Regular City Council Meeting - February 17, 2026

The Murphy City Council held its regular meeting on February 17, 2026, at 6:00 PM. The meeting included public comments on a proposed mosque development, a water loss update, and approval of a contract for sewer line rehabilitation in the Timber subdivision.

Consent Calendar

• All consent items were approved unanimously by a single motion.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mr. Little: Expressed concerns about the stormwater fee increase, stating that 5 of 12 characters in a sales tax comparison were incorrect (over 40% wrong). He requested meetings with council members to discuss projected expenses and fund balances, noting that only two members responded and one never replied. He questioned why unresponsive council members should be re-elected.
• Jan Stormont: Voiced opposition to the Islamic mosque development, characterizing Islam as a political ideology rather than a peaceful religion. She shared a story about a neighbor from Iran whose father was killed for not converting to Islam, and urged council to oppose the development.
• Samuel Hand: Addressed misconceptions from a prior meeting. He defended free speech, stated no threats of violence were made, and called a Holocaust comparison "outrageous." He expressed concerns about rapid demographic changes, traffic safety, and segregated development practices, urging preservation of community values.
• Christine (409 Shady Oaks): Opposed the mosque proposed at North Murphy and McMillan Road, citing traffic, school capacity, and demographic changes. She asked council to delay approval until all residents are informed, noting only 2 of 13 neighbors knew of the project.
• Dedra (Texas veteran): Opposed the mosque, highlighting existing traffic congestion on Murphy Road and McMillan. She questioned whether additional police would be needed for traffic control and the associated costs, and warned against making Murphy like Epic (a nearby development).

Discussion Items

• Water Loss Update (Presentation by City Staff): The 2025 annual water loss was 168 million gallons (13% of total water purchased), down from prior years. Staff attributed the improvement to consistent calculation methods per Texas Water Development Board guidelines, fixing leaks, and better coordination with the water district. The goal is to reach 10% or less. The upcoming copper service line replacement project (approx. 5,300 lines) is expected to further reduce losses. Staff reported 40 leaks in 2025, with several already in January 2026. No state grants were being pursued for this project.
• Timber Subdivision Sewer Line Rehabilitation (Item 9A): Council considered a resolution authorizing a $411,900 agreement with Neil Shaper Inc. for engineering design to replace approximately 6,000 linear feet of sanitary sewer line and concrete roadway in the Timber subdivision. Discussion included phasing over 3.5–4 years to minimize construction disruption, potential coordination with water line replacement, and addressing stormwater drainage concerns on Rocky Glen. The item was approved unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• Approved: Resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a general services agreement with Neil Shaper Inc. for sewer line design in the Timber subdivision, not to exceed $411,900 (unanimous vote).
• Executive Session: Council entered executive session at 6:39 PM under Texas Government Code §551.071 to consult with attorney regarding pending litigation (103 Pioneer Lane). Reconvened at 7:11 PM with no action taken.
• No future agenda items were requested.
• Meeting adjourned at 7:11 PM.