[0:03] Okay, I believe it is six o'clock. So I'll call the meeting to order. This is special meeting of the town council, Monday, August 10, 2026.

[0:12] But the record reflect that all of our council is here. If you would rise for the pledge to the US and Texas.

[0:18] I

[0:21] pledge allegiance to the fire of the United States of America and take the Republic for which it stands.

[0:29] One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

[0:35] In the Texas Five.

[0:36] Honor the Texas Five.

[0:38] I pledge allegiance to the Texas.

[0:41] One state under God, one and indivisible.

[0:45] Thank you.

[0:48] And Mayor Flo Chan will give our invocation.

[0:51] Let's pray.

[0:53] Father, we come to you tonight asking you to watch over us, watch over our town, our country,

[1:00] our state.

[1:00] We ask you to guide us on our decision making for the best interest of our citizens.

[1:04] We thank you for all you do for our town.

[1:06] We thank you for what you do for this little area.

[1:08] We call home.

[1:10] We ask you to watch over our military and we ask you to watch over our first responders

[1:15] in Jesus' name.

[1:16] Amen.

[1:17] Amen.

[1:17] Thank you. All right, items of community interest, pursuant to Texas government code section 551.04515,

[1:25] the town council may report on the following expressions of thanks, congratulations,

[1:30] or condolence, an honorary or salutary recognition of an individual, a reminder about an upcoming

[1:36] event organized or sponsored by the governing body and announcements involving an imminent threat

[1:41] to the public health and safety of the people in the municipality or county that has arisen after

[1:46] the posting of the agenda.

[1:48] Does anyone have anything?

[1:54] We'll move on.

[1:57] Hold on.

[1:57] We'll get to my next page.

[1:59] Public comment.

[2:01] This item allows the public an opportunity to address the town council on both agenda and non agenda items

[2:07] to comply with the provisions of the Open Meetings Act.

[2:09] The town council cannot discuss or take action on items brought before them.

[2:14] Not posted on the agenda.

[2:16] Please complete a request.

[2:17] if you wish to address the town council.

[2:19] Comments will be limited to three minutes total

[2:21] for any and all items being presented.

[2:24] Public comment is for information only.

[2:26] No charges, enter complaints will be heard

[2:28] against any elected official.

[2:31] Board member, the town, or employee of the town

[2:33] that are prohibited by law.

[2:35] I want to say I have two people.

[2:38] Mr. Fartick.

[2:41] I have put my hands back and I'd like to do something.

[2:46] OK.

[2:47] Resonance,

[2:56] Gloria Fertek, 1500 Terrible Road, Hickory Creek, Texas.

[3:01] I want to thank you.

[3:02] I know you don't understand why I'm thinking you could run and I thank God to always lead us and we listen.

[3:09] God calls us all to be courageous, kind, empathetic.

[3:13] Ron Fertek said in incredible mail with tremendous compassion,

[3:17] our tenants thank him regularly for giving them a second chance of life.

[3:20] We know our people, many of them are retired senior citizens living on a fixed income.

[3:26] Others have faced hard times and lost their jobs.

[3:29] We have one tenant who's actively dying of cancer right now, and several others with severe medical conditions.

[3:35] These vulnerable people are the ones who are going to bear the bronze of your actions.

[3:40] It's going to be extremely hard for them to move you if you have actively created a massive accrual hardship on them.

[3:46] You don't care about the consequences because you're not the ones paying for this.

[3:50] It's clear to us that the town turned up the heat as soon as my husband began running for town council and then from Mayor.

[3:56] But because he ran, people have reached out to us.

[3:59] And we know that we're not alone in this fight against, we believe this corruption.

[4:03] He used over 20 years of negative propaganda to win a race.

[4:07] And then you use the power of a badge to finish us off.

[4:10] Your town attorney stands with a constant smile on this face, but then comes out of his mouth.

[4:14] At the court hearing, he showed up with six staff members sitting there with him alongside

[4:19] the town manager in the city secretary.

[4:22] We use tax payers, hard earned money to fund your endless legal expenses and payers

[4:27] staff to sit in court rooms all while you destroy our business and wipe out our personal

[4:32] livelihood.

[4:33] Your attorney thinks he's funny calling my husband a slogan word of a compound and falsely

[4:37] claiming that the 600 to 800 we collect for a lot of pure profit.

[4:41] Our books are not your privilege.

[4:44] Let me teach you some simple business path.

[4:46] We pay for electricity, water, trash pickup, and property taxes.

[4:50] We pay for the maintenance of the grass, weeds, roads, and heavy costs of lot preparation.

[4:57] The IRS states of business, must-show profit for two or five years.

[5:02] Yes, we make a profit because we run an honest and awful business, but claiming the gross rent

[5:06] is pure profit.

[5:08] It's a lie, meant to turn the community against us.

[5:11] You fight dirty, put slander on your official website, combing our property, and eat legal, ramshack, and trailer compound.

[5:18] You use an evicted 10 in Tammy Colison, and publish your police report as proof of bad conditions.

[5:25] I hope the official file of this woman, I have proof of exactly what happened in that courtroom.

[5:30] She was an addictive person who owed us back rent.

[5:34] She went to the place because she was being evicted for non-payment.

[5:38] She threatened to shoot my husband in front of the judge.

[5:41] You took the garbage of this grittled tenant who threatened her landlord and published them

[5:46] on a city website as your official evidence.

[5:50] If this was truly about safety and poor maintenance,

[5:53] any honorable town would have given a long-standing local business affair chance to fix the issues.

[6:01] Mr. Kordick.

[6:04] State your name and address for the record, please?

[6:17] Prone for at a 1500-turvy bill, Hickred Creek, tonight you're going to be told by your

[6:22] attorney that you have just won a great victory. You have not. You have only succeeded in damaging

[6:28] approximately 100 cities of the citizens of the town of Hickred Creek, and none of whom deserve

[6:35] the abuse. I am proud to be able to provide a stable neighborhood for working and retired people

[6:41] to park their homes, but I am simply unable to fight against your base, endless lies, cheating, and stealing.

[6:48] This town is operated more like an organized crime syndicate than the municipality, your lies are epic.

[6:55] In a recent hearing, the town manager lied under oath, committed perjury, which is a third-degree felony.

[7:03] Your independent third party witness also committed perjury. He's actually a paid town contractual

[7:10] employ with a huge conflict of interest.

[7:13] He lied and will have to discuss his testimony

[7:15] with the accreditation board that handles his electrical license.

[7:20] Regarding cheating, you have sent surprise inspectors

[7:23] to my part twice using municipal warrants

[7:26] and then broke district court rules

[7:27] by introducing these reports in without.

[7:30] I'd like to turn on a letter and notice allowing us to attend like the district court requires. This administration has used the town's website to promote libel and slander to disparage my name and to create a toxic environment, which the citizens are in general, and has manifested itself in damaging my business and high vacancy rates.

[7:52] Finally, I'd like to talk about stealing.

[7:55] This administration has allegedly stolen large quantities of cash as kickbacks from construction

[8:02] contracts that have been inflated.

[8:04] sidewalk contracts and parks development are potentially a lucrative source of kickbacks.

[8:11] This town is developed into a cleftocracy.

[8:14] Now the town is using its lies and cheating and stealing to impact my rental business.

[8:21] I'm nearly 70 years old and was planning on using this income for my retirement.

[8:26] I believe that this is theft, this theft is viewed by current administration as political

[8:32] payback for having the audacity to run for mayor.

[8:35] In national politics today, destroying one's political enemies is currently an accepted blood

[8:41] sport.

[8:42] I can accept my losses, but I mourn for my tenants losing their home.

[8:46] Most of our V's, uh, parks reject trailers older than 10 years. Most of my tenants who were

[8:52] evicted will have, uh, by your lives and cheating and stealing our, have homes that are older

[8:58] than 10 years and will have an extremely difficult time finding any vacancies. Most parts will accept

[9:03] them only with, uh, our extremely far north, which will burden everybody. As you know, the

[9:10] Secretary alone with cheating allowed the mayor, council mayor, and manager to have their

[9:14] municipal immunity stripped.

[9:17] This clip talk received what put you in jail, and the production of lives, yes, and

[9:22] my tenets are sitting down.

[9:24] Next, Mr. Grisham, John Grisham, did you state your name and address for the record

[9:30] please, sir?

