OpenPublica

Accountability starts with access.

© 2026 · Filed for the public record

Use casesAboutAPIPrivacyTermsLinkedIn
Home/Watauga, Texas/City Council
OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Watauga City Council Regular Meeting – January 12, 2026

City Council — Monday, January 12, 2026
BodyWatauga, Texas
SessionCity Council
DateMonday, January 12, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
⇩ GET FROM SOURCE

STREAMING COPY IN PREPARATION — RECORDING AVAILABLE FROM THE ORIGINAL SOURCE

Original source
Transcript — Verbatim

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:12

I call to order the Wataga City Council regular meeting Monday, January 12th, 2026.

0:19

City Hall Council Chambers at 640 p.m.

0:27

First item of business is roll call.

Speaker 2

0:31

Place

Speaker 1

0:31

one.

Speaker 3

0:32

That's aware, present.

Speaker 1

0:34

Place two.

Speaker 2

0:36

Chris Blackburn present.

Speaker 1

0:38

Place three.

Speaker 2

0:39

Lovey Downey,

Speaker 4

0:40

present.

Speaker 1

0:42

Place four.

0:43

Andrew Neil, present.

0:45

Place five is absent.

0:47

Or is vacant.

0:48

Place six.

Speaker 5

0:50

Mark Taylor, present.

Speaker 1

0:53

Place seven.

Speaker 6

0:56

Jan Hill, present.

Speaker 1

0:58

Mayor Art Minor present.

1:00

Next is invocation, Master Mark.

1:03

Pastor Mark Lofton, associate pastor for the North Side Nazarene Church.

1:08

You would serve.

Speaker 7

1:11

Father in heaven, we thank you for today, Lord.

1:13

And Father, we thank you for our city council members.

1:15

Father, we just pray that you continue to give them the wisdom and the clarity in the decision makings pertaining to the citizens of Watauga.

1:22

We pray that you would bless our city, bless our people.

Speaker 1

2:09

All right, next item announcements, place

Unassigned speaker

2:11

one.

Speaker 8

2:13

None at this time, thank

Unassigned speaker

2:15

you.

Unassigned speaker

2:18

I

Speaker 2

2:19

do have one announcement.

Speaker 1

2:21

Go ahead.

Speaker 4

2:22

Thank you, Mr.

2:22

Mayor.

Speaker 2

2:23

Um, I want to encourage the citizens of Watauga to take advantage of the shock clinics that go on around the area and get their animals vaccinated.

2:32

Um if you need a resources, please reach out.

2:35

Our animal control officers are excellent at getting you the resources necessary to help make sure your animals are safe.

2:40

And also um there's a few dogs still at the animal control that could possibly use a little bit of the outings.

2:47

You can go and take a dog out and take it for a walk if you would like to get it out of the cage for a little bit.

2:53

Thank

Unassigned speaker

2:54

you.

Speaker 4

2:57

Not at this time, Mayor, but I'm sure place four has plenty.

Speaker 9

3:04

Such enthusiasm.

3:07

Mayor, I can't believe it's been like a year since I've been up here.

3:10

I feel older now.

3:12

But it's a new year, new me.

3:14

But you know what?

3:15

Mark your calendars.

3:16

122 days to Wataga Fest.

3:19

I am excited.

3:21

Make sure to be there.

3:22

It starts, I believe, May 14th.

3:24

Yep, May 14th.

3:26

If you're really interested, there is Wataga 101 going on right now, or sign-ups going on.

3:32

You can learn about the city and how it functions.

3:34

I've known several people gone through the class and have uh recommended it to all their friends.

3:38

So get up there.

3:39

I think sign up's gonna be open for one more

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters██████████████████████████████████████38%
Parks and Recreation████████████████████████24%
Engineering And Infrastructure█████████████████17%
Procedural████████████12%
Animal Welfare██████6%
Budget Management███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Watauga City Council Regular Meeting – January 12, 2026

The Watauga City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026, at City Hall Council Chamber, 7105 Whitley Road. The meeting was called to order at approximately 6:40 p.m. (agenda listed 6:30 p.m.) and adjourned at 7:42 p.m. following an executive session. All council members were present except Place 5 (vacant). The meeting included employee service awards, annual department awards, recognition of holiday decorating contest winners, approval of a consent agenda with 12 items, and a public hearing item authorizing a professional services agreement for storm drain engineering design.

