[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6678453,"mediaKeyId","2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f","parentId",2096011,"title","Abilene council approves annexation, zoning and conditional-use requests; multiple items pass by unanimous or near-unanimous votes","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",524000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f&start=524&end=524","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f/thumbnail_524000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6678453/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Abilene-council-approves-annexation-zoning-and-conditional-use-requests-multiple-items-pass-by-unanimous-or-near-unanimous-votes","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678453-b7e6f7035d0c22f93e121273e5d1b505/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075753&Signature=NetDKX5LudBj~0bdu4tcG4z8t9lyfFFhVbQFRpW4Oi~J1wlTJbocZ4kIjA27xfOkjeVvcJMtsEms3L4rav3hS25laIfGkm8eQyqARFaSSQqYnElvzvKfby66fJ2hoELQzCFkeTmxMjo0jsDJZni5Dw-ZEw21CwKrjaNPx1RqpeVJ~6m1mFe9JjUORY7fdAap1nE1sbUUCVW~KL7~OG~DKaRbGH48zDQ3pVpnvgP2FIC2buqbfGm3bh5z9NO9ZEhYfN00DyEa6OJHmMrHOhZukNC3GeqXA89k6B630PgxsZTg~wLytEf~5WWI0s942DVz~q77U7bKTuLzkKEF9RuiiA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Abilene","date","2025-01-09T00:00:00Z","article","The Abilene City Council approved a series of routine and land-use items, including a city-owned annexation, multiple conditional-use permits, zoning changes and appointments to city boards.

Key actions taken by the council included approval of the consent agenda (items 4'8), final reading of an annexation of 440.2 acres near the Hamby Wastewater Plant (item 9), conditional-use permits for a 150-foot monopole (CUP 2024-11, item 10) and for a tattoo/permanent-makeup business in a plan development district (CUP 2024-12, item 11), an amendment to the Land Development Code to allow certain off-site \"top 3\" advertisement signs in south downtown areas (Ordinance Amendment 2024-02, item 12), and several rezonings and plan-development requests (items 13'15). The meeting concluded with board appointments (item 18).

Annexation and conditional-use items
Assistant City Manager Michael Rice presented item 9 for final reading, describing the annexation of 440.2 acres near the Hamby Wastewater Plant. Rice said the property is city-owned and that statutory annexation requirements had been met. No speakers testified during the public hearing and the council voted to approve the annexation on final reading.

Tim Littlejohn, director of planning and development services, presented several land-use items. For item 10 (CUP 2024-11), agent Laddie Galloway and Titan Towers requested a conditional-use permit for a 150-foot monopole at 2560 X Barrel Street to add carrier capacity for AT&T and other wireless providers. Littlejohn said notifications included one in favor and one opposed; Planning & Zoning recommended approval and the council approved the permit.

Item 11 (CUP 2024-12) was a conditional-use permit for a permanent-makeup/tattoo salon in PD-155 at 4601 Antaly Road. The applicant's agent and the tenant, who identified the business as Glow Up Parlor, described restrictions in a plan of operations including limiting tattoo services after 6 p.m.; P&Z recommended approval subject to that plan and the council approved the permit.

Sign standards and zoning
Littlejohn also presented an amendment (Ordinance Amendment 2024-02) to create development standards for a new \"top 3\" off-site advertisement sign type, including a 50-square-foot maximum, a 200-foot setback from residential uses, a limit of one sign per parcel and specified allowed streets. Staff said the change implements direction from council in October 2024 and that the downtown association and local businesses were consulted. The council approved the amendment; Councilman McAllister recorded an abstention while the remaining members voted in favor.

Other zoning cases the council approved on the agenda:
- Zoning case 2024-32: Rezone about 2.59 acres from PD-28 to General Commercial at 43100 Southwest Drive (Chick-fil-A, item 13); P&Z recommended approval and the council approved.
- Zoning case 2024-35: Rezone about 64.24 acres from A-O to PD-191 at 7501 Old Forest Hill Road (Hummingbird Hill LLC, item 14); P&Z recommended approval subject to a concept plan and ordinance conditions and the council approved.
- Zoning case 2024-36: Rezone approximately 134.86 acres from agricultural open space to a mix of general retail, general commercial and multifamily at (Denali extension, item 15); P&Z recommended approval and the council approved.

Appointments
Item 18 covered appointments and reappointments to various city boards. The council opened a public hearing; a resident spoke in support of acknowledging board members by name. The council then approved the listed appointments.