[9:32] John Grisham, I'm the one I know with in the Unclave neighborhood.

[9:36] Good evening Mayor, council members and fellow residents.

[9:40] My name is John Grishman.

[9:41] Tonight I speak not only for myself, for my family and many of our neighbors who are tired

[9:45] frustrated and frankly outraged.

[9:48] We are discussing this property has been allowed to deteriorate into what it is today.

[9:52] Every one of us who drives by sees the same thing, a property that has become an embarrassment

[9:56] to e-creek.

[9:57] It is an ice-sour that stands and start contrast to the pride that so many residents take in

[10:04] homes and this community. My family works hard to maintain our property because we respect

[10:09] our neighbors and respect this town. We pay our taxes. We follow the rules and we expect

[10:14] those rules to apply equally to everyone. When one property is allowed to remain in this

[10:18] condition year after year, it sends the message that the standards the rest of us live by

[10:23] somehow don't matter. But this isn't simply about appearances. This is about protecting our

[10:28] community. The town is publicly stated in its court filings that this property has been the subject

[10:32] of extensive code, enforcement efforts, and alleged serious violations involving wastewater

[10:38] and sewer infrastructure, conditions that it says threatened public health and safety.

[10:44] Those are not minor issues.

[10:47] Those are the kinds of concerns that keep families awake at night because they affect more

[10:50] than one property.

[10:51] They affect an entire neighborhood.

[10:54] Parents should never have to wonder whether a neglected property nearby could pose a risk

[10:58] of their children.

[10:59] Homeowners should never have to question whether years of neglect will impact the value of the homes they have invested their lives in

[11:06] And residents should never have to ask why one property appears to receive endless chances while everyone else is expected to comply with the law

[11:15] The vast majority of people in Hickory Creek are good neighbors. We mow our lawns. We maintain our homes

[11:21] We clean up after ourselves. We do these things not because someone forces us to but because we care about the community

[11:27] we call home. This is why the situation is so deeply frustrating. It undermines the pride we

[11:33] have in our town and the confidence we should that our ordinances are enforced fairly and

[11:39] consistently. I want to take the town thank the town for taking this matter seriously and continuing

[11:46] to pursue legal action. I know these cases are not easy, they are not quick, they are not inexpensive,

[11:52] but there comes a point where protecting the rights of one property owner cannot come at the expense

[11:56] of an entire community's quality of life.

[11:59] Tonight I ask you to say the course, continue enforcing the law, continue protecting the

[12:03] residents who elected you, continue demonstrating that Hickory Creek would not tolerate

[12:08] conditions that the town believes in danger public health, diminish our neighborhoods

[12:12] or a role to standards that make this such a wonderful place to live.

[12:16] Our families deserve better, our neighborhoods deserve better, our children deserve better.

[12:22] And the people who have spent years investing in this community deserve to know that

[12:25] one is above the rules that exist to protect us all.

[12:30] Please finish what you started.

[12:32] Show this community the Hickory Creek stands for Accountability, Fairness, and the Protection

[12:36] of every resident.

[12:37] Thank you.

[12:38] Thank you, sir.

[12:39] Okay.

[12:40] I don't have any other plans, so we'll move on to the informational update.

[12:45] This is item number one, update and discussion regarding town of Hickory Creek versus

[12:49] Ronald Ferdick at all.

[12:51] Marin Council, it's my pleasure to provide you this update on that matter, which is the Towns

[12:56] Law Society against Mr. Fertic and his property. I'm going to start by giving everyone a brief

[13:01] historical overview on how we got to where we are today. Mr. Fertic owns and operates any

[13:07] legal and unpermitted trailer compound on a property at 1500 through the dual road. That property

[13:13] has been in the talemit since 1999. That property is owned C1 commercial. In that particular

[13:19] zoney district, mobile homes are not allowed.

[13:23] Recreational vehicles are not allowed.

[13:25] Mobile home parks, recreational vehicle parks,

[13:28] and recreational vehicle storage jars are not

[13:31] unallowed use.

[13:32] Lastly, that particular zoney district that

[13:35] covers the property on the compound

[13:36] does not allow residential uses of any kind.

[13:41] As I'm sure you were all well aware, the compounds

[13:44] sits directly next to the Founders Academy Elementary School

[13:47] and the Grand Prix of single-family subdivision.

[13:50] The only permitted town-permated septic system for the property

[13:54] was designated in the design served no more than five mobile homes

[13:58] of not more than 896 square feet each.

[14:01] As we sit here today, the compound currently includes,

[14:04] at least 13 mobile homes, the majority of which are occupied,

[14:08] and approximately 75 recreational vehicles,

[14:12] approximately 66 of which are occupied by residents.

[14:16] Based on the concerns for the health safety and welfare of the public, and possible criminal

[14:23] violations that had been served based on prior inspections of the compound, the town recently

[14:28] conducted inspections of the compound on June 16th and August 3rd, and the results of those

[14:34] inspections were disturbing and telling because they revealed a number of serious life, health,

[14:41] and safety concerns for both the occupants and tenants of the compound but also the

[14:46] joining neighbors and the public and I will just highlight some of those briefly for you.

[14:52] The inspection resulted and revealed deteriorated and damaged electrical connections and

[14:57] The representative threat of the...

[15:02] Secondary and fire hazard. Exposed electrical wiring and shock hazards, similarly. Overloaded electrical patterns, extension cords being used as a pot power to units. No GECF GFC eye protection for a number of the outlets. No black flow prevention on water meters or hose bibs.

[15:21] Clarences between the units that are too tight to allow for access from emergency personnel in the event that's such fire damage or injury to person or to occur.

[15:31] In response to the town's efforts in this matter, the most recent response indicated that because nobody had been injured or died today, those issues must constitute no more than a technicality.

[15:44] The town's contingent is the exact opposite that those life-seafed by health and safety concerns

[15:52] represent a genuine threat that must be remedied because you have a duty to protect the public's health

[15:58] safety and welfare and that's what you've been doing in this manner. That inspection, those June 16th

[16:05] August 3rd inspections were conducted by an independent third party. Who was a master electrician

[16:12] licensed by the Texas Department of License in Regulation, and a licensed permanent inspector.

[16:18] When you look at the compound overall, any claim I must refer to the grandfathered status

[16:23] of the mobile home was abandoned entirely in 2013 when you began to add recreational vehicles.

[16:29] It did not exist in 1999, and we're not present on the compound until 2013.

[16:35] Based on the totality of concerns from those inspections, the town applied for and obtained

[16:42] this temporary restraining order on July 24th, and that particular temporary restraining

[16:47] order prevented the further expansion of the compound, because, as we sit here today, there

[16:54] is a property owner, Mr. Frederick, continues to advertise the property for additional

[16:58] residential occupancy that is specifically not allowed by your zoning ordinance. As a follow-up

[17:04] to the town's obtaining of that temporary restraining order,

[17:07] we went back to court on August 5th,

[17:09] and had a hearing regarding the town's application

[17:11] for a temporary injection.

[17:13] Thankfully, the town's efforts in that regard

[17:17] were successful because on the evening of August 7th,

[17:21] the judge sitting for the county court on number two,

[17:25] granted the town's requested relief

[17:26] and is going to sign an order eminently,

[17:30] that will require all recreation videos

[17:32] added from 2013 onward to be removed within 90 days. Additionally, in the remaining mobile

[17:41] homes must be brought into compliance with applicable health safety and welfare codes.

[17:47] The conclusion of the inspection today is that they are not. And that fact jeopardizes

[17:51] the occupants, it jeopardizes the neighbors and it jeopardizes the public at large.

[17:57] For years, you have heard Mr. Frederick professes plans and intention to develop what it calls a walkable downtown on the compound.

[18:05] Based on those claims, many years ago, the town that emitted its zoning ordinance to create and establish new mixed use zoning districts.

[18:13] To date, no application of any kind has been filed by Mr. Frederick to redevelop the compound, no zoning application.

[18:23] The results of the inspection are going to add to what is currently a list of 700 citations

[18:32] that remain pending in your municipal court because the inspections revealed approximately

[18:39] 130 additional violations that have resulted in citations and additional notices that

[18:44] will be sent to the property owner and a brief review of what the basis of some of those

[18:49] additional citations or includes substandard buildings and structured structures, junk vehicles,

[18:55] trash debris, rubbish, absence of building numbers, all with high grass and weeds.

