[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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",[32,75,87],{"_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",6569656,"mediaKeyId","3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea","parentId",3335237,"title","Benbrook resident urges council to review Tarrant County redistricting maps, warns of rushed process","audioSeconds",81,"startMs",1327890,"endMs",1409020,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea&start=1327&end=1409","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea/thumbnail_1327890.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6569656/Benbrook/Tarrant-County/Texas/Benbrook-resident-urges-council-to-review-Tarrant-County-redistricting-maps-warns-of-rushed-process","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569656-6ab0321cef6efebcd7a8e5aa41c691bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1773672094&Signature=JTTt1b81~nEA2M~ac6MdUVUZaFh57psxQAUrxx8liWypMYpcsFE3n5ssAf~B5bJIs8Z-7FsjEJ3EwqVstD8MD1HOgpfF3Dr5QavkdvWnRl3EOHpnSU17JMix9oUnefTFLPmEVW~Fp9q0Fzbcc6X6YW75koUj-~k4cwIQ8xtUtURdM-EjFRTFfELfw~gqtj2uAraIk~YZpDkU-go2eS5jnLwUKtDHXCe8r1oPBZr3lIjfaXIGNslO9dcsSu21ufZunr0eKO~7m5-T9Vi1rKihBOfV8406EgyDcgMS6w3XTjcg6B8KRiuwcxJqMddJKwr6WrC3B-4f6OKwliSiuF-gOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Benbrook","date","2025-05-15T00:00:00Z","article","BENBROOK, Texas — David Hafer, a Benbrook resident, told the City Council on May 15 that proposed midcycle redistricting by the Tarrant County Commissioners Court could reassign Benbrook into commissioner precincts aligned with Arlington or Mansfield and urged the council to consider a special meeting so local elected officials could respond before the county’s June 2 vote.

Hafer said he had requested an item be placed on the Benbrook council agenda for fuller discussion but that request was denied, so he brought handouts to the public comment period. He presented five draft map options (on the handout), said the county hired a law firm for the effort but that firm told him it did not draw the five options on the handout, and said ‘‘the law requires election districts to be compact and contiguous.’’

Hafer told the council the commissioners had scheduled four public hearings in one week and that three commissioners were pursuing the midcycle redistricting; he said the commissioners’ court had voted 3–2 in April to hire a law firm. He warned the proposals would substantially realign Precincts 1 and 2 and said the changes could reduce Benbrook’s shared interests with its current precinct representation.

Council action and context: Hafer asked the Benbrook council to consider a special called meeting for discussion and potential action before the Tarrant County Commissioners Court votes; the council did not schedule such a meeting at the May 15 session. Hafer’s descriptions of the county process, the number of draft map options and the June 2 vote date were presented as his account to the council; the council did not debate or take formal action on redistricting at the meeting.

Quote: \"The law requires election districts to be compact and contiguous,\" Hafer said while presenting the handout.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Benbrook - City Council - May 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","At the May 15 meeting David Hafer asked the Benbrook City Council to consider a special meeting on proposed midcycle redistricting of Tarrant County commissioner precincts, saying the draft maps could realign Benbrook with more distant municipalities and that the county process is moving quickly.","taxTitle","Benbrook, Tarrant County, Texas","taxId",69605,"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},6569661,"Resident says proposed social media change would remove Facebook comments; urges council to restore public input",169,142060,311470,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea&start=142&end=311","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea/thumbnail_142060.jpg","/articles/6569661/Benbrook/Tarrant-County/Texas/Resident-says-proposed-social-media-change-would-remove-Facebook-comments-urges-council-to-restore-public-input","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569661-1751f01baed8faaede7e2becf632f329/orig.mp4?Expires=1773672094&Signature=cPlDwPtyUc0LP2m1zbyMY5CiEzqB6nbv1Yoe0wfigMnwa~0hlZM6wih8T8sFMI9IPV5IYr3WMUge6f0a1ZFFiMSiP6QmVCTWfgmApxsMvg65I~dMSeHxgvFb-OzrfpHUgpXN18wWdw3wmfmwVg5RabKtaSDVOJ5MkHDgNQ2nQg1JP5~CoqGwIudGu0JZ6uaZu1TYBMWpfhoQnVethqco7hvikDCkiO2UU7Szc8R9UqjK5pGzb6FLwjjv-pfGx0d33rFDcssS-VzSBBNQoin73uTIyFmM9Gt69gdgG15i1GYtAXJDG-2jppF8XEeK~QKPMKhGajNQoIc2EHSyDPEn0g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BENBROOK, Texas — During the public comment portion of the Benbrook City Council meeting on May 15, longtime resident Terry Roach said a recently proposed change to the city’s social media policy would eliminate citizens’ ability to post comments on the city’s Facebook page and urged the council to restore that avenue of public input.

