MINUTES CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL CALLED MEETING WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2025 ALDERMEN PRESENT Mayor Alton Morris CITY STAFF PRESENT J.R. Berry, Fireman Alderman Place 1 Libby Gonzales Michael Smith, City Manager Noah Rose, Parks and Recreation Alderman Place 2 Shawnea' Smith Shalyn Burritt, City Secretary Maintenance Technician Alderman Place 4 Joel Hood Jeremy Jennings, Fire Chief James Henry, Parks and Recreation Alderman Place 5 Tyler Harmonson Hanna Reynolds, Finance Officer Maintenance Technician Leslie Jackson, Human Resources Tedra Bilby, Police Department ALDERMEN ABSENT Les Guthrie, Water/Wastewater: Superintendent Administrative Assistant Alderman Place 3 Greg Robinson Albert. Aguilar, Chief Operator, JudgeJoe White, Municipal Court Judge Water/Wastewater Distribution Lacy Myrick, Municipal Court Clerk CITYATTORNEYS PRESENT Johnny Burritt, Code Enforcement Erica Garza, Senior Customer Service Reid Spiller Officer/Building Inspector Representative 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Alton Morris called the special meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. 2. INVOCATION Alderman Tyler Harmonson gave the invocation. 3. PLEDGES TO THE FLAGS Pledges were led by Mayor Alton Morris. 4. PUBLIC COMMENTS No public comments were given. At the request of the City Manager, Michael Smith, Agenda Item Number 7 was heard at this time. 7. COUNCIL TO DISCUSS AND TAKE ACTION ON THE APPOINTMENT OF THE MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE FOR A TWO YEAR TERM, 2025-2027. The City Manager, Michael Smith, explained that the Council had not reappointed the Municipal Court Judge in a number of years, despite being required every two years. Judge White has been serving as Municipal Court Judge for. Jacksboro for 12 years, and Mr. Smith stated that City Staff would recommend his reappointment. Alderman Shawnea' Smith made a motionto reappoint Judge White as the Municipal Court Judgeforthe ter 2025 through 2027. Alderman Joel Hood seconded the motion. Motion carried with unanimous consent. 5. RESOLUTIONS. a. R-04-2025: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JACKSBORO, TEXAS HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AS "CITY" DESIGNATING CERTAIN OFFICIALS TO ACT FOR, AND ON BEHALF OF THE CITY AS AGENTS FOR ALL BANK ACCOUNTS HELD AT THE PROSPERITY BANK, AND ALL OTHER CITY ACCOUNTS, AS NEEDED TO CONDUCT CITY BUSINESS. The City Manager introduced the Resolution to the Council and explained the need to have the signature card changed sO that MayorMorris' signature could be added. He explained that there were fourindividuals listed on the sig nature card, the City Manager, City Secretary, Finance Director and Mayor. Alderman Libby Gonzales requested an amendment to the wording of the Resolution to specify checking accounts" instead of "accounts" as written. Alderman Joel Hood made a motion to approve Resolution R-04-2025 with the mentioned amendment. Alderman Libby Gonzales seconded the motion. Motion carried with unanimous consent. 6. ORDINANCES. a. 0-03-2025: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JACKSBORO, TEXAS AMENDING THE WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTINGENCY PLAN, CHAPTER 12, SECTION 12.05.004 WATER CONSERVATION AND DROUGHT CONTIGENCY PLAN ADOPTED; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Manager discussed Ordinance 0-03-2025, and reviewed the changes made from the previously approved water conservation and drought contingency plan to the current plan being presented. Alderman Shawnea' Smith made a motion to adopt Ordinance 0-03-2025 as presented. Alderman Tyler Harmonson seconded the motion. Motion carried with unanimous consent. City Council Minutes Special Called Meeting 05/28/2025 Page 1 of 4 b. 0-04-2025: AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL, CITY OF JACKSBORO, TEXAS, AMENDING A CERTAIN SECTION OF ARTICLE 2.07 MUNICIPAL COURT, DIVISION 2, JUDGE AND CLERK, OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES, REPEALING ALL ORDINANCES OR PARTS OF ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; REPEALER CLAUSE; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. The City Manager discussed the prior Ordinance appointing the Municipal Court Judge and Court Clerk, and that it needed to be amended to reflect the current status of the court and the hiring of the clerks. Alderman Libby Gonzales made a motion to adopt Ordinance 0-04-2025 as presented. Alderman Joel Hood seconded the motion. Motion carried with unanimous consent. 