[19:02] The town's goal has been in a remains to protect the health safety and welfare of the public.

[19:08] The opportunity for Mr. Frederick to do the right thing by his tenants to do the right thing,

[19:13] by the public to do the right thing, by his neighbors to do the right thing, by the town,

[19:17] is been open for many, many years.

[19:20] We remain cautious to hopeful

[19:22] the Mr. Frederick will use this as an opportunity

[19:24] to actually put substance behind his words

[19:28] and do something other than continue to operate

[19:31] any legal, neglectful, and dangerous compound on the premises.

[19:35] Thank you.

[19:36] Thank you, sir.

[19:37] All right,

[19:41] we'll move on into the consent agenda.

[19:43] I also in the consent agenda are considered to be self-explanatory

[19:46] and will be enacted with one motion.

[19:48] No separate discussion of these items will occur and was so requested by at least one member of the town council

[19:54] So council you have items two through 13

[19:58] Mr. Yes, may I pull item 11, please?

[20:02] Okay,

[20:06] this Rogers that can you do that?

[20:09] Force pull item number 11

[20:14] All right

[20:15] Yes, I'd like to move to a proof.

[20:18] to do I don't want through 10 and 12 and 13.

[20:21] Two through.

[20:24] Two through 10 and 12 and 13.

[20:26] Okay.

[20:27] Have a motion.

[20:28] Second.

[20:29] Second.

[20:29] By Councilman Gordon.

[20:30] I have a second by Councilman Theodore.

[20:32] Council, cast your votes.

[20:42] Okay.

[20:42] Motion carries.

[20:44] So item number 11.

[20:45] Consider an act on acceptance of medical rates from signate.

[20:48] Dental, vision, life, accidental death, short-term disability, and long-term disability rates from

[20:56] respondor health and supplemental benefit for an employees household, from new benefits for

[21:01] employee coverage for fiscal year, 2026, 2027, authorizing the town manager and town secretary

[21:07] to execute the necessary documents. Mr. Goodman. Yeah, if you don't mind there was no backup in

[21:14] our packet and so I don't know what I'm approving with this. And so I was just trying to get some

[21:19] more information from staff before I prove this. So basically this is what we had this. We have two

[21:26] options on our health side that we're looking at.

[21:29] We are going to move forward with one of those options, but we do as we took the greater amount

[21:34] of that particular option and put in our budget that we're going to be discussing here

[21:38] in a moment and move forward with that.

[21:44] How much detail would you like?

[21:45] I mean, we can come back to this item if you like and we could upload some more data in

[21:51] there.

[21:53] From a procedural standpoint, we're going to talk about it here in a little while, maybe we

[21:56] about it then and come back. I don't know. I just without knowing what we're approving. I can't

[22:02] just approve it. Okay. But I don't know, Mayor. How do you want to proceed? I'd like to hold it until

[22:08] after we have the discussion and at least reviewing what those options are to be able to evaluate

[22:15] to give you direction on which one's to approve. Maybe I'm confused. So this year we were used for

[22:24] for eight different companies we are using.

[22:30] Current claim that we have, and we had a rating increase. The other claim we have was an HMO, and the difference was the cost savings was very minimal.

[22:44] Okay, so if we approve this, we're just approving staying with the current provider, or are we approving plans A or B? So, are you deciding?

[22:54] The choices that we have basically left are to stay with the current provider.

[22:59] So what we can do, we can move forward on the budget still tonight and on this particular item,

[23:04] we can bring it back and have the details for each one of those plans if the attorney

[23:08] would never problem with that.

[23:11] Kevin.

[23:13] All of those, but I'm good either way.

[23:19] I don't, I don't, I'm going to detail that.

[23:21] I think if I understand what we're staying with the same company, we've had a rate increase.

[23:27] We returned down by eight other companies that we've had a high claims here and so that's the reason why the rates have gone up.

[23:37] Everybody all around that I've talked to is having rate increases not as significant maybe is what we've had because we're a small group.

[23:45] You know, we've had some claims that have caused it to go up.

[23:50] So we can work on the budget and then bring this back if you want to see the details on it.

[23:56] We can do that.

[23:57] We can do that.

[23:58] And it also mentions in there all the

[23:59] Ancillary.

[24:00] Those actually went down to 7.2 percent, but not just if I

[24:04] But what the medical went up on that side right there.

[24:06] So what we're looking at currently, uh,

[24:09] Counselor gives is, uh, a net increase on the

[24:12] Townside and a net net substantial increase on the

[24:16] Employee side along with the boy family and

[24:19] Employee with kids as well.

[24:21] So we initially had this in the agenda body to

[24:26] discuss, there are so many plays on this that you could do and change and so forth, but

[24:33] yet we're still limited to the providers on what we can, you know, what we were not, you

[24:38] know, given the chance to work with.

[24:40] So the recommendation is coming out of a company called Hub that's basically our broker that

[24:44] we use and we're down in the basically two companies of choice.

[24:51] And so we decided that we're probably going to move with the company that we currently have

[24:55] with and so forth and then look at those rates again next year, but we'd be glad to put it on as a

[25:00] agenda item and the upcoming media on August 24th and then we'll include, I believe it's a 95 page booklet,

[25:07] you know, where everybody can see it and we'll put it out there for folks.

[25:12] There's something, anything you're doing.

[25:14] Oh, yeah.

[25:15] I'm confident that's what I'm going to say.

[25:17] I'm going to hit the things inside that as well.

[25:19] We can't put out there.

[25:20] Mayor, based on that, I'm comfortable with this in here.

[25:22] I just wanted to, at least, because there was nothing in the packet, I didn't want to blindly

[25:26] just approve it.

[25:28] So I appreciate the context, and I'm okay with being forward and approve it, but...

[25:32] Okay.

[25:34] I don't know if there's other counsel questions.

[25:35] Anybody else have questions or comments?

[25:38] No, I understood what Mr. Smith was saying, I understand your stance as well, but I think

[25:43] it's a tough choice.

[25:44] It's a tough situation for the town, and they didn't have a choice, so I think they thought

[25:48] was best for the employees.

[25:51] So I'll make a motion to approve item 11 from the case of the second.

[25:58] Okay, we all need a hand vote on this.

[26:01] Okay, go ahead.

[26:03] I'll make a motion that we approve item 11 from the consent agenda.

[26:06] Okay.

[26:07] I have a motion by councilman.

[26:09] Gibbons, I have a second by councilman.

[26:11] If you, everybody who's in favor, please say yes.

[26:15] Motion carries.

[26:16] Thank you.

[26:19] All right.

[26:19] We'll move on to the regular agenda item number 14, consider an act on a final

[26:24] plat for the linen to addition of Lot 9, Block A, being 1.767 acres of land situated

[26:31] from the MAP and PRR company survey.

[26:34] Abstract number 915, Town of Fickery Creek, Dent and County, Texas.

[26:38] The property is located in the 3,280 block of FM2181.

[26:46] Mr. Smith.

[26:46] You know, Councillor Mayer, this is the platform.

[26:49] These Eastern property on the linen property over there, which is the shopping center

[26:53] that they're getting ready to start.

[26:56] But roughly 14,000 square feet did stop there.

[26:59] When we started reviewing it, we found some dimensional changes.

[27:02] The different things that also got brought up in the letter that's here with half.

[27:06] Thus far, all the comments have been addressed and it's approved by the B&Z.

[27:12] Okay.

[27:12] Councillor questions or comments?

[27:16] I'll just comment.

[27:17] I was a really brief meeting, and there weren't a lot of comments on it.

[27:20] It was approved unanimously.

[27:25] Same thing.

[27:26] I mean, Mr. Smith said, I mean, our engineers covered it as well.

[27:29] So everything's going to address from what I see.

[27:31] I think this is just a formality, silly, from every call.

[27:36] And the decision, if you recall a couple of years ago, y'all have granted me authority to sign

[27:41] off on some of the changes minor, but we felt like this was a little bit more than minor.

[27:44] And we needed to send it back through P&Z in council.

[27:46] So that's why it's before you today.

[27:49] And then, how soon do you anticipate the start construction?

[27:53] We have a pre-construction meeting this week.

[27:56] Okay.

[27:58] Council, though, the questions are comments.

[28:03] Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion in a second.

[28:08] Mayor, I'll make a motion that we approve the final platform.

