March 20, 2025 – City Council Meeting Minutes

Apr 18, 2025

City of Seymour City Council
Public Notice of Open Meeting

A Regular City Council Meeting, to be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 7:00 p.m., at the Seymour City Hall, 301 N Washington, Seymour, Texas 76380. All notices have been duly posted in accordance and conformance with the Government Code of the State of Texas, Section 551.072 (c.) The City of Seymour attempts to make its meetings accessible to all its citizens. If you have need of auxiliary aids, please notify the City Secretary, at (940) 889-3148, at least 48 hours in advance. The agenda is also posted on the city’s website at www.cityofseymour.org, with the following agenda to be considered:

OPEN MEETING – 7pm
Council & Staff Attendance: Skyler Henricks, Debbie Gillispie, Billy Henricks, Lan Winn, Mark McCord, Dr. Jeff Brasher, Lauren Bush, Jake Donnell, Joseph Trepainer
Council Absent: Monty Glass
Public Attendance: Debra Milbern, CT Holmes, Darcy White, Sharon Slate, Kevin Johnson, Grant McMillin, Mary Slate, Ed Slate, Sharon Beighle, John Zilasko

• Call to Order, Roll Call and Pledge of Allegiance by Mayor Mark McCord.
• Prayer by Dr. Jeff Brasher
• Announcements by Mayor Mark McCord
• City Administrator Dr. Jeff Brasher recognizes Employee(s)/Department/Citizens: Water Department members Jake Donnell & Joseph Trepainer for their recent accreditation and the work done to create and update the mapping system of the City’s Water and Sewer System.

CITIZEN COMMENTS

PRESENTATION(S)

CITY ADMINISTRATOR REPORTS
• Personnel Report & Salt Fork Membership
• Police Department Report
• Financial Report
• Dilapidated Properties Report

PUBLIC HEARINGS

  1. Conduct 10 Public Hearings:
    a. Concerning dilapidated structure at 211 S Tackitt
    No Comment

b. Concerning dilapidated structure at 808 N Donald
No Comment

c. Concerning dilapidated structure at 401 N Arkansas
No Comment

d. Concerning dilapidated structure at 301 N Donald
Ed Slate – Mr Slate stated that he plans to move the house to Red Springs when he retires, but finances had prevented him from doing it sooner. He stated that he plans on coming this weekend to work on it and remove the trees around the house where it is grown up. There are no broken windows, just missing screens. The house has been broken into before and Mr. Slate said that he secured it when that happened. Mr. Slate stated that he is aware the roof needs to be completely replaced. If given time, he will get rid of the house which does have furniture in it. When it is moved, the roof will have to be taken off to move it so replacing the roof now and then removing the roof to move it doesn’t make financial sense for them.

e. Concerning dilapidated structure at 208 N Tackitt
No Comments

f. Concerning dilapidated structure at 301 N Arkansas
No Comments

g. Concerning dilapidated structure at 601 S Washington
CT Holmes stated that he had plans for the property. The plan was to remove the structure, but keep the land. In the last several months I have been approached to purchase it. The roof is in terrible shape and there is some ceiling collapse, but I need the time to get it cleaned up to get it ready for a buyer.

h. Concerning dilapidated structure at 801 N East
No Comments

i. Concerning dilapidated structure at 402 E Morris
Kevin Johnson stated that he bought the property for his daughter however, she moved away and now he is at a loss as to what to do with it. They have been dealing with medical issues. He does not have the time or finances to tear it down himself.

j. Concerning dilapidated structure at 907 N Main
No Comments

CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Approval of the February 20th, 2025 Regular City Council Meeting Minutes.
  2. Approval of the City of Seymour Accounts Payable Bills for the month of
    February 2025.
  3. Remove Conchita Torrez and Mary Griffin from the signature cards at Peoples Bank
  4. Add Lauren Bush to the signature cards at Peoples Bank
  5. Approve Clean-Up Week to be April 7th thru the 13th, 2025
  6. Approve opening day of the 2025 Summer Pool Year to be May 26th, Monday, Memorial Day
  7. Approve Resolution 1584, Authorizing the submission of a Texas Community Development Block Grant Program Application to the Texas Department of Agriculture for the Downtown Revitalization Program
    Motion was made to approve the consent agenda as presented by Billy Henricks,
    2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion Passes