Roach, who identified himself as a Benbrook resident since 1978, told the council the earlier social media policy “talked about values that we all share” and described communication and respect as core values. He said the change under consideration ‘‘eliminates any ability for the citizens to comment’’ on Facebook and that the change reduces opportunities for residents to communicate with elected officials.

Roach urged the council to put the issue to a vote so residents could weigh in and said he has repeatedly attempted to engage council members and staff about issues he raised. He also criticized council members and staff as being “closed to communicating” with some citizens; those statements were presented as Roach’s views during his public comment and were not acted on by the council at the meeting.

Council procedure and responses: Council staff, including City Secretary Beth Fisher, were at the dais to receive comments and subsequent agenda items proceeded without council debate on the social media policy at the May 15 meeting. Mr. Addison interjected at one point to correct a factual point about how long he has lived in the area; no council action on the social media policy was taken at the meeting.

What this means: Roach’s remarks were part of the public comment period; the transcript records his concerns and request that council formally address the social media change. The council did not place the social media policy on the meeting agenda for discussion at this session, and no policy decision or vote on social media was recorded on May 15.

Quotes: \"The change eliminates any ability for the citizens to comment,\" Terry Roach said during his remarks.","At the May 15 Benbrook City Council meeting resident Terry Roach told the council a proposed change to the city's social media policy removes the public's ability to comment on Facebook and urged council members to restore that avenue of public input.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6569666,"Benbrook council approves minutes, accepts two resignations, accepts April finance report and authorizes sale of 2007 hazmat truck",141,882360,1023460,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea&start=882&end=1023","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3335237-f4689d0be665a4bc9fa017110a9b37ea/thumbnail_882360.jpg","/articles/6569666/Benbrook/Tarrant-County/Texas/Benbrook-council-approves-minutes-accepts-two-resignations-accepts-April-finance-report-and-authorizes-sale-of-2007-hazmat-truck","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6569666-04dbf4b5a303c95a81a88b04da81b26d/orig.mp4?Expires=1773672094&Signature=NzEv-6eKyDCsuGJyEa7PurJP6Z0ryS3MyI~q3718sSoMHD1Q9pO~E9O9YVO1DnDxNjlFUPe-gl2TNMqXwapM5L82MJhjF8oJk75jkJQK7ugpuFLQBa-6lLq9B3mDU5KNRk6uprMEb8HWSWQGA3bPNm~-TFypQ3WbMopAoWv8g5va8TDDqCEioJGY-aQpZPJ3sXLX7OdMB0OhMipey5XvjhNTvdF9qsgIrOg4R2sIh8dLa3EHQwGG9gmY1i5vc6XHHWe9rHfhlV~PTTo2B1pVs0etLmvmlJsCGemZ~FUgnOzC1Xy1jM~Io6oMq6cEqy9dg2rz8KeFBtJOzZ8mjq7CSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","BENBROOK, Texas — The Benbrook City Council on May 15 approved a package of routine actions, including approval of meeting minutes, acceptance of two Planning & Zoning Commission resignations, acceptance of the finance report for the period ending April 30, 2025, and authorization to sell a 2007 Pierce hazmat rescue truck declared surplus.

