Weatherford Municipal Utility Board Meeting – May 28, 2026

The Weatherford Municipal Utility Board met in regular and executive session on Thursday, May 28, 2026, at Weatherford City Hall, 303 Palo Pinto Street, Weatherford, Texas. The meeting was called to order at 12:01 p.m. and adjourned at 3:34 p.m. All utility board members were present. The board approved the April 30, 2026 minutes, authorized a $548,250 utility design task order, received water system and Lake Weatherford improvement reports, heard public comments on the marina lease, convened in executive session, and approved Amendment 3 to the marina concession contract and lease agreement.

Call to Order, Invocation, Pledges, and Minutes

• Invocation was given by Pastor Neil Rowe of Waterhouse Church; pledges of allegiance were led by Dr. Tom Novak.
• The board approved the minutes of the April 30, 2026 meeting on a motion by Tom Novak, seconded by Lindsey Hester. One recusal was noted. Assistant City Manager Chad Marbut reported that the April 25 Take Back Meds event—the 23rd such event—collected 489 pounds of unused medicine and 136 pounds of sharps.

Regular Agenda: Palo Pinto Street Underground Utility Design – CEC Task Order 2

• James McGill, Assistant Director of Electric Utilities, presented a request to authorize the City Manager to execute Task Order 2 with CEC Corporation under the existing master service agreement for design services to relocate overhead utilities underground on Palo Pinto Street.
• The design work is needed because TxDOT is planning to reconstruct US 180/Palo Pinto Street and has asked overhead utilities to go underground. The project area runs from Spring/Santa Fe to Bowie Drive.
• The scope includes underground utility design, a joint duct bank for franchise utilities including AT&T and Spectrum, coordination with Texas Gas Service, subsurface utility engineering, easement identification, surveying, and construction documents. Construction is not yet funded or scheduled; staff said TxDOT’s estimated construction time frame is around 2030.
• The design schedule calls for 30% design by August, 60% by November, and 90% by January 1, 2027. The budget is not to exceed $548,250.
• A board member noted that TxDOT does not currently have funds or a scheduled project, and staff replied that advance preparation is needed in case funds become available.
• The board approved the item on a motion by Lindsey Hester, seconded by Ken Davis.

Staff Report: Water System Update

• Rick Shaffer, Director of Water Utilities, provided historical drought context requested by board member Hester, covering the 1930s Dust Bowl, the 1950s drought of record, and the 2011 drought. He noted that Weatherford averages about 32.5 inches of rain per year and that the 1950s drought led to statewide water planning and construction of Lake Weatherford in 1956–1957.
• Lake level data since October 2003 shows the lake is about three feet below full 50% of the time; full pool/spillway elevation is 896 feet. In recent years, 2021 was wet with a full lake, 2022–2023 were dry, and 2024 rainfall brought the lake to about six inches below full.
• Current rainfall is about 95% of average; April was nearly double normal. Staff expects Stage 1 drought conditions to be formally declared in July and pumping from Lake Benbrook to begin in August—either because lake levels trigger the policy or to use available Tier 1 water.
• Regarding the Tarrant Regional Water District contract, Shaffer said Weatherford is effectively a full-needs customer. Tier 1 water totals 530 acre-feet, about 172 million gallons, with no water charge, though pumping costs apply; a Tier 1-only year could cost less than $50,000 in pumping, while Tier 2 and Tier 3 use could cost millions. In 2013 or 2014, the city paid about $1.8 million.
• Shaffer reported that the two reclaimed water projects returned over one billion gallons to Lake Weatherford last year, about 50% of the roughly two billion gallons withdrawn for customers; evaporation remains the largest draw on the lake.
• Board members thanked Shaffer for the context; no formal action was taken.