Votes
Most items passed on unanimous voice votes recorded as \"All yeses\" in the meeting transcript. The off-site sign amendment passed with one abstention (Councilman McAllister). The annexation and the CUPs passed after public hearings with no recorded opposition large enough to block approval.

No fiscal appropriations or ordinance details beyond those noted were included in the public presentations on the record; staff indicated notices and required procedures would follow for annexation and for implementation of code changes.

Items voted on at this meeting that were not discussed at length in public comment were recorded as approved by council vote as described above.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Abilene - City Council - Jan 09, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a consent agenda and a series of annexation, conditional-use and zoning items, and confirmed several board appointments. Most measures passed with unanimous support; one zoning amendment passed with one abstention.","taxTitle","Abilene, Taylor County, Texas","taxId",2817,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6678458,"Resident tells Abilene council Rise Church discipleship homes house dozens, urges public hearing and investigation",378,206000,584000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f&start=206&end=584","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f/thumbnail_206000.jpg","/articles/6678458/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Resident-tells-Abilene-council-Rise-Church-discipleship-homes-house-dozens-urges-public-hearing-and-investigation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678458-2037c25bdd6a5d69cd8458d6edef1305/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075753&Signature=hOehMYsvKIVSM4mTiFhMRWx7eJQDc70WuLrHr~Zk4f1Xzqs4n85VGR0ppmLT2WfJozQgOZ1GC0YpmJwQ8m~jpewpkSqmF-fZpK~3N-kougxEloGOwkpJnvfWtbw~k2~aUA~kQY~Ts2TJtGLOAz8j5uisVQlHPdCZ30ct-muARRpC3gGA9Bnpc3~dZfihn6S4QML92JYc8VCCTaM-W~7YaEXRR0UqhsNWLbKh~BCyBeALcpiZmn8SEeP5SGoUAmMdiVkAFHwV3dQiBZOd~~mi2UW82u1RhqdKW-MHzb2wyfFeny~idVns7NmJfnBtz8E6irTWEgDveNtXYHlPcyTThg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","During the meeting's public-comment period, resident Eddie Pugh urged Abilene officials to investigate and hold a public hearing on group homes he described as \"discipleship homes\" associated with Rise Church on Pioneer Drive.

Pugh, who said he lives in Potosi, told the council he had previously exposed what he described as corruption and that city and county officials had failed to act on long-running problems he asserts are occurring at the homes. \"Our city is infested with illegal activity taking place in some of our so-called churches. The most obvious is Rise Church located on Pioneer Drive,\" Pugh said. He said the property operates what he called \"Rise South Ship Homes\" and alleged residents had experienced violence, overcrowding and other abuses.

Pugh described graphic conditions and alleged a recent homicide: \"They saw the bunk beds, the bloodstains all over the mattress that Matthew Fowles was sleeping on, the blood splattered on the walls, the floors, and throughout the home,\" he said, and later added, \"There has been murder, [abuse of] minors, human trafficking, and every form of abuse you can think of going on in these homes for years.\" He said judges, police and the district attorney were aware of the homes and their status but had taken no action.

Pugh demanded the council place the issue on an agenda with a public hearing at the next meeting and said he would litigate if he believed his constitutional rights were violated in future public engagements.

The council did not take formal action during the public-comment period. City staff and council members did not announce a plan to add the topic to an upcoming agenda during the meeting. Public comment is not a period for council votes, and the mayor reminded speakers that no formal action is taken during public comment.

Because the statements made to council are allegations by a private resident, the transcript does not establish the city's findings about zoning, licensing or criminal conduct. Pugh asserted that some homes \"are not licensed by the state of Texas Health and Human Services Committee to operate as a faith based home or any other form of home,\" but the city did not state whether it has opened a code, licensing or criminal investigation as a result of the remarks.

The council moved on to other agenda items following the public comments.