The actions were taken during the council’s regular meeting at Benbrook City Hall. Council members moved and seconded each measure and voted on each item in turn; where the transcript records a specific tally it is noted below.

Council minutes: Councilmember Dr. Marshall moved to approve the minutes of the May 1, 2025 regular meeting; Mr. Tyner seconded the motion. The council opened voting and the clerk recorded one abstention; the motion carried.

Resignations from Planning & Zoning Commission: City Secretary Beth Fisher told the council that on April 29, 2025 the city received letters of resignation from Sandra Lee (Place 2) and Damon Farrar (Place 9). Fisher said Ms. Lee had been appointed December 2024 for a term to expire Dec. 30, 2026; Mr. Farrar had been appointed in December 2023 for a term to expire Dec. 30, 2025 (as stated in the filing). Mr. Phillips moved to accept the resignations; a council member seconded and the resignations were accepted.

Finance report, period ending April 30, 2025: Finance Director Rick Overgaard presented the April financials and recommended the council accept the report. Overgaard said April is the seventh month of the fiscal year and provided line‑item figures for the month and fiscal year to date, including $2,340,348 in April revenues (listed as 84.2% of budget in the packet), expenditures of $14,698,083 (listed as 55.4% of budget), and year‑to‑date sales tax of $2,745,033 (reported as 3.5% below last year to date). Overgaard also reported the city had $38,340,725 invested. Mr. Tyner moved to accept the finance report; Nikki Mayer seconded and the motion carried unanimously as recorded.

Surplus hazmat rescue truck: Fire Chief Jason Tate recommended declaring a 2007 Pierce Manufacturing hazmat rescue truck surplus and authorizing its sale. Tate said the vehicle was purchased with federal grant funding (state homeland security program and the Urban Area Security Initiative), ownership transferred to the city after the grant cycle expired and the truck had been out of operational use since June 2022 because newer apparatus were in service. Staff solicited bids and reported the highest bid of $105,000 from Bridal Mountain Fire Apparatus (other bids listed at $99,000 and $95,000). Chief Tate recommended authorizing sale to the highest bidder and depositing proceeds in the city’s accounts. Mr. Addison moved to adopt the resolution declaring the truck surplus and sell to Bridal Mountain Fire Apparatus for $105,000; Dr. Marshall seconded. Voting was recorded as unanimous.

What comes next: Acceptance of the Planning & Zoning resignations initiates the city’s normal advertising and application process to fill board vacancies. The finance report was accepted for administrative oversight; council did not direct follow‑up actions at the meeting. The city will proceed with disposing of the declared surplus truck as authorized.

Votes at a glance:
- Approve minutes of 05/01/2025 — Motion: Dr. Marshall; Second: Mr. Tyner; Recorded: 1 abstention; outcome: approved.
- Accept resignations (Sandra Lee, Place 2; Damon Farrar, Place 9) — Motion: Mr. Phillips; Second: Miss Franklin; outcome: accepted (tally not specified).
- Accept finance report for period ending 04/30/2025 — Motion: Mr. Tyner; Second: Nikki Mayer; outcome: approved (recorded as unanimous).
- Adopt resolution declaring 2007 Pierce hazmat rescue truck surplus and authorize sale to highest bidder — Motion: Mr. Addison; Second: Dr. Marshall; outcome: approved (recorded as unanimous).","At its May 15 meeting the Benbrook City Council approved routine minutes, accepted two Planning & Zoning resignations, accepted the finance report for April and declared a 2007 Pierce hazmat rescue truck surplus and authorized its sale.","actionData","errors"]

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Benbrook resident urges council to review Tarrant County redistricting maps, warns of rushed process

Resident says proposed social media change would remove Facebook comments; urges council to restore public input

Benbrook council approves minutes, accepts two resignations, accepts April finance report and authorizes sale of 2007 hazmat truck