February 17, 2026 Regular Council Meeting Minutes

February 17, 2026

The Hamlin City Council met for a regular meeting on February 17, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.

Those present were City Secretary Tonya Harughty, Councilwoman Shelby Teague, Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, Police Officer Eric Becerra, City Manager Brian Weaver, Councilman Caleb Gabriel, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Mayor Tucker Teague, Councilwoman Brooke Houghton, and Chief Jay Strong.

Call meeting to order by Mayor Tucker Teague at 6:00 P.M. Invocation and pledge were led by Mayor Tucker Teague.

Roll call: Councilman Caleb Gabriel, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Councilwoman Shelby Teague, Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, Councilwoman Brooke Houghton, Mayor Tucker Teague

Open Forum-Person who sign in between 5:30 P.M. and 6:00 P.M. will be allowed not more than five minutes each to speak to the Council.

*General comments from visitors who have signed up to address the Council.

No one spoke to the Council.

Visitors with appointments: No one with an appointment

ACTION ITEMS

Take appropriate action on the minutes from the previous Regular Meeting on January 20, 2026.

Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to accept the minutes with exception of corrections made, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis. All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action to nominate by resolution adopted by its governing body a candidate to fill the vacancy of Board of Director 2026-2027 to the Jones County Appraisal District.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to nominate Trent Malone and Caleb Gabriel as Board of Director 2026-2027 to the Jones County Appraisal District, seconded by Councilman Caleb Gabriel.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on adopting ORDINANCE NO. 26-001: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 9-164 HEALTH AND SANITATION, CHAPTER 6 IN IT’S ENTIRETY; DEFINING AND ENUMERTING NUISANCES AND PROHIBITING SAME; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE AND ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF A FINE NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 26-001: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO. 9-164 HEALTH AND SANITATION, CHAPTER 6 IN IT’S ENTIRETY; DEFINING AND ENUMERTING NUISANCES AND PROHIBITING SAME; PROVIDING FOR NOTICE AND ABATEMENT OF NUISANCES; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A PENALTY OF A FINE NOT TO EXCEED FIVE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($500.00) FOR EACH OFFENSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, seconded by Councilwoman Brooke Houghton.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on new utility rates.

Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to table this item until the next meeting, seconded by Councilwoman Shelby Teague.  All in favor.  Motion carries.    

Consider and take any necessary action on allowing AEP to encroach into the city utility easement located at the substation on NE 3rd Street.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague, made a motion to allow AEP to encroach into the city utility easement located at the substation on NE 3rd Street pending an encroachment agreement, seconded by Councilman Ronald Crouch.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on paying off the lease for the milling machine.

Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis made a motion to pay off the lease for the milling machine, seconded by Councilman Caleb Gabriel.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on hiring a court clerk.

Councilman Ronald Crouch made a motion to hire a court clerk using the funds we save by paying off the milling machine, seconded by Councilwoman Brooke Houghton.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on adopting a resolution to join the Texas SmartBuy program.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to adopt a resolution to join the Texas SmartBuy program, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on selling water to commercial sites and projects.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to table this item until the next meeting, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Department Reports

City Administrator – Brian Weaver stated the city received $6,000 from British Petroleum that will go towards getting our emergency sirens up and running. 

Police Chief – Jay Strong stated they are seeing more homeless people at night. We see a lot of people taking up residents in vacant houses.  There is an increase in the drug population. We are not seeing an increase in burglaries.

City Secretary – Tonya Harughty said she is still working through Fundview.  I’m working on elections and working with Gerald on the Audit.

MDD Director – not present.

Fire Chief – not present.

Municipal Court Judge – not present.

Public Works – not present.

Council members – no one spoke.

Mayor – had nothing at this time.

Adjourn.

Councilwoman Brooke Houghton made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:22 P.M., seconded by Councilwoman Shelby Teague.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

ATTEST: __________________________                               _________________________

City Secretary Tonya Harughty                                                Mayor Tucker Teague