City Council: October 6, 2026

Draft. These minutes are pending approval by City Council.

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, Dwayne Lovelady and Francine Goodnight. Councilmember Hector Ybarra arrived at 6:11 p.m., during item 3.

Absent: None.

Staff present: City Manager Michael Dim; City Secretary Margie Dubose, TRMC; City Attorney Kyle Bowden, Bowden & Bowden, PLLC; Planning & Development Director Lupe Espinoza, AICP; Parks & Recreation Director Tammy Lindquist; Chief Constable Waylon Strickland.

Councilmember Goodnight gave the invocation. Councilmember Krenek 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 new samples have been obtained and are stored in a closed cabinet. The committee met September 29 and narrowed the options to two. The two colors will be identified in the committee’s final report. Proposals for professional color consultation under RFP-2026-09 are due October 22.

Councilmember Lovelady stated that two is fewer options than the committee had in August.

Motion by Councilmember Lovelady, second by Councilmember Krenek, to table the item pending additional options. Motion carried 5–1. Nay: Councilmember Tatum. Councilmember Ybarra had not yet arrived.

City Secretary Dubose noted for the record that the item has now been tabled at 32 consecutive meetings.

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.

Delbert Skaggs, 400 block of W Okra St, asked whether the cloud above the water tower belongs to the City. Mayor Tilbortion stated that the water tower item had been tabled earlier in the meeting and that Council could not deliberate on the cloud.

Bubba Purcell, Mullet Meadows, asked that the goat on FM 1337 be annexed. Mayor Tilbortion referred Mr. Purcell to the Planning & Development Department, which accepts petitions for annexation. No petition has been filed on the goat’s behalf.

Dustin Lackey, Big Chungus Heights, asked whether the name of his subdivision is a hardship “not of his own making” that can be heard by the Zoning Board of Adjustment. Mayor Tilbortion thanked Mr. Lackey and referred him to the City Secretary for an application form.

Doyle Mobley, 100 block of E Chili Dog St, asked whether the end of daylight saving time on November 1 was a City decision and, if so, who seconded it. Mayor Tilbortion stated that the item was not on the agenda.

4. Consent Agenda

Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, second by Councilmember Ybarra, to approve the consent agenda as presented, including Resolution Nos. R-2026-36 and R-2026-37 and Ordinance No. 2026-068. Motion carried 7–0.

5. Public Hearing and Ordinance No. 2026-069, Official Zoning Map

Ms. Espinoza presented case ZC-2026-11, which replaces the Official Zoning Map in its entirety with a map prepared from the City’s GIS. The updated map:

• Brings 64 zoning cases, 31 specific use permits and PD-1 through PD-7 onto one map.
• Corrects the district designation of 212 parcels to match the ordinances under which they were zoned, including 188 Original Town parcels shown as R-1 rather than R-2, and 0.6 acres of the Dongvile Cemetery returned from C-1 to P.
• Shows the FEMA Zone AE floodplain as a reference overlay.
• Adopts a new legend, with R-1 in yellow and R-2 in a darker gold. Map colors have no legal effect.

Notice of the Planning & Zoning Commission and Council hearings was published in The Dongvile Gazette on September 3, 2026, and 486 written notices were mailed September 4. The Commission held its public hearing September 21 and voted unanimously to recommend approval. City Secretary Dubose reported that the written protests received, two of them from Earlene Tubbs, do not reach the 20 percent threshold of Tex. Loc. Gov’t Code §211.006(d).

Mayor Tilbortion opened the public hearing at 6:31 p.m. Three persons spoke:

• Earlene Tubbs, 200 block of E Biscuit St, asked whether her property could be zoned R-1.5 as a compromise, so that it would be shown in a color between yellow and gold. Mayor Tilbortion referred questions about map colors to the Planning & Development Department.
• Harlan Whitten, 300 block of E Gravy St, spoke in favor.
• Edna Hooten, 400 block of E Queso St, asked whether the Dongvile Cemetery correction affects her family plot. Ms. Espinoza stated that it does not.