No motion or referral to staff was recorded on the transcript for this topic at the meeting.","At public comment, a resident alleged illegal operations and serious crimes at Rise Church-associated \"discipleship homes\" and asked the council to place the issue on a future agenda for a public hearing.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6678460,"Abilene council votes to permanently end addition of fluoride to city water",2376,1945000,4321000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f&start=1945&end=4321","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2096011-ae4966d09803e92ccac8287895cfef2f/thumbnail_1945000.jpg","/articles/6678460/Abilene/Taylor-County/Texas/Abilene-council-votes-to-permanently-end-addition-of-fluoride-to-city-water","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6678460-4e4853ed224595a6a9922dd3c379dc7c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771075753&Signature=AGOuu4eKDi~B8zolfRE7j8UV6cMj4LOaC5BbyCqRBI~dVcZNyrXwtsjeHrq99IyFXpEk4rA3UonA4XXZhtf~mNRKRgOk9MO2Trrm8dqqzpaFZ5Y-4fWfUt6Od8K3x-9nDi-djf7lt1qHsEyZXRV84RkwdhoEEwHzlzz4gmAKxsHD-zADCeqXH5VNu5Gd6GuCH~v7C1ZMR~Orerw5R0DmljsnR2VGcG1kVDEfFMUx89GgY8ipqJ2YJhZUQ3lFLC7~3MhFAQQtxNKzU9yMLsRUXHpyQxVA82Cyj9XmZXqmAXQX0-nwavWMkUWjhqCakvWWFIngWFlelHLQyRKU1N~O0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Abilene City Council voted to repeal the ordinance that authorized adding fluoride to the city's water supply, permanently ending the municipal fluoridation program.

Council members voted to repeal Ordinance 532000 on final reading; Councilman Price and Councilman McAllister voted no and the remaining members voted yes. With the ordinance's passage, staff will notify the Texas Health and Human Services Commission and provide a 60-day customer notice as required by regulations before the city completes the change.

City Water Utilities Director Rodney Taylor told the council the item before them was a final-reading ordinance to \"permanently discontinue fluoridation of Abilene's public water supply.\" He said the city initially implemented fluoridation under Ordinance 532000 in November 2000 and had maintained the program until a recent court ruling prompted staff to pause adding fluoride.

Taylor explained that a federal district court ruling in Northern California led regulators to reexamine recommended dosage levels and that, as a cautionary step, staff stopped adding fluoride in September and the council passed a temporary suspension in November. \"With passage, we would take action to notify the Texas Health and Human Services Commission, to provide a 60 day notice as required by regulations and notify our customers with a 60 day notice of the results of this ordinance,\" Taylor said.

Members of the public addressed the council during the public hearing. Jennifer Bell, who identified herself as a longtime resident, told the council she supported permanently ending fluoridation: \"You guys know I'm against or I'm in favor of permanently ending water fluoridation.\" Tammy Fogel, who spoke later and identified herself as a community leader, asked that the council consider sending the issue to voters instead of deciding it at the dais, arguing the 2000 action was politically and procedurally distinct from other ballot measures. Eric Bangs said he favored public voting on the issue because it originated from a prior action tied to voters.

Council debate addressed two strains of reasoning: some members said the temporary suspension enacted earlier was appropriate while federal review was pending and preferred to wait for further EPA or court guidance; others said the recent federal court action and available studies justified ending the city's active fluoridation program now. The mayor (who moved the repeal) framed the vote as a public-safety precaution: \"If there is an inkling that this could be detrimental to health, I think we need to act on it,\" the mayor said before moving to permanently discontinue the practice.

Councilman Price and Councilman McAllister voted no. The council recorded no other roll-call dissent; the motion carried.

The ordinance repeals the city's prior authorization to add fluoride. The change does not remove naturally occurring fluoride already present in water sources; it stops the city from adding supplemental fluoride at treatment facilities. The city will send a 60-day notice to \"customers\" as described in the ordinance packet; staff said that notice will be sent to all direct city water customers and associated systems that purchase city water.

With passage, the temporary suspension ordinance enacted earlier remains a separate item in the record; staff said the new action triggers the customer-notification process and leaves the council able to revisit the issue if subsequent EPA regulations or court rulings change the federal guidance.

The council's action: repeal of Ordinance 532000 to permanently discontinue municipal addition of fluoride to Abilene's water supply; vote recorded as 6 yes, 2 no (Councilman Price and Councilman McAllister).","After months of debate and a prior temporary suspension, the Abilene City Council voted to repeal the ordinance authorizing fluoridation and to stop adding fluoride to the municipal water supply; the vote was 6–2 with two council members opposed.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Abilene council approves annexation, zoning and conditional-use requests; multiple items pass by unanimous or near-unanimous votes

Resident tells Abilene council Rise Church discipleship homes house dozens, urges public hearing and investigation

Abilene council votes to permanently end addition of fluoride to city water