[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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",[32,75],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":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,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6318242,"mediaKeyId","2367846-3b6a99c6c87e6d3fecb54d500f9d6954","parentId",2367846,"title","Seymour council approves audit, zoning changes, CDBG steps and greenlights skate-park grant application","audioSeconds",1532,"startMs",2196000,"endMs",3728000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2367846-3b6a99c6c87e6d3fecb54d500f9d6954&start=2196&end=3728","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2367846-3b6a99c6c87e6d3fecb54d500f9d6954/thumbnail_2196000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6318242/Seymour/Baylor-County/Texas/Seymour-council-approves-audit-zoning-changes-CDBG-steps-and-greenlights-skate-park-grant-application","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318242-ba980938d25e8204154942c10069e403/orig.mp4?Expires=1776685905&Signature=WM46QG~-YpJwIg3nQwz3P0IPPt4SLK9gSxVdVDn3JzYxg3rcuda3RXz~SCpjQMhWKsITnFi95yqVwqq3Oltv5dmmtZdxA1l41PXujkiBt~AQLO9InIRQY6fU~KlnOpYSRUraIsgJpOZxzULwC9Ub38GjUbt7Nj6RnXmXDcWAHVYvNcI2QzkY~FmOSUwuFSoQ~7no6XbP2s~SLjgKcPWPXqNoeur1fLpImp4H07RBM7ztbVSXohtRKMAtZoNVJFk7UKYM4gJ9yRw0LwRx-neVsp8QUfWmVAn9ZXvZPnS8yGpq-5Zpfjk3PJ8DIloN3TnDAK0sIbTkSeP3OwewD9oYdQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Seymour TX","date","2025-02-21T00:56:58Z","article","The Seymour City Council on a February 2025 evening accepted the city
udit for fiscal years 2022\u000023, approved a specific-use permit allowing placement of 20 shipping-container storage units, rezoned a city-owned lot for a dog park and authorized staff to complete a grant application for a proposed skate park.

The council accepted the independent auditor\u000finding of a clean financial opinion for the 2022\u000023 audit, and approved multiple grant-related resolutions to advance a downtown revitalization/utility project funded through a Texas CDBG award. Councilors also approved a proclamation designating April as Fair Housing Month and adopted an ordinance cancelling the May 2025 city election because mayoral and council seats were unopposed.

Why it matters: The audit acceptance signals the city
ccounting is back on track after prior reconciliation work; zoning approvals permit new private storage and a community dog park; CDBG resolutions and signatures allow the city to move ahead with design and grant compliance; and the skate-park application could bring up to $125,000 for new recreational infrastructure with no city cash match required.

Key votes at a glance

- 2022\u000023 City of Seymour audit — approved (motion seconded; council vote: all in favor). Auditor Paul Fleming described the report as a \"non modified opinion, meaning a clean opinion on the financial statements.\" The audit shows modest net fund increases in enterprise funds and progress reconciling bank accounts.

- Specific-use permit, 312 W. 12th Street (Lot 20, Block 2, S & D) — approved. The permit allows placement of up to 20 shipping containers to be rented as storage units.

- Straight rezone, 701 NE (Lot 22, Block 7, McLean Subdivision) — approved. The rezoning changes the city-owned lot\resignation so a youth leadership group may develop a dog park; Jeremiah Bobbs of the youth group thanked the council for support, saying, \"I would just like to come here and thank you, council, for your support on through the whole process of the dog park.\"

- Skate-park grant application (Pretty Foundation) — council authorized staff to complete and submit a full application for $125,000 with no city match. Staff described a proposed 90-by-50-foot concrete pad (4 inches thick) and modular ramps from American Ramp Company; staff recommended ordering equipment by May and pouring concrete around mid-July if funded.

- CDBG-related actions (downtown revitalization/waterline project) — council adopted Resolution 15-82 to designate authorized signatories for Texas CDBG grant CDB23-0141 and adopted Resolution 15-83 to accept required civil-rights policies for the CDBG program. Both measures passed on voice votes.

- Proclamation: April declared Fair Housing Month — adopted.

- Ordinance 2025-03: cancel May 2025 city election (unopposed mayoral/council seats) — adopted.

What council discussed and why: Auditor Paul Fleming highlighted that the audit covered FY 2022\u000023 and that the independent auditor\foncluded a clean opinion, noting improvements including reconciled records through September 2024 and fund-balance increases in the water/sewer and electric funds. City Administrator Dr. Jeff Brazier and staff, including Finance Director Suzanne Shumate, detailed work to finalize pooled-cash accounting and reconcile October 2024 entries so future reporting will be more current and readable.