Presentations & Awards

  • Service Award: Lana Yule, Library Director, was recognized for 25 years of service. Under her leadership, the Watauga Public Library has ranked in the top 19% of Texas public libraries and received the Achievement and Excellence Award for 13 consecutive years.
  • Employee of the Month: Tommy Sanders, Storm Drain Supervisor in Public Works, was honored for his dedication, willingness to help, and interim service as fleet services superintendent.
  • Annual Awards:
    • Above & Beyond: Scott Orwig, Animal Services – recognized for organizing and improving the shelter.
    • Employee of the Year: Derek Plunkett, Fire Department – cited for exceptional work ethic and leadership.
    • Rising Star: Natalie Kadavid, Fire Department – noted for enthusiasm and professionalism after about one year of service.
    • Making a Difference: Amy Chestnut, Finance – absent (ill); praised for implementing a new time clock system.
    • Leadership Award: Chief Jim Lewis, Police Department – absent (attending FBI Academy); lauded as a spark of positivity in the department.
  • Holiday Decorating Contests: Timothy Hamilton, Parks and Community Services Director, presented winners of the Spooktacular Yard Decorating Contest (Animation: Andrew Lee, 6056 Judy Drive; Spookiest: 6128 Skylark Lane; Judge’s Favorite: 6805 Bluff View Drive – tree later damaged by wind) and the Holiday of Lights Decorating Contest (Griswold: Matthew Davis, 6464 Ridgely Drive; Character Award: Timothy Dolan, 6104 Brookside Court; Animation: 7209 Carrie Lynn Drive East; Judge’s Favorite: Rodrigo Castro, 6625 Starnes Road). No Best Block winners were selected. Councilwoman Jan Hill provided gift certificates for prizes.

Consent Calendar

  • Council approved the consent agenda unanimously (6-0) with one motion. The 12 items included:
    1. Monthly Financial Report for period ending November 30, 2025.
    2. Resolution approving an advanced funding agreement with TxDOT for Green Ribbon Program Phase 4 (landscaping along US 377 from Basswood Blvd to Starnes Road).
    3. Ordinance amending classifications and positions in the Police Department.
    4. Resolution adopting the Tarrant County Hazard Mitigation Action Plan 2025.
    5. Professional Services Agreement with Dunaway Associates, LLC for Capp Smith Food Truck Project design. 6–9. Approval of meeting minutes: December 8, 2025 (regular), November 17, 2025 (special bond canvass), November 10, 2025 (regular), May 31, 2025 (special budget retreat).
    6. Massage renewal permits for Golden Foot Spa and Hightower Salons.
    7. Appointment of Mia Whitham to Place 4 on the Planning and Zoning Commission.
    8. Appointment of Jacob White to Place 3 on the Civil Service Commission.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comments or testimony were submitted.

Action Item: Quail Meadow Storm Drain Engineering Design

  • Paul Hackleman, Director of Public Works, and Billy Winland of Burgess & Niple, Inc. presented a proposed professional services agreement for storm drain engineering design in the Quail Meadow neighborhood. The project would replace aging infrastructure, add sidewalks and driveways, and address frequent street flooding. A video showed the proposed pipeline (red line) running through Quail Meadow, Lindale, Ridgecrest, and Echo Hill. The council allocated $825,000 for engineering from the 2025 Certificates of Obligation; the total engineering cost is $1.25 million, leaving a $425,000 shortfall. Staff noted a potential partnership with a developer of the adjacent Chapman Road property to share costs if the route is altered. If full funding for construction is not approved in the next budget year, design would stop at $825,000 on September 30. The council approved the agreement unanimously (6-0).

Executive Session & Reconvene

  • At 7:12 p.m., the council recessed into executive session under Texas Government Code §551.074 to deliberate the annual performance evaluation of the City Manager. The open meeting reconvened at 7:41 p.m., and the council took no action on the matter. The meeting was adjourned at 7:42 p.m.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved 6-0.
  • Professional Services Agreement with Burgess & Niple, Inc. for Quail Meadow Storm Drain Engineering Design approved 6-0.
  • Executive session held; no action taken on City Manager evaluation.
  • The next regular meeting and Watauga Fest (May 14, 2026) were announced; Watauga 101 registration closes January 15.

Meeting Transcript

I call to order the Wataga City Council regular meeting Monday, January 12th, 2026. City Hall Council Chambers at 640 p.m. First item of business is roll call. Place one. That's aware, present. Place two. Chris Blackburn present. Place three. Lovey Downey, present. Place four. Andrew Neil, present. Place five is absent. Or is vacant. Place six. Mark Taylor, present. Place seven. Jan Hill, present. Mayor Art Minor present. Next is invocation, Master Mark. Pastor Mark Lofton, associate pastor for the North Side Nazarene Church. You would serve. Father in heaven, we thank you for today, Lord. And Father, we thank you for our city council members. Father, we just pray that you continue to give them the wisdom and the clarity in the decision makings pertaining to the citizens of Watauga. We pray that you would bless our city, bless our people. All right, next item announcements, place one. None at this time, thank you. I do have one announcement. Go ahead. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I want to encourage the citizens of Watauga to take advantage of the shock clinics that go on around the area and get their animals vaccinated. Um if you need a resources, please reach out. Our animal control officers are excellent at getting you the resources necessary to help make sure your animals are safe. And also um there's a few dogs still at the animal control that could possibly use a little bit of the outings. You can go and take a dog out and take it for a walk if you would like to get it out of the cage for a little bit. Thank you. Not at this time, Mayor, but I'm sure place four has plenty. Such enthusiasm. Mayor, I can't believe it's been like a year since I've been up here. I feel older now. But it's a new year, new me. But you know what? Mark your calendars.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com