8. DISCUSSION OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND BUDGET. The City Manager began the discussion by requesting the Council review the draft of the strategic plan, and to also look over the status of the budget for this current fiscal year. Alderman Libby Gonzales requested that Mr. Smith highlight the differences made between last year's strategic plan and the one being presented fori this year. Mr. Smith indicated that the biggest change was the urgency added to replacing the first responder fire safety equipment. He explained that he had discussed previously the need for a C.O. (Certificate of Obligation)to replace the air-paks, and to address much needed repairs at City facilities. He stated that he would be preparing an RFB (request forbids)for all of the different repairs that needed to be done and estimated that would be around 2to 3 million dollars. Discussion began regarding the Council's decision on whether City Staff should move forward with finding a new Police Chief and continuing the services of a Police Department. 9. DISCUSSION WITH CITY STAFF ON THE DESIRED DIRECTION FOR THE CITY REGARDING THE INTERVIEWING AND HIRING OF A NEW POLICE CHIEF. Sheriff T-Bob Hauger addressed the Council. Sheriff Hauger stated that he was not in favor of moving fo rward with hiring a police chief at this time. He stated that a candidate that would be willing to come here under the past circumstances that we experienced would likely have no experience and be starting with zero employees. He would have no officers and would want to be "calling the shots" with deputies assigned to be working in the City. He advised that he had a proposed plan to wait to hire a police chief for af full budget yeari in order to address and fix the problems in the department. During that time, he would hire for the Police Department five officers, one CID (criminal investigative department) officer, and one administrative staff person, and would have staff in placefor a new chief to take over. He argued that it would allow him to find better qualified candidates by hiring them at the County's higher pay rate. Alderman Tyler Harmonson asked if that meant the City would then have to adjust its budget to meet that pay scale, and the Sheriff argued that a smaller staff of officers could offset the higher pay scale. Alderman Tyler Harmonson asked what budget the Sheriff was anticipating, and he replied 1.1 to 1.2 million dollars. Alderman Libby Gonzales asked how the five officers, one CID and one administrative job compared to the prior department's staff. City Manager Michael Smith stated that previously, the Police Department had a chief, two sergeants, one student resource officer, one investigator and five patrol officers. He continued and stated that his recommendation was that once a chief is hired, he or she should determine what size of department was needed. Sheriff Hauger agreed but said it would be better to have all of those officers already in place. Alderman Tyler Harmonson asked how many applications had been received so farfor positions in the Police Department. Mr. Smith replied that he had received 33 applications for chief but was unsure how many officers had applied. He stated that he felt there were at least ten quality candidates from the applications for chief. Alderman Shawnea' Smith asked Sheriff Hauger if he was making his presentation as a relief effort or as a long-term solution. The Sheriff replied that he could visit about it, but it would be a temporary fix if they wanted to keep a Police Department. Alderman Shawnea' Smith asked the Sheriff how he would fiti in with the organizational structure of the City and who he would answer to within the City. The Sheriff replied that as a county employee and elected official, he would be making all of the decisions. He stated he would listen to the Council and the Mayor's suggestions. Mr. Smith stated that it would be an expensive decision to go with the County's plan, but that there were services that the City was currently providing fort the County without compensation, such as 50 % of the calls to the fire department were forthe County, and 65% of the animals being housed at the animal shelter were from the County, as well as the $100,000 that the City currently pays the County ford dispatching services. He reiterated that the City responds and spends a lot of money supporting the County currently. Alderman Tyler Harmonson asked the Sheriff if he currently answers to his County Commissioners, and he responded only regarding budgetary restraints, but it would be unwise to not listen to the Council's suggestions. He said he had been open about his feelings that the City did need a Police Department. Alderman Tyler Harmonson inquired if there needed to be an MOU (memorandum of understandingbetween the two entities, and the Sheriff agreed there needed to be in order forthem to enforce City Ordinances and fort ticket fees to go to the City. Alderman Joel Hood stated that if we moved forward in his direction, that the Sheriff would be operating somewhat like an as an independent contractor for the City. Mayor Alton Morris stated that he had never known a