[28:11] In addition, a lot of nine block A, being in 1.767 acres of land situated in the

[28:23] creek as presented. Okay, I have a motion that the Mayor

[28:26] Pro Tem do I have a second? Second? I have a second by Councilman

[28:30] Theodore Council cast your votes.

[28:40] Okay, motion carries. I'm

[28:41] having trouble seeing the. Okay, I don't know 15. Consider an act on an

[28:47] ordinance of the town council of Hickory Creek, Texas, ordering a

[28:50] special election to be held on November 3rd, 2026 to submit a

[28:54] proposition on dissolving the Hickory Creek Texas type B economic

[28:57] development corporation, eliminating the sales tax associated with the Hickory Creek

[29:01] Texas type B economic development corporation, adopting a local sales in use tax at

[29:07] a rate of one and three or fourth percent.

[29:11] Councillor, we had a discussion last month that discusses this has also been before the

[29:15] EEC as well.

[29:17] Tonight, it's on your agendas to act on, and this would be dissolving our talents

[29:23] economic development corporation and the quarter percent that they take in currently into

[29:27] their their fund. So I believe the mayor went through a lot of points last month and what the

[29:32] EDC has done for us over time and over history when we first put the EDC together many years ago after

[29:40] discussions of what we had in the EDC as well we decided that you know what it may be telling me

[29:45] that quarter percent over to the budget our budget when I say I are the talent side and not the

[29:50] side down front and dissolve that down that board. You know, the EDC has been really good

[29:57] to the town for parks, things, problems.

[30:10] So we're not leading that out there. We don't have that toolbox that we can go back to for a chapter of 380 agreements or some of the other agreements that we can do with EDC, or even the purchase of land. A lot of those things, all of those things can be done by the town.

[30:25] So what we like to do but to not with this vote with y'all is we will take this to the November election and we'll let the citizens vote and they'll do the voting on whether or not we maintain an EDC and continue it or we disall the EDC and it goes over to the town side the funding which is a quarter percent.

[30:46] So currently the town collects one and a half percent of the general fund, of course,

[30:54] is for the EDC and of course it's for property tax relief.

[30:58] So that's why you see that it will be one and three fours, the local use and sales tax.

[31:05] the state puts it half of 2% on the state's tax that is taxed or city can't collect.

[31:15] Right. And we already do, we've done the quarter percent for property tax relief for 15 years or so.

[31:22] Probably 2008.

[31:25] Okay.

[31:26] So we don't always talk about that.

[31:29] Yeah, that's for to keep our values, you know, that, that, that, that, that's something that helps our citizens, right on the

[31:35] process.

[31:37] So, that, that, that, that would stay the same.

[31:39] So, that does it change.

[31:40] Right.

[31:41] It's just a quarter percent that's left, and, and money standards, it's about $380,000 a year that the

[31:48] EDC scene right now, and that's, without the businesses down the street that are just not coming in.

[31:53] When you look at our budget and that the fire increase that we have, of $180,000,

[31:57] a new contract that's coming up on October and some of the other increases along the way

[32:02] that money is going to be used to keep that so that we can still maintain a low tax rate

[32:06] you know amongst the other cities and didn't get any.

[32:11] So.

[32:11] Okay.

[32:12] Questions?

[32:13] Comments?

[32:16] We're not taking action to dissolve the EDC tonight.

[32:20] We're sending this to the voters.

[32:22] The voters would have to determine that in November for the election.

[32:27] And just sort of nobody knows in the audience that we can't educate the public on what the EDC does and what it's done in the past and so forth.

[32:36] But we can't promote the, you go to the polls and voting for it.

[32:39] Yes.

[32:39] We can't advocate.

[32:40] You won't see that in the polls at all or any kind of anything that we put out that we can't educate.

[32:46] You know, when we started the EDC, what it can do, what it's done and all those things and that's it.

[32:50] So basically it's an education.

[32:52] And that's it.

[32:55] And I'm happy to walk back through what the EDC has accomplished.

[32:58] I brought that list with me tonight.

[33:00] The purpose of an EDC is to create and retain jobs and encourage a business investment,

[33:05] expand the local tax base, support commercial and industrial development, improve community

[33:09] amenities, tied to economic growth, promote long-term vitality.

[33:14] So we can do targeted infrastructure, which Ronald Reagan Avenue was something that was

[33:20] on years ago, engineering costs associated with projects, marketing, park improvements, other

[33:27] targeted infrastructure improvements in the commercial area.

[33:31] We've done a road up near the three restaurants on Turbyville and 35 land holdings.

[33:38] We've done restaurants and incentives, the pickleball center.

[33:42] So we have just off the top of my head, I could come up with about seven and a half million dollars that the EDC has contributed to the town of Fickery Creek through incentives or infrastructure improvements and those sort of things.

[33:58] And originally when I was appointed the corporation in 2003, it was planned to help pay for this town hall.

[34:05] that the law changed and the EDC was not able to pay for a municipal building.

[34:11] So, there was a pivot and we took on some other things that have been extremely beneficial for our town.

[34:19] So, anyway, yes, question for just education.

[34:23] So, by dissolving the EDC, what could the EDC do that the town could not do with us switching that over?

[34:30] So, what are we losing between doing this?

[34:33] I don't know.

[34:35] Mr. Bullwark.

[34:36] Can you?

[34:36] And make the almost nothing.

[34:39] Any difference would be effectively imperceptible.

[34:43] Because we have avenues through chapter 3, 80s or different things like that, that we can still

[34:47] do what the EDC has done.

[34:51] But you're right now, you're segmenting that income off, where it can, it's separated out.

[34:58] So.

[34:58] Very good.

[34:59] Anybody else?

[35:00] Yeah.

[35:00] So just, if someone goes to a store in Hickr Creek,

[35:03] they're actually going to be paying what percent in sales tax.

[35:07] The same sales tax.

[35:08] Same thing.

[35:08] Eight and a quarter, or eight,

[35:10] because since we're not going to fold two.

[35:12] Six and a quarter, so this thing.

[35:13] Right.

[35:15] So we still get two percent to Hickr Creek,

[35:17] not one and three-fourths.

[35:22] It's just where it's allocated.

[35:24] Yes.

[35:27] Right.

[35:27] Any other questions?

[35:29] No, I just comment.

[35:29] I think it's good as going to the voters.

[35:31] I think it's the citizen's tax pay in dollars anyways, it's just coming back into one bigger

[35:39] fund basically of the town. And I think the EDC did a great job with what its purpose was.

[35:45] I think the EDC probably hasn't had a lot of demands for building health situations other than

[35:52] what we created with the restaurants up there. And I think it was a great tool and really

[35:56] changed the look and dynamics of our town again back to the better after we lost those those

[36:00] restaurants. I think it's like even the building right there on

[36:04] swisher they didn't come to EDC at all. They did that themselves and that's what

[36:08] you want most developers to do anyways. You don't want to help the developer make

[36:11] a ton of money. You want to help them if we need it. But I think what we're doing is

[36:16] actually a good thing. Then as we all know and we're going to hear in the next

[36:19] month or two I think a lot of these towns you're going to hear some tax increases

[36:22] going on and this will hopefully help us in the years to come keep our taxes as

[36:27] is even, or the same, not increasing basically,

[36:31] but I think you're going to hear a lot of towns

[36:32] that are going to have some trouble coming up.

[36:34] And I think this will be a very important point for us

[36:37] as citizens to make this a beneficial thing

[36:40] for our town long term.

[36:42] Right, and one thing I think we need to make sure

[36:44] that's understood is this is sales tax money.

[36:47] This has nothing to do with property taxes,

[36:50] ad balloon tax.

[36:52] And so anyone who shops, does business, does anything

[36:55] in Hickory Creek and pay sales tax,

[36:57] whether they're from Hickory Creek

[36:58] or the surrounding community,

[37:00] or if they're in town going to the lake

[37:02] and they chop Walmart,

[37:04] that sales tax is what we're talking about.

[37:07] We're not talking at all about property tax

[37:09] and we work very hard to keep our property tax

[37:13] and you'll hear more about that in future in the meeting.

[37:16] So this is the sales tax amount is not changing.

[37:20] It's just how it's a portion to the town.

[37:24] So, Mary, if the council decides to move forward to put this on the November agenda.

[37:30] What is the plan for the staff perspective to get this prepared to do an education or to educate the public about what this means?

