March 16, 2026 Regular Council Meeting Minutes
March 16, 2026
The Hamlin City Council met for a regular meeting on March 16, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.
Those present were Mayor Pro Tem Shelby Teague, Councilman Caleb Gabriel, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Councilwoman Brooke Houghton, Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, City Manager Brian Weaver, City Secretary Tonya Harughty, Public Works Director Andres Arce, Police Chief Jay Strong, Jeremy Terry, Margaret Somereve, Cheryl Lewis, and Julie Vitek
Call meeting to order by Mayor Pro Tem Shelby Teague at 6:00 P.M. Invocation was led by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, and pledge was led by Mayor Pro Tem Shelby Teague.
Roll call: Councilman Caleb Gabriel, Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Mayor Pro Tem Shelby Teague, Councilwoman Brooke Houghton.
Mayor Tucker Teague was absent.
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 February 17, 2026.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to accept the minutes from the previous Regular Metting on February 17, 2026, as written, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis. All in favor. Motion carries.
Jeremy Terry to present the project at Swenson Solar Farm and Engie’s approach to community relations.
Jeremy Terry and Julie Vitek with Engie presented a slide show to the council. They stated they have been operating in the US for about 50 years. They generate electricity. They currently have more than fifty projects currently in operation across the state of Texas. Across the country we have 11,000 megawatts, 8,000 megawatts in Texas alone. Swenson construction is the single largest project they have. Jones County has a sub-station located on Swenson Ranch property. We anticipate completing construction in 2028. We will create 600 to 700 construction jobs and 10 to 12 permanent jobs for this area. Site security is important. Solar energy is environmentally sound. We do not use concrete or chemicals. We would like to establish a scholarship program through the high school here. If we are bringing jobs here, we want people here to get these jobs.
Consider and take any necessary action on naming Linda Howard and Tonya Harughty, as Early Voting Clerks and Cindy Reynolds as election judge for the City of Hamlin.
The Council may convene into executive session pursuant to Government Code Section 551.074, Personnel Matters. If an executive session is held, the Council may take action upon convening back into open session.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to name Linda Howard and Tonya Harughty as Early Voting Clerks and Cindy Reynolds as election judge for the City of Hamlin, seconded by Councilman Ronald Crouch. All in favor. Motion carriers.
Consider and take any necessary action on adopting Ordinance No. 26-002: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, JONES COUNTY, TEXAS, ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 2, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AT-LARGE AND TWO (2) CITY COUCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE; DESIGNATING A LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES; ORDERING NOTICE OF ELECTION TO BE GIVEN AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND POSTING OF NOTICE; PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS; DESIGNATING LOCATIONS OF POLLING PLACES; DESIGNATING FILING DEADLINES; ORDERING NOTICES OF ELECTION TO BE GIVEN AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to adopt Ordinance No. 26-002: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, JONES COUNTY, TEXAS, ORDERING A GENERAL ELECTION TO BE HELD ON MAY 2, 2026, FOR THE PURPOSE OF ELECTING A MAYOR AT-LARGE AND TWO (2) CITY COUCIL MEMBERS AT LARGE; DESIGNATING A LOCATION OF POLLING PLACES; ORDERING NOTICE OF ELECTION TO BE GIVEN AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH ELECTION; PROVIDING FOR THE PUBLICATION AND POSTING OF NOTICE; PROVIDING FOR EARLY VOTING DATES, TIMES AND LOCATIONS; DESIGNATING LOCATIONS OF POLLING PLACES; DESIGNATING FILING DEADLINES; ORDERING NOTICES OF ELECTION TO BE GIVEN AS PRESCRIBED BY LAW AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis. All in favor. Motion carries.
Consider and take any necessary action on adopting Resolution No. 26-001; A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS DESIGNATING AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES FOR CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS FOR REQUESTING FUNDS PERTAINING TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT – MITIGATION (CDBG-MIT) RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM.
Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-001: A RESOLUTION BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS DESIGNATING AUTHORIZED SIGNATORIES FOR CONTRACTUAL DOCUMENTS AND DOCUMENTS FOR REQUESTING FUNDS PERTAINING TO THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT – MITIGATION (CDBG-MIT) RESILIENT COMMUNITIES PROGRAM, seconded by Councilman Caleb Gabriel. All in favor. Motion carries.
Consider and take any necessary action on adopting Resolution No. 26-002; A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ATTACHED POLICIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, PARTICIPATION IN FEDERALLY FUNDED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROJECTS AND ADHERENCE TO THE REGULATIONS DESCRIBED THEREIN.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 26-002: A RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE ATTACHED POLICIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, PARTICIPATION IN FEDERALLY FUNDED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT (CDBG) PROJECTS AND ADHERENCE TO THE REGULATIONS DESCRIBED THEREIN with an amendment to correct the address of the City Hall, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis. All in favor. Motion carries.
