Special Council Meeting August 11, 2026 Minutes

July 20, 2026

The Hamlin City Council met for a regular meeting on July 20, 2026, at 6:00 P.M.

Those present were City Secretary Tonya Harughty, Councilwoman Shelby Teague, Mayor Tucker Teague, Councilman Kenneth Williams, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, City Manager Brian Weaver, Police Chief Jay Strong, Police Officer Sarah Casey, Waterworks Superintendent Andres Arce, Jr., Alan Hill, Police Officer Josh Benavides, Police Officer Joseph Benavides, Cheryl Guernsey, Beverly Guerra, Lanett Ponder, Rachelle Dennett, Dakota Curd, Trey Poe, and Rachal D.

Call meeting to order by Mayor Tucker Teague at 6:04 P.M. Invocation and pledge were led by Mayor Tucker Teague.

Roll call: Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis, Councilman Ronald Crouch, Councilwoman Shelby Teague, Councilman Kenneth Williams, Mayor Tucker Teague.

Councilwoman Brooke Houghton 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.

Diana Stevens addressed the council.  She asked the Council if they could make an amendment to the dog limit.  She has eight.  They are all chihuahuas.  Four are rescue dogs.  I make sure they never get out.  They have a pet door.  They have food and water available 24/7.  I just want to see if there’s an amendment to be made so I will be able to keep my animals. 

Jackie Stevens signed up to speak then decided not to.

Beverly Guerra stated I live behind the gym and if you look up and down the street all the water congregates in my drive.  It builds up sometimes five feet wide.  I would like permission to put in a culvert which will push it down to the corner. 

Chief Jay Strong announced that the officers have worked twenty-four-hour shifts with no breaks since the end of March.  We take a lot of criticism and these two guys stepped up to the plate.  They cover calls for six people.  Chief Strong introduced our newest officer, Officer Sarah Casey.  She came from the Taylor County Sheriff's office.  Chief Strong presented officers Joshua Benavides and Joseph Benavides with a plaque and thanked them for the work that they do. 

Visitors with appointments: No one with an appointment

ACTION ITEMS

Take appropriate action on the minutes from the previous Regular Meeting on June 15, 2026.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to accept the minutes as written from the previous Regular Meeting on June 15, 2026, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on fire truck grant.

Councilman Kenneth Williams made a motion to finance the fire truck grant loan through the local bank, First National Bank, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis.  All in favor.  Motion carries. 

Accept the resignation of Councilwoman Brooke Houghton effective July 14, 2026.

Councilman Kenneth Williams made a motion to accept the resignation of Councilwoman Brooke Houghton effective July 14, 2026, seconded by Councilman Ronald Crouch.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action on the open council seat.

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion at 6:23 P.M. to go into executive session to discuss the open council seat and consider hiring a new judge, seconded by Councilman Kenneth Williams.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Councilman Kenneth Williams made a motion at 6:49 P.M. to go back into open session, seconded by Councilwoman Shelby Teague.  All in favor.  Motion carries. 

Councilwoman Shelby Teague made a motion to open the open council seat for applications until the next meeting, seconded by Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Consider and take any necessary action regarding placing a GPS antenna on the water storage tank at Skin Out Mountain.

No Action taken on this item.

Discussion on truck parking.

Councilman Kenneth Williams stated a lot of people in this town are complaining about trucks parking on the city streets. People are complaining that there are trucks parked on residential streets in front of their houses.  Chief Strong stated part of the problem is weight on the city streets.  We give them alternatives.  They can park behind the mill or at the Piper Park at the end of the street. 

Discussion on trash in the city.

Councilman Kenneth Williams stated that people out of town  are bringing their trash in town and put in the dumpsters in town.  Chief Strong stated they have caught a lot of folks from out of town using our dumpsters.  We have one business that what they are throwing in the dumpster CWS will not pick it up.  It’s plywood and treated lumber.  The code guy gives me a report every Wednesday about what trash he is tracking.  We do put door hangers.  We have a business that bags foam insulation, which has torn up two of CWS’s trucks.  We’re trying.  We do monitor and we’re doing everything we can.  If you see anyone dumping or in your alleyway, call us. 

Discussion regarding opening the convenient station.

There was a discussion between the Council and the City Manager as to why the convenient station is closed.  The City Manager stated that the city has lost $14,000.00 due to citizens mismanaging the convenient station.  The city is in the process of getting the convenient station back up to code in order to reopen it to the public. 

Discuss citations sent to collections by Municipal Court.

It was discussed that some old citations were sent to collections.  It was determined that the Judge did the correct thing by sending citations to collections and the citizen would need to prove that they paid the citation before it can be dropped. 

Consider and take any necessary action on hiring a new municipal judge.

Councilman Kenneth Williams made a motion to hire Judge Guernsey as Municipal Judge, seconded by Councilman Ronald Crouch.  All in favor.  Motion carriers.

Consider and take any necessary action on sealed bids for the City RV Park.

Councilwoman Phyllis Lewis made a motion to accept the bid for the City RV Park to Judy Ancinec in the amount of $33,559.00, seconded by Councilwoman Shelby Teague.  All in favor.  Motion carries.

Councilman Ronald Crouch and Councilman Kenneth Williams both abstained.

Discussion on the quarterly budget review.

City Manager Brian Weaver discussed the 3rd quarter budget with the council. 

Department Reports

City Administrator – Brian Weaver stated the fire siren came in but does not know when they are going to install it. 

Chief of Police – Chief Jay Strong stated he will have a monthly report every month for the council to review with a number of calls and things like that.  Monday, Logan and his crew will bring five radios and our handhelds.  Hopefully, by the end of the week we should be 100% up and running. 

City Secretary – Tonya Harughty had nothing at this time.

MDD Director – Not present.

Fire Chief – Not present.

Municipal Court Judge – Judge Cheryl Guernsey stated she has nothing at this time. 

Public Works – Andres Arce, Jr. stated that the wastewater plant broke permit in May.  He has not heard anything from TECQ.  They were over a couple of tenths in June.

Council Members – Councilman Kenneth Williams stated with the recent rain we need to keep an eye on weed and debris.

Mayor – Had nothing.

Adjourn

Councilman Kenneth Williams made a motion to adjourn at 8:02 P.M., seconded by Councilman Ronald Crouch.  All in favor.  Motion carriers.

ATTEST: __________________________                                           _________________________

City Secretary Tonya Harughty                                                            Mayor Tucker Teague