Mayor Tilbortion closed the public hearing at 6:44 p.m.

Ms. Espinoza stated that printed copies of the map will be available from the City Secretary for $12.00, and that the ordinance takes effect when its caption is published in The Dongvile Gazette on October 15, 2026.

Motion by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, second by Councilmember Goodnight, to adopt Ordinance No. 2026-069 adopting the updated Official Zoning Map as recommended by the Planning & Zoning Commission in case ZC-2026-11. Motion carried 7–0.

6. Appointments to Boards and Commissions

6.1 Water Tower Paint Ad Hoc Committee. Mayor Tilbortion reported the resignation of Melvin Peterkin from Resident Seat 2, effective August 31, 2026. Motion by Councilmember Tatum, second by Councilmember Goodnight, to appoint Wanda Nguyen to the unexpired term, which under Resolution No. R-2024-07 continues until a decision is reached. Motion carried 7–0.

6.2 Zoning Board of Adjustment. Motion by Councilmember Krenek, second by Councilmember Lovelady, to appoint Ray Hatfield as Alternate 2 for a term ending September 2028. Motion carried 7–0.

7. Holiday Lighting Agreement

Ms. Lindquist reported that staff obtained three written quotes. Frosted Tips Tree Service, LLC submitted the lowest at $14,850. The other quotes were $17,200 and $21,975. The agreement provides for:

• Approximately 11,000 warm-white LED bulbs on the 14 live oaks on the courthouse square, installed by November 20, 2026, and removed by January 15, 2027.
• Repair of outages within 48 hours, with no more than 3 percent of bulbs out at any time.
• Work on the courthouse grounds under the City’s interlocal agreement with Brisket County.

Councilmember Lovelady asked whether the agreement allows colors other than warm white. Ms. Lindquist stated that it does not.

Motion by Councilmember Goodnight, second by Councilmember Ybarra, to authorize the City Manager to execute the agreement in an amount not to exceed $14,850. Motion carried 6–1. Nay: Councilmember Lovelady.

8. Resolution No. R-2026-38, Christmas on the Square Street Closures

Ms. Lindquist and Chief Constable Strickland presented the closures for Saturday, December 5, 2026:

• Main St (FM 1337), Mainer St and Brisket St around Courthouse Square, 3:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. The Main St closure is subject to TxDOT approval.
• Depot St from W 1st St to Mainer St, 4:00 p.m. – 6:30 p.m., for parade lineup.

The Lighted Parade steps off at 6:00 p.m., travels north on Main St, circles the square and disbands on Queso St. Hot Pocket Way (US 6969) will remain open, and constables will briefly hold traffic as the parade crosses. Unit 7 will lead the parade.

Motion by Councilmember Tatum, second by Mayor Pro Tem Cardenas, to approve Resolution No. R-2026-38. Motion carried 7–0.

9. November Regular Meeting

Ms. Dubose reported that Brisket County has designated Council Chambers as an Election Day vote center for the November 3 General Election. There are no City races on the ballot.

Motion by Councilmember Lovelady, second by Councilmember Krenek, to reschedule the November regular meeting to Thursday, November 5, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. Motion carried 7–0.

10. City Manager’s Report

Mr. Dim reported that:

• The boil water notice for Crocs With Socks Commons, issued October 3, was rescinded October 5 after laboratory samples met TCEQ requirements.
• TxDOT’s overnight lane closures on Hot Pocket Way (US 6969) at I-69 begin Sunday, October 11.
• Trunk-or-Treat is Saturday, October 31, 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m., at Dad Bod Memorial Park.

Adjournment

Motion by Councilmember Krenek, second by Councilmember Lovelady, to adjourn. Motion carried 7–0. Mayor Tilbortion adjourned the meeting at 7:26 p.m.

Attest: Margie Dubose, TRMC, City Secretary.