September 15, 2025 Regular/Public Hearing Meeting

September 15, 2025

The Hamlin City Council met for a regular/public hearing meeting on September 15, 2025, at 7:00 P.M. Those present were Councilwoman Brooke Houghton, Mayor Tucker Teague, Councilwoman Shelby Teague, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Councilman Caleb Gabriel, Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, City Secretary Tonya Harughty, City Manager Brian Weaver, Chief of Police Jay Strong, Brady Elmore, Theresa Barr, Jen Donnelly, Monti Green, “Illegible”, Monnie Prater, Lyndsey Cave, Barbara Brown, Curtis Collins, Lanett Ponder, Dakota Holub, Joseph Benavides, “Illegible”.

Call meeting to order by Mayor Tucker Teague at 7:00 P.M. Invocation and Pledges were led by Mayor Tucker Teague.

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

ACTION ITEMS

Take appropriate action on the minutes from the previous Special Meeting on September 2, 2025.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to accept the minutes as written from the previous Special Meeting on September 2, 2025, seconded by Councilwoman Brooke Houghton.  All in favor. Motion carries.

Open the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025 property tax rate.

Mayor Tucker Teague opened the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025 property tax rate at 7:01 P.M.

Curtis Collins said he is curious why we had to go to the max on taxes.  We are going to be paying more taxes than Anson, Stamford, Merkel, Tuscola, all of those towns. I don’t believe it’s right to raise the price of your house. The price goes up every year.  If you keep it at the rate that it is, you would still be bringing in more money because the price of your house goes up.  To me it doesn’t make sense to raise the price.    That’s pushing it a lot in a small town that don’t have no businesses.  It makes it hard for people to buy a house and pay taxes and everything else.  I just think y’all should take a little closer look at that before deciding what you’re going to do.  Think about the people that live here.  Give everybody a chance.  No one else around here is over a dollar.  It’s going to affect y’all, too. 

Close the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025 property tax rate.

Mayor Tucker Teague closed the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025 property tax rate at 7:03 P.M.

Open the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025-2026 operating budget as well as the 2025-2026 debt service budget.

Mayor Tucker Teague opened the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025-2026 operating budget as well as the 2025-2026 debt service budget at 7:03 P.M.

No one spoke.

Close the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025-2026 operating budget as well as the 2025-2026 debt service budget.

Mayor Tucker Teague closed the public hearing concerning the proposed Hamlin 2025-2026 operating budget as well as the 2025-2026 debt service budget at 7:04 P.M.

Consider and take any necessary action on adopting ORDINANCE NO. 25-006, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; PROVIDING BUDETARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE VARIOUS OPERATING FUNDS OF THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Mayor Tucker Teague discussed some of the items in the budget.  The upcoming budget had $147,000.00 deduction.  We focused on streets and infrastructure.  We continue to invest in public and code enforcement. We went after competitive pay for maintenance, administration and police department.  We have six million added values.  The total tax increase is $128,000.00 for the entire city.  We concentrated on street repairs, and equipment that the police department is required to have. Other highlights on the budget are debts on the fire truck and water line.    

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 25-006, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, ADOPTING THE OPERATING BUDGET FOR THE FISCAL YEAR BEGINNING OCTOBER 1, 2025, AND ENDING SEPTEMBER 30, 2026; PROVIDING BUDETARY APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE VARIOUS OPERATING FUNDS OF THE CITY; PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on adopting ORDINANCE NO. 25-007, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW MASTER FEE SCHEDULE WHICH IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT “A”, PROVIDING FOR THE AMOUNT OF ALL FEES ASSESSED BY THE CITY; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE.

Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis made a motion to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 25-007, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, AMENDING THE MASTER FEE SCHEDULE IN ITS ENTIRETY AND REPLACING IT WITH A NEW MASTER FEE SCHEDULE WHICH IS ATTACHED AS EXHIBIT “A”, PROVIDING FOR THE AMOUNT OF ALL FEES ASSESSED BY THE CITY; PROVIDING A REPEALING CLAUSE; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING FOR AN EFFECTIVE DATE, seconded by Councilman Caleb Gabriel.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on adopting ORDINANCE NO. 25-008, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, LEVYING A TAX RATE FOR AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 TO PROVIDE REVENUES FOR CURRENT EXPENSES; PROVIDING DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES, PENALTIES AND INTEREST; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; DIRECTING THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR TO ASSESS, ACCOUNT FOR, AND DISTRIBUTE THE PROPERTY TAXES AS HEREIN LEVIED.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 25-008, AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HAMLIN, TEXAS, LEVYING A TAX RATE FOR AN AD VALOREM TAX RATE FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025-2026 TO PROVIDE REVENUES FOR CURRENT EXPENSES; PROVIDING DUE AND DELINQUENT DATES, PENALTIES AND INTEREST; REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT; DIRECTING THE TAX ASSESSOR-COLLECTOR TO ASSESS, ACCOUNT FOR, AND DISTRIBUTE THE PROPERTY TAXES AS HEREIN LEVIED, at the increased tax rate of 1.004445, which is effectively an increase of 17.8% tax rate, seconded by Councilwoman Brooke Houghton.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on changing the City Council Meetings from 7:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M.

Councilman Ronald Crouch made a motion to change the City Council Meetings from 7:00 P.M. to 6:00 P.M., seconded by Councilman Caleb Gabriel.  All in favor motion carries.

Discussion on Police vehicle lease options.

Brady Elmore with American National Leasing Company discussed lease options for police vehicles with the council.

This item will be placed on next month’s agenda for action taken. 

Consider and take any necessary action on approval of Steven James’ IT contract.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to approve Steven James’ IT contract, seconded by Councilwoman Brooke Houghton.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

IV. ADJOURN.

Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis made a motion to adjourn at 8:00 P.M., seconded by Councilwoman Shelby Teague.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

ATTEST: __________________________                               _________________________

City Secretary Tonya Harughty                                                Mayor Tucker Teague