at reworking it up to get to a better contribution rate.

Now, you also mentioned a couple of other items with it. Yes. That wasn't taken into consideration.

I'm not totally sure because that was before my time here when they set those schedules up. Got it. And you were probably just getting over into public works at that point.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And the fork and the loader, that's just essential for using that tractor for what we use it for.

Got it.

Yep. Maybe if we'd gone another Kubota get her used it, but I don't know if I would have recommended that at the age of those equipment Yeah, okay.

Thank you Motion to approve the purchase from the equipment replacement fund for the John Deere loader So I can do we have a motion to approve but kind of constantly brought seconded by customer Robinson any additional discussion

If not, all in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Item number nine, discussion of possible action to appoint members of the Investment Policy Committee and the Audit Committee.

with the recent departure of Councilman former councilmember rain Ron Rainmaker we do have two vacancies on two financial committees the first is going to be the best investment policy committee and the second is the audit committee on the investment policy committee has been around since for a long time is required by the public funds act the audit committee was created in 2018 at the request of Council I did reach out to all of you individually to see if there was a willing to serve and I did receive several Participants who wanted to you know be on these committees But I do Had me I recommend the final appointments, but these can change. It's up to you to make these appointments. But Council Member Jim Pollard, who's not here tonight, was interested to serve on the Investment Policy Committee, and then Council Member Frank Robinson for the Audit Committee. So I did list those in here for you. They are willing to serve. And I do want to thank Council Member Summerlin for also having an interest to serve.

All right. Can I get a motion?

I'll make a motion that we accept as stated.

There's a motion to approve it as stated by Councilman Summerlin. Seconded?

I'll second.

By Councilman Summerall. Any additional discussion? Thank you, gentlemen, for volunteering for this. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed? Motion carries. Item number 10, city administrator updates.

Thank you, Mayor. I don't have any updates other than I'm still on my constant contact campaign. So I encourage all of the residents to take advantage of the constant contact application that we have on our website if you click on our website you will see the flag that asks you to enter your email address as you all know y'all have received those on a weekly basis great information about what's going on around the city and we are building more content to add to that application so I encourage all the citizens to take advantage of that free service that we offer to the community and that's all I have for tonight thank you

We're going to move on to council inquiry. Okay, now.

Yeah, with respect to the insinuation that there is a secret agenda, I want to respond per our policy with statements of fact and law pursuant to our policy section 551.007 of the government code that was required. Fact, the sidewalk item was proposed on the council agenda at least 72 hours in advance as required by section 551.043. of the Texas Open Meetings Act, and it was discussed and voted upon in open session on the record. Law, the Open Meetings Act prohibits this council from deliberating city business outside of posted public meetings. Sections 551.143 makes it a criminal offense for members to deliberate in numbers less than a quorum to circumvent the act. Section 551.141 makes participation in an unlawful closed meeting punishable by fine and confinement. That I'm aware of, no deliberation on this item has occurred outside of posted open meetings. Every record related to this item, agendas, minutes, correspondences, is subject to the Texas Public Information Act. And any member of the public may request, any member may request, even Mr. Redmaker, and inspect them. The record on this item is public, complete, and available to anyone who asks, as far as I know. Just so we can always take facts. Facts are, to the best of my knowledge, we're not having secret meetings about sidewalks.

Cosmo Sullivan. Nothing if it's not. Thank you.

Well, I'll address the sidewalks on Grove as well. The first thing that I noticed about it was, and we just looked at a 10-year sit plan, and it's not on there at all. Okay. and it's $750,000, and all of a sudden, boom, it's here. I question that, okay? I haven't talked to anybody, but that's what I question, and that's what I took from what Mr. Rainmaker was talking about. I don't know about any secret meetings either.

The insinuation that this council would work contrary to the law I find offensive as a council member. And to insinuate that there are secret meetings is contrary to the law, as far as I understand it. That's fine. I'm not disputing what you said. You know what I mean? Or hiding this. And then what on the record? That's what I'm saying. I just said I didn't take what you said. I understand.

That's all I mean.

I'm good. I want to address that sidewalk item. This was a thought on a lark that someone raised during the campaign. It would be nice to have more security for the residents on Grogan's Mill to be able to cross Grogan's without the the fear of getting struck by speeders trying to get to the path on the other side, someone suggested that maybe we could look into putting a pathway on this side, on the city side of Shenandoah, which would make it a lot safer for our residents, Shenandoah residents, to be able to use the path. This in anticipation of any conversation we would have with Commissioner Riley and the township, of course, who holds a lot of the covenants, still holds a lot of the covenants that govern those properties on Brogan's Mill. In anticipation of any decision, this was put on there. This has nothing to do with changing our position on widening Grogan's Mill or any decision that we made years ago about where we stand. There is no, nothing in our minds that indicates that we are changing our position on Grogan's Mill. On the contrary, I personally would like to see Grogan's Mill fall into the Shenandoah jurisdictions. and not into Precinct 2's jurisdiction. In fact, I'm willing, and in fact I've been trying to get a meeting with Commissioner Riley to see if he'll turn that piece of road over to us so that we can maintain it. And then we'll ensure that that remains the way it is now and not a four-lane road. That if we're allowed to be a four-way It would be kind of four-way by two lanes each way it would be a highway It wouldn't necessarily be growing through road, right? So I want to assure anybody that any any comment that comment that was made earlier today and in citizens forum is I don't know what the intent of it was but I I'm here to assure you that we are standing firm on our position about the non-widening of Grogan's Mill. And on the contrary, we want to provide the residents of the Grogan's Mill area more security, more safety, by providing them a path to walk on the Shenandoah side of the road. That's all I was. So in addition to an additional comment is that we posted the HGAC What was the title of that presentation the the congestion management just another town hall form Very informative if you have a chance it's going to it's online if you missed the live presentation and the live A survey that they did yesterday. It's online and feel free to take the survey and view and listen to what was presented last night. Very informative, especially for us since we're so congested up here. So that's all I have. There is no executive session planned for tonight, so we're going to adjourn the council meeting at 6.31. Thank you for being here.