Sheriff's Department and a Police Department that worked together smoothly. Alderman Joel Hood said that he saw tremendous cooperation during the tomado and the events afterwards. City Council Minutes Special Called Meeting 05/28/2025 Page 2 of 4 Sheriff Hauger stated that he felt, in his opinion, he had tumed the operation around and he stated it would not fail, butit was his opinion to work fora a long-term relationship. Alderman Joel Hood asked the City Manager what his time frame was looking forward pursuing a new chief fori the City. The City Manager stated that if the Council chose to direct him to move forward and interview, he could possibly have a chief by the end of June. Staffing the rest of the department would take time, and the City would still need to rely on the Sheriff's Office for a while. He argued that the citizens who had reached out to him did want a police department. The Council could decide to wait and go with the Sheriff's timetable and interview next time this year or could movet forward and have a chief relatively quickly. Alderman Libby Gonzales asked if the Sheriff's timeline would be October 1 of 2026, and he stated that was his recommendation. The Sheriff said it would take about six months forhim to hire and get the new deputies through the entire process. The City Manager replied that if a chief is hired, the City would still need support from the Sheriff's Department and would still need to provide them with financial support for services. He added that if a chief is hired, he would want them to have the opportunity to hire their own staff. Alderman Joel Hood stated that the Sheriff is elected and inquired what would happen if he was not reelected. The Sheriff stated that the City would have time to pull out of the agreement if they needed to go in another direction. Alderman Shawnea' Smith asked if there would be an added increase to the Sheriff's pay if the Council went with his plan. Sheriff Hauger replied yes, and also his Chief Deputy, because the additional responsibility would warrant added compensation. Alderman Shawnea' Smith asked if the MOU would bring revenue from City tickets back to the City and the Sheriff agreed it would. The City Manager stated that an MOU would be necessary regardless of what decision was made by the Council. He added, if the Council voted to go forward and hire a chief, there would need to be additional talks with the Sheriff. Alderman Joel Hood asked what the hiring process would look like, and the City Manager explained that a panel would be formed, including a current Chief of Police, Council Members, City Staff, the Emergency Management Coordinator, Frank Hefner and the Sheriff, but that if he had some current deputies applying forthe position, that might be a conflict. He added there would be a very detailed background check done and had been offered assistance from a Texas Ranger to do a thorough vetting of any candidates. Alderman Joel Hood asked if those candidates chosen would then move forward for interviews in front of the Council, and the City Manager stated there could be a second round of interviews with finalists if needed. Alderman Libby Gonzales stated that she did not feel she had enough information to moveforward with a decision at this time. The City Manager stated that there were three options beforei them: 1. Moveforward and hire a chief and officers for the Police Department. 2. Go with the Sheriff's plan and wait a year before looking to hire. And 3., if the Council chose the Sheriff's proposed plan, and were satisfied months down the road, then they could decide not to have a police department any longer. He stated based on conversations that he had with citizens, he did not feel option 3 was a good option. He felt there was not an issue with moving forward to hire a police chief now. He stated that once a chief is hired, he had a lengthy itinerary of things to do before building his department, including spending time with other departments and staff members within the City. The City Manager's number one priorityfora new Chief was leadership, then experience, working well with the Sheriff's Department, emergency services, the County, and also the City Council and school district. He complemented how well the Sheriff's deputies had been interacting with citizens and the community. Alderman Shawnea' Smith asked Fire Chief, Jeremy Jennings, what his suggestions might be, and Chief Jennings replied that the fire department must work with everyone and anyone, no matter how it is structured. Alderman Joel Hood asked the City Manager what the options werei for a decision to be made, or direction to proceed. The City Manager said the Sheriff's Office would still need to providet forthe City, but the timeliness of the decisionwas important forbudgeting fort the Police Department with the City and the budget fort the County, to be