Staff Report: Lake Weatherford Improvements

• Matt Leppla, Director of Public Works, reported that construction plans for Phase 1 of the Lake Weatherford Trail are on schedule, with construction targeted to begin in August of the current fiscal year. The low water bridge crossing will be bid separately after Army Corps of Engineers permits are secured, with construction targeted by the end of the calendar year. Staff is evaluating ways to minimize impacts from Oak Ridge Drive detour traffic, including possible off-peak-only closures.
• Jacob Kirkpatrick, Director of Parks, Recreation, and Special Events, presented proposed Lake Weatherford public improvements with a total estimated investment of $1.8 million. Concepts include a block seawall, beach sand restoration, a restroom facility, two large and three smaller pavilions, two regulation sand volleyball pits, expanded parking, lighting, a trail connection, dock/gangway upgrades, boat storage improvements, and a full renovation of the crappie house.
• If authorized, work on the crappie house, boat storage, and general maintenance could begin immediately with a winter 2026 completion; beach work would begin after summer with a spring 2027 completion.
• Staff said the beach, boat ramp, crappie house, pavilions, and volleyball pits would be free for public use; fees would apply only to pavilion or volleyball pit rentals and boat storage. Tavern operations and boat/bait sales would remain with the existing operator/lessee.
• Staff said the improvements would have zero impact on tax rates or utility rates because funds are already available.
• Mayor Paschall read a statement of fact saying the marina lease agreement has nothing to do with residential lake lot license agreements, the marina property is city-owned and leased to a private operator, no residential lake lot license changes are being considered, and the improvement concepts were supported by plans developed from citizen input.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Danielle Ford, 726 West Lake Drive, said she loved the proposed improvements and concept but expressed concern about the city’s commitment to maintenance, noting previous improvements had fallen into disrepair.
• On the marina lease item, the board heard from multiple speakers in support of Randy and Sheila Plyler, operators of Lake Weatherford Marina and Tavern on the Lake:
  • Randy Plyler said he and his wife had operated the business for six years, invested their life savings, and only learned the city intended to exercise a 90-day termination notice for major portions of the lease. He said the areas proposed to be taken back—including boat slips and the crappie house—account for 52% of their revenue. He said they had met with city staff and prepared proposals for improvements, were not told the city might take back areas, and are asking for transparency, fairness, and good-faith negotiation.
  • Darrell Ross, on behalf of the Parker County Pickers, said the group has nearly 4,000 members and described the Plylers as vital community partners who host musicians and community groups; he urged the board not to restructure the lease in a way that would stop Tavern on the Lake operations.
  • Davy Vesta, 129 Marina View Court, supported the improvement concept but asked the board not to cut off the tavern’s lifeline and to return operations to the private operator.
  • Troy Martin, 402 Westlake Drive, said his comments were personal, not on behalf of the Lake Weatherford Community Association, and said no one he met knew about the improvements until the controversy; he asked for information, clarity, and transparency and noted the executive session matter had been on the docket multiple times this year.
  • Fred Stotz, 3924 Crest Road, said he was an unbiased patron, praised the Plylers’ improvements, asked why now, and said the action may be legal but not ethical.
  • A resident at 226 Hidden Acres Lane, identified with conflicting surnames in the transcript, said taking the marina and beach away would close the tavern and hurt employees, and asked the city not to take the lifeline from an entrepreneur who had done a great job.
  • Susanna Raven, 2501 Elk Hollow Lane, said the Plylers kept the business operating through COVID, continued improvements, and purchased and financed in good faith; she said some improvements were made by private owners previously and urged the board to give the property back after improvements.
  • Reagan Carr supported Randy and Sheila Plyler and asked the board to do the right thing and avoid putting a small business owner out of business.
  • Ashley Conlin submitted a written statement that was accepted into the record; she did not appear in person.

Executive Session and Action on Marina Lease

• The board recessed at 1:08 p.m. for executive session under Texas Government Code Section 551.071 to consult with the City Attorney about the Lake Weatherford Marina Lease Agreement.
• After reconvening, Board Member Hester moved to approve Amendment 3 to the concession contract and lease agreement with Randy and Sheila Plyler, Lake Weatherford Marina LLC. The amendment removes the beach and recreation area from the leased premises to allow the city to make capital improvements for public use, provides that all improvements remain city property, and authorizes the acting city manager to execute the amendment in a form approved by the city attorney. The motion was seconded by Tom Novak.
• Before the vote, the board publicly asked Randy and Sheila Plyler whether they were comfortable with the changes, had not been coerced or forced, and believed they could be successful; they answered yes.
• The amendment passed. No vote tally was stated in the transcript.

Citizen Comments on Non-Agenda Items

• No citizens came forward.

Key Outcomes

• Approved April 30, 2026 meeting minutes, with one recusal noted.
• Authorized CEC Task Order 2 for Palo Pinto Street underground utility design, not to exceed $548,250.
• Received water system update and Lake Weatherford improvements presentations; no formal action was taken on staff reports.
• Approved Amendment 3 to the Lake Weatherford Marina concession contract and lease agreement, removing the beach and recreation area from the leased premises for city capital improvements.
• Meeting adjourned at 3:34 p.m.