City Council: September 1, 2026

Call to Order

Mayor Tilbortion called the meeting to order at 6:01 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; Planning & Development Director Lupe Espinoza, AICP; Public Works Director Darrell Whitten.

Councilmember Tatum gave the invocation. Councilmember Lovelady 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 one of the three finalist samples is labeled “eggshell.” At its August 25 meeting, the committee could not agree whether eggshell is a color or a finish. City Manager Dim stated that staff will provide a determination.

Motion by Councilmember Ybarra, second by Councilmember Goodnight, to table the item pending a staff determination of whether eggshell is a color or a finish. 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. Four speakers submitted cards.

Earlene Tubbs, 200 block of E Biscuit St, asked why the zoning map shows her property as R-2 when she “only has one of everything.” Mayor Tilbortion thanked Ms. Tubbs and referred her to the Planning & Zoning Commission, which will hold a public hearing on the updated Official Zoning Map on Monday, September 21, 2026, at 6:00 p.m.

Delbert Skaggs, 400 block of W Okra St, asked whether 5G is the reason his truck pulls to the left. Mayor Tilbortion thanked Mr. Skaggs and stated that Council could not deliberate on the matter. Mr. Skaggs stated that the truck also pulls to the left in the Bulkster Warehouse Club parking lot.

Bubba Purcell, Mullet Meadows, asked whether the water tower can be a TV. Mayor Tilbortion stated that the water tower item had been tabled earlier in the meeting.

Homer Pruitt, 100 block of W Depot St, asked whether property taxes may be paid in pecans. Mayor Tilbortion referred Mr. Pruitt to the Brisket County Tax Assessor-Collector.

4. Consent Agenda

Motion by Councilmember Goodnight, second by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, to approve the consent agenda as presented, including Resolution Nos. R-2026-34 and R-2026-35. Councilmember Goodnight abstained on item 4.2, as she was absent from the August 18 workshop. Motion carried 7–0, with item 4.2 approved 6–0–1.

5. Public Hearing: Proposed FY 2027 Budget

Mayor Tilbortion opened the public hearing at 6:19 p.m.

City Secretary Dubose reported that the proposed budget was filed with her office on July 31, 2026, and has been available at City Hall and on the City website since that date. Notice of the hearing was published in The Dongvile Gazette on August 20, 2026.

Finance Director Fenley summarized the proposed budget: a General Fund of $9,412,000 and $21.6 million across all funds. She read the following statement into the record: “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.”

The following persons spoke:

• Arnold Kocurek, 600 block of E Sweet Tea St, spoke in opposition. He stated that his appraisal increased 9 percent and asked Council to adopt the no-new-revenue rate.
• Rosie Vasquez, 400 block of W Pecan Pie St, spoke in support of the Constabulary budget.
• Wayne Holloway, Cargo Shorts Ranch, asked that the budget include a line item for “whatever the water tower is going to be.”

No one else wished to speak. Mayor Tilbortion closed the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. No action was taken.

6. Public Hearing: Proposed 2026 Tax Rate

Mayor Tilbortion opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m.

Ms. Fenley reported that the Notice of Public Hearing on Tax Increase was published in The Dongvile Gazette on August 20, 2026, and posted on the City website, as required by Tex. Tax Code §26.06.

• The proposed rate of $0.696900 per $100 valuation is the same as the current rate.
• It exceeds the no-new-revenue tax rate of $0.671200 by 3.83 percent.
• It is below the voter-approval tax rate of $0.719800, so no election is required.
• The City tax on the average homestead would be $826.80.

Mr. Kocurek stated that his comments under item 5 also apply to item 6. No one else wished to speak.

Mayor Tilbortion closed the public hearing at 6:40 p.m. and announced that Council will vote on the proposed tax rate at a special meeting on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, City Hall, 150 E Brisket St.

7. Public Hearing and Ordinance No. 2026-063, SUP-2026-03

Ms. Espinoza presented the request by Wiggle Room Inflatables LLC for outdoor display and demonstration of inflatable tube devices at 641 E Hot Pocket Way. Notice of the Council hearing was published in The Dongvile Gazette on August 13, 2026. On August 17, the Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval, 5–1, subject to five conditions:

1. Not more than two devices displayed at one time, each with a temporary sign permit, and not more than four permits per year.
2. No device taller than 20 feet or closer than 15 feet to the curb.
3. Demonstrations 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
4. Devices off and secured in sustained winds over 25 miles per hour and during funeral processions on Hot Pocket Way.
5. Merchandise displayed outdoors remains in its original packaging.

Mayor Tilbortion opened the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Kyle Mobley, representing the applicant, stated that the applicant accepts all five conditions. Ina Barnhill, 600 block of E Depot St, spoke in opposition, citing the visibility of the devices from her kitchen window. Mayor Tilbortion closed the public hearing at 6:48 p.m.

Councilmember Lovelady asked how many colors the devices come in. Mr. Mobley stated that they come in 11.

Motion by Councilmember Ybarra, second by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-063 granting SUP-2026-03 subject to the five conditions recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission. Motion carried 6–1. Nay: Councilmember Tatum.

8. Special Meeting, September 15, 2026

Motion by Councilmember Krenek, second by Councilmember Tatum, to call a special meeting for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers, to consider the FY 2027 budget, the 2026 tax rate, ratification of the property tax increase reflected in the budget, the FY 2027 utility rates and the FY 2027 Master Fee Schedule. Motion carried 7–0.

9. City Manager’s Report

Mr. Dim reported that:

• The Sweet Tea Lake boat ramp reopened August 31.
• Unit 7 has been out of service since August 24 while replacement batteries are on back order. Constables are covering its assignments on foot.
• The Brisket County Rodeo is September 4–6 at the Rodeo Grounds.
• City offices will be closed Monday, September 7, for Labor Day. Monday trash and recycling routes will be collected Wednesday, September 9.

Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Lovelady, second by Councilmember Krenek, to adjourn. Motion carried 7–0. Mayor Tilbortion adjourned the meeting at 7:12 p.m.

Approved by City Council on October 6, 2026.

Gunther Tilbortion, Mayor

Attest: Margie Dubose, TRMC, City Secretary.