able to budget the hiring of new officers or deputies. The Sheriff stated that the worst thing to do, het felt, was to rush into a decision. He stated that rushing ahead would create a butting of heads and itwould not work. He would have to pull his officers from the City. He stated that some things needed to be changed, and he knew it would not be an easy decision, but he would not harpoon the City. He only wanted what was best for the City of Jacksboro. Alderman Libby Gonzales stated that it was a hard decision to be made, but there were aiready 33 applicants that had made the decision to apply, and what would that look like if the City just put it off for a year. What would the poollook like then? The City Manager stated that some of the applicants now were already Chiefs and wanted to come to this area. Some were wanting a better opportunity. Alderman Tyler Harmonson asked what would the harm be in looking at the candidates that we already had and then reevaluating if necessary. The City Manager agreed, and stated that if there wasn't a good candidate, they could reach out again for more applications. Alderman Joel Hood stated that it seemed the Sheriff's plan was a hybrid situation. The Sheriff would hire through the fiscal year, and the new Chief would have to take on thosed officers and then ween them out. The new Chief would have to restrain from hiring and firing for the fiscal year. Sheriff Hauger stated he was not comfortable with that and would want to assure his new hires fort the police department that they would keep their jobs. Alderman Joel Hood stated that the Chief might want to bring in their own hires, but then the other five stay and you work with them. Alderman Libby Gonzales stated that she felt all council members should be in attendance forthis decision, and that she would like to analyze the situation and reach out and speak to the community and City Staff. The Sheriff stated that whatever decision is made, they will catch slack. He stated again that he felt the City needed a Police Department, and he was not trying to do away with it. But he intended to do such a good job that it would be hard for a chief to fill his shoes. City Council Minutes Special Called Meeting 05/28/2025 Page 3 of 4 Johnny Burritt stated if the Council did commit for a year, and something happened to T-Bob and the Chief Deputy, there could be a special election, and we could end up with a sheriff like R.C. Langford. The Sheriff replied that it could be "what if'd"to death, but that he had a competent staff in place no matter who was in charge. Tedra Bilby stated that if we moved forward foraf full fiscal year, we would be in this exact situation a year from now, but with hired officers and no chief. Robert Atkinson commented that if there were five officers in place that could not be fired, it would be difficult to find a chief at that point that was willing to come in and have no power over hiring or firing. Discussion has held over tabling the discussion to the next meeting but making a decision in June. Alderman Joel Hood made a motion to direct City Staff to pursue nterviewing candidates and hiring a chief, allowing the new chief to hire his own officers, and to continue to work with the Sheriff's office, giving the Finance Director and the City Manager the ability to work with the Sheriff's Office to pay what they neede ed to keep assisting the City in the interim time. Alderman Tyler Harmonson seconded the motion. The Council voted as follows: Alderman Joel Hood - yes, Alderman Tyler Harmonson - yes, Alderman Shawnea' Smith no, Alderman Libby Gonzales - no. A tie vote of 2 to 2 being announced, Mayor Alton Morris broke the tie with a "no" vote. Alderman Libby Gonzales made a motion to table the discussion to the June 9 Council Meeting. Alderman Shawnea' Smith seconded the motion. Motion carried with unanimous consent. Alderman Hood was excused from the meeting at this time. 10. UPDATES. a. JUNE MEETING: REAPPOINTMENT OF BZA AND P&Z MEMBERS. b. TNT FEST JUNE 28, 2025. C. RED RIBBON CUTTING FOR SKATE PARK - TBD d. SCHEDULING OF PRAYER SERVICE AT THE COURTHOUSE LAWN TO PRAY OVER THE CITY. Updates were given to the remaining members present. Mayor Alton Morris requested that the prayer service be scheduled for Sunday June 8th at 2 p.m. at the Courthouse Lawn. Mayor Alton Morris requested that the Street Department look at street maintenance on 9th Street and Wichita, and on North 6th and Live Oak, and address cleaning the gutters and removing the gravel that has collected since the heavy rains. 11. ADJOURNMENT. Mayor Alton Morris adjourned the meeting. APPROVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF JACKSBORO, TEXAS ON THE 9TH DAY OF JUNE, 2025. CITY OF JACKSBORO ALTON MORRIS MAYOR ATTEST: ShalumdRungit SHALYN L. BURRITT CITY SECRETARY City Council Minutes Special Called Meeting 05/28/2025 Page 4 of 4