Consider and take any necessary action on new electricity rates.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to authorize Brian Weaver pursue a contract with TCAP, seconded by Councilman Ronald Crouch. All in favor. Motion carries.
Consider and take any necessary action on allowing a new water tap outside the city limits at address 2889 FM 126.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to table this item until the next meeting, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis. All in favor. Motion carries.
Consider and take necessary action on selling water to commercial sites and projects.
No action taken on this item.
Department Reports
City Administrator – Brian Weaver stated with the donations received from Bridge Petroleum we now have two fully functional working sirens. The third siren needs a transmitter. I got a notification today, the grants that EHT put us in for water got through the first step. It’s the first time I’ve made it through the first step. We are waiting on an invitation to apply for a project.
Police Chief – Jay Strong stated we had shots fired this weekend. We had about thirty officers on the streets trying to find the shooter. We had over fifty calls come in that the shooter was on the move. The shooter was between houses, so you’ll see some Facebook warriors say that our response time ….. My officer was there when the shots were fired. He actually heard them. They were called out to Avenue F. They were called out to Avenue G. They were called out to Avenue H. Then I and J. We cleared each street. It was about 4 o’clock in the morning when we couldn’t locate anybody. We had no calls about anybody wounded. At daylight we located about twenty-three rounds in a dumpster. I interviewed the individual yesterday and got a confession. The judge just signed his arrest warrant. He will be taken to Jones County tomorrow morning. One big thing we learned is our radios are going to get us killed. One of my officers asked to tell you, would you send your daughters and sons out there like that. Our body shields should be here next week. We have no way to communicate with dispatch. One officer was in the middle of fifty shots fired, six streets and he had no way to communicate with dispatch. It’s frustrating when you can’t communicate with your dispatch. We can’t use our radios. When I talked to the officer on Sunday he was scared. I could hear it in his voice. When you listen to the dispatch calls it looked like an ambush in the waiting. We had almost twenty-five shots fired first. They waited to get a response and then they shot about six minutes later. Then shot five more after that. It looks like a baited trap to whoever was going in. We had a bunch of parties going on until all hours of the morning. These were not citizens of Hamlin, Texas. The biggest thing for us is we can’t communicate. We have got to fix it or it’s going to cost someone their life.
City Secretary – Tonya Harughty had nothing at this time.
MDD Director – not present.
Fire Chief – not present.
Municipal Court Judge – not present.
Public Works – Andres Arce stated they had one employee resign because he was offered another job with better pay at another community. We were six, now we are down to five. It’s springtime so we have more stuff to do. We will do the best we can to do our job until we have people stepping in.
Council members – Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis stated she feels we need to get Jay the equipment he needs for the safety of his employees. We can’t ask you to do your job but not have the stuff to do it with. That’s like asking you to type a letter but you don’t have a typewriter. We don’t have a computer. We don’t have a printer. Sorry, you’ll have to figure something out. You guys have been faithful in taking care of so much. If we have to call a secret meeting to get it and get it to them. It’s not right. We’re putting their lives on the line. We need to make sure they’ve got everything they need to cover them because we can’t expect them to do it if we don’t provide it. I know Jay and Brian walked into a big job mess. Both of you have done a great job cleaning up and fixing up, getting us legal and where we need to be. We weren’t at that spot. There was so much going on that was out of wack and people didn’t think anything of it. Our town was going to crap. You’re a man of your word, Chief. I can truly say that. What you’ve done just on my street and how quiet it is now that I can enjoy it and be outside. And let my grandkids play out without having to worry about who’s coming by. We had a lot of stuff that you, Brian, had to get straightened out. The office is put together. Stuff that we worked on trying to get the evidence lockers. To get us back in line. We could have been shut down. The interim chief didn’t do all that. The Chief walked into a hell hole. I appreciate y’all and what the turn around that we’ve made in Hamlin. But at the same time, I don’t want to feel like I’m responsible if one of y’all get killed out there because we couldn’t make sure you have everything you need.
Mayor Pro Tem – Mayor Pro Tem Shelby Teague stated we are incredibly lucky to have the team we have in Hamlin. And I’ve been incredibly frustrated the last few weeks and especially frustrated this weekend because I know that y’all do everything you can for this town. And, all I have to say is if you’re a citizen of Hamlin and you think people like Jay and Brian come along to work in small communities like these every day, they do not. I truly believe that God is working in Hamlin to push us in the right direction. One thing we have been talking about in our church is advancing. How do you advance? Part of advancing is doing what you believe in no matter what anyone says about you or what you believe or what you want to do. I just want to say that. If anyone has a problem with it, you can come to City council meetings. You can vote. You can run for City council. You can run for Mayor. Until that, you’re not using your voice. And Facebook is not the place to use it. That’s all I have to say.
Adjourn.
Councilman Caleb Gabriel made a motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:16 P.M., seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis. All in favor. Motion carries.
ATTEST: __________________________ _________________________
City Secretary Tonya Harughty Mayor Tucker Teague