[37:40] So, I'm just curious what the...

[37:42] So, we have the next newsletter coming out. We've got a segment that's going to be in there. As far as that, a lot of it's going to be part of what the mayor went over at the last meeting and this meeting as well.

[37:51] some history on it, and then plans, you know, on, you know, when it's gone, you know, what happens

[37:58] and those kinds of things, if it's gone, and everything, but just education and that's it.

[38:02] So it's going to be the newsletter which should hit just before the, you know, remember,

[38:06] elections where people got enough time where they could look for themselves and find out, you know,

[38:11] more, more information if they need to, on the way or so forth. But it's going to be an educational piece

[38:15] only in the newsletter.

[38:17] Okay, might I recommend we use our social media

[38:20] aspects as much as we can to help promote?

[38:23] I mean, I think there's a good portion

[38:27] that read the newsletter, but I don't know

[38:30] that everybody does, but thank you for putting that out.

[38:37] Okay, any other comments or questions?

[38:44] Good.

[38:45] I want to entertain a motion when you're ready.

[38:48] Where?

[38:48] Yes, sir.

[38:48] I'd like to move to approve an ordinance of the Town Council of Fickery Creek Taxes ordering a special election to be held in November 3rd, 2026 to submit a proposition on dissolving the Hickery Creek Taxes type B economic development corporation, eliminating the sales tax associated with Hickery Creek Taxes type B economic development corporation, adopting a local sales and use tax at a rate of one and three-fourths percent.

[39:11] Okay, I have a motion by Councilman Gordon. Do I have a second?

[39:14] That was second.

[39:15] That was second by Mayor Protem, Council Councillor Dodes.

[39:21] Okay.

[39:21] Motion carries.

[39:22] Item number 16.

[39:23] Consider an act on an ordinance of the Town of Hickory Creek Denton County, Texas, amending

[39:27] Chapter 8.

[39:29] The code of ordinances through the addition of a new section 8.1 to establishing requirements

[39:34] and regulations for the use of aircraft, helicopters, and helicopters.

[39:40] Council Mayor, so this was put in your, this was a request that it's in the agenda for

[39:44] discussion tonight, and this was brought up when we had the event over the Alana here

[39:49] about six, believe it, about six weeks ago, and which hill captures where I'm involved

[39:53] in so forth, and not a whole lot of communication took place between events that I just

[40:01] say we're going to be doing this in so forth.

[40:03] So our attorney, Mr. Boyle, drafted a potential ordinance that we can go through here in just

[40:09] a moment to kind of go through what we like and what we don't like in the ordinance,

[40:13] and discuss it and then vote on it.

[40:17] So Mr. Boarded put everything in there that you can, I think that you could think of, because

[40:22] we didn't want anything else.

[40:23] It's easier to take things out of it than it is to go back and try to add stuff that's

[40:27] not already a starting point.

[40:30] So that's why it's so loaded up with a lot of different things.

[40:32] And some of these, you know, we may discuss and say, you know what, we're not going to allow

[40:36] this, we're not going to allow that.

[40:37] But I think the biggest piece that we need to take away, and when we look at adopting this

[40:41] not about this is the communication piece that we need from the Alana when they have these big events.

[40:47] And that was, so I was probably the one that raised this issue because I just think,

[40:54] how is it looking for a heliport to be built or anything like that, but just communication

[40:59] so that we can notify the neighborhoods that this is going to happen and it has been approved

[41:05] It's a one-time event.

[41:07] I mean, this has happened once a year for the past two years.

[41:11] It's a huge, it's called the exotic network,

[41:15] because the one that I've seen with tons of McLaren automobiles

[41:19] and it's pretty incredible.

[41:21] It's a big July 4 event out there.

[41:23] So that was just where this came from.

[41:25] I think, anyway, comments, council, Mr. Gibbons?

[41:30] Yeah, no, I appreciate it, Maria.

[41:32] I agree with you.

[41:35] I think I've got some notes that I'd like to send back to staff based on what I read through

[41:39] here.

[41:39] I think to me, and I appreciate Mr. Blue's business together for us, and I know it's like a

[41:45] tall subject to do, but one of the things I'm not particularly keen on is, I don't think

[41:50] this needs to come to council every time a permit needs to be issued.

[41:53] I was looking for something more, just almost like a specific use permit of some sort,

[41:59] It could be dollars as attached to it, it could be free.

[42:03] It just more notification so that staff knows what's going on.

[42:07] I'd also like it to exclude more of the emergency services,

[42:12] like ambulances and let's see.

[42:16] Military search and rescue operations, other emergencies,

[42:21] just things that are naturally occur.

[42:23] This is really specific to anywhere in our town

[42:27] that if you're having some sort of an ant or something needs to land, that we just know about it,

[42:33] I think, more than anything.

[42:36] So more commercial use, anything commercial that's not public safety.

[42:41] Well, I think it's also a good reach because with the rise of personal aviation craft,

[42:48] you could have a one-person helicopter in your driveway, and even though there's some rules and regulations

[42:54] for by the FAA, but there's nothing in our ordinances that govern if you have a big enough spread

[43:00] that you couldn't go flying.

[43:02] All right.

[43:03] Shady Shores does have that subdivision, that's aircraft.

[43:07] We don't have anything like that, but with the small helicopters and electric flying things

[43:14] that we have, someone could have it.

[43:15] So I think it's good that we're putting this in place and to answer your question, we did cover

[43:20] an exclude, because I was looking for that.

[43:22] we did exclude public safety.

[43:24] So they are not covered by this band,

[43:26] which is just the residential and commercial scenarios.

[43:32] I could see, I don't know if we could work for them.

[43:34] So I'm working, you know, personal flying craft

[43:37] and I want to fly down there.

[43:40] So it's a great network putting this.

[43:43] So how do you want to handle this, Mr. Gibbonship?

[43:46] Not act on it tonight and maybe forget it further?

[43:49] I think there's quite a bit of work

[43:50] that still needs to be done on it.

[43:51] Okay.

[43:52] I agree. I'm not ready. I don't want to work Smith it in this environment, but I appreciate here in some other comments by the council and kind of try to get us into a direction.

[44:05] I think it was just a stab in the dark to throw it out there.

[44:08] Myself, I wouldn't mind postponing it to the whenever, but I'm not ready to act on this and try to work Smith it tonight.

[44:20] Anybody

[44:23] else? Mr. Board, do we need a motion to table this? How should we handle this?

[44:32] Mary, you're going to syndicate to the side. I'm just going to be set aside.

[44:35] Then brought by staff when it's ready.

[44:37] Okay. Okay.

[44:39] No action.

[44:41] Then we will do that.

[44:42] It's going to be set aside in the work by staff.

[44:45] And we'll bring it back at a future meeting.

[44:46] I don't want to name a specific meeting because that

[44:50] I don't know what's coming up.

[44:52] All right, thank you.

[44:54] Thank you, Mr. Boyle, for working on that,

[44:56] and we'll see if we can work on it.

[45:01] Okay, item number 17, consider an act on a resolution in the town council of the town of Fickery Creek, Texas, proposing a tax rate, which represents the no new revenue tax rate for 2026, placing adoption of the 2026 tax rate on the town council's special meeting agenda for September 10th, 2026 at 6 p.m. in the town council chambers of town hall.

[45:24] Town Hall.

[45:26] Okay.

[45:26] Council.

[45:27] If you have questions on this.

[45:29] Mr. Smith, do you want to?

[45:30] Is the meeting September 10th or August 30th?

[45:33] Thank you.

[45:37] Gotcha.

[45:40] So based on Mayer, Council, the staff is recommending that we go with the non-new revenue.

[45:45] And what that means is if you look at that bottom rate, that 0.213303 amount, which if you like

[45:55] if you'd like to define, you know, what an honor revenue versus not, you know, for the folks

[46:00] watching, for the folks in the audience, I think it's a rate that we can approve tonight

[46:04] and it makes sense for the growth that we've had and so forth, and we'll get into the budget

[46:09] a minute, but we're fixing the recommended budget.

[46:12] It's also zeroed out as well, so that reflects that number coming into this rate.

[46:16] So this is something we have to do every year and so forth, but it keeps us still at the very,

[46:22] bottom of all the cities in didn't county, you know, with services that we have,

[46:27] lease, fire, everything that's in our town today, but if you'd like to take it from

[46:32] mayor and deserve that.