Staff also described property cleanup efforts recognized earlier in the meeting; Dr. Brazier and the mayor thanked community volunteers (Tommy and Jeannie Albritton, Lloyd Studer, Sam Boone, Lance and Amy Burnett) for recent demolition and lot remediation.

Clarifying details from the meeting: the shipping-container permit covers 20 units; the skate-park LOI seeks $125,000 with no in-kind or cash match; proposed skate-park concrete pad is 90\u0000x\u000050 feet at 4 inches thick, with equipment lead time of about 3\u00004 months; GrantWorks is assisting CDBG grant administration; the CDBG grant agreement is identified in packet materials as CDB23-0141 and tied to downtown sidewalk/utility improvements.

Next steps and timeline: Staff will proceed with documentation for the CDBG grant, order materials and finalize a full Pretty Foundation application by the February 28 deadline (staff asked council permission to complete the application). The council set the next regular meeting for March 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Seymour City Hall.

Ending: The meeting closed its action-item business and moved toward an executive session later in the agenda.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","The Seymour City Council on a February 2025 evening accepted the city audit for fiscal years 2022\u000023, approved zoning and permitting for storage containers and a dog park, authorized a skate-park grant application and adopted CDBG-related resolutions.","taxTitle","Seymour, Baylor County, Texas","taxId",64341,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6318238,"Seymour council tables decision on permitting game rooms, asks staff to draft ordinance",1627,1593000,3220000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2367846-3b6a99c6c87e6d3fecb54d500f9d6954&start=1593&end=3220","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2367846-3b6a99c6c87e6d3fecb54d500f9d6954/thumbnail_1593000.jpg","/articles/6318238/Seymour/Baylor-County/Texas/Seymour-council-tables-decision-on-permitting-game-rooms-asks-staff-to-draft-ordinance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6318238-f4c17b268bee88baf45bc16fc4b00ed0/orig.mp4?Expires=1776685905&Signature=WnctMFqbi4su1IYJjYbihxzDHMryzhTUlPnHc~m1PVUjn5bGeOBr1LQL2wwO72EwnYUv02NFZl0o4ziV4vG6moMT8~P0KwfQANCvZhv1X1OFxcO2WIYq3fvKJOstVdktaRFxd5WUG3BDseku0Q-gzSW9~UJjk8BKlMuI6yqiibIN9Z9eqOF9-GtXTFBq2H-BsMFMamh43CBsZe-~71yEBOzYUpyjLmMIoTo-Cv0xWAFuGmN22E2z7iuduSEbSEtLvdOvjTG1~U3oAub-eHYgv~SwKtUH3YnZJNF7ldX19perJaBYGq39L7tBX4DzOKZg~uhigy0rzAg9xdfF3X-qoA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Seymour City Council on a February 2025 agenda item tabled further action on permitting game rooms within city limits and directed city staff to prepare a draft ordinance for the council
nd to bring legal research to the next meeting.

The item followed staff research and a public hearing. Seymour Police Chief Bryce Sawyer said he had spoken with officers in Haskell and reviewed state guidance; he told the council he was concerned about legal limits on payouts and cited Attorney General rulings, saying, \"you can't accept anything larger than a $5. Like, that's the most that we paid out, period,\" and that gift cards can be treated as cash equivalents under some AG opinions. Chief Sawyer asked for more time to gather information and recommended staff follow up with legal counsel before the city chose a regulatory path.

Council members voted to table the item and requested staff and the city attorney draft an ordinance for review at the next regular meeting. The motion to table will place the item on the March agenda with a staff-prepared ordinance and compiled legal references for council consideration.

Why it matters: Local regulation of game rooms raises questions about what the city may lawfully permit and how enforcement would work. The police chief\u000emphasized that, if located inside city limits, it would fall to local officers to ensure compliance. Council direction for a drafted ordinance and legal review aims to reduce enforcement ambiguity before any permitting scheme is adopted.

Quotes and context: Chief Bryce Sawyer said his review of state law and Attorney General opinions left \"pretty strong opinions on it,\" and asked councilors for additional time to get specifics so that enforcement would be feasible. A local proponent noted other towns permit gift-card-based pay-outs but acknowledged the legal gray area.

Next steps: Staff will draft an ordinance and compile Attorney General opinions and sample ordinances for council review at the March meeting; the council\u000formally tabled the item and scheduled an ordinance draft to return as an action item.","After a public hearing and discussion, the Seymour City Council voted to table action on allowing game rooms inside city limits and directed staff to draft an ordinance and gather legal guidance, following concerns from the police chief about state payout rules and Attorney General opinions.","actionData","errors"]

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Seymour council approves audit, zoning changes, CDBG steps and greenlights skate-park grant application

Seymour council tables decision on permitting game rooms, asks staff to draft ordinance