ACTION ITEMS

  1. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 211 S Tackitt
    Motion to send property information to Texas Communities Group to pursue condemnation made by Debbie Gillispie, 2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  2. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 808 N Donald
    Lauren Bush provided property owner information of: requesting 6 months, interested in tear down, local contractor info was given, will be secured in 60 days. Property has not had utilities since 2007. Motion to allow 90 days to the property owner for remediation & 30 days to secure the property was made by Skyler Henricks, 2nd by Lan Winn. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  3. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 401 N Arkansas
    Owner Mary Beighle – Owner of property lives out of town and has been dealing with personal issues. Owner offered to redo the roof on the front side, but the roof on the backside has already been done. Owner also has the windows for the gables, but hasn’t put them back in and there were a few boards in front missing. Owner said she had put for sale signs in the yard, but they kept getting stolen. Motion to allow owner 30 days to secure and revisit in 90 days to re-evaluate before condemnation was made by Skyler Henricks, 2nd by Lan Winn. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  4. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 301 N Donald
    Owner Ed Slate restated that he wants to move the house to Red Springs and this weekend he will trim up the trees around. Motion to give direction to property owner that in 90 days the property needs to be secured, clean up vegetation and debris, and secure roof was made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Debbie Gillispie. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  5. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 208 N Tackitt
    Lauren Bush provided information: The address recorded at the tax office and on the utilities account are not accurate addresses for the owners. A new address has been located and we will resend the notification to the property owner for the next meeting. Motion to table this for next month made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  6. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 301 N Arkansas
    Lauren Bush stated to council that the property owners are in the process of tearing it down. We expect remediation soon. Council chose to take No Action.
  7. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 601 S Washington
    Owner CT Holmes says he has an interested party for both the house & property. Needs time to clean out items inside. Motion to allow owner 90 days to remediate or sell the property, 30 days to secure made by Skyler Henricks, 2nd by Lan Winn. Vote 4-0. Motion passes.
  8. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 801 N East
    Lauren Bush state that this is owned by a trust, the taxes are being paid. The owners have had no response. Motion to send property information to Texas Communities Group to pursue condemnation made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Debbie Gillispie. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  9. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 402 E Morris
    Lauren Bush explained the options that the owner had. Owner, Kevin Johnson, stated that he was interested in conveying the property to the city. He signed the conveyance agreement and stated he did not want to include the property to the east that he also owns. Motion to move forward with conveyance made by Lan Winn, 2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  10. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning dilapidated structure at 907 N Main
    Lauren Bush stated that she spoke with property owner requesting 6 months to clean up or sell. Explained options and that she had viable offers for purchase. Motion was made by Debbie Gillispie to allow 90 days for remediation, 2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0, Motion passes.
  11. Discuss, Consider and Take Action regarding going out for bids concerning Seymour Speedway Skate Park for concrete and accessories
    Lauren Bush provided 2 bid options for council to review. Motion to approve Bid Packet 1 made by Debbie Gillispie, 2nd by Billy Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  12. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning Gaming Rooms inside the city limits
    Motion to not adopt an ordinance at this time but instead conduct a public opinion survey via Facebook to garner the community’s opinion made by Skyler Henricks, 2nd by Lan Winn. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  13. Discuss, Consider and Take Action regarding going out for bids concerning the daily maintenance of the future brush pile located at Seymour Transfer Station
    Motion made to go out for bids for the daily maintenance of the brush pile at the Seymour Transfer Station made by Debbie Gillispie, 2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  14. Discuss, Consider and Take Action regarding activating Texas Communities Group to begin the condemnation process for 205 W. McLain and 811 N East St.
    Motion made to begin the condemnation process through TCG for property located at 205 W McLain, allowing property owner of 811 N Est St 90 days to possibly sell that location and 807 N East St, and then if a sale is not completed the City will begin conveyance for both made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Debbie Gillispie. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  15. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action on Easement requests from Brent Sosolik concerning Lots 1 through 6 and Lots 19 through 24 in Block 3 in the Original Town of Seymour, AKA 201 S Main.
    Motion to table this item made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Debbie Gillispie. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  16. Discuss, consider, and select administration/project delivery service provider(s) to complete application preparation/project implementation for the Texas Community Development Block Grant Downtown Revitalization/Main Street Program administered and funded by the Texas Department of Agriculture with Resolution 1585
    Motion to adopt Resolution 1585 made Skyler Henricks, 2nd by Lan Winn. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  17. Discuss, consider, and select engineering/architectural/surveying service provider(s) to complete project implementation for the City of Seymour’s Texas Community Development Block Grant Downtown Revitalization/Main Street Program funding administered by the Texas Department of Agriculture with Resolution 1586
    Motion to adopt Resolution 1586 made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Debbie Gillispie.
    Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  18. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action concerning a dinosaur statue placement in the parking lot of the Police Station encouraging tourism and provided wholly by AES global energy
    Motion to move forward with the procurement of a dinosaur statue to be placed at the Police Station purchased by AES made by Skyler Henricks, 2nd by Debbie Gillispie.
    Vote 4-0. Motion passes

EXECUTIVE SESSION – 8:51pm

  1. An Executive Session, closed to the public and pursuant of Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under § 551.074 regarding Personal: Chief of Police
  2. An Executive Session, closed to the public and pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under § 551.071, Tri-County Settlement Agreement.
  3. An Executive Session, closed to the public and pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code under § 551.071, Consultation with attorneys regarding Special Utility District Baylor Water.
  4. An Executive Session, closed to the public and pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Local Government Code, under §551. 071: An agenda item that requires consultation with City Attorney.

ACTION REGARDING EXECUTIVE SESSION – 9:41pm

  1. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding Personnel: Chief of Police
  2. Discuss, Consider, and Take Action regarding: Tri-County Settlement Agreement.
    Motion to accept the Tri-County Settlement Agreement made by Billy Henricks, 2nd Debbie Gillispie. Vote 4-0. Motion passes
  3. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding: Consultation with attorneys regarding Special Utility District Baylor Water.
  4. Discuss, consider, and take action regarding: Consultation with City of Seymour Attorney

Motion to adjourn made by Billy Henricks, 2nd by Skyler Henricks. Vote 4-0. Motion passes

ADJOURN – 9:42pm

Meeting minutes passed and approved on this the 17th day of April, 2025.

Mayor Mark McCord
Attest:

City Secretary Lauren Bush