[46:33] Yeah, so the no new revenue rate means that we can raise basically the same amount of revenue

[46:39] from Apple Warren taxes that we raised last year.

[46:43] So when values fluctuate all the time, but that no new revenue rate tries to walk in so that

[46:52] you are basically paying the same amount that you were last year.

[46:58] Now obviously there's going to be some fluctuations in values and those sort of things

[47:01] that we don't control.

[47:03] But this is what we've always done the no new revenue rate for the past 10, 12 years, I think.

[47:12] And so this is, and I will say I've talked with mayors from other cities and they are not

[47:18] able to do the no new revenue rate.

[47:20] many of them are going to what's called the voter approval rate, which is a rate which is kind

[47:25] of a misnomer because it's a rate that you can go to without, that's a highest rate you can go

[47:29] to without voter approval. So anyway, this is, you know, it's, our council has always been committed

[47:39] to being fiscally responsible and keeping our costs under control, some of which we can't control

[47:47] such as insurance, we can't control that, but operating within the funds that we have.

[47:54] And I think what's, we all pay the taxes too.

[47:58] So we want that tax rate to be as low as possible for all of our citizens.

[48:02] So I hope that that explanation helps to understand,

[48:06] so our no-new revenue rate is 0.213303.

[48:11] So that's the rate that we're looking at.

[48:15] This is just to set the rate for Hickory Creek.

[48:18] This does not set the rate for Denton County in order to set the rate for school districts.

[48:22] That's nothing to do with your school tax.

[48:25] This is, in Hickory Creek you pay the three components are county,

[48:30] school, and Hickory Creek unless you live in a pit,

[48:34] then there's something separate there.

[48:36] But so we don't have anything to do with the school tax rate.

[48:39] We don't have anything to do with the county tax rate,

[48:41] although I have to say the county is also pretty low.

[48:44] also does, I mean, I haven't seen what their tax rate is going forward, but this past year

[48:50] was the lowest it's been since the 80s. And so this is the lowest, you know, we always

[48:59] go as low as we possibly can that, you know, you're ready.

[49:03] And you know, the options, the mayor's discussions, as far as the vote approval, if we were to

[49:08] take it to elections, we would be looking at if it was approved by the 185,000, that's what we're

[49:13] talking about, you know, with that right going up to the 0.22, the next variable up was

[49:19] at 227777. So it comes out to roughly $69 per house sold at a $480,000, you know, home.

[49:28] So that's what you're talking about in the increase for. And then we looked at, we actually

[49:31] discussed, what's in the middle, you know, from that, do we do something in the middle and

[49:34] not go with the non-neur revenue? And in the book? Yeah, but I'm sorry, the voter approval.

[49:40] And so looking at that and looking at future revenues coming in with what we still have coming in and

[49:44] make you pretty commercially.

[49:46] And so forth, excluding whatever happens at the polls for the EDC, we still felt comfortable

[49:51] taking that rate.

[49:53] So I'm recommending that.

[49:54] So what remind me, we don't have that on here.

[49:56] What's the voter approval rate?

[49:59] Do you have that?

[50:00] I'm sorry.

[50:01] I'm not.

[50:02] The voter approval rate is 0.2277.

[50:05] Okay.

[50:05] to 1. And so we're 0.21, 3, 3, 0, 0, 3.

[50:10] Okay. All right.

[50:18] So any questions?

[50:19] If not, I'll entertain a motion.

[50:23] Mayor.

[50:23] Yes, sir.

[50:24] I'm going to try to prove a resolution of the Town Council of the Town

[50:26] of the Town of the Creek.

[50:27] Texas proposing a tax rate, which represents the no-new revenue tax rate for

[50:31] 2026, placing adoption of the 2026 tax rate on the Town Council.

[50:35] Special meeting agenda for September 10, 2026 at 6 p.m.

[50:40] and the Town Council chambers of Town Hall.

[50:42] Okay, we have a motion by Councilman Gordon to have a second.

[50:46] A second.

[50:47] Second by Councilman Peter.

[50:48] So before we go, just as in a way of explanation, this is the proposed tax rate.

[50:53] We actually adopt this tax rate in September.

[50:57] So we're not planning to change.

[51:01] Okay.

[51:02] Council passed from Castro votes, please.

[51:14] Motion carries.

[51:14] Thank you.

[51:15] I don't know for 18 discussion regarding the proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget.

[51:22] We had a discussion last meeting on this,

[51:28] so I know we had gotten the insurance numbers

[51:31] in.

[51:32] We didn't have those at that time, so they've been brought in.

[51:36] It's just a myth that you have any.

[51:37] Yeah, what I was going to do is just kind of walk through the highlights that we discussed

[51:40] last month and maybe possibly just the heavy years on costs and so forth.

[51:44] So just so everybody knows what we have. So looking up there at the budget right now

[51:48] as you notice it's zero at the top. So basically

[51:51] With that rate that we're moving towards school. I'm just giving you a question to say can you make it a little bit

[51:56] Expand it. Okay, still on the bottom right bottom right corner. There's the plus bottom bottom right

[52:05] Holy control button down in school to wheel.

[52:10] Thank you

[52:16] Okay

[52:18] Okay, so I'm going to go to the expenditure side because that's the big part when we're looking for this.

[52:25] One of the big items we talked about is 54 of 6.

[52:29] So if we want to go to that.

[52:30] Which is the basis of the tables. And you've got 600,000 dollars for an allocation out there for the tables. And that is still in our budget. If you recall, we had allocated about two million dollars towards that project. 600,000 being the first phase of the the center and on a thousand towards our contract or done away that's going to be working on the analysis of the building and so forth like that. So that is still in the budget that has not changed.

[53:00] Moving over to health insurance, which is 5510, there was the increase that we put in there with the

[53:07] Delta difference of that, which is if you do the math on that, it's roughly $197,000 increase, which is pretty substantial, you know, on our side and very substantial

[53:19] substantial on the appeal side as well.

[53:23] So, this is a level of plan and with that, we have interest rates and then they also have

[53:31] what they anticipate that planes are.

[53:34] If our planes are not like they were this year, then we get two thirds of that amount back.

[53:43] But the way we budget it, we went ahead and just put it out there as the full.

[53:47] And then a scarcity state, it could come back to two thirds.

[53:51] So upwards of two thirds, which is very good, you know, for the tail.

[53:57] Any questions on that?

[54:02] No, look, that was two thirds of the increase.

[54:07] About, right?

[54:07] Correct.

[54:08] Yes, which was 100 and you said it was 107.

[54:11] So roughly what you're saying is that if no additional claims were made or reduction in claims,

[54:17] that we would roughly receive about 120,000 back, give or take.

[54:23] two thirds of 200. That was a two that the limits two thirds. So you know it could be

[54:30] half it could be less than that but we went ahead and I can send a budget to the full

[54:34] amount.

[54:36] Yeah,

[54:39] everybody okay with that? We did that. I see head shaking and everything.

[54:42] I want to make sure everybody understands it. It wasn't any

[54:45] increase that we wanted to see for sure. If you look back and we had a long discussion

[54:50] with our broker, who basically shops this are benefits across a lot of multiple groups

[54:57] at NABU gross breachield, you name it, it's out there.

[55:01] When you look back, you'll look back for the last five years.

[55:03] We've actually had, we've made the benefits better for the employees, cost-wise, and we've

[55:08] also taken decreases as well, and not had any kind of increases at all.

[55:13] When we moved the signal, we rewarded credits that helped us with the increase on that side.

[55:17] that covered it for two years, two years of knowing

[55:21] Greece on that side.

[55:22] So for the past five years, it's been really great.

[55:24] For this last year, there was a higher rate of claims

[55:27] amongst the employees.

[55:30] And when they go to look at these numbers and put the rights

[55:32] to get in so forth like we talked about earlier,

[55:36] there were some groups that were going

[55:37] to have a hard time carrying this.

[55:39] And then the ones that we had a call

[55:42] back from, they were very high.

[55:43] And so we decided to stay with Signa for this time and then look at our rights again next year.

[55:50] With the anticipation of what hopefully every employee has held here this year,

[55:54] they had to use the rights or next year than they were this past year.

[56:00] Right.

[56:02] So of the 197, I need two different.

[56:06] So what is that equate to and sales tax or the tax rate?

