City Council: August 4, 2026

Call to Order

Mayor Tilbortion called the meeting to order at 6:02 p.m. and declared a quorum present.

Present: Mayor Gunther Tilbortion; Mayor Pro Tem Juanita Cardenas; Councilmembers Cletus Krenek, Peggy Sue Tatum, Hector Ybarra, Dwayne Lovelady and Francine Goodnight.

Absent: None.

Staff present: City Manager Michael Dim; City Secretary Margie Dubose, TRMC; City Attorney Kyle Bowden, Bowden & Bowden, PLLC; Finance Director Norma Fenley; Public Works Director Darrell Whitten; Chief Constable Waylon Strickland.

Councilmember Krenek gave the invocation. Councilmember Goodnight led the pledges to the United States and Texas flags.

2. Water Tower Color

Councilmember Tatum, chair of the Water Tower Paint Ad Hoc Committee, reported that the committee’s three finalist samples were delivered to Council Chambers at 5:40 p.m., too late in the day to view in natural light. The samples have been placed on the west windowsill of Council Chambers so that Council may view them in daylight.

Motion by Councilmember Tatum, second by Councilmember Ybarra, to table the item until the samples can be viewed in natural light. Motion carried 7–0.

3. Citizens to Be Heard

Pursuant to Tex. Gov’t Code §551.042, Council may not deliberate on items not posted on the agenda. Three speakers submitted cards.

Delbert Skaggs, 400 block of W Okra St, asked how Flock impacts his email. Mayor Tilbortion thanked Mr. Skaggs and referred the question to the City’s IT Department. The City does not have an IT Department.

Dustin Lackey, Big Chungus Heights, asked whether the name of his subdivision can be appealed. Mayor Tilbortion thanked Mr. Lackey and stated that the item was not on the agenda.

Rusty McCrary, 300 block of W Jalapeño St, asked whether Hot Pocket Way is named after the food or the other thing. He requested that the question be answered under item 9, since TxDOT would be present. Mayor Tilbortion stated that item 9 is limited to the matters described on the posted agenda.

4. Consent Agenda

Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, second by Councilmember Goodnight, to approve the consent agenda as presented, including Ordinance No. 2026-062 and Resolution No. R-2026-31. Motion carried 7–0.

5. 2026 Certified Appraisal Roll

Finance Director Fenley reported that the Chief Appraiser of the Brisket Central Appraisal District certified the 2026 appraisal roll on July 24, 2026.

• Net taxable value is $570,865,000, up 4.95 percent from $543,940,000 in 2025.
• New property added to the roll is valued at $19,480,000.
• The average taxable homestead value is $118,640.

Ms. Fenley stated that the Brisket County Tax Assessor-Collector will calculate the no-new-revenue and voter-approval tax rates and publish them by August 7, 2026. Councilmember Krenek asked that the record reflect that his own appraisal also increased. No action was taken.

6. Proposed FY 2027 Budget

City Manager Dim presented the proposed budget for the fiscal year beginning October 1, 2026, which was filed with the City Secretary on July 31, 2026, and posted on the City website. Highlights:

• A balanced General Fund of $9,412,000, up 3.4 percent from $9,101,000 in FY 2026.
• Total appropriations of $21.6 million across all funds.
• A proposed tax rate of $0.696900 per $100 valuation, unchanged from the current rate: $0.512300 for maintenance and operations and $0.184600 for debt service.
• A 2.5 percent cost-of-living adjustment for all City employees.
• Two replacement Constabulary patrol vehicles, purchased with Series 2025 tax note proceeds. Unit 7 is not scheduled for replacement.
• Water, sewer and trash rates unchanged.
• No expenditures from the Tower Maintenance Fund until a color is selected.

Mr. Dim read the statement required by Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code §102.005(b): “This budget will raise more revenue from property taxes than last year’s budget by an amount of $187,640, which is a 4.95 percent increase from last year’s budget. The property tax revenue to be raised from new property added to the tax roll this year is $61,870.”

Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas asked that Appendix F be reprinted in a type size larger than 7 point. Mr. Dim agreed. No action was taken.

7. FY 2027 Budget and Tax Rate Calendar

Ms. Fenley presented the proposed calendar.

Date	Step
July 24	Appraisal roll certified
July 31	Proposed budget filed with the City Secretary and posted online
August 7	No-new-revenue and voter-approval rates published by the Brisket County Tax Assessor-Collector
August 18	Budget workshop, 5:30 p.m.; record vote on the proposed tax rate
August 20	Notices of public hearings published in The Dongvile Gazette
September 1	Public hearings on the budget and the tax rate
September 15	Special meeting to adopt the budget and tax rate
October 1	FY 2027 begins

Motion by Councilmember Ybarra, second by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, to adopt the FY 2027 budget and tax rate calendar as presented. Motion carried 7–0.

8. Resolution No. R-2026-32, Tower Maintenance Fund

Ms. Fenley presented the annual report of the Tower Maintenance Fund. The Tower Maintenance Surcharge of $1.25 per month per utility account has been collected since 2019 and ends 90 days after the tower is repainted. The fund balance on June 30, 2026, was $383,095, and is projected at $398,470 on October 1. FY 2026 expenditures were the annual structural inspection ($4,850) and replacement of the aviation obstruction light ($1,120). FY 2027 revenue is projected at $61,500 from approximately 4,100 accounts.

Councilmember Krenek asked how long the fund balance is expected to keep growing. Public Works Director Whitten stated that it will grow until a color is selected.

Motion by Councilmember Goodnight, second by Councilmember Tatum, to approve Resolution No. R-2026-32 accepting the report and recommending that the surcharge continue at $1.25 per month in the FY 2027 rate ordinance. Motion carried 6–1. Nay: Councilmember Krenek.

9. TxDOT Coordination: US 6969 (Hot Pocket Way) at I-69

Brandon Voelkel, P.E., Area Engineer, Texas Department of Transportation, briefed Council on the replacement of the expansion joints on the I-69 bridge over Hot Pocket Way, expected in October 2026.

• Lane closures will occur 8:00 p.m. – 6:00 a.m., Sunday through Thursday nights. All lanes will be open Friday and Saturday nights.
• Closures will rotate among one eastbound lane, one westbound lane and the southbound I-69 exit ramp. During the ramp closure, traffic will detour to the Nickelback Blvd exit.
• The US 6969 route markers on the bridge have been replaced 11 times since January, most recently in June. They will be reinstalled with tamper-resistant hardware.

Chief Constable Strickland stated that the Constabulary will patrol the area during closures but will not direct traffic in the work zone. Unit 7 will not be assigned to the interchange.

Councilmember Ybarra asked whether TxDOT or the City is responsible for sweeping Hot Pocket Way during construction. Mr. Voelkel stated that the contractor will sweep within the work zone.

Motion by Councilmember Ybarra, second by Councilmember Lovelady, to approve Resolution No. R-2026-33 consenting to overnight lane closures on US 6969 within the city limits and to detour signing on Nickelback Blvd. Motion carried 7–0.

10. City Manager’s Report

Mr. Dim reported that:

• The rebuilt Sweet Tea Lake boat ramp is on schedule to reopen by the end of August.
• Stage 1, Water Watch, remains in effect. Please water no more than twice a week on your assigned days.
• The outdoor warning sirens will be tested Wednesday, August 5, at noon.
• The VFD pancake breakfast is Saturday, August 15, 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m., at the Fire Station.

Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Lovelady, second by Councilmember Krenek, to adjourn. Motion carried 7–0. Mayor Tilbortion adjourned the meeting at 7:18 p.m.

Approved by City Council on September 1, 2026.

Gunther Tilbortion, Mayor

Attest: Margie Dubose, TRMC, City Secretary.