[56:10] Or is that like one cent?

[56:12] Well, if you look at it like that, Councilman Gimmons, if you figure the quarter percent coming off the EDC is generated about 380,000.

[56:21] So you could say that it's probably maybe an eighth, you know, a little bit less than that.

[56:26] So an eighth of that increase.

[56:29] Potentially.

[56:31] And that could go down to 16th or less, or 32nd.

[56:34] So it just depends on what it comes into the next year.

[56:37] And then as far as the 197 is that stating that the town is going to cover the entire

[56:44] increase or is that some of it was higher than that and some of it was being covered by the

[56:49] employee to or how did you balance that out?

[56:53] So that the 197 we

[56:59] have still contributing 50% to the independent coverage, employees,

[57:05] have just paid for. So we have not had our meeting yet, our bit of bit meeting, but the

[57:12] rates are increasing for employees as well.

[57:18] At that same percentage.

[57:20] So, sorry.

[57:22] So, just looking at the numbers though, from 24 to 25, what we spent was 262,000,000, and we

[57:31] projecting 330,000, but true June we've owned this gone 250. So we're expecting a big jump

[57:42] in the latter four months,

[57:47] just reading across the line. For the adopt, we adopted a higher

[57:51] budget last year of 330. And so now the insurance companies are rating us up higher based on

[57:59] perceived claim amount that we haven't actually done because we're only right and I

[58:16] guess

[58:27] the thing that I was just trying to draw is that insurance costs are going up across the border

[58:31] across all industries but it just seems like they're hitting us super hard us and we haven't really

[58:39] I had that much increase in our premiums from 24 to 25.

[58:47] Right, not good.

[58:56] So what you see the difference when you go from those of the years, we use those credits.

[59:01] And that basically drilled down that cost and kept it as low as it did.

[59:04] Super deflated as compared to where it should have been, you know, with anybody else.

[59:09] So if you go to your back, we'll take you over to that left-hand column, 2425.

[59:13] That's where you see those rates at the day of 60, 250, and so forth, and again, the difference between there and the 2625, too, is like Chris, he said, the mountain of boys.

[59:25] So if you had boys quitting, you know, and so forth, as we did have some officer turnover at that time, going back two years, and then we've had public works turnover as well.

[59:35] So then the rate was quite a sign, and we still have some payments to go before they enter the year as well.

[59:39] Three payments. So if you do the math, it's going to get you pretty close to what we're, you know, what have been in the 25 to 26 fiscal year.

[59:50] It's probably about 30.

[59:55] Okay. Any other questions?

[59:59] All right.

[1:00:02] So we did have under equipment, 572. We had it allocated for the boom truck and for the implement, for the tractors. So we kept in there as well.

[1:00:14] And we also added the fire service, which is 5820, which was additional 180,000 over here. One thirty, I'm sorry. I always want to say one eighty. It's one thirty year. And if you recall how we do our fire contract, it's a fire contract with the city current.

[1:00:31] It's fogging here, so what we do is we average out with the total amount, is it's the incrementally going up every year, and we get the average and pay it like that.

[1:00:40] That amount.

[1:00:41] So that way it's always easier to budget instead of those increases.

[1:00:46] Those were the service.

[1:00:48] Just so for the public understand, we're going from 970,000, 692 dollars to 1.1 million, 742 dollars.

[1:00:57] And those costs are completely out of our control.

[1:01:00] Those are, that's a contract with Lake City's fire, which is controlled by current city of current.

[1:01:07] Which is, if you recall, a contract we negotiated actually two years ago.

[1:01:11] The child of lock-in costs more so we were kind of able to have a look at what that was going to be.

[1:01:16] And not anticipating that everybody's interest was going up and so forth.

[1:01:20] So this is a good thing that we did.

[1:01:22] We also went back and looked at the formula.

[1:01:24] And as you recall over the last 15, 20 years, the formula has always been a big deal when it comes to talks regarding the fire department.

[1:01:31] And so we had changed the formula before this contract five years ago.

[1:01:35] But for this contract two years ago, we renegotiated a new contract and a new formula.

[1:01:42] And it included the amount of calls that they received.

[1:01:45] And so that was part of the formula that it was the amount of calls.

[1:01:49] One of the things that it was anticipated that they were going to change was values.

[1:01:54] And if you look at our values for our town, they've gone,

[1:01:56] it could constantly keep going up and up and up,

[1:01:59] which is a good thing, especially if you're going to say,

[1:02:01] you're going to ask, I mean, not such a good thing,

[1:02:02] if you're going to stay in the forever.

[1:02:03] But values went up and we did want that to be part of one of the

[1:02:09] determination factors of how that rate was going to be produced,

[1:02:13] because we would get hit really hard with that.

[1:02:15] Now, if you look at the call volume, the call volume for our town,

[1:02:18] which is good because we have a lot of newer houses and homes

[1:02:21] and so forth in the town is actually less than a lot.

[1:02:24] If you look at the percentage for the numbers,

[1:02:26] it's pretty low.

[1:02:27] So we wanted to have that in the formula,

[1:02:29] because we knew that was going to help us,

[1:02:31] which is why when you look at the comparison

[1:02:34] of the 970 compared to one, one,

[1:02:36] 130,000 increase on a contract when you go shaded

[1:02:39] two years ago, that's really not that bad.

[1:02:42] I mean, that is one farming salary by itself.

[1:02:46] So it was good that city of Corinth worked with some that day.

[1:02:49] Yeah, and they really did.

[1:02:51] And they looked at it, they saw it, and they also recognized that they were going to have a lot of growth.

[1:02:57] And a lot of residency that was going to be moving in the town over there in so forth, and some divisions because they've got the land to expand.

[1:03:05] And so they took a step back and said, you know what, a lot of this growth is going to come from us on the residential shots, so we're going to take that yet on the increases well.

[1:03:13] So this is, they serve, Hickry Creek,

[1:03:16] Parent, Lake Dallas, and Shady Shores.

[1:03:19] And so this will be the 1.1 million

[1:03:22] will be our rate for the next, this is a five-year contract.

[1:03:26] So over the next five years, this is the amount that we'll pay.

[1:03:30] So we're locked in.

[1:03:32] Now, at what point do we renegotiate that?

[1:03:35] So we've always had a one-year in the last square round.

[1:03:39] We started at the second year, you know, two-year-out.

[1:03:42] So that would be one year, but we'll probably start before then, because it's, you know, when you get to that point, I'm sure it's going to be pretty costly.

[1:03:49] We'll just need to plan it for that.

[1:03:50] Right.

[1:03:50] Down the road.

[1:03:51] So.

[1:03:53] Okay.

[1:03:54] Questions, anything we miss? Anything.

[1:03:57] When you look at some of these and, you know, when you look through the budget, you look at it and go,

[1:04:01] okay, are we fighting some of this stuff?

[1:04:03] I don't see one thing in our council's dinner. We'll get a job of it.

[1:04:05] It's making sure we are ready to be fun.

[1:04:07] And so we are taking part of that out in every year.

[1:04:10] we have raw that we always end up adding back.

[1:04:12] So I'm confident that's what we're going to do.

[1:04:14] We're going to be really close.

[1:04:15] So that's why we want to move forward on this particular budget

[1:04:19] and feel confident we'll wrap.

[1:04:22] So.

[1:04:23] And we tap into that for one time expenses.

[1:04:26] That's correct, Mayor.

[1:04:27] So we look at our reserves and they're there for that

[1:04:29] to look at this budget.

[1:04:31] You know, we try to look as forward as we can

[1:04:34] and what we're going to see on sales tax.

[1:04:35] We haven't had the clip of sales tax.

[1:04:37] It's coming out of the new shopping center down there.

[1:04:39] We anticipate when we think it's going to be and we think it's going to be very good for the town and when they build a second one as well

[1:04:46] But it just shows how important commercial is we don't

[1:04:50] We don't place our budget in like a lot of cities with that lean on the residential component. They have a long

[1:04:55] Because we have such a little right we we rely on that self-stacks and you know

[1:04:59] We're grateful for the businesses here the Walmart's you know

[1:05:02] Everybody shelf-tams on because that self-stacks comes our town. I mean that that's there as well

[1:05:06] They a lot has been a huge contributor with their new business venture that they've built over there

[1:05:12] So all those add up and when you when you look at that sales tax coming in

[1:05:16] That's what helps us kind of keep that out of the warm right down where it is and we're not relying on residential bill because it's some point

[1:05:22] We're gonna level out and there's not gonna be any

[1:05:25] So the record what's the

[1:05:28] Tax highest tax getters in town next one one two three. I know it's Walmart. I'm with on which what's

[1:05:35] Yeah, I'll just throw them at them, I'll say the order because I got to be careful.

[1:05:39] Thank you.

[1:05:39] Yeah, okay.

[1:05:41] But I mean, we all know it's, it's, it's never through.

[1:05:44] Yeah, it's, well, some of it.

[1:05:45] That's not right.

[1:05:46] When it comes to that sales and everything.

[1:05:48] But it's Walmart, Chick-fil-A.

[1:05:49] It's racetrack.

[1:05:51] The lineup.

[1:05:52] It's water burger.

[1:05:54] You know, Amazon and it's very high.

[1:05:57] Just good for us to all know that.

[1:05:58] But the more you support Hickory Creek, the better it is.

[1:06:00] Right.

[1:06:01] And then when you look at the three set-down restaurants, you know, they're substantial contributors as well.

[1:06:07] So when you look at all those, it's their every little one as their amount, and then it just all adds up before you know it.

[1:06:13] You're going to go and wow, it arows me animals, you know, over $2 million for me and ours, for me and ours, it keeps going up the sales tax.

[1:06:20] I mean, the point of it is the Walmart's very popular here.

[1:06:24] Very important too.

[1:06:27] And if you take the, you know, the equation of the 80-20,000 staff, and you look at our population of 6400, you look at grants of 24,000, and yet in shady shores, about 2600, and yet in late hours around 7,500, 80% of those people are going to come and shop here. We're going to get the benefit of that, you know, we're that 20% out of the bottom. So that's where we see that that huge increase on our side, you know, so, you know, we gotta be grateful for everybody that shops at our businesses.

[1:06:52] And just a couple more points, can you explain the 56-30 outdated equipment there?

[1:07:01] I don't know if you're micromancer or something.

[1:07:09] Oh, that's personnel equipment, 56-30 chief.

[1:07:13] You want to discuss that?

[1:07:15] That's the tank.

[1:07:16] Taysers.

[1:07:26] We can't get batteries.

[1:07:30] Court charges, any any supplemental items for them. So we're one where we have to start phasing them out if we're going to continue to carry it.

[1:07:38] And I strongly recommend we continue to carry it.

[1:07:41] All right, guys. Just for the records, everybody knows. I think it's great information, but I think it's a necessity, too.

[1:07:47] So I appreciate that. And then Mr. Smith, the 59.02 building man, maintenance supplies.

[1:07:54] Are we doing a different or is that just that you're seeing those increases happening as I can see him in the budget anyone is

[1:08:02] Just more costly

[1:08:03] Oh, that's right. Okay, I'm sorry. I just didn't recall that what the big item was so we are looking at an increase or on the animal service

[1:08:13] It's said we place an age back system over there got you so I've got some preliminary cost on it

[1:08:19] and I'm actually working with a company on,

[1:08:21] they came down and looked at it last two weeks ago.

[1:08:23] So we're getting cost on the now,

[1:08:24] but at some point that this system's about 17 years old,

[1:08:27] and we keep patching it, and we've been very successful

[1:08:30] in patching it, but at some point it's gonna go.

[1:08:33] And efficiency wise, you gotta remember

[1:08:36] for the certification to the state of Texas,

[1:08:38] Council McKinney's, we gotta keep that air continuously

[1:08:41] goes through there 24 hours, seven days a week.

[1:08:44] And it's an amy a teacher that never goes

[1:08:46] one way or the other for the pets.

[1:08:48] And so 72, 74, I think, and I'm staking.

[1:08:53] But that system continually runs 24-7 all the time.

[1:08:57] And we've been able to fix it and patch it

[1:08:59] in bringing in parts for it, but at some point,

[1:09:01] we're going to have to replace it.

[1:09:02] That's good.

[1:09:02] And then for the efficiency piece, if you recall,

[1:09:05] a few years ago, we replaced everything on the roof

[1:09:07] of this building.

[1:09:08] For the efficiency side, so we'll see some efficiency

[1:09:11] come out of it, but still the cost is not cheap

[1:09:13] for that mixed system.

[1:09:15] So thank you.

[1:09:17] Anything else, can I need you to give it?

[1:09:19] Just to remind her how many, I'm trying to find it again.

[1:09:23] How many police vehicles are we budgeting in this year?

[1:09:27] Just one in his current format.

[1:09:30] One day, we also have a new built-in, a motorcycle.

[1:09:35] Yes, I have one on a motorcycle.

[1:09:36] One replacement, four little bit, one on a motorcycle.

[1:09:39] Thank you.

[1:09:42] Okay, anybody else?

[1:09:44] Questions?

[1:09:48] Okay.

[1:09:48] We'll move on to item number 19.

[1:09:51] Consider an act on a resolution of the Town Council of the Town of Hickory Creek Texas, placing a public hearing on the proposed budget and vote to adopt the 2026-2027 fiscal year budget on the August 31st, 2026 Town Council special needing agenda at 6 p.m. in the Town Council Chambers at Town Hall.

[1:10:13] May I like to move that we approve a resolution of the town of Council of the Town of Hickory Creek, Texas, placing the public hearing on the proposed budget and vote to adopt a 2026-2027 fiscal year budget on the August 31st, 2026 town council special meeting agenda at 6pm in the town council chambers of town hall.

[1:10:32] You have a motion by Councilman Theodore, do I have a second?

[1:10:35] Second.

[1:10:36] I have a second by Councilman Gordon, Councilcaster votes.

[1:10:48] Okay, motion carries.

[1:10:49] I have number 20, consider an act on filing the proposed 2026-2027 fiscal year budget with

[1:10:55] the town secretary's office as of August 10th, 2026.

[1:11:01] So this is just action to file it with the secretary.

[1:11:05] I'll entertain motion.

[1:11:06] Mayor, I'll make a motion. We approve filing the proposed 2627 fiscal year budget with the town

[1:11:11] secretary's office as of August 10th, 2026.

[1:11:15] Okay. I have a motion by the Mayor Pro Tem. Did I hear a second? Okay. Second by Council

[1:11:19] and Theodore. Council cast your votes.

[1:11:28] There. Motion carries. Executive session. In accordance

[1:11:32] with the Texas Local Government Code Chapter 551, the town council will convene into executive

[1:11:37] session to discuss the following matters. Section 551.071 consultation with the

[1:11:43] attorney on matters in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under

[1:11:47] the Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct of the State Bar of Texas

[1:11:51] Clearly Conflicts with the State Texas Open Meetings Act or on matters pertaining

[1:11:56] depending or contemplated litigation. At a number 21,

[1:12:00] Talent Pickery Creek versus Ronald Ferdick at all, Section 551.071 and 551.076, consultation with the

[1:12:10] attorney on matters in which the duty of the attorney to the governmental body under the

[1:12:14] Texas Disciplinary Rules of Professional Conduct, for the State of Bar of Texas, clearly

[1:12:18] conflicts with the Texas Open Meeting Act, regarding the deliberation of deployment or implementation

[1:12:25] of security personnel or devices.

[1:12:27] The time is 713.

[1:12:35] We will reconvene into open session at 10-0-4 discussion and possible action-regardic matters,

[1:12:41] discussed in a second session.

[1:12:43] We have no action.

[1:12:45] All right.

[1:12:45] Future agenda items, purpose of this section is to allow each council member, the opportunity

[1:12:49] to propose, that an item be added as a business item to a future, any future agenda, any discussion

[1:12:55] of or decision about the subject matters shall be limited to a proposal to place the subject

[1:12:59] on the agenda for a subsequent meeting.

[1:13:01] Let's see if I have anything. Quickly.

[1:13:05] Okay. I will entertain a motion to it. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I cut you?

[1:13:09] Okay. Motion to adjourn.

[1:13:10] Okay. I have a motion by Mayor Protam to have a second.

[1:13:14] Second.

[1:13:15] Have a second by Councilman Theodore Council cast your votes.

[1:13:24] We're adjourned at 10.05.

[1:13:27] Thank you.

[1:13:29] Everyone.

Aug 10, 2026 Special Town